German & Austrian Hutmachers

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Thanks! Altenburg is a really beautiful town. If you have any details regarding the hat industry there it would be greatly appreciated.

I'll keep my eyes on it...
For the moment just some pages:

The last hatter - you may know
http://www.hut-und-putz.de/

German hatter union - located in Altenburg
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutscher_Hutarbeiter-Verband

And here's a page with some students researches - interesting is the map with every hatter and shop they found
http://hutmacherhandwerk.blogspot.de/

 

[mayserwegener]

What I like in Steve's research is its ability to find hats that make up the historical mosaic of ancient Central Europe production.
None of these hats has a known brand, yet they were the hats of every day for the German men of eighty years ago. They are of average quality hats and affordable for ordinary people.
It is very interesting because it tells us what were the tastes and market proposals at a time when the hat was an essential accessory to dress.
My favorite is the Orion, but all have a subtle charm in telling their story and that of the costume in a vanished era.
Bravo Steve!

Daniele, Thanks! I agree it's interesting to see mid to lower price point Soft Felt Hats. I am always looking so occasional something like this happens.

 

[mayserwegener]

I'll keep my eyes on it...
For the moment just some pages:

The last hatter - you may know
http://www.hut-und-putz.de/

German hatter union - located in Altenburg
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutscher_Hutarbeiter-Verband

And here's a page with some students researches - interesting is the map with every hatter and shop they found
http://hutmacherhandwerk.blogspot.de/

Thanks too! I found the student web page and saw the hats being made but didn't know about this company. They are making some really interesting hats including Collapsible Silk Top Hats. Looks like they know how to make a correct Stiff Felt and Top Hat brim curl. Also using presses for the Stiff Felts so might be able to get decent results. Definitely will have to check them out when I am in the area.

I went through the Altenburger Hut & Putz – AHP GmbH and it's interesting they go back to 1960. From the videos it looks like they have a lot of interesting hat making tools for making Stiff Felt hats. I am sure they can't match old / antique Stiff Felts but they might be able to come closer than what is common today.

I might actually have one of their Stiff Felts (probably from DDR times). I will have to send them photos.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

You're welcome!

Yes, they go back to 1960, when the PGH Hut und Putz was foundet as a result of the socialization/nationalization in the DDR (like VEB). But they are even older because the PGH Hut und Putz emanated from the Hut Kley (Kurt Kley since 1874!) hat manufacturer (and others like Karl Hollersen (since 1925?)), which was closed in 1948. But they saved the the old tools and logs (is called like this?) - so Hut und Putz do have them today! And I think they are the last Manufacturer of original/old Top Hats and Collapsible Silk Top Hats around (maybe in Germany?), but they produce (Stiff) Felt hats etc., too.

So you have to contact them and visit them when you're around.
And you should contact me, when you're in the area - Now I live in Leipzig (1 h away), but my parents are still there...

 

[mayserwegener]

Thank you for additional information! The old Stiff Felts were usually formed by high pressure mechanical presses. The felt used was specifically made for to Stiff Felts and today this is lost. It appears PGH Hut und Putz can still do the correct brim work. I definitely would like to see what they are up to so I will let you know when I will be traveling to the area. By the way Aleisa (Herbolzheim, Baden) also makes Collapsible Silk Top Hats.

http://www.aleisa.de/index.html

 

[Celia]

As I was browsing the catalogue of the ÖNB (working, not just looking at hats, honestly), I came across some images which people interested in the Viennese hat industry might like, if they haven't been posted before.

A 1966 calendar of the austrian Hutmacher-, Modisten- und Schirmmacherzeitung, with some adverts for hatters/hat shops around the edges:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=16124148

An image of Johann Lechner's hat shop in the Anna-Neumann-Gasse around 1920:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=1356698

An (unidentified) hatter at work, photographed by Fritz Zvacek, around 1933:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=1261266

 

[Celia]

And one more:

Display of The ITA hutfabrik in Amstetten at the Wiener Messe 1949:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=3162519

 

[Trenchfriend]

 

[Celia]

Something I came across online (in German):

http://www.werner-electronic.de/de/werner-gmbh/werner-gmbh-home/firmengeschichte.html?file=tl_files/WernerGmbH/Bildmaterial Website/Historie/Downloads/Geschichte der Kreischaer Hutindustrie V45.pdf

"Ein Kreischaer Strohut Erzählt" by Thomas Werner. I'd translate the title as "Story of a Straw Hat from Kreischa".

Although this document deals with ladies' straw hats, it may still be of interest to people who want to know more about the history of the German hat industry in general. The author lists several (straw) hat factories in the area and documents their history, together with interesting photos of the factories, hatters' tools etc.

