Mystery Cap

[jac]

Hey hat sleuths!
I bought this about 30 yrs ago at a little shop called 'Hats in the Belfry' on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. I'm wearing this to death and have never seen another like it though I have searched extensively.

Any clues on the maker? This style (or close to it) has been called Greek Fiddler, Fisherman, Spitfire, etc... This never had a label.
It's darkened over the years from conditioning and age, began life with a brown brim and a rust color suede crown.

Really pushing it, does anyone have of these in a small (21.5") ?

Thanx for having a peek!



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[M6Classic]

Do a Google search with the following terms "leather, Greek, fisherman's hat," and you will find a zillion of 'em. Drop the greek and then the fisherman's and the offerings become larger and larger.

Buzz

 

[jac]

Thanx, but I did all that and don't find anything that comes close...

 

[Tango Yankee]

How about contacting the folks at Hats in the Belfrey? They might be able to help. Might not, since it was so long ago, but worth a try!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[cybergentleman]

few possibilities

1) I saw a similar hat sold on millerhats.com a few years back- i do not see it on their site right now.

it was a light brown leather top with a dark brown or black bill..not identical but similar.

2) I can't tell how distressed the hat is, but it could be a take on this:

http://www.hatcentre.co.uk/prinz-heinrich-navy-p-196.html

3) suede fiddler cap?
http://millerhats.com/greek_index/greek2.htm

good luck in your search.

 

[jac]

Thanx for the tips guys.

Tango Yankee (love the International Phonetics), I did that too...
got one intrepid employee nosing around but not terribly hopeful.

I figured this was the best places to hit up hardcore clothes-horses.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Tango Yankee (love the International Phonetics),

It's an Air Force thing...

I did that too...
got one intrepid employee nosing around but not terribly hopeful.

Thought you probably had but I've learned long ago not to assume someone's done the obvious.

I can't say I've ever seen a cap quite like it, but I can see why you've held on to it for so long and are looking for another! I like it! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Good luck on your hunt...

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Corky]

I once owned the identical hat. It came with a good story...

I once owned the identical hat. It came with a good story.

Well, not precisely identical. Mine was made in smooth leather.

I had an acquaintance who was an amazing craftsman. He could make anything out of any material. Let's call him Pete.

Pete made and went through several fortunes before he was 30. Always dressed to the nines. Back in the early '70s, his outfits looked like the ones Warren Beatty wore in "Bonnie and Clyde". And the women one saw on his elbow would not have looked out of place on Beatty's elbow, either.

Pete was the first person I ever met who wore a custom made fedora. His pearl gray all beaver fedora was made to his specifications by the finest hat store in the Midwest.

Once, back in the day, Pete was walking through a plumbing supply company and saw a lot of little brass pipe fixtures and elbows and said to himself "I could make hash pipes out of these." And so he did. His signature item was a brass belt buckle with a built-in hash pipe that was incorporated into a butterfly design. He founded a company, made a fortune selling them in the late '60s, and then made another fortune by selling the company right before the War On Drugs went into high gear in the '70s.

Later, Pete was on the the tour of the FBI Building in Washington (the one where they shoot the machine gun) and sure enough, there in an exhibit in a glass case was one of his signature butterfly brass belt buckle pipes labeled "Hash Pipe Disguised As A Belt Buckle".

Pete was also a mean hand with a treadle sewing machine. One season he made up a bunch of Russian Peasant style leather caps for his friends, almost exactly like the one in your picture. I had access to lots of leather in those days, so I gave him a big pile of really nice leather skins in exchange for a cap of my own. I wore my leather cap for a few years, then passed it on to one of my nephews.

So, if you want to know who made that hat of yours, my suggestion is this: next time you're in Washington D.C., take the tour of the FBI Building and look for an exhibit of drug paraphernalia with a brass belt buckle-hash pipe decorated with a butterfly.

Pete's signature should be on the back.

Best of luck...

 

[hatsinthebelfry]

Suede Cap

Hey Jac,

I believe this cap was made by Henschel Hat Company. They were our main source for leather goods during that time frame. I did look through their online catalog and it doesn't look like they carry that exact style anymore, but have some other leather greeks and breton styles. Hope that information helps.

Ryan
Hats in the Belfry

 

[jac]

Wow, thanks for the cool story Corky!
I fondly recall hash pipes.

Yeah Tango, it's cracked & frayed, but I still wear it. I love the simplicity.

Ryan, thanks also for your info. I bought my partner a Henschel or two and they are fine hats.

I'll probably be looking for another one of these gems forever.
That's ok, I like the hunt.