Melton -- "Art in Hats"

[BobHufford]

This Melton velour is a recent acquisition and spurred my inquiry to Dave as I knew he had better skills and resources for research than I do. Not sure of the age, but based on examples in the Melton thread it appears older (or a special order) as the label is hand-written.

Excuse the celluloid debris -- there was quite a bit behind the sweat. This pic is pretty accurate for the color indoors. Just a couple of moth nips under the brim and a ring on top of the brim where it moved around in a box for years (I'm guessing). Hope to brush that out a bit.

Half the size tag fell off when I touched it.

Post 1934 based on the union label. Not much out there, but the company has been around since at least 1934 as I did find a reference in a New York court case.

Just a tad small at 7-3/8, but I'll make it work.

 

[BobHufford]

The hat box that came with it.

 

[DaveProc]

Melton Hats 1925/1926. Most likely the Connecticut maker.

 

[DaveProc]

Melton 1935

 

[DaveProc]

Lincoln, Bennett & Co., Melton and Co. London England

 

[DaveProc]

Great sleuthing @DaveProc !

Any time. Happy to help.

 

[DaveProc]

This Melton velour is a recent acquisition and spurred my inquiry to Dave as I knew he had better skills and resources for research than I do. Not sure of the age, but based on examples in the Melton thread it appears older (or a special order) as the label is hand-written.

Excuse the celluloid debris -- there was quite a bit behind the sweat. This pic is pretty accurate for the color indoors. Just a couple of moth nips under the brim and a ring on top of the brim where it moved around in a box for years (I'm guessing). Hope to brush that out a bit.

Half the size tag fell off when I touched it.

Post 1934 based on the union label. Not much out there, but the company has been around since at least 1934 as I did find a reference in a New York court case.

Just a tad small at 7-3/8, but I'll make it work.

It's a beauty Bob!!

 

[T Jones]

Here's a Melton that I recently refurbished and restyled. I wish I would have taken some before pictures of this hat. I believe this one was actually a more recent vintage hat, and certainly not up to the quality of the vintage ones I see here, but, it was a fun project anyway. The hat's been reblocked on a straight sided block. I added a brim binding and a black 1 1/2 ribbon.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Melton Ten brown homburg in US size 7 ½ or 60cm:

 

[DaveProc]

Melton Ten brown homburg in US size 7 ½ or 60cm: View attachment 518111 View attachment 518112 View attachment 518113 View attachment 518114 View attachment 518115 View attachment 518116 View attachment 518117 View attachment 518118 View attachment 518119 View attachment 518120

That's a real beaut Brent

 

[deadlyhandsome]

That's a real beaut Brent

Thanks, Dave. Just a size or two too small.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I am happy to add another Melton Ten to the library here. This one looks to be an early fifties hat with the onion skin liner tip as well as backing behind the sweatband. However, the reorder tag is handwritten so it could be a bit older.

I am not a huge fan of 2-1/4 inch brims but I’m glad to have this guy - he lends me a little touch of class that my larger brims miss. The brim binding is wider on the bottom than the top, giving the top a sweet accent stitch.

The color is a very light grey with a navy ribbon and the felt is just as thin as my Mallory Ten from the same era but even more dense - it takes a bit more steam to melt this felt into putty but once it melts it will do anything.

The sweatband does not feel as good of quality as my Mallory Ten or Stetson Fifteens, but it is definitely better than any Royal Stetson and I hope it will last a good long time to come. The one complaint is probably that the gold lettering is only stamped on the sweat instead of debossed like a Stetson, but it doesn’t show any signs of rubbing off anytime soon.

I’m very pleased to add this quality example of “Art in Hats” to my collection.

 

[steur]

I am happy to add another Melton Ten to the library here. This one looks to be an early fifties hat with the onion skin liner tip as well as backing behind the sweatband. However, the reorder tag is handwritten so it could be a bit older.

I am not a huge fan of 2-1/4 inch brims but I’m glad to have this guy - he lends me a little touch of class that my larger brims miss. The brim binding is wider on the bottom than the top, giving the top a sweet accent stitch.

The color is a very light grey with a navy ribbon and the felt is just as thin as my Mallory Ten from the same era but even more dense - it takes a bit more steam to melt this felt into putty but once it melts it will do anything.

The sweatband does not feel as good of quality as my Mallory Ten or Stetson Fifteens, but it is definitely better than any Royal Stetson and I hope it will last a good long time to come. The one complaint is probably that the gold lettering is only stamped on the sweat instead of debossed like a Stetson, but it doesn’t show any signs of rubbing off anytime soon.

I’m very pleased to add this quality example of “Art in Hats” to my collection.

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Nice find, Nathan. Stylish all around.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Nice find, Nathan. Stylish all around.

Thank you Stefan..