Homburg Nation

[Jeremy T Garner]

Being of the larger persuasion, you will see higher prices for these sizes. I kind of think that $300 is on the high side, if it is really special (old) maybe. It does have some good points, even though the pics are cruddy, the original price tag, intact, is something you don't see often. I would be wary without being able to make out the Stetson logo in the picture, details are important there (check the dedicated thread on Stetson logos), but it does look to be in the 1950s somewhere. As hard as it is not to snatch any 7 5/8 that comes along, this one is kind of overpriced, shoot the seller an offer. Maybe a great old Knox or Mallory will swim by in the bay. These would be a $300 no brainer.

I'm sure others will chime in on this, my meager knowledge of the large noggin issues comes from reading posts here on the lounge. Maybe Steve has a huge sized beauty he can't wear!

Thank you very much for the advice Mike. You fellows here at the Lounge have been so kind to take me under your wing and teach me. Looking forward to meeting a few of you guys in person!

 

[steur]

View attachment 81295 View attachment 81296 View attachment 81297 View attachment 81298 View attachment 81299 View attachment 81300 Well, after buying my first Homburg, a Stetson St Regis in grey, I have followed @Redfokker advice and found a more "formal" black one. It too is a St Regis that I believe is of the same 1950s vintage. I haven't pulled the trigger on this one yet as it's more than I was prepared to spend at the moment ($299) but I thought I would post some pics and get some thoughts from others on here. A vintage St Regis in 7 5/8 is a tough one to find no doubt however it is 3 times more than what I spent on my last one. Though it does have the original box according to the ad.

It's certainly a nice looking homburg. Can't help you regarding the price. It's certainly more than I pay for my hats (but I have a micro-skull and hat-size to go with it).

 

[steur]

Here's an interesting one. This one I bought as a bowler hat and the seller did not know any better than taht it was a bowler because it was gifted to her mother-in-law as a bowler (together with the Oldham&Fogg bowler I posted in the bowler thread) for her wedding. It was treated poorly by her mother-in-law however because it had a cord sown on the brim (from the pictures I thought it was a rding hat at one point). I took the cord off and the damage is minimal. It is a homburg in fact. It's a Valensy model Nova Eden, size 57 with a bound brim at 5cm and crown 10cm at the pinch. Lovely liner too. I had never heard of Valensy before, but it's Belgian (the Belgian motto "Union Fait La Force" can be read on the liner). I've been searching for a bit and it appears the brand was in the mid to higher price range (close to Borsalino). Adverts in the additional post.

 

[steur]

And some of the adverts I found. All from the fifties.

 

[Jeremy T Garner]

I found another potential candidate for an all black Homburg. This one is what I believe is an earlier Mallory (Pre 46') that the seller has marked as a 1970s hat? Here are some pics of the label and inside of the hat and any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Price is $245 in a size 7 5/8 and before I make a play at this one I wanted to try and seek the assistance of the more seasoned professionals

 

[Jeremy T Garner]

I found another potential candidate for an all black Homburg. This one is what I believe is an earlier Mallory (Pre 46') that the seller has marked as a 1970s hat? Here are some pics of the label and inside of the hat and any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Price is $245 in a size 7 5/8 and before I make a play at this one I wanted to try and seek the assistance of the more seasoned professionals View attachment 81697 View attachment 81698 View attachment 81699 View attachment 81700 View attachment 81701 View attachment 81702

So after a little more research in the archives of the lounge this Union tag makes it post 34' I think. So would a date somewhere between 1935 and 1946 sound correct for this hat?

 

[FedOregon]

I found another potential candidate for an all black Homburg. This one is what I believe is an earlier Mallory (Pre 46') that the seller has marked as a 1970s hat? Here are some pics of the label and inside of the hat and any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Price is $245 in a size 7 5/8 and before I make a play at this one I wanted to try and seek the assistance of the more seasoned professionals View attachment 81697 View attachment 81698 View attachment 81699 View attachment 81700 View attachment 81701 View attachment 81702

IIRC, that liner means pre-1946.

FWIW, I have a post '46 hat and it's of astoundingly good quality.

But $245 for a hat the seller thinks is from 1970??? Can you make an offer? I know it's harder to find a 7-5/8, but.... well, it looks like a great Homburg but I'd like it better at $150 - $170

 

[Redfokker]

IIRC, that liner means pre-1946.

FWIW, I have a post '46 hat and it's of astoundingly good quality.

But $245 for a hat the seller thinks is from 1970??? Can you make an offer? I know it's harder to find a 7-5/8, but.... well, it looks like a great Homburg but I'd like it better at $150 - $170

+1

 

[Jeremy T Garner]

IIRC, that liner means pre-1946.

FWIW, I have a post '46 hat and it's of astoundingly good quality.

But $245 for a hat the seller thinks is from 1970??? Can you make an offer? I know it's harder to find a 7-5/8, but.... well, it looks like a great Homburg but I'd like it better at $150 - $170

+1

Thank you for the advice guys. The listing does not have an offer ability but I will reach out to the seller and see if there is any flexibility as it's not on eBay. $150 was really what I had in mind as a target price and $200 as an absolute max.

