Huckel....

[bolthead]

I got the Huckel today in the mail.
I must say, it's a very interesting hat, indeed and I really like the hairy little thing, although the liner is very stained and I'm afraid I have to do something about that. Stoney....any ideas? [huh]

Speaking of the liner, there's all kind of dates in there. Going by those, can somebody put a more accurate date on this Lid for me? I'd love to know how old it really is? The seller had no clue. Go figure. :eusa_doh:

here's a closer look......

 

[randooch]

I'm the guy you beat out on that auction, for what it's worth. I just googled the Huckel name and did some interesting reading, though nothing that would answer question, other than it's pre-1945, apparently:

Hat production in Nový Jičín dates to the 13th century, when the first tradesmen set up small manufactories here. Centuries later, in 1865, Johann Hückel, the son and a nephew of haberdashers, laid the foundation for what was to become the industry by merging several workshops to form the first mechanized hat-making factory in what is now the Czech Republic.

The company, called the Public Trading Company J. Hückel and Sons, soon became respected throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, according to Tomáš Blaho, the guide at a hat museum that is a part of the Regional Museum in Nový Jičín.

Shortly after the end of World War II, the Czechoslovak government expropriated it, got rid of the Hückel trademark and formed Tonak — a combination of three Czech words that translate as "hat factory."

 

[Dinerman]

Huckels are still being made.

Those old european hats are harder to date. What's the sweatband look like?

 

[Fletch]

Hat production in Nový Jičín dates to the 13th century, when the first tradesmen set up small manufactories here.

Johann Hückel probably would have known it by its other name, Neutitschein, which is at least good for a giggle. lol

Whatever you call it, it's in Moravia, which is a veritable shuttlecock of nations, having been batted around between Austria, Germany, and Czecho-whatever quite a few times.

 

[bolthead]

Huckels are still being made.

Those old european hats are harder to date. What's the sweatband look like?

I didn't take a pic of the sweat, I guess I could though.
I'm disappointed with the sweat to be honest with you, it's very chinsey, thin black leather.
It says, Fritz Huckel w/ a Crown (like inside the liner): Seal showerproof on one side.....House of England on the other side, and Huckel's Comet in the front, all in Gold lettering.... nothing inside or behind it. Don't know if that helps? [huh]

 

[Stoney]

That's a very nice hat you've got there Bolthead!

Be careful if you try to clean that liner. Some of the older ones have problems with the labels bleeding color. A precautionary tale I have is from a Manson hat that I picked up from our buddy Richard Cole, He who writes the snazzy descriptions on ebay. The Manson hat looks like it dates from sometime in the late 1930s to early 1940s and it's very nicely made, with three rows of stitching in the over welt. The liner on that was pretty dirty, so I tried cleaning it with Oxyclean and cold water. Well as soon as I dipped the liner in there, the artwork melted right off. I was really disappointed, to say the least. I ended up recreating the artwork using iron on media and installing a new liner in the hat. I sure would have preferred the original one though. The hat does look much better now since it's been blocked and flanged, but I do miss the original liner.

 

[carter]

That's a nice looking fuzzy Huckel you have there, Bolthead.

Does the sweatband look like this in the back?

 

[bolthead]

That's a nice looking fuzzy Huckel you have there, Bolthead.

Does the sweatband look like this in the back?

Yep,except it's Black and not nearly in as good as shape.