German & Austrian Hutmachers

[Pellie]

Rockel Velour, labeled 59cm but fits 58cm, possibly 1930s. The Dark Metal Gray Velour is in very good condition. The glossy color coordinated Liner is striking. Rockel Alsfeld didn't get started until the mid 1920 but found a nitch producing affordable quality Fur Felt Hats.

Open Crown

Very nice!!

 

[mayserwegener]

Very nice!!

Pellie, Thank you!

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Long time no new hat posted, because there was always little time:
So this one is already longer in my possession

Wegener "Extra" in a wonderful dark blue (sorry for the bad photos)
size 58; bound brim at 5.5 cm; crown at the center dent at 10.5 cm
The medium weight felt is of great quality and wonderfully soft;
the synthetic lining has a blue contrasting piping;
only the sweat is of really inferior quality, composed of 2 pieces,
poorly glued together & sewn in and also already very brittle.
I think it is a early post war period hat - late 40's or very early 50's
and a look at Steve's homepage would confirm my suspicion,
because this gray Wegener "Extra" seems to be quite similar:
https://germanaustrianhats.invision...egener-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=2181

no Wegener label - just these

 

[mayserwegener]

Long time no new hat posted, because there was always little time:
So this one is already longer in my possession

Wegener "Extra" in a wonderful dark blue (sorry for the bad photos)
size 58; bound brim at 5.5 cm; crown at the center dent at 10.5 cm
The medium weight felt is of great quality and wonderfully soft;
the synthetic lining has a blue contrasting piping;
only the sweat is of really inferior quality, composed of 2 pieces,
poorly glued together & sewn in and also already very brittle.
I think it is a early post war period hat - late 40's or very early 50's
and a look at Steve's homepage would confirm my suspicion,
because this gray Wegener "Extra" seems to be quite similar:
https://germanaustrianhats.invision...egener-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=2181

no Wegener label - just these

Matt, Super find! Really like the Felt color and it does look like it has a soft hand, Are you thinking the sweatband was replaced? That would be my thinking because usually Wegener sweatbands are brand marked and of high quality.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Matt, Super find! Really like the Felt color and it does look like it has a soft hand, Are you thinking the sweatband was replaced? That would be my thinking because usually Wegener sweatbands are brand marked and of high quality.

Thank you, Steve. I didn't even thought of the sweat being replaced, till you asked: That could be, of course, but then it would have been done professionally, not in 'home work' by hand, because the seam is too complex and uniform for that. I emphasize this, because I ask myself the question: Why would a hatter in the 50s or 60s take such a poor piece of leather for the order of a sweat replacement?
When the hat arrived and I saw the leather, I thought directly and first, it must have been made shortly after the war: leather was very scarce and was limited, so probably even the suppliers for the hat industry had to resort to what was available. That would be my guess, but your idea also has something to it: the missing paper label could also speak for that. Do you have examples of this kind of inferior and 'pieced together' sweats?

 

[steur]

Long time no new hat posted, because there was always little time:
So this one is already longer in my possession

Wegener "Extra" in a wonderful dark blue (sorry for the bad photos)
size 58; bound brim at 5.5 cm; crown at the center dent at 10.5 cm
The medium weight felt is of great quality and wonderfully soft;
the synthetic lining has a blue contrasting piping;
only the sweat is of really inferior quality, composed of 2 pieces,
poorly glued together & sewn in and also already very brittle.
I think it is a early post war period hat - late 40's or very early 50's
and a look at Steve's homepage would confirm my suspicion,
because this gray Wegener "Extra" seems to be quite similar:
https://germanaustrianhats.invision...egener-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=2181

no Wegener label - just these

Cool find, Matt and a nice coloured homburg. Does it look like the liner ever had a plastic covering? If not, it is likely an earlier hat and the poor sweatband could then indeed be due to scarce leather supply.

 

[mayserwegener]

Thank you, Steve. I didn't even thought of the sweat being replaced, till you asked: That could be, of course, but then it would have been done professionally, not in 'home work' by hand, because the seam is too complex and uniform for that. I emphasize this, because I ask myself the question: Why would a hatter in the 50s or 60s take such a poor piece of leather for the order of a sweat replacement?
When the hat arrived and I saw the leather, I thought directly and first, it must have been made shortly after the war: leather was very scarce and was limited, so probably even the suppliers for the hat industry had to resort to what was available. That would be my guess, but your idea also has something to it: the missing paper label could also speak for that. Do you have examples of this kind of inferior and 'pieced together' sweats?