 

[mayserwegener]

Here's an interesting one. This one I bought as a bowler hat and the seller did not know any better than taht it was a bowler because it was gifted to her mother-in-law as a bowler (together with the Oldham&Fogg bowler I posted in the bowler thread) for her wedding. It was treated poorly by her mother-in-law however because it had a cord sown on the brim (from the pictures I thought it was a rding hat at one point). I took the cord off and the damage is minimal. It is a homburg in fact. It's a Valensy model Nova Eden, size 57 with a bound brim at 5cm and crown 10cm at the pinch. Lovely liner too. I had never heard of Valensy before, but it's Belgian (the Belgian motto "Union Fait La Force" can be read on the liner). I've been searching for a bit and it appears the brand was in the mid to higher price range (close to Borsalino). Adverts in the additional post.

View attachment 81668 View attachment 81669 View attachment 81670 View attachment 81671 View attachment 81672 View attachment 81673 View attachment 81674 View attachment 81675 View attachment 81676

Stefan, Great to see a Belgian Hat company. I found an address for Valensy in the Kelly's Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers and Shippers of the World: A Guide to the Export and Import, Shipping and Manufacturing Industries 1963 and Kelly's Manufacturers and Merchants Directory, Including Industrial Services 1968.

Société Valensy S.A.
41 rue de Verviers, Ensival (Verviers)

Appears they were still around fairly recently as:

Manufacture Moderne de Chapeaux et Société Valensy Réunies (SA)
Rue Des Chapeliers 41-43
4800 Verviers

https://www.companyweb.be/gratisbtw...detail.asp?source=&vat=402263255&SwitchLang=1

 

[steur]

Stefan, Great to see a Belgian Hat company. I found an address for Valensy in the Kelly's Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers and Shippers of the World: A Guide to the Export and Import, Shipping and Manufacturing Industries 1963 and Kelly's Manufacturers and Merchants Directory, Including Industrial Services 1968.

Société Valensy S.A.
41 rue de Verviers, Ensival (Verviers)

Appears they were still around fairly recently as:

Manufacture Moderne de Chapeaux et Société Valensy Réunies (SA)
Rue Des Chapeliers 41-43
4800 Verviers

https://www.companyweb.be/gratisbtw...detail.asp?source=&vat=402263255&SwitchLang=1

Steve, thanks. Always good to have the additional information. I'll see if I can find out anything else about them.

 

[steur]

I posted this one in the Bporsalino broterhood thread as well. Borsalino homburg in grey (argento). Size 56, bound brim 5cm and crown 10cm at the pinch. New old stock from the same seller as the previous one. This one is from the sixties as well, I think. Pictures are with open crown, without side dents and with dents to give an overall impression.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I posted this one in the Bporsalino broterhood thread as well. Borsalino homburg in grey (argento). Size 56, bound brim 5cm and crown 10cm at the pinch. New old stock from the same seller as the previous one. This one is from the sixties as well, I think. Pictures are with open crown, without side dents and with dents to give an overall impression.

View attachment 81922 View attachment 81923 View attachment 81924 View attachment 81925 View attachment 81926 View attachment 81927 View attachment 81928 View attachment 81929 View attachment 81930

Looks just as nice here as well.

 

[steur]

Looks just as nice here as well.

Thank you, Bob. Can't keep a good homburg down!

 

[KarlCrow]

I posted this one in the Bporsalino broterhood thread as well. Borsalino homburg in grey (argento). Size 56, bound brim 5cm and crown 10cm at the pinch. New old stock from the same seller as the previous one. This one is from the sixties as well, I think. Pictures are with open crown, without side dents and with dents to give an overall impression.

View attachment 81922 View attachment 81923 View attachment 81924 View attachment 81925 View attachment 81926 View attachment 81927 View attachment 81928 View attachment 81929 View attachment 81930

it's a great piece indeed, just lacking a head shot (-:

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you very much for the advice Mike. You fellows here at the Lounge have been so kind to take me under your wing and teach me. Looking forward to meeting a few of you guys in person!

Are you a full 7 5/8? I have a NOS 1960's French hommie, a Chapeau de France in a size 60. Black just is not my colour so it gets zero head time. Interested? If so, will shoot you some pics.

 

[Jeremy T Garner]

Are you a full 7 5/8? I have a NOS 1960's French hommie, a Chapeau de France in a size 60. Black just is not my colour so it gets zero head time. Interested? If so, will shoot you some pics.

No sir I am in between a 7 1/2 and 7 5/8. My head measures at 59.95 cm. I would most definitely be interested! I am looking for something I can wear with black tie and to more formal events. PM sent

 

[Redfokker]

No sir I am in between a 7 1/2 and 7 5/8. My head measures at 59.95 cm. I would most definitely be interested! I am looking for something I can wear with black tie and to more formal events. PM sent

Gotta love this place! I think the .05 cm will fill up with your swelled head from looking so good in it.

 

[steur]

it's a great piece indeed, just lacking a head shot (-:

Selfies are difficult to do with a DSLR. I think I have only two pictures of myself wearing a hat. Maybe I do need to do something about that.

 

[Redfokker]

And yet another grey Stetson St. Regis homburg is rescued. This Ebay indulgence took a while by FedEx, really a slow boat this time. I have researched the original seller, McCue & Drummond in New York and it appears they were gone by 1946. The liner logo has the shield/stars as well as the sweat. Felt is in great shape, ribbon is pristine. The sweat needs some TLC, being a little dry.