Miller Hats Winston Homburg

[Richard Warren]

Do any of the cognoscenti have an opinion to share on this hat:

http://www.millerhats.com/homburg_index/derbya.htm

Thanks.

 

[Lefty]

I really don't like that curl. It looks lazy.

 

[rlk]

I really don't like that curl. It looks lazy.

Same opinion--looks unprofessional- both binding and curl. Vintage curled brims(Homburg,Derby etc.) are far superior.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

It's almost like a western hat masquerading as a Homburg!

 

[1961MJS]

It's almost like a western hat masquerading as a Homburg!

O.K., that explains why I like it. It's kind of Western looking, and I was watching several Westerns the last few nights. "The Apple Dumpling Gang", "Young Guns", and several others were on, and there are several similar hats being worn by the extras. I want a hat like that one, but probably with a higher percentage Beaver to it. Doesn't look like something Winston would wear though.

You should probably ignore my thoughts, I looked up "cognoscenti" and I ain't one.

later

 

[zetwal]

Vintage Homburgs are plentiful and inexpensive on ebay. Get one there ...

 

[scottyrocks]

I dont generally care for homburgs, but I do like the 1376 in brown.

 

[monbla256]

Do any of the cognoscenti have an opinion to share on this hat:

http://www.millerhats.com/homburg_index/derbya.htm

Thanks.

Looks like a Homburg to me Mabe not as well defined as some others, but a Homburg nonetheless

 

[scottyrocks]

Ive been looking at pictures of vintage homburgs on ebay, and there are quite a few different shape details within the homburg category. I understand I cant touch any of these, so general quality aside, what is lazy about the curl on these Millers? Why are vintage curled brims far superior?

Thanks in advance for bringing me up to speed on homburg particulars.

 

[Richard Warren]

Thanks for the replies. I understand that the side dents are be somewhat unusual, and that the hat is aesthetically and probably in construction detail not up to vintage standard. I sort of like the way it looks though and am really not interested in buying vintage (even if it were possible).

I particularly like the roll of the brim of the hat (not compared to say Anthony Eden's hat brim, but compared to the flat brims seen frequently on modern Homburgs), and am not familiar with what be might be meant by a lazy brim.

 

[donnc]

It looks great to me. If you decide it suits you, I hope you'll follow up with your observations and maybe a photo or two.

 

[Richard Warren]

I'm considering the Miller hat Homburg and the Borsalino Homburg at Bencraft. Any other suggestions for a quality hat would be appreciated.

 

[Neophyte]

I'm considering the Miller hat Homburg and the Borsalino Homburg at Bencraft. Any other suggestions for a quality hat would be appreciated.

Are you dead-set on a modern production homburg?

 

[danofarlington]

I'm considering the Miller hat Homburg and the Borsalino Homburg at Bencraft. Any other suggestions for a quality hat would be appreciated.

Does McDonald's sell homburgs? If not, they should.

 

[donnc]

Any other suggestions for a quality hat would be appreciated.

Well, I can't complain about my Beaver, but I got it pretty cheap from someone who couldn't wear it due to change of hat size (!) It's just as well, as I had to mess around with it a little to get a comfortable fit. It's my size, but they're stiff hats and of course it doesn't conform exactly to the contours of my cranium, so I added a very faint "pinch" to it that makes at a little narrower and longer in the front.

I see hats-plus.com has a Beaver Brand Homburg on sale for $85, or you can get a `custom' one for three times the price if you prefer. I'm not sure they're otherwise the same hat, though. Mine was originally from the local hat shop, but looks more like the picture of the `custom' one, where the hats-plus brim looks a little different.

 

[donnc]

Also, if Meyer's in New Orleans is geographically convenient, they advertise a Biltmore, which I think is where the Miller hats usually come from.

 

[Richard Warren]

I do get down to New Orleans from time to time so I'll check Meyer out. I'm not really dead-set on modern production as resigned to it.

 

[hatophile]

Many of us modify our fedoras, cowboy hats, etc on a regular basis. Seems to me, you could take a vintage homburg with similar dimensions and modify the crease and brim curl to suit you. I kind of like it, something different, kind of a "cowburg" or "homboy" hat?

 

[scottyrocks]

'Homboy.' That's funny.

 

[Dinerman]

Side pinches were done on homburgs and fedoras frequently pre-'40s or so.
But I do agree, the brim curl doesn't look particularly great on those.

Vintage homburgs go for a lot less than vintage fedoras most of the time- take a look ebay. Better quality, proper brim curl. Putting in the side creases should be able to be done without steam or water- just give it a poke.

A Mallory from 1923 with side pinches.

Early '30s Mallory

'40s Knox