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German & Austrian Hutmachers

Messages
17,514
Location
Maryland
Another one from my shopping yesterday for you to hopefuly enjoy. Vornehm (which roughly translates as "noble" or "of standing") velours in black, size 56. Raw edge brim at 6,5cm and crown 10cm at the pinch. No label in the hat. Came in a bit frumpled (if that's even a word) but it needed little persuasion to show itself as a beautiful hat. The liner seems to be some sort of manufactured material (rayon maybe). That, the size sticker and the frayed bow makes me think it's an early one. Forties or perhaps earlier than that.


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Stefan, Another great find. The Velour Felt looks really fantastic. I think you are probably correct on the dating. My guess would be WWII era maybe a bit later. I have no idea who made it but it reminds me of some of my mystery hats like this one.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionz...tefan-esders-wien-department-store/#entry1668
 
Messages
17,514
Location
Maryland
That is another beauty, Steve. I really like the warm colour of this one. Would you reshape the hat from its preformed shape or just leave it like it is?
Stefan, Thanks! I think it would reshape but there might be some wear at the crease lines because of the finish so I will keep it as is. It's a little tight but the felt is very soft so it will conform over time.
 
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
Stefan, Another great find. The Velour Felt looks really fantastic. I think you are probably correct on the dating. My guess would be WWII era maybe a bit later. I have no idea who made it but it reminds me of some of my mystery hats like this one.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionz...tefan-esders-wien-department-store/#entry1668
Steve, thanks. All we can do is keep looking for more hats to get a better picture of the hat histories. So it's all in the name of history and science:)
 
Messages
17,514
Location
Maryland
J. Hückel´s Söhne Wien "Eureka - Plume", French Point 5 1/4, 117 grams, probably early 1900s. I have never come across a "Eureka" before. The form of this Stiff Felt is really great. The black liner and gold embossing is especially striking. Same with the stylized "Eureka" on the sweatband. Also notice the 1/4 French French Point Size so 5 1/4 would equal 57.5 cm. French Point Sizing was in 1/4 intervals up to WWII. I have only come across Stiff Felts in French Point 1/4 sizes. A Hat Satchel was included but not original to the hat (Kötzschenbroda is nearby Dresden).

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Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
J. Hückel ´s Söhne Neutitschein, 1901

(About the same time period as the "Eureka - Plume" Stiff Felt posted above. The Stiff Felts are on left side of of the first photo.)

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Great finds, Steve. It does make me wonder if that was the size of their staff at that date. Seems to be a relatively small number of men.
 
Messages
17,514
Location
Maryland
Stefan, They had 1200 workers in 1898 and 2000 employees in 1909. The first photo is production oriented and the second appears to administrative. The executives are in the center surrounded by workers. I would guess the men nearest to the center are department heads and masters. This was the largest Fur Felt factory in Europe and one of the largest in the world (see photos below). They produced both finished hats and felt hoods / stumps (especially Velour).

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1913 JHS ad from the American Hatter (2500 Workmen). They eventually added two additional factories (Silesia Germany and Poland) 1920s. There are more details on my site.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionz...ann-hückel´s-söhne-hückel-hutfabrik-weilheim/

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Last edited:
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
Stefan, They had 1200 workers in 1898 and 2000 employees in 1909. The first photo is production oriented and the second appears to administrative. The executives are in the center surrounded by workers. I would guess the men nearest to the center are department heads and masters. This was the largest Fur Felt factory in Europe and one of the largest in the world (see photos below). They produced both finished hats and felt hoods / stumps (especially Velour).

6379390335_987cd743d8_b.jpg


1913 JHS ad from the American Hatter (2500 Workmen). They eventually added two additional factories (Silesia Germany and Poland) 1920s. There are more details on my site.

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

5622331069_9f990f7e56_b.jpg
Steve, thanks. That makes a lot more sense. The other pictures were just a selected few for some sort of special occasion then probably.
 

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