Question: Rustic Fedoras

[TomS]

Hi Folks:

I'm on a quest to determine what Fedora had that *rustic* look, which is occasionally seen in Depression era photos from Appalachia and the American mid-west. I recall my grandfather, and men of his generation, wearing Fedoras while riding on tractors, walking wheat fields, and doing other labor. The hat seemed to be worn with everything from overalls to suits. I appreciate any thoughts you folks have!

Thanks,
Tom

 

[pjt113]

How about the Open Road style? A little wider brim and the this ribbon gives it a little more "country" type of feel.

 

[Edward]

Agreed. I'd opt for an Akubra Campdraft myself, but there are many other alternatives, especially if you go vintage.

 

[bowlerman]

I know what you mean. I wonder if in those days they just used what they could find, make, or pilfer from things left behind by others. It seems, like the old west, that you get a wide variety of styles, ribbons, brim widths, nationalities, etc. To quote Neil Young "we wore what we had on' [Greendale].

Or maybe you come into a sudden lot of prize fight money and get one made?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKrEVWGTuRg


...find a fedora and work in it or beat it up?

 

[RBH]

Here is a photo of fiddler Barney Barnwell who passed away last March at age 58.

Pretty rustic fedora I think.

 

[BR Gordon]

Here is a photo of fiddler Barney Barnwell who passed away last March at age 58.

I hope you transposed numbers 58?

 

[TomS]

I hope you transposed numbers 58?

I think that fella really is 58!

 

[BR Gordon]

When I was a young man I worked with these men. Their hats are just the hats that they owned. If I remember correctly most of them only had one hat.

 

[monbla256]

Hi Folks:

I'm on a quest to determine what Fedora had that *rustic* look, which is occasionally seen in Depression era photos from Appalachia and the American mid-west. I recall my grandfather, and men of his generation, wearing Fedoras while riding on tractors, walking wheat fields, and doing other labor. The hat seemed to be worn with everything from overalls to suits. I appreciate any thoughts you folks have!

Thanks,
Tom

Just loose ALL your income, loose your employment, loose your home, get your food from a breadline, have one or two suits of clothes and ONE hat to wear, stay out in ALL types of weather wearing it for several years and ANY hat you have will take on "that" look. Most men at that time wore ONE hat that they had for EVERYTHING as well as wearing hats ALL THE TIME so they took on that "rustic" look you so dearly love. If you look closely, they are not all wearing the SAME style, yet most of them took on "that" look. Contrary to what the folks in Madison Ave. would have you believe, you have to put in the time with it for the hat to get that look. So just pick out ONE hat ya like and wear it ALL the time and you'll get it for sure

 

[scottyrocks]

The problem with getting a hat to look that way is that you can't wear it too much longer, as it is right near the end of its functionally useful life. A little carefully applied Fullers Earth to a not so beat up hat will go a long way in making a newer hat look not-so-new.

 

[Kirk H.]

Here is a photo of fiddler Barney Barnwell who passed away last March at age 58.

Pretty rustic fedora I think.

Barney was well kown in upstate SC and had just start to gain some national attention thanks to the History Channels program "Dixie". The ironic thing was that Barney was born in California and then ended up in SC. but yes that is a rustic looking hat. sorry did not mean to go off topic.

 

[Blackthorn]

....and ONE hat to wear, stay out in ALL types of weather wearing it for several years and ANY hat you have will take on "that" look.

I think that's the bottom line. It's just a matter of wearing it all the time in all manner of weather, for enough years, and it'll have "that look." Bogart's hat in Sierra Madre had that look. While that one may have been a product of the special effects dept of the movie studio, but they got the look right for a badly abused hat, regardless.

 

[TomS]

Thanks for all the replies, Folks! I appreciate everyones time!
Best,
Tom

 

[Woodfluter]

When I was a young man I worked with these men. Their hats are just the hats that they owned. If I remember correctly most of them only had one hat.

'Bout right. A famous photographer (her name escapes me at the moment, used a Rolleiflex) took a lot of photos of folks in Ireland during the 1930s. She remarked that nearly all the men had two suits, otherwise identical: a newer one for Sundays, funerals and weddings; and an older one for work. And that was the extent of their clothing choices. The youngsters got tailored-down suits that were too worn even for the adults' work wear. Ditto for hats and caps.

I think it was similar during the depression years here in the U.S. I hope not, but we may yet find out first-hand what my parents lived through.

- Bill

 

[RBH]

Barney died with cancer. I believe that aged him alot before he passed away.