German & Austrian Hutmachers

[mayserwegener]

Thanks, Timmy. Steve @mayserwegener can probably tell by that label which time period that hat is, because they do carry a date code on them. .

@TimmyV , This is an earlier Tonak. Can you post photos of the sweatband stampings? The paper label is in English vs. Czech.

 

[TimmyV]

@TimmyV , This is an earlier Tonak. Can you post photos of the sweatband stampings? The paper label is in English vs. Czech.

I appreciate any information you may be able to provide Steve. Here ya go !

 

[mayserwegener]

I appreciate any information you may be able to provide Steve. Here ya go !
View attachment 685776 View attachment 685777

Timmy, Thank you for posting the additional photos. This is an early Tonak Plant Hückel made for the American market so probably later 1940s early 1950s. The "Alpha" and "Seal Velour" trademarks goes back to J. Hückel ´s Söhne / JHS. After WWII all Czech hat factories were nationalized as Tonak. The main Tonak factory was the JHS factory in Nový Jičín / Neutitschein, Czechoslovakia (up to WWI part of Austria Hungary) and this is where your hat was made. JHS won many international awards including the 1900 Paris Grand Prix. JHS were known for the finest Echter / Real Velour hats and were major producers of Felt and Soft + Stiff Felt Hats.

Here are a two JHS "Alpha" "Seal Velour".

https://germanaustrianhats.invision...el-hutfabrik-weilheim/page/2/#findComment-610

https://germanaustrianhats.invision...l-hutfabrik-weilheim/page/6/#findComment-2226

Here are some other early Tonak "Plant Hückel" and "Formerly Hückel" Soft Felts.

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/124-tonak-formerly-hückel-plant-hückel/

You can read about JHS, Tonak 1945 - 1989, Tonak Post 1989

https://germanaustrianhats.invision...himneys-september-7-29-2019/#findComment-2291

JHS

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/6-johann-hückel´s-söhne-hückel-hutfabrik-weilheim/

Here is a 1933 article on Echter / Prima Velour.

Hair Velour / Real (Echter) Velour / Prime (Prima) Velour Fabrikation von Damen- und Herren- Filzhüten, Der Deustchen Hutmacher Zeitung (1933)

Hair Velour / Real (Echter) Velour / Prime (Prima) Velour By C.A.P. Pellaio (English Translation By ErWeSa (Wolfgang)) Fabrikation von Damen- und Herren- Filzhüten, Der Deustchen Hutmacher Zeitung (1933) "What is wool?" - "The hair of a sheep." "What’s a sheep?" - "A sheep? An animal,of course." ...

germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com

There is a lot of information on my website about JHS and Tonak. If you have any questions please ask. Your Tonak "Plant Hückel" "Alpha" "Seal Velour" is fantastic!

 

[mayserwegener]

W. & G. Schuchard "J. Harris & Co. Strand 32 London", 58 cm, possibly later 1950s. W. & G. Schuchard were a Wholesaler, Distributor out of Giessen, Lahn, Germany. Matt was very kind to send this hat to me as exchange for a smaller hat that I had mistakenly purchased from a seller that wouldn't ship outside of Germany. The black Felt is really fantastic and easily dry creases. Also has great form and top quality construction. Using an English theme was common in this time period.

Natural Light

 

[steur]

W. & G. Schuchard "J. Harris & Co. Strand 32 London", 58 cm, possibly later 1950s. W. & G. Schuchard were a Wholesaler, Distributor out of Giessen, Lahn, Germany. Matt was very kind to send this hat to me as exchange for a smaller hat that I had mistakenly purchased from a seller that wouldn't ship outside of Germany. The black Felt is really fantastic and easily dry creases. Also has great form and top quality construction. Using an English theme was common in this time period.

Natural Light

That is a very nice looking hat, Steve. I really like that ribbon treatment, that gives it that sleek look.

 

[mayserwegener]

That is a very nice looking hat, Steve. I really like that ribbon treatment, that gives it that sleek look.

Stefan, Thank you! Also, Thanks for pointing out the ribbon treatment. That was also somewhat common in the time period.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

W. & G. Schuchard "J. Harris & Co. Strand 32 London", 58 cm, possibly later 1950s. W. & G. Schuchard were a Wholesaler, Distributor out of Giessen, Lahn, Germany. Matt was very kind to send this hat to me as exchange for a smaller hat that I had mistakenly purchased from a seller that wouldn't ship outside of Germany. The black Felt is really fantastic and easily dry creases. Also has great form and top quality construction. Using an English theme was common in this time period.

Natural Light

I am very happy, Steve, that this hat, which was one of my first and yet unfortunately hardly saw the light of day, is now part of your wonderful collection and in use.