German & Austrian Hutmachers

[mayserwegener]

STECO "Otter Velour" probably late 1930s. Unfortunately this hat was modified. The ribbon / bow was replaced and the brim was probably cut. Luckily I was able to find out that STECO was Friedrich Steinberg Herrmann & Co. Hutfabrik Luckenwalde (Germany). The "Otter Velour" was most likely STECO's answer to J. Hückel ´s Söhne's "Seal Velour". The Velour (finish, hand, color) and original components (liner and sweatband) are very high quality.

Open Crown

From "Deutsche Hutmacher-Zeitung (German Hat Maker News)", December 15, 1936 from the from the Gotisches Haus (Gothic House) Bad Homburg , Germany collection. This a special edition for the Scandinavian market.

From the above article:

"The company was founded in 1811 as a cloth factory but converted in 1883 on hat factory. The company manufactures hoods and hats in wool, hair and velour for men and women. In the modern factory rooms equipped with all the latest innovations, it is possible to produce up to 1,200 pairs of stumps per day which are further processed in a branch plant also located in Luckenwalde. In the field of export, the company has been active in the early days."

The factory building was designed by the famous architect Erich von Mendelsohn.

http://www.hiddenarchitecture.net/2015/05/friedrich-steinberg-herrmann-hat-factory.html

Some of the factory still stands today and is a protected monument. The following photos were taken during a recent renovation project (now completed).

 

[mayserwegener]

R. Hecht Leipzig - Theater Passage - Grimmaishe Str. 12, Wool, 58cm, 160 grams probably 1930s. The Wool is dense and the finish is very smooth. There is only a small fragment of main paper stamp remaining behind the sweatband. The main paper tag is the same type as a number of other German hats I have that don't have a company mark. My guess is that these hats were made by one of the large scale German Hat Companies that were located in Eastern Germany that produced both Wool and Fur Felt hats but didn't survive WWII.

The above cm size tag and main paper stamp fragment are similar to the this hat.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/130-ems-hutfabrik/#entry1137

I have few other hats with the same main paper stamp but no company mark. As I mentioned I believe these hats were made by one of the large scale German Hat Companies that were located in Eastern Germany that produced both Wool and Fur Felt hats but didn't survive WWII.

Natural Light

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

This Bowler is very nice!
If you ever decide to give it away...

 

[steur]

STECO "Otter Velour" probably late 1930s. Unfortunately this hat was modified. The ribbon / bow was replaced and the brim was probably cut. Luckily I was able to find out that STECO was Friedrich Steinberg Herrmann & Co. Hutfabrik Luckenwalde (Germany). The "Otter Velour" was most likely STECO's answer to J. Hückel ´s Söhne's "Seal Velour". The Velour (finish, hand, color) and original components (liner and sweatband) are very high quality.

Open Crown

From "Deutsche Hutmacher-Zeitung (German Hat Maker News)", December 15, 1936 from the from the Gotisches Haus (Gothic House) Bad Homburg , Germany collection. This a special edition for the Scandinavian market.

From the above article:

"The company was founded in 1811 as a cloth factory but converted in 1883 on hat factory. The company manufactures hoods and hats in wool, hair and velour for men and women. In the modern factory rooms equipped with all the latest innovations, it is possible to produce up to 1,200 pairs of stumps per day which are further processed in a branch plant also located in Luckenwalde. In the field of export, the company has been active in the early days."

The factory building was designed by the famous architect Erich von Mendelsohn.

http://www.hiddenarchitecture.net/2015/05/friedrich-steinberg-herrmann-hat-factory.html

Some of the factory still stands today and is a protected monument. The following photos were taken during a recent renovation project (now completed).

Another fantastic and informative post, Steve. Thank you for that. The pictures really bring out the sheen of the velour felt as well.

 

[steur]

No comparison with the ones Steve posted, but still a nice little find and in good shape. Wilke velours in dark grey. Size either 57 or 58 (I'm unsure because there's no label inside the hat). Bound brim 5,5cm and crown 11cm at the pinch. A bit more modern; sixties or seventies.

