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Herbert Johnson ‘Genuine Panama’ Optimo Crease
288F75E4-436B-4A53-9FEF-677AA828A783.jpeg


Herbert Johnson ‘Genuine Panama’
4 7/8 Crown with Optimo Crease
1 1/2 black grosgrain ribbon
2 1/2 brim front 2 7/8 sides
Approx 14-16 WPI

This Herbert Johnson Panama arrived several weeks back. At 7 1/4 its probably a tad too big. But it’s just too beautiful not to get to wear at least a few times :) It has a nice optimo crease that measures to 4 7/8. And the dimensional brim is actually a bit wider on the sides than in front. It does have a small crack toward the rear of the brim behind the black grosgrain bow. I’ll prob take a shot at repair with either wood glue or book binding glue if I can find. I think I counted the weaves to be about 14-16 WPI The 13 Old Burlington Street address on the box and sweat indicates dating between 1975 to 1988.

0F4D27EF-B719-45ED-9357-EA99D53380DA.jpeg
A54545AB-3F7A-4396-8C8A-3EA6A8769219.jpeg
0F4B27FC-9EFD-4AE0-905A-17F874713669.jpeg
10B2823B-3140-45C8-B425-E9B45D431B89.jpeg
38C1B337-12DD-47F5-A4C4-F6DB7A8AC1B7.jpeg
96CF7CB4-7118-4466-8E4A-0F0D2B0A9C2F.jpeg
7680481C-8D6C-4B6A-BAA7-81986E195A2B.jpeg

Because of the size and soft nature of the brim, it creates a bit of a curvature. I’m not sure how it wears best. Might be brim up is best.. but it didn’t photograph well that way on my head. Brim down the curve is a bit accentuated and maybe slightly feminine. I did find one spot where just the very front of the brim is turned down and looked good from the front. But not as sure on the sides.

238F6392-99C1-4E82-8E2E-13DD653F3A4B.jpeg
B614DCB8-FDCE-463A-8175-69B3A042622A.jpeg
 

TheGuitarFairy

Practically Family
Messages
608
Location
Just West of Boston

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,866
Location
Denmark
Nice find Joe, despite the tear. I don't quite understand the tag though. Is it a 59cm or 7 1/4? It can't be both, or has my brain frozen due to the cold weather?

Anyway, still a cool find :)

Herbert Johnson ‘Genuine Panama’ Optimo Crease
View attachment 308495

Herbert Johnson ‘Genuine Panama’
4 7/8 Crown with Optimo Crease
1 1/2 black grosgrain ribbon
2 1/2 brim front 2 7/8 sides
Approx 14-16 WPI

This Herbert Johnson Panama arrived several weeks back. At 7 1/4 its probably a tad too big. But it’s just too beautiful not to get to wear at least a few times :) It has a nice optimo crease that measures to 4 7/8. And the dimensional brim is actually a bit wider on the sides than in front. It does have a small crack toward the rear of the brim behind the black grosgrain bow. I’ll prob take a shot at repair with either wood glue or book binding glue if I can find. I think I counted the weaves to be about 14-16 WPI The 13 Old Burlington Street address on the box and sweat indicates dating between 1975 to 1988.

View attachment 308501 View attachment 308502 View attachment 308503 View attachment 308504 View attachment 308505 View attachment 308506 View attachment 308507
Because of the size and soft nature of the brim, it creates a bit of a curvature. I’m not sure how it wears best. Might be brim up is best.. but it didn’t photograph well that way on my head. Brim down the curve is a bit accentuated and maybe slightly feminine. I did find one spot where just the very front of the brim is turned down and looked good from the front. But not as sure on the sides.

View attachment 308508 View attachment 308509
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,866
Location
Denmark
I picked this one up just before Christmas. Haven't posted it before now as Panos' and Stefan's buys took over the hat show :)

Nothing particularly special, but nice nonetheless.

A Belmonte, never seen this make before. Nice thick felt and smooth feel to it. Brim look works up or down. No need to deduce what year it's from.

All in all, a cool jazz concert hat :) IMG_20210209_211021.jpg IMG_20210209_210208.jpg IMG_20210209_210359.jpg IMG_20210209_210553.jpg IMG_20201224_200150.jpg IMG_20201224_200202.jpg
 

Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,247
Location
Verona - Italia
It had been some time since these hats were sent to Fleur of Penumbra Hats in Nedherlands, Covid then extended the time even further, but it was absolutely worth it. Yesterday I received the first batch of finished hats. Today we see little-known heroes, the ones who probably would have been given lost in order to be able to wear them.
They are all French hats bought in one batch of unfinished or roughly finished hats.
Why did I wait and spend money? For the quality felts that are not very repeatable today, even if some have unusual shapes.
Karson 4.JPG

Karson in heather felt, burnt brown background color with green, yellow and red inserts.
Karson 2.JPG

Ribbon that accompanies the color of the felt.
Karson 3.JPG

Measurements: the brims sewn above are 5 cm., the ribbon 4 cm. and the crown at its lowest point at 11.5 cm. Size 60cm, which is 7 1/2 US
Karson interno.JPG

New sweatband and finishing.
FdP 1.JPG

"Veritable feutre de poil" (Pure hare felt) no other indications with short-haired heather felt with a bright gray background color and lighter gray inserts.
FdP 2.JPG

