German & Austrian Hutmachers

[mayserwegener]

Yes we had a meeting of the minds. I think you correct about the dating. I tend to think some company made it for them.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

I would guess you're right with the "external" company.
And for the dating: The KaDeWe was found and built in Charlottenburg, which was an independent city untill 1920 when becoming part of the city of Berlin. So the hat has to be after...

 

[Daniele Tanto]

This March, Steve arrived in Verona with two beautiful hats made of velour
Both products from the glorious Austrian hats factories
One has already been published here after his return to the United States, the other remained as generous gift in Verona

I fulfilled all the steps to set it right, dusted, washed out and inside, brushed and combed has once again revealed its splendor

Huckel "Platin" in velour

Black felt with a hint of grey, Platin (platinum) has a very similar color

Brim at 5.5 cm. amd crown at 11 cm. is very well made

Without lining it had the brand stamped on the inside crown, now almost gone

On the sweatband there are embossed the brand of the factory
and the name of the seller H. Reder - Wien

Here the paper label with the datas of the Platin

Probably it came from the thirties, but it could be also from after war

A perfect example of shape and finishing of a gone era for hats

 

[Redfokker]

This March, Steve arrived in Verona with two beautiful hats made of velour
Both products from the glorious Austrian hats factories
One has already been published here after his return to the United States, the other remained as generous gift in Verona

I fulfilled all the steps to set it right, dusted, washed out and inside, brushed and combed has once again revealed its splendor

Huckel "Platin" in velour

Black felt with a hint of grey, Platin (platinum) has a very similar color

Brim at 5.5 cm. amd crown at 11 cm. is very well made

Without lining it had the brand stamped on the inside crown, now almost gone

On the sweatband there are embossed the brand of the factory
and the name of the seller H. Reder - Wien

Here the paper label with the datas of the Platin

Probably it came from the thirties, but it could be also from after war

A perfect example of shape and finishing of a gone era for hats

Absolutely beautiful Daniele! I just love these velour finishes, they look as comfortable and touchable in a photograph as they must be on your head!

 

[mayserwegener]

Daniele, Thank you taking & posting the detailed photos! I checked and this is the first "Platin" quality. I wish the crown patch was still present but at least you can see it had one.

 

[steur]

Great Stiff Felt! I think it might be Kadewe Berlin or Kaufhaus des Westens Berlin (famous department store). The paper label has KDW which matches. If so I am not sure if they made it or had it made. I couldn't match any hat company to KDW. You see 1/4 French Point sizes in this time period in Germany and Austria (I am not sure of elsewhere).

Steve and Matt, thanks for the information! The name has had me puzzled for as long as I have the hat. I hadn't linked the name and label (should have thought of that), but it makes perfect sense. Good to know and your information matches the backstory perfectly. Love these little histories of the hats I collect.

 

[steur]

This March, Steve arrived in Verona with two beautiful hats made of velour
Both products from the glorious Austrian hats factories
One has already been published here after his return to the United States, the other remained as generous gift in Verona

I fulfilled all the steps to set it right, dusted, washed out and inside, brushed and combed has once again revealed its splendor

Huckel "Platin" in velour

Black felt with a hint of grey, Platin (platinum) has a very similar color

Brim at 5.5 cm. amd crown at 11 cm. is very well made

Without lining it had the brand stamped on the inside crown, now almost gone

On the sweatband there are embossed the brand of the factory
and the name of the seller H. Reder - Wien

Here the paper label with the datas of the Platin

Probably it came from the thirties, but it could be also from after war

A perfect example of shape and finishing of a gone era for hats

Daniele, that is a stunner. Fantastic hat! It has taken me a while to get used to these velour and longhair finished hats, but the craftmanship that goes into them has won me over.

 

[mayserwegener]

Steve and Matt, thanks for the information! The name has had me puzzled for as long as I have the hat. I hadn't linked the name and label (should have thought of that), but it makes perfect sense. Good to know and your information matches the backstory perfectly. Love these little histories of the hats I collect.

The problem is some initials on paper labels are not hat companies. They could be for a retail establishment like this one or a distributor / whole seller. At least in this case the name "Kadewe " is on the liner and sweatband and not just KDW on the paper label.

 

[FedOregon]

This March, Steve arrived in Verona with two beautiful hats made of velour
Both products from the glorious Austrian hats factories
One has already been published here after his return to the United States, the other remained as generous gift in Verona

I fulfilled all the steps to set it right, dusted, washed out and inside, brushed and combed has once again revealed its splendor

Huckel "Platin" in velour

Black felt with a hint of grey, Platin (platinum) has a very similar color

Brim at 5.5 cm. amd crown at 11 cm. is very well made

Without lining it had the brand stamped on the inside crown, now almost gone

On the sweatband there are embossed the brand of the factory
and the name of the seller H. Reder - Wien

Here the paper label with the datas of the Platin

Probably it came from the thirties, but it could be also from after war

A perfect example of shape and finishing of a gone era for hats

Daniele, that hat looks so plush it's almost a fur hat, like a beaver fur hat and not felt! Amazing long hair finish. Thank you for posting the pictures.

