You are right! And I can testify that after several shots of Scotch, it seems to be really happening and moving! haha!
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Panama Hat Thread
- Thread starter Burma Shave
- Start date
You are right! And I can testify that after several shots of Scotch, it seems to be really happening and moving! haha!
Wow That takes our "best looking" so far in this entire thread!REAL PANAMA?
...if so, it is a one tight weave.
Oh well, lotsa summer left here in the swamps.
Bob Roberts
I'll Lock Up
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...and pink elephants!
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A follow-up to Rick Blaine's post above from the new owner of the mysterious ventilated Brighton Hat. My search for Brighton Hats and Rain-Leigh have come up empty so far (I hope my skilled Google searcher friends here will show us more), but I did have success with the patent referenced inside the hat. US 2026392 is a patent for a process to make an "imitation Bangkok hat" with water resistant properties. The material appears to to be paper fiber, woven in a very tight weave and then treated with a chemical bath to make the final product waterproof and washable. This patent is referenced in subsequent (1954, 1956) patents by Frank Lee and Hat Corporation of America. Is it 1930s or 1950s? Read on...
The hat weighs 3.1 ounces, measures 4 1/2" to the top of the optimo ridge and has a 2 1/4" brim. The form, dimensions and some elements of manufacture feel 1930s. I wasn't sure...
... until I found a small wad of paper tightly folded underneath the sweatband at the front of the hat. Thank goodness for small headed men!
The hat weighs 3.1 ounces, measures 4 1/2" to the top of the optimo ridge and has a 2 1/4" brim. The form, dimensions and some elements of manufacture feel 1930s. I wasn't sure...
... until I found a small wad of paper tightly folded underneath the sweatband at the front of the hat. Thank goodness for small headed men!
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Thank you... on top of being a fun story, it's fun on top too. ;^)
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Alan, Super! Great write up + photos!
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+1
carouselvic
I'll Lock Up
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Last edited:
- Messages
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- Buffalo, NY
Great hunting... thank you. This is the machinery referenced in the 1950s patent from Hat Corporation of America?
carouselvic
I'll Lock Up
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Not sure of the patent numbers. Many years ago I sent a day on the computer tracing the origins of the Bankaru, Bangora, Balibuntal, Baku and Toyo hats of the Far East. These photos were some of the machines that would weave the paper hats that helped bring an end to the handmade Baku of talipot palm and the buntal hats of buri Palm.
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I looked at the two later patents (Lee and HCA) that referenced the one I posted above from 1935. The HCA patent is for a machine, but it appears to be about making a woven hat from thermoplastic material.
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A follow-up to Rick Blaine's post above from the new owner of the mysterious ventilated Brighton Hat. My search for Brighton Hats and Rain-Leigh have come up empty so far (I hope my skilled Google searcher friends here will show us more), but I did have success with the patent referenced inside the hat. US 2026392 is a patent for a process to make an "imitation Bangkok hat" with water resistant properties. The material appears to to be paper fiber, woven in a very tight weave and then treated with a chemical bath to make the final product waterproof and washable. This patent is referenced in subsequent (1954, 1956) patents by Frank Lee and Hat Corporation of America. Is it 1930s or 1950s? Read on...
The hat weighs 3.1 ounces, measures 4 1/2" to the top of the optimo ridge and has a 2 1/4" brim. The form, dimensions and some elements of manufacture feel 1930s. I wasn't sure...
... until I found a small wad of paper tightly folded underneath the sweatband at the front of the hat. Thank goodness for small headed men!
Wow! Great story, and a great piece to add to your collection. Congratulations are in order, Alan.
mikespens
Call Me a Cab
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Fantastic machine, thanks for posting that Vic. Also glad the hat went to you Alan, it was very tempting to me as well but I'm trying to remain a hat wearer rather than a hat collector. It's a fine line I may have already crossed though 
When you think about it, a waterproof "straw" hat makes perfect sense in the tropical climates they were worn it.
When you think about it, a waterproof "straw" hat makes perfect sense in the tropical climates they were worn it.
Denton
A-List Customer
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Great hat, Alan! It's amazing to me how nice some of the early paper straws can be. I'm also thinking of a hat from the 1920s belonging to Garret, and Mikespens's burlap hat.
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That is a treasure!
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Indeed it is!
Very nice, Alan.
Very nice, Alan.