 

[Frunobulax]

And one more:

Display of The ITA hutfabrik in Amstetten at the Wiener Messe 1949:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=3162519

Love the photos, Steve. I'm a visual guy and I really enjoy the period photos, etc. Thanks.

You and @Celia are tearing it up lately. You make a good team!

 

[Celia]

Love the photos, Steve. I'm a visual guy and I really enjoy the period photos, etc. Thanks.

You and @Celia are tearing it up lately. You make a good team!

If only I had a fraction of the knowledge or collection Steve has...

 

[mayserwegener]

As I was browsing the catalogue of the ÖNB (working, not just looking at hats, honestly), I came across some images which people interested in the Viennese hat industry might like, if they haven't been posted before.

A 1966 calendar of the austrian Hutmacher-, Modisten- und Schirmmacherzeitung, with some adverts for hatters/hat shops around the edges:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=16124148

An image of Johann Lechner's hat shop in the Anna-Neumann-Gasse around 1920:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=1356698

An (unidentified) hatter at work, photographed by Fritz Zvacek, around 1933:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=1261266

Thanks! I found Johann Lechner in the 1926 Austrian Hat Industry guide. He was located in Marau (Anna-Neumann-Gasse) which is west of Graz.

 

[mayserwegener]

And one more:

Display of The ITA hutfabrik in Amstetten at the Wiener Messe 1949:

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=3162519

Thanks again! This is Johann Heinrich ITA/JTA. They were a great Austrian / Vienna hat company.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/11-j-heinr-heinrich-ita-hutfabrik/

 

[Celia]

Thanks! I found Johann Lechner in the 1926 Austrian Hat Industry guide. He was located in Marau (Anna-Neumann-Gasse) which is west of Graz.

Thank you, I'd just realised my mistake linking the shop to the Viennese hat industry, I meant Austrian of course

Thanks again! This is Johann Heinrich ITA/JTA. They were a great Austrian / Vienna hat company.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/11-j-heinr-heinrich-ita-hutfabrik/

Thank you for the link to your website, very interesting to see some close up photos of actual hats from the company as well as all the additional materials you've gathered.

 

[mayserwegener]

Something I came across online (in German):

http://www.werner-electronic.de/de/werner-gmbh/werner-gmbh-home/firmengeschichte.html?file=tl_files/WernerGmbH/Bildmaterial Website/Historie/Downloads/Geschichte der Kreischaer Hutindustrie V45.pdf

"Ein Kreischaer Strohut Erzählt" by Thomas Werner. I'd translate the title as "Story of a Straw Hat from Kreischa".

Although this document deals with ladies' straw hats, it may still be of interest to people who want to know more about the history of the German hat industry in general. The author lists several (straw) hat factories in the area and documents their history, together with interesting photos of the factories, hatters' tools etc.

Great research document! Yes I came across this place before or maybe it was Manferd. I think there might be something posted here. This was another Straw making center like Lindenberg / Allgäu which was in the south.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Thank you for additional information! The old Stiff Felts were usually formed by high pressure mechanical presses. The felt used was specifically made for to Stiff Felts and today this is lost. It appears PGH Hut und Putz can still do the correct brim work. I definitely would like to see what they are up to so I will let you know when I will be traveling to the area. By the way Aleisa (Herbolzheim, Baden) also makes Collapsible Silk Top Hats.

http://www.aleisa.de/index.html

Thanks for the link: never heard of Aleisa before...
If you're interested I think you may contact PGH per mail and ask them for Material like Fotos. I know the manager is very proud of the tradition and would help you.

 

[mayserwegener]

Thanks! I will definitely contact them. I probably have some old hats from this area but I can't identify them because there are no company marks. This is also the case for the large hat companies east (Guben) and south (Luckenwald, ect) of Berlin.

 

[mayserwegener]

Thank you, I'd just realised my mistake linking the shop to the Viennese hat industry, I meant Austrian of course

Thank you for the link to your website, very interesting to see some close up photos of actual hats from the company as well as all the additional materials you've gathered.

There were many of these small hat makers in Austria that mostly made Tracthen hats. Zapf and Bittner (and others) are examples that still survive.

J. Heinr. ITA/JTA was a high end hat company. I wish I could find more of their early 1940s and earlier Soft Felts. I only have two or three but no Velours.

 

[Frunobulax]

If only I had a fraction of the knowledge or collection Steve has...

We all suffer from inadequate feelings when confronted with Steve's knowledge and collection. Him and a few others are invaluable to this site. We're privileged to be on board with them.

 

[mayserwegener]

I am really into the history so maybe not typical. I really appreciate the fantastic information that Celia is finding and the great recent info from Matt. Also Manfred's, Dieter's and Robert's (unfortunately not posting anymore, also Mario + others) valuable contributions over the years.