Fantasy ribbon in gray with insert.
FdP 3.JPG

The measurements are as follows: the brims sewn above are 5.5 cm. the ribbon is 2.5 cm. and the lowest point of the crown is at 10.5cm, the size is 60cm. or 7 1/2 US
New sweatband and finishing
 

Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,247
Location
Verona - Italia
The batch of French had many hats that appeared to have been taken in bulk, whatever their state of manufacture. Most of them had labels, but others were semi-finished, some were useless. With patience and skill Fleur put him back on track following her taste and a "philology" of the hats of the Seventy, to which many of these belong.
Bouteille 1.JPG

Rambouillet - B.Bouteille in brown felt with antelope finish and a soft malleability.
Bouteille 2.JPG

The ribbon is new, it accompanies the color of the felt with insert in the bow.
Bouteille 3.JPG

Measurements: the brims sewn above are 5 cm, the ribbon 3.5 cm. and the crown at its lowest point at 10.5 cm. Size 60cm, which is 7 1/2 US
Flechet 1.JPG

Flechet with short-haired heather felt with a bright gray background color and lighter gray inserts.
Flechet 2.JPG

Ribbon in gray that accompanies the felt.
Flechet 3.JPG

The measures are as follows: the brims sewn above are 5 cm. the ribbon is 3.5 cm. and the lowest point of the crown is at 11cm, the size is 59cm. or 7 3/8 US, but wide.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,866
Location
Denmark
Some truly wonderful hats, Daniele, beautifully resurrected and brought back to life thanks to you and especially Fleur.

The batch of French had many hats that appeared to have been taken in bulk, whatever their state of manufacture. Most of them had labels, but others were semi-finished, some were useless. With patience and skill Fleur put him back on track following her taste and a "philology" of the hats of the Seventy, to which many of these belong.
View attachment 309084
Rambouillet - B.Bouteille in brown felt with antelope finish and a soft malleability.
View attachment 309085
The ribbon is new, it accompanies the color of the felt with insert in the bow.
View attachment 309086
Measurements: the brims sewn above are 5 cm, the ribbon 3.5 cm. and the crown at its lowest point at 10.5 cm. Size 60cm, which is 7 1/2 US
View attachment 309087
Flechet with short-haired heather felt with a bright gray background color and lighter gray inserts.
View attachment 309088
Ribbon in gray that accompanies the felt.
View attachment 309089
The measures are as follows: the brims sewn above are 5 cm. the ribbon is 3.5 cm. and the lowest point of the crown is at 11cm, the size is 59cm. or 7 3/8 US, but wide.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,866
Location
Denmark
Another hat picked up via Facebook Market Place. I love picking up these hats originally sold in hat shops in Danmark that have long gone.

Nothing particularly outstanding about this one. A Vancina manufactured before the Borsalino takeover, I believe.

A solid forrest hat. According to the lady I bought it from, it had hung for many years on the wall of a well known restaurant in Copenhagen, Waldes Jægerhytte (Walde's Hunter's Lodge).

Not sure how often I will wear it, but I'm glad I added it to the collection. IMG_20210211_204238.jpg IMG_20210211_204141.jpg IMG_20210205_190928.jpg IMG_20210205_190955.jpg
 
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
It had been some time since these hats were sent to Fleur of Penumbra Hats in Nedherlands, Covid then extended the time even further, but it was absolutely worth it. Yesterday I received the first batch of finished hats. Today we see little-known heroes, the ones who probably would have been given lost in order to be able to wear them.
They are all French hats bought in one batch of unfinished or roughly finished hats.
Why did I wait and spend money? For the quality felts that are not very repeatable today, even if some have unusual shapes.
View attachment 309075
Karson in heather felt, burnt brown background color with green, yellow and red inserts.
View attachment 309076
Ribbon that accompanies the color of the felt.
View attachment 309077
Measurements: the brims sewn above are 5 cm., the ribbon 4 cm. and the crown at its lowest point at 11.5 cm. Size 60cm, which is 7 1/2 US
View attachment 309078
New sweatband and finishing.
View attachment 309081
"Veritable feutre de poil" (Pure hare felt) no other indications with short-haired heather felt with a bright gray background color and lighter gray inserts.
View attachment 309082
Fantasy ribbon in gray with insert.
View attachment 309083
The measurements are as follows: the brims sewn above are 5.5 cm. the ribbon is 2.5 cm. and the lowest point of the crown is at 10.5cm, the size is 60cm. or 7 1/2 US
New sweatband and finishing
Some lovely heather felts that have been brought back to life, Daniele. I think I like the "veritable feutre de poil" best.
 
Messages
11,714
I picked this one up just before Christmas. Haven't posted it before now as Panos' and Stefan's buys took over the hat show :)

Nothing particularly special, but nice nonetheless.

A Belmonte, never seen this make before. Nice thick felt and smooth feel to it. Brim look works up or down. No need to deduce what year it's from.

All in all, a cool jazz concert hat :) View attachment 308719 View attachment 308720 View attachment 308721 View attachment 308722 View attachment 308723 View attachment 308725
The great sizes from the four corners of the earth!

A17319AA-BF74-4F48-8E8B-0760E5789B73.jpeg
 

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