German & Austrian Hutmachers

[mayserwegener]

Very interesting looking hard Steve. Finish looks lovely. Whats the height of the crown? It looks short.
Hope all is well!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Harv, Thanks! All is well. I hope with you too. We have to meet up in the new year.

The Crown height is over 5 1/2 inches Open so not short. It could be the blocking. The brim is about 2 inches. Here is a photo of me wearing it.

 

[moehawk]

I found this Alpenland on eBay. I didn't know anything about the maker, but I do have a weakness for the wider brimmed green Trachtens, so I got it mostly for curiosity.
It arrived yesterday. Here's pics.
With pins

I took off the pin and brush, the star pin fell apart. Both left deep marks on the felt.

Inside and sticker

No stamps or marks on the thin, green unreeded sweatband.

The crown is a little over 5 1/4" high, 2 3/8" underwelt brim. 144g. The felt is thick, stiff and has a coarse hand. I thought maybe a wool blend, but I then checked the feel against some other fur felts and it feels similar to a couple I have. Still not ruling out the possibility that wool may be present.
Not sure of the age. 50's maybe? Any input welcome!

Powered by happy thoughts

 

[steur]

Rehfus & Cie. Hat Factory "Olympia", French Point 5 / 57, probably late 1950s very early 1960s. They were located (Kehl am Rhein, Baden) close to France (Strasbourg / Strassburg) so probably why they used French Point sizing. Rehfus & Cie. closed in 1963.

Open Crown

Nice find, Steve. I come across Rehfus hats now and again, but usually very small sizes.

 

[steur]

I found this Alpenland on eBay. I didn't know anything about the maker, but I do have a weakness for the wider brimmed green Trachtens, so I got it mostly for curiosity.
It arrived yesterday. Here's pics.
With pins

I took off the pin and brush, the star pin fell apart. Both left deep marks on the felt.

Inside and sticker

No stamps or marks on the thin, green unreeded sweatband.

The crown is a little over 5 1/4" high, 2 3/8" underwelt brim. 144g. The felt is thick, stiff and has a coarse hand. I thought maybe a wool blend, but I then checked the feel against some other fur felts and it feels similar to a couple I have. Still not ruling out the possibility that wool may be present.
Not sure of the age. 50's maybe? Any input welcome!

Powered by happy thoughts

Something I would skip right away if I saw the auction picture, but I must say that it looks quite good after you've shaped it, John.

 

[moehawk]

Something I would skip right away if I saw the auction picture, but I must say that it looks quite good after you've shaped it, John.

Thanks Stefan!
The auction pic actually looks a little better than mine... the first one I posted with the pins isn't good lighting.

 

[M Hatman]

With all these old ones being posted I almost hate post this here but it is really a nice hat. Sweat dated 1988.....so not old at all. Color is quite hard to capture but is what I would call a grey/blue.....Steel Grey maybe.......GREAT COLOR........not a color we do over here....took my crease well..... 2 1/2 inch bound brim, little over five inch open crown with 1 1/2 inch ribbon with wind cord. Originally sold at BATES Jermym Street - London SW1
Nice hat.......
M

 

[1mach1]

With all these old ones being posted I almost hate post this here but it is really a nice hat. Sweat dated 1988.....so not old at all. Color is quite hard to capture but is what I would call a grey/blue.....Steel Grey maybe.......GREAT COLOR........not a color we do over here....took my crease well..... 2 1/2 inch bound brim, little over five inch open crown with 1 1/2 inch ribbon with wind cord. Originally sold at BATES Jermym Street - London SW1
Nice hat.......
M
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That is a very nice looking newer production hat! Great color indeed.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[Redfokker]

With all these old ones being posted I almost hate post this here but it is really a nice hat. Sweat dated 1988.....so not old at all. Color is quite hard to capture but is what I would call a grey/blue.....Steel Grey maybe.......GREAT COLOR........not a color we do over here....took my crease well..... 2 1/2 inch bound brim, little over five inch open crown with 1 1/2 inch ribbon with wind cord. Originally sold at BATES Jermym Street - London SW1
Nice hat.......
M
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Very nice hat for sure.

 

[steur]

With all these old ones being posted I almost hate post this here but it is really a nice hat. Sweat dated 1988.....so not old at all. Color is quite hard to capture but is what I would call a grey/blue.....Steel Grey maybe.......GREAT COLOR........not a color we do over here....took my crease well..... 2 1/2 inch bound brim, little over five inch open crown with 1 1/2 inch ribbon with wind cord. Originally sold at BATES Jermym Street - London SW1
Nice hat.......
M
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Nice shape and colour. The later Hückel hats come in two flavours: the ones made by Tonak (this is one of them) and the ones made by Hückel Welheim. Very interesting brand history; Steve can tell you much more.

