New member needs help please

[Guven]

Hello...this is my first post and I was wondering if anyone could help me identify this hat (see pics). I think is a long haired felt fedora (maybe rabbit) and I am guessing maybe German...1930's or 40's..? The felt material looks fur on the outside-just plain black on the inside-no liner. There is a black leather headband on the inside. On the headband it only says "seal extra" which I assume is a reference to type of felt finish used. The only other marking are the initials of the original owner JH-Also, there is a tag on the inside which has 58 printed on it-which is the hat size in cm (and fits me just right). There are some other numbers which I cannot decipher. I would greatly appreciate any help in identifying where this hat came form/the materials used and how old it is. Basically, anything anyone might know about it. Thank you in advance.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

I would call that a trilby but who cares ? Remember, the following is just an opinion.
The rather cheap looking sweatband & ribbon do suggest a modern hat. Judging by the loose hairs on the inside, it does appear to have at least some fur content, so let's say fur felt or a wool/fur blend.
If I were to take a guess.... I'd say this is one of those anonymous hats, pumped out in China or Eastern Europe & sold through various online hat sites under different names.
The 'seal extra' is very apt though, it really does resemble the coat of a grey seal.
All that matters is that you like the hat, so enjoy.

 

[Guven]

Thanks for the input...it is very difficult to judge quality based on a few pictures...but it really does feel like a nice vintage hat. The initials suggest it was well-loved...the use of a two color mélange felt and details such as the bound outer rim which is the same material as the grosgrain ribbon itself is attention to detail that I don't think you would find in a modern hat let alone one that is made in China. The term "seal" is not even used anymore to refer to felt finishes-it is rather an obscure term in relation to hats that I have only seen in use a few times in even in the fedora lounge. So agree to disagree. Maybe some others can give their 2 cents?

 

[jlee562]

I'm not the expert on European hats, but I don't think this is wool or modern. Those long hair finishes are usually rabbit felt, IIRC and we don't see them like this anymore with such a melange of colors. Black sweatband on US hats was common in the 60s/70s, though not sure about Europe. Stamped numbers on the tag (as opposed to printed), also suggest older. As do the punched initials, I haven't seen that on modern production hats other than a few one off examples (e.g. celebrities when they visit the Stetson factory). It also doesn't look like a blocked in crease. Doubtful that it's old as the 30's or 40's, I'm guessing post war. I wouldn't read matching binding as indicative of any particular vintage.

You might be able to piece together some clues if you spend some time in the German and Austrian hutmachers thread.

 

[Guven]

Thank you for your reply and suggestion-They bear out my hunch that this an older hat (but maybe not as old as I initially thought) and perhaps a bit of a unique one at that. I shall check out that thread and try to get a little more information. In the meanwhile, I look forward to any other comments and insights. Thanks again.