Matt, Is the Liner stitched in? It looks like the threads are missing. My feeling is the sweatband is not original because Wegener was on the higher end. They had high quality sweatbands with Wegener brand mark. They also mostly used cord sweatband bows. This is an earlier one with a taped sweatband seam.

https://germanaustrianhats.invision...egener-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=1963

Not a R. & M. Wegener but a JHS "Superior" that has a replaced Sweatband.

https://germanaustrianhats.invision...tfabrik-weilheim/?do=findComment&comment=2119

 

[mayserwegener]

"Habig Hüte", Brass Figurine, 5 cm possibly early 1900s. I believe this depicts mid 19th Century Austria. There are no production markings.

 

[steur]

"Habig Hüte", Brass Figurine, 5 cm possibly early 1900s. I believe this depicts mid 19th Century Austria. There are no production markings.

Wonderful find, Steve. Amazing this item was preserved.

 

[mayserwegener]

Wonderful find, Steve. Amazing this item was preserved.

Stefan, Thank you!

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Cool find, Matt and a nice coloured homburg. Does it look like the liner ever had a plastic covering? If not, it is likely an earlier hat and the poor sweatband could then indeed be due to scarce leather supply.

Matt, Is the Liner stitched in? It looks like the threads are missing. My feeling is the sweatband is not original because Wegener was on the higher end. They had high quality sweatbands with Wegener brand mark. They also mostly used cord sweatband bows. This is an earlier one with a taped sweatband seam.

Thank you guys for your clues and trying to solve the mystery:
I looked very closely and even tried to stretch the seams of the lining a bit, but there is no residue of any plastic covering and I don't think there ever was.
I also closely inspected the feed overall again and have to commend Steve's good eye: The lining is glued in, but still very much shows the old holes and folds where it was previously sewn in - didn't even notice the threads missing before.
This, together with the missing Wegener paper label and the strange sweat, are strong indications indeed, for a replacement. However, I still think the hat is a fairly early postwar production to mid-50s.

 

[marting81]

C. G. Wilke - Helios

 

[mayserwegener]

Thank you guys for your clues and trying to solve the mystery:
I looked very closely and even tried to stretch the seams of the lining a bit, but there is no residue of any plastic covering and I don't think there ever was.
I also closely inspected the feed overall again and have to commend Steve's good eye: The lining is glued in, but still very much shows the old holes and folds where it was previously sewn in - didn't even notice the threads missing before.
This, together with the missing Wegener paper label and the strange sweat, are strong indications indeed, for a replacement. However, I still think the hat is a fairly early postwar production to mid-50s.

Matt, I think that hat might be even earlier. Maybe similar to one you posted of mine which is probably just post WWII.

 

[mayserwegener]

C. G. Wilke - Helios
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Martin, Super! Really like the Liner design and Sun effect (Helios). It's in great overall condition. Also the date is helpful.

 

[steur]

C. G. Wilke - Helios
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Fabulous find! That liner is outstanding.

 

[mayserwegener]

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Durit", FP 5 1/2, possibly late 1920s and made for the French Market. The Light Brown Velour has high gloss and easily dry creases. The wide Ribbon / Band is an interesting Reddish Brown. It has a tall 6 inch Open Crown and 2 1/2 inch Brim.

Open Crown

 

[steur]

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Durit", FP 5 1/2, possibly late 1920s and made for the French Market. The Light Brown Velour has high gloss and easily dry creases. The wide Ribbon / Band is an interesting Reddish Brown. It has a tall 6 inch Open Crown and 2 1/2 inch Brim.

Open Crown

That is a beauty, Steve. So nice to see them in different colours.

 

[mayserwegener]

That is a beauty, Steve. So nice to see them in different colours.

Stefan, Thank you! Yes, it great to find different colors. I think it will look better in natural light but I will have to wait a couple month's to wear it.

 

[the_imperialist]

Amazing addition Steve, always a joy to see another old velour in your collection.

 

[mayserwegener]

Amazing addition Steve, always a joy to see another old velour in your collection.

Wayne, Thanks!