 

[mayserwegener]

I have been on travel for a fencing tournament and just arrived home.

I found this Alpenland on eBay. I didn't know anything about the maker, but I do have a weakness for the wider brimmed green Trachtens, so I got it mostly for curiosity.
It arrived yesterday. Here's pics.
With pins

I took off the pin and brush, the star pin fell apart. Both left deep marks on the felt.

Inside and sticker

No stamps or marks on the thin, green unreeded sweatband.

The crown is a little over 5 1/4" high, 2 3/8" underwelt brim. 144g. The felt is thick, stiff and has a coarse hand. I thought maybe a wool blend, but I then checked the feel against some other fur felts and it feels similar to a couple I have. Still not ruling out the possibility that wool may be present.
Not sure of the age. 50's maybe? Any input welcome!

Powered by happy thoughts

John, Super looking Trachten Hat. The paper label doesn't give me any clues on the company that made it. It looks to be of very good quality. My guess would be later 1950s maybe early to mid 1960s.

With all these old ones being posted I almost hate post this here but it is really a nice hat. Sweat dated 1988.....so not old at all. Color is quite hard to capture but is what I would call a grey/blue.....Steel Grey maybe.......GREAT COLOR........not a color we do over here....took my crease well..... 2 1/2 inch bound brim, little over five inch open crown with 1 1/2 inch ribbon with wind cord. Originally sold at BATES Jermym Street - London SW1
Nice hat.......
M
View attachment 97150 View attachment 97151 View attachment 97152 View attachment 97153

Stefan, Always interested to see a later Tonak Hückel. It's interesting that they used the Hückel trademark on and off for the general market. Now it seems Tonak only use the Hückel for specific Orthodox Jewish markets. They keep the JHS 1799 logo design for the general market but substitute Tonak for Hückel.

 

[mayserwegener]

I received a Christmas and New Year E-card from Andreas at Bahner Hatmachine.

Bahner Hatmachine is the last manufacturer and restorer of Hat Machines (this includes machines for Fur and Wool Felt Production) in the World. If you haven't looked through their website I would highly suggest doing so.

http://www.hatmachines.com/default.asp

 

[moehawk]

I have been on travel for a fencing tournament and just arrived home.



John, Super looking Trachten Hat. The paper label doesn't give me any clues on the company that made it. It looks to be of very good quality. My guess would be later 1950s maybe early to mid 1960s.



Stefan, Always interested to see a later Tonak Hückel. It's interesting that they used the Hückel trademark on and off for the general market. Now it seems Tonak only use the Hückel for specific Orthodox Jewish markets. They keep the JHS 1799 logo design for the general market but substitute Tonak for Hückel.

Thanks Steve!
The quality does seem to be higher than my initial impression had me believe. The stiffness and "hairiness" of the felt gave me a feeling t was cheaper, but with some handling and steaming it really softened up. No more loud "POP!" when the brim snaps back up (actually stays put now) and the felt isn't really much hairier feeling than a Winchester rabbit. I think the previous owner just never broke it in.

 

[mayserwegener]

John, It's a rougher natural finish which is common with Tracthen hats. It must have a lot of stiffener so a good hat for hiking or hunting.

 

[steur]

I received a Christmas and New Year E-card from Andreas at Bahner Hatmachine.

Bahner Hatmachine is the last manufacturer and restorer of Hat Machines (this includes machines for Fur and Wool Felt Production) in the World. If you haven't looked through their website I would highly suggest doing so.

http://www.hatmachines.com/default.asp

Maybe I shouldn't: I might develop an urge to buy some of their machines!

 

[moehawk]

John, It's a rougher natural finish which is common with Tracthen hats. It must have a lot of stiffener so a good hat for hiking or hunting.

Or construction work... or at least that's how it seemed out of the box.
But once it started breaking in, the hat is much nicer to wear. I imagine it could hold up to some serious mountaineering.

 

[mayserwegener]

Friedrich Paul (Fritz) Hückel * 22.6.1885 (Nový Jičín) † 12.1.1973 (Munich)

Fritz Hückel wasn't interested in the hat business. He was an early automotive engineer (car design & production under the Hückel and Gnom) and was a pioneer of the European racing circuit (became the Grand Prix). He fled (to Bavaria) Czechoslovakia after WWII and financed a displaced Hückel workers startup (Hückel Hutfabrik) in Weilheim, Germany.

