New acquisition: Scott & Co top hat

[The Wingnut]

Just picked this up the other day from the antiques shop that I work at. Judging from the liner, it's likely '20s or '30s vintage(king's crown, either Edwardian or Georgian). Bond street manufacturer, and sold in Scotland. Anyone have some light to shed on the history of this one?

I was surprised at the condition, just a few tiny moth hits on the underside, a tiny amount of rubbing/wear on the grosgrain bound edge, a perfect morning band, and hardly any wear through on the edges of the crown. Too good to pass up, and exactly my size. I took some steam to it and carefully smoothed out the moleskin by hand a bit to get it to lay flat and look a bit more shiny. I had a small amount of success. Brushing didn't seem to make much of a difference.

Except for a cuenca Royal Stetson panama that I paid far too much for, this is the most expensive hat I've bought yet, but still inexpensive as far as top hats go. I'm pretty pleased.

Pictures:

It came with a cardboard storage box in fair condition(the hat is resting on it in this picture).

...a shot of the liner and royal crest, with king's crown and the claim of Scott & Co. being hatters to the king & royals.

Shot of it on my head while in Dickens Fair / victorian attire. I need a good white tie ensemble.

Playing the dandy at 12:30 am. I need a shave and some sleep.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Excellent! I love top hats, wish I had an excuse to wear 'em more often.

 

[SMCK]

top hat

Love that hat and it suits you.Dont know what you paid but on vintage-toppers.com there are several similar for quite a lot of money. not much information though about Scott & co, hatters to George V

 

[Johnnysan]

WOW...the ensemble is magnificent! You look terrific. Well done, pip, pip, and all that! :eusa_clap

 

[Fletch]

o o ( Cor! Hain't 'e the posh gent'man! P'raps I'll myke me a fare... )
< pulls hansom up to kerb >
Cab, sir?

 

[spiridon]

It looks great on ya Wingnut!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[moustache]

WOW!!!!

Oh my goodness!!!!What a beauty!!
And it suits you VERY well! The photos are a smasher!!!

Well done ol' boy!

Jim in Vancouver,Wa

 

[The Wingnut]

Thanks all for the compliments! I saw the Scott & Co. top hats on vintage toppers...great oogly moogly! 600 to 800 pounds sterling! I'm tempted to simply resell mine and enjoy the cash!

 

[DocBob345]

****

The more I look, the more I like. Very nice! Congratulations!

 

[metropd]

Usually I would just post nice hat, but you sir make the hat look good. The ensemble is emmaculate and too me thats more 2006 ascot races than 1896. Who cares what the genre or steroytpe or area it is or stems from, you sir wear the top hat with ease and does not look a tad bit costumey. The ascot looks great but you could also wear a REP neck tie and update the top hat look with a modern approach. Either way You just inspisred me to go get a another top hat on ebay. I wear them too for nice occasions and I live in southern california. I plead you DO NOT be afraid to wear that hat in public you bought a peice of history and by wearing that divine silk plush topper you are making history.

 

[Topper]

Nice , the bell curve suits your face shape very well. How tall is the crown? At a guess around a 5&7/8 inch with a head size 7 or 7&1/8?

The top edge of the crown is called a 'Square' where is is most common to see wear. The underside ('Merino') and grosgrain binding on the brim edge can both be repaired, but the silk plush cannot. So looks like got a nice one that will last many a year.

Word of warning - Do not Steam Silk plush. It can ruin the hat. Unlike Felt Hats Silks should not be steamed.

Pip-pip

Doug
Ascot Top Hats Ltd

 

[besdor]

Top Hats

Topper , as a fellow retailer , I get calls for silk top hats here in New York . Are there any made in Englad still .Here in the USA , there seems to be one or two manufacturers , but it's not the same as what you consider a silk topper just satin.


Steven
Bencraft Hats

 

[DOUGLAS]

FANTASTIC!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Topper]

The Gibus or collapsible top hat is still made in only two places (USA & Germany to my knowledge). Both varients are off the shelf and made of satin ( which is technically just a weave) but not 100% Silk. Gibus collapsible are designed only be used for Opera and other soical events where one would need to place one's hat in the cloak room, on when seated to save room. At all other times one shoud have a rigid Topper.


Traditional rigid Silk 'Plush' top hats have not been commerically made since around the 80ies in any country. When the last rolls of Silk Plush Ran out. (There are stories from the 50ies to the 70ies of when the last silk plush was manufactured).

 

[Topper]

Care of Silk:

Extracted from my site:

• Hats should be kept upside down stored on the crown in a hatbox or hat-case when not in use.
• Hats should always be brushed after each use, before storing them in the box or case.
• Brushes should be curved to allow brushing around the brim, and made of soft bristles.
• Hats should be stored within in a dry, constant temperature atmosphere.
• Hats that get wet in the rain should be dry naturally and then brushed afterwards with vigour.
• The shiny lustre of silk plush can be maintained by regular brushing with a velvet pad.

Note: A lot of people who are selling or keeping an old Silk hat store it in its traditional old Box. Whilst Antique collectors may recommend keeping it as it increases its value - personally It is not something I recommend. Sometimes it is more likely to damage the hat and reduce its value!

Consider a new hat box to keep the hat free from mold and moths ( quite common in older boxes) this is much more important in my personal view - The hat is usually worth more that the box! If you wish to keep the correct box, by all means - but one may wish to store it separately from the silk hat.

Traditionally acid-free paper is used to prevent moisture gathering on the silk.

 

[The Wingnut]

Nice , the bell curve suits your face shape very well. How tall is the crown? At a guess around a 5&7/8 inch with a head size 7 or 7&1/8?

The top edge of the crown is called a 'Square' where is is most common to see wear. The underside ('Merino') and grosgrain binding on the brim edge can both be repaired, but the silk plush cannot. So looks like got a nice one that will last many a year.

Word of warning - Do not Steam Silk plush. It can ruin the hat. Unlike Felt Hats Silks should not be steamed.

Pip-pip

Doug
Ascot Top Hats Ltd

Doug,

You sure know your top hats! It's about a 7 1/8, 22 1/2" inside circumference. The crown is right at 5 1/2".

Thanks for the information and the warning. I'll keep it away from steam.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

I wore my Adam silk plush topper with white tie and tails to the company Christmas party yesterday, and it was a big hit. I'm hoping somebody got pictures I can post, as I didn't bring mine.

 

[Topper]

If 5&1/2 ( quite common) then palce in 1930'ies nearer 6 inch was prior to that ( But there is no exact rule - fashion has gone in and out every year for over 200 years of Toppers!) So merely a guess.

If you want to find the date - if your lucky sometimes teh old hatters wrote it on the gossamer shell. If you carefully fold out the sewatband, and ...very carefully slide out silk liner, sometime the year of manufacture is written inside on the gossomer shell ( other times written on the Top of the crown on the Tip so unless went for a full refurb by taking the plush off then never find it!)

Had one from around 1880 the other day

 

[The Wingnut]

Topper,

All I could find under the liner was an alphanumeric stamp which looked like neither a date nor a size, and a hand-lettered '18'. Not sure of the significance of either.