 

[steur]

Daniele's wonderful hat reminded me of one I have in my own collection. This one is a Bronnold and it took me quite a while to figure that out, because I couldn't figure out the writing on the sweatband and liner. It took some browsing on Steve's great site (no punishment that) to find that it is indeed a Bronnold. Included is a picture of the shop it was sold by: Joseph Hammel in Fulda. Size 57/58, brim 6 cm, crown 10 cm high at the pinch. Great velour hat in beautiful condition. Struggling a bit with it's age. The frayed edge on the bow suggests an early date, but I really don't know. Any suggestions?

 

[mayserwegener]

Fantastic! Thank you posting the photos! I tend to think it's early to mid 1950s but it could be earlier. I don't have a lot of experience with Bronnold. They are a company I forget to search and don't come up much on random searches (or least in my size range). Daniele's JHS "Platin" is 1930s. By the way the Quality name "Sekunda" is interesting.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Daniele's wonderful hat reminded me of one I have in my own collection. This one is a Bronnold and it took me quite a while to figure that out, because I couldn't figure out the writing on the sweatband and liner. It took some browsing on Steve's great site (no punishment that) to find that it is indeed a Bronnold. Included is a picture of the shop it was sold by: Joseph Hammel in Fulda. Size 57/58, brim 6 cm, crown 10 cm high at the pinch. Great velour hat in beautiful condition. Struggling a bit with it's age. The frayed edge on the bow suggests an early date, but I really don't know. Any suggestions?

Bello! Bellissimo!!

 

[steur]

Steve, Daniele, thanks. I had this one tagged as early fifties as well, but the frayed edge on the bow had me thinking it could be earlier. No matter: it's a great hat whatever it's age.

 

[mayserwegener]

It could be earlier. The liner style has the look of hats from around WWII. Did the store that sold it survive WWII?

Update: The photo you posted has some information on the Wiki page. It appears the store made it through WWII.

Joseph Hammel. Hut, - Mützen u. Pelz-Warenlager.
Gegründet 1. April 1881 von Josef Balthasar Hammel, Kürschner- und Mützenmacher (geb 1836, gest 1916).
Weitergeführt vom Sohn Hans Hammel
Umgebaut 1924
Dann Enkel, Kürschnermeister Hubertus Hammel
1973 Neubau

Joseph Hammel. Hat, - Caps & Fur Warehouse.
Founded 1 April 1881 by Josef Balthasar Hammel, Furrier and Beetler (born 1836, gest 1916).
Conducted by the son of Hans Hammel
Reconstructed 1924
Then grandson, furrier Hubertus Hammel
1973 New building

 

[M Hatman]

So many great hats.........so much history......what else can I say......
Except we need more size 60's people will part with for my modest collection......
Cheers,
M

 

[Windsock8e]

Dermotta I found in a shop. Brim 2 3/8, open crown a little over 5 inches. Black but looks charcoal with black ribbon.

Any ideas on age? I suspect post-war, 1949? The felt is wonderful, like sculpting material.

It says it is 55cm but I am 56.6 and it fits me... just (without forcing it on) and someone wrote in pencil '7' (see third photo below, bottom right of picture on band) which would be a UK 57 and US 56. Not sure whether to keep or not due to it being just a little too small, but feels so nice...

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[steur]

It could be earlier. The liner style has the look of hats from around WWII. Did the store that sold it survive WWII?

Update: The photo you posted has some information on the Wiki page. It appears the store made it through WWII.

Joseph Hammel. Hut, - Mützen u. Pelz-Warenlager.
Gegründet 1. April 1881 von Josef Balthasar Hammel, Kürschner- und Mützenmacher (geb 1836, gest 1916).
Weitergeführt vom Sohn Hans Hammel
Umgebaut 1924
Dann Enkel, Kürschnermeister Hubertus Hammel
1973 Neubau

Joseph Hammel. Hat, - Caps & Fur Warehouse.
Founded 1 April 1881 by Josef Balthasar Hammel, Furrier and Beetler (born 1836, gest 1916).
Conducted by the son of Hans Hammel
Reconstructed 1924
Then grandson, furrier Hubertus Hammel
1973 New building

Steve, thanks. Should have mentioned that I did find out that Hammel survived the war (you have way more information than I found though). Apparently the shop closed in 2009.

 

[steur]

Dermotta I found in a shop. Brim 2 3/8, open crown a little over 5 inches. Black but looks charcoal with black ribbon.

Any ideas on age? I suspect post-war, 1949? The felt is wonderful, like sculpting material.

It says it is 55cm but I am 56.6 and it fits me... just (without forcing it on) and someone wrote in pencil '7' (see third photo below, bottom right of picture on band) which would be a UK 57 and US 56. Not sure whether to keep or not due to it being just a little too small, but feels so nice...

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Great looking hat. I'd keep that (maybe stretch it a little?).

 

[Windsock8e]

Great looking hat. I'd keep that (maybe stretch it a little?).

Thanks. I am new to hats - or I should say vintage hats / non-modern production so question - do I use a hat adjuster or is it better to send off to a proper hat specialist?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[steur]

Thanks. I am new to hats - or I should say vintage hats / non-modern production so question - do I use a hat adjuster or is it better to send off to a proper hat specialist?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Depends a bit on how much you need to stretch it. If it's only a small amount you can do it with the hat adjuster. Steam it first so it becomes more pliable and don't rush it (otherwise you might tear the sweatband). If it's a bit more then you might want to take it to a hatter, just to be sure.