PORTIS PATH

[Alexander Sommerset]

To add to my first comment about selling hats in the 40's I mentioned that our line of
Mallory, Dobbs and Portis price range was 10.00 to 25.00 which back then in some cases was a weeks wage. With the top line you had your choice of a free feather for you hat band, otherwise it cost a quarter. But in most cases, I would throw one in on the house. All hats came un-blocked individually boxed. And as each hat was removed from the box, you would brush it with a price of serge cloth to inhance the nap. The customer also had a choice of a plain, bound, welt or reversed welt brim edge.

So cool to meet someone who was actually ion the industry in the heyday of hats.

I am curious about the gift sets. People call them "salesman's samples" today but what did you guys call them?

I am talking about the tiny felt or plastic hats in the small box that held a gift certificate that people would give to someone else as a gift to come in and buy a hat. Did your store use these?

 

[moontheloon]

just putting another Portis with its family

 

[RJR]

just putting another Portis with its family

Another beauty.

 

[Frank chops]

please post more

I want to just pull up a chair and listen to you talk about this subject all day

please chime in with any memories that pop into your head ... or better yet make a thread

do you have any pictures from when you worked in the store?

I want to hear about how many hats you guys would sell per day ... what was the purchasers process like compared to today ... did you have regular customers you knew by name .... things like that

please tell

Each hat came in it's own box. The sales routine was: remove the hat from the box as if it was fragile, brush it gently with a soft badger hair brush, then came the block. First came the crease on the middle of the crown, the two finger pinch in the front and finish it off with a halt moon on the back of the crown. Proud of your blocking skill,you hand it to your customer who would punch out your block masterpiece and apply what he thought how a hat should look: the ranger look: four dents of the top of the crown, two dents, one on each side of the crown, the one finger down the middle of the
crown. And of course, the Charlie Chan. Unblocked crown and brim up.

 

[Frunobulax]

Each hat came in it's own box. The sales routine was: remove the hat from the box as if it was fragile, brush it gently with a soft badger hair brush, then came the block. First came the crease on the middle of the crown, the two finger pinch in the front and finish it off with a halt moon on the back of the crown. Proud of your blocking skill,you hand it to your customer who would punch out your block masterpiece and apply what he thought how a hat should look: the ranger look: four dents of the top of the crown, two dents, one on each side of the crown, the one finger down the middle of the
crown. And of course, the Charlie Chan. Unblocked crown and brim up.

This is good stuff. Keep 'em coming, Frank!

 

[RJR]

This is good stuff. Keep 'em coming, Frank!

+1,interesting.

 

[moehawk]

Hey everyone!
I've been looking for a Portis for a while. Seen a few, seen 'em go, mostly for more money than I had. So I decided to take a chance on a cheaper one.
Got here yesterday, needed a little TLC. No liner, but that was known. The sweatband is in great shape. Had a tight pinch, thought it had damaged the felt at first until I saw it was just a grime line around a former crease. Quick dip in the Coleman's, a gentle resize/reshape and :

The felt is thin, light (105g total weight) and dense. 5 1/2" crown, 2 3/8" brim, bound nicely with thin ribbon. No tags other than the size tag. Judging by dimensions and crown shape, guessing late late 50's.
Nice summer weight felt, can't wait to show pics in full sun. Color is great, a deep rich brown. Especially without the grime.
Hope this isn't the last one I get!

 

[moontheloon]

nice one moe

Portis made some of the best hats

 

[moehawk]

Thanks moon.
now that I'm finally holding one, I see why they have the reputation.

 

[40Cal]

Nice Portis Moe. They are indeed a fine hat. I like that ribbon width.

 

[Bamaboots]

Like the Portis, moe. The one I have is a favorite of mine.

 

[Frunobulax]

Nice hat, Moe!

 

[moehawk]

Thanks Bama, Fruno and 40!
I'm digging everything about it, from the materials to the dry-creasability to its looks.
jeez, now I have yet another brand to search the bay obsessively for....

 

[moehawk]

Sun just popped out almost long enough to get a better color shot.

Then gone again.

 

[RJR]

Nice.

 

[mikespens]

Nice catch Moe

 

[lbgradwell]

I collected this older Portis bowler/derby locally last night. Rare to find any hats on the local kijiji in 7-5/8, much less a vintage...

Lamentably, the liner is missing, but beggars can't be choosers and I am happy to have it!

Do any of the markings suggest a certain period? How long was "Typically American" used?

 

[Redfokker]

I collected this older Portis bowler/derby locally last night. Rare to find any hats on the local kijiji in 7-5/8, much less a vintage...

Lamentably, the liner is missing, but beggars can't be choosers and I am happy to have it!

Do any of the markings suggest a certain period? How long was "Typically American" used?

Epic find! It has an interesting sweat. What tags remain under it?

 

[lbgradwell]

Epic find! It has an interesting sweat. What tags remain under it?

None, unfortunately. I can see marks where the liner was once glued on the inside of the crown and possibly the remnants of glue on the inside of the sweat where a re-order tag once was, but there are no other markings of any kind that remain on the hat.

I am a relative newbie, but I don't ever recall seeing a size sticker (as opposed to tag) before on any hat.

 

[lbgradwell]

It came with a fairly-nice condition old Biltmore box. I doubt it was bought with that box, but one nevers knows...