 

[Redfokker]

No comparison with the ones Steve posted, but still a nice little find and in good shape. Wilke velours in dark grey. Size either 57 or 58 (I'm unsure because there's no label inside the hat). Bound brim 5,5cm and crown 11cm at the pinch. A bit more modern; sixties or seventies.

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Very nice looking hat. There is just no comparison between this and an American hat from the 1970s.

 

[mayserwegener]

Stefan, I think the C.G. Wilke mark was acquired by F.W. Schneider Köln (still in business and own Stetson Europe).

 

[mayserwegener]

This Bowler is very nice!
If you ever decide to give it away...

Matt, Thanks! This one ended up in Essen.

 

[mayserwegener]

Another fantastic and informative post, Steve. Thank you for that. The pictures really bring out the sheen of the velour felt as well.

Stefan, Thank you! I was very lucky to find the meaning of the STECO mark.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Matt, Thanks! This one ended up in Essen.

Ok, so I was too late!
It's a pitty - my workplace is 30 meters away from the Theaterpassage!

 

[mayserwegener]

Ok, so I was too late!
It's a pitty - my workplace is 30 meters away from the Theaterpassage!

Matt, Sorry I meant the seller was in Essen. It's rare to find a Wool Stiff Felt in such good condition.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

OK, misunderstood...
Yes, know what you mean. Hard to find in this quality.
Anyway - love that one! Congrats!

 

[Chepstow]

Great finds Matt, Daniele, Stefan, Mike and Steve. Nice to see that your hat collection grows up and up.
I found some stingy Mayser and Wegner in the past but I don‘t load it up in lounge.
I hope Sunday will be great weather behause the season for big fleamarket begins in Düsseldorf- Maybe some new awesome finds for this thread!


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[Mean Eyed Matt]

Hey Manfred, that's what I thought: fleamarket season has to start!

 

[mayserwegener]

Great finds Matt, Daniele, Stefan, Mike and Steve. Nice to see that your hat collection grows up and up.
I found some stingy Mayser and Wegner in the past but I don‘t load it up in lounge.
I hope Sunday will be great weather behause the season for big fleamarket begins in Düsseldorf- Maybe some new awesome finds for this thread!


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Manfred, Thanks! I will put in a wish for good weather. Also for some great finds and of course a super bratwurst or two!

 

[Chepstow]

Thanks Matt![emoji1360]
Steve, you will never forget the Bratwurst in Dortmund [emoji23] Thanks for the wishes my friend!


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[steur]

Great finds Matt, Daniele, Stefan, Mike and Steve. Nice to see that your hat collection grows up and up.
I found some stingy Mayser and Wegner in the past but I don‘t load it up in lounge.
I hope Sunday will be great weather behause the season for big fleamarket begins in Düsseldorf- Maybe some new awesome finds for this thread!


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Manfred, thanks. And good luck with the fleamarket.

 

[Chepstow]

Thank you very much Stefan! I think all the good wishes will help [emoji16]


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[mayserwegener]

Echter Borsalino, Point 5, Crown Open 5 1/2 inches, Brim 2 inches, probably late 1930s and made for the German market. The felt is medium weight and very pliable. There is a wind cord which is uniquely wrapped (see photo) with contrasting band and binding. There is a separate paper size stamp and the main paper label has "Amiata, C. Nera, Gorasgu". The hat is in mint condition and was sold by Ferdinand, Klan Hof i / B. (Bavaria).

Unique wind cord wrapping.

Open Crown

 

[steur]

Picked this one up recently as a 58 size. It wasn't: it turned out to be a 57 and a small one at that. Nice enough hat though. Overbeck Sonett in black, size 57, with a 6,5cm bound and triple stitched brim and crown at 10cm. Lovely felt with some spring to it (like nutria has). The hat reminds me of a Mayser I have with a similar finish and one that Steve posted recently. Can't say who te maker of this one was; may very well have been Mayser.