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=cs&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https://galerieosobnosti.muzeumnj.cz/friedrich-paul-fritz-huckel&edit-text=&act=url

Hückel Hutfabrik Weilheim, Germany

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionz...hne-hückel-hutfabrik-weilheim/page-8#entry952

Austro, Austro-Cyclecar (1913 - 1914)

Production info
(1913 - 1914); Fritz Hückel; Neutitschein; Austria (after WWI Novy Jicin, Czechoslovakia)

Automobile plant of Fritz Hückel in Schönau (Novy Jicin) (1921-1936) for the production of the vehicle model GNOM

Auto Racing

 

[steur]

Friedrich Paul (Fritz) Hückel * 22.6.1885 (Nový Jičín) † 12.1.1973 (Munich)

Fritz Hückel wasn't interested in the hat business. He was an early automotive engineer (car design & production under the Hückel and Gnom) and was a pioneer of the European racing circuit (became the Grand Prix). He fled (to Bavaria) Czechoslovakia after WWII and financed a displaced Hückel workers startup (Hückel Hutfabrik) in Weilheim, Germany.

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=cs&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https://galerieosobnosti.muzeumnj.cz/friedrich-paul-fritz-huckel&edit-text=&act=url

Hückel Hutfabrik Weilheim, Germany

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/6-johann-hückel´s-söhne-hückel-hutfabrik-weilheim/page-8#entry952

Austro, Austro-Cyclecar (1913 - 1914)

Production info
(1913 - 1914); Fritz Hückel; Neutitschein; Austria (after WWI Novy Jicin, Czechoslovakia)

Automobile plant of Fritz Hückel in Schönau (Novy Jicin) (1921-1936) for the production of the vehicle model GNOM

Auto Racing

Very interesting piece of history, Steve. Apparently he didn't flee the country with empty pockets.

 

[mayserwegener]

Stefan, I am pretty sure to some degree he had it setup prior. From what I can remember there was short time period before the company was nationalized and there was no war damage to deal with but they still had problems getting production up and going. Hückel Main Factory (Novy Jicin) became Tonak No. 1 Factory after nationalization but they lost important knowledge because many of the workers were ethnically German and were expelled (many ended up working in hat factories in Southern Germany).

 

[mayserwegener]

Afred Neubauer the first Mercedes Race Team Manager (he invented the position and also worked with Ferdinand Porsche) was from Neutitschein / Novy Jicin and a big (large collection) hat fan (friends with Fritz Hückel). His trademark was throwing his hat (probably a Hückel) in front of the winning Mercedes (see more details below).

Afred Neubauer (above in hat and his connection with Hückel below)

"The second factor that affected the young Alfred was also related to his fathers work. Karl did some work for a very wealthy Neutitschein family by the name of Hückel. At the end of the 19th century the Neutitscheiner Hückel hat factory was the biggest in Europe and was known worldwide. The company had a fleet of vehicles and the Hückel family garage had two steam cars and a prestigious Benz.

When Alfred accompanied his father to perform some carpentry work at the Hückel family home he met Fritz Hückel (22-6-1885/12-1-1973). Fritz was 6 years older than Alfred but they would became close, and life-long, friends. Once introduced to the chauffeurs the young Neubauer was soon learning more of the mysteries of early automobiles, it is said Alfred had an innate mechanical ability.

Later in life Fritz Hückel became a racing driver and passionate supporter of the sport. Alfred Neubauer was a great lover of Hückel head wear but also acquired a habit of celebrating victories by throwing his hat under the wheels of his winning machine. Luckily this friendship with Fritz Hückel meant the race director never had to worry about a supply of hats!

It might have been fate that the car that rolled through Neutitschein in 1898 was a Benz, life already marking out the path the young Alfred was intended to take. But Neubauer did everything he could to further the cause. He was totally engrossed in all things cars, nothing else interested him, including schooling! He enthusiastically collected everything he could find about cars. When he was a ten year old Alfred Neubauer bombarded the few European car factories with requests for catalogues, brochures and information. Alfred Neubauer had already decided that cars would be his life, it is said that his father and other local carpenters built Alfred, and the local children, small wooden cars which they raced against each other. The seeds of the Neubauer/Mercedes-Benz legend were already sown."

http://www.themotormuseuminminiature.co.uk/mosport-hof-alfred-neubauer.php

 

[65 Classic]

First German hat for me. Very happy and waiting for this Huckel velour