So who can tell me about Bott Hats out of Cincinnati? (Pictures Added 01/12/09!)

[MattJH]

I just won this gem on eBay for $46.50 shipped and I'm wondering if anybody knows anything about the maker? Best part is it's a 7 3/4 LO - it will definitely fit me. The ribbon treatment is nice, too.

I'll throw this into the eBay thread as well, but I wanted to make sure it got its own individual attention as I've never heard of Bott Hats before.

​

 

[Lefty]

Ohio must have had quite a few hatters at one time, because I've seen quite a few hats with addresses in the bigger cities, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, and even more for the smaller ones, like Sandusky, Fremont, etc.

For all those that I've seen, and for the many times I've been down Vine Street, this is the first I've heard of Bott. It's probably just another example of a store branded hat, and I think Lee was the most popularly re-branded (I can't remember if the Penny's Marathon was a Lee). Either way, good stuff.

 

[AdmiralTofu]

Congrats, Dumbjaw!

I was eyeing that hat myself until I realized that I'd mis-read the description and that it was a 7-3/4 LO, and not a 7-3/8 LO... ah well. Congrats! Wear it in in good health. :fedora:

Before I realized it wasn't my size ( ), I tried doing a little "research" (read: a Google search...), and couldn't find anything about Bott. I most likely would have snatched it up anyway, as it looks like a nice lid. I love the ribbon treatment.

-Tofu

 

[MattJH]

So that's it, eh? Thanks for contributing what little everyone knows.

I'll post more details (including photographs) when the hat arrives so everybody can get a good look at it. From the existing photographs, it definitely looks like a higher-end hat, but I won't know until it's in my hands. Crossing my fingers that the measurement provided wasn't, like, the diameter. Haha.

 

[besdor]

Dumbjaw, that an old hat. Probably dated from the 1940's jugding by the style of the hat. I dont think people realize just how many hats stores there were years ago. Where we are located in Willimsburg Brooklyn ,at one time during the 1950's there were 7 hats stores within a three block radius. All of them did business because every man wore a hat. Today , there are a handful of hat stores left throughout the USA.



Steven-Bencraft Hats

 

[MattJH]

Thanks for the input, Steven! It just arrived. Other than a size & stock tag under the sweatband, the hat offers no other clues about its age. When I attempted to resecure the wind trolley, it tore out of the hat. Bummer. While I don't like using them, I do like the way the look on a hat. The felt is a bit dirty, and this is probably a good contender for Optimo at some point. The leather sweat and liner are both in great condition, though, and it really is a 7 3/4 Long Oval, so it fits me perfectly. Very happy with this purchase.

The sweatband is embossed with "Tropic Weight." While I wouldn't call this a summer felt as the felt itself is pretty thick, the weight of the hat itself is pretty light. The felt has a slightly rough feel to it, almost like a very very fine sandpaper. The brim is a double-stitched overwelt.

Measurements:

Crown: 6"
Ribbon: 2"
Brim: 2 3/8" (just short of 2 1/2")

I'll post some pictures tonight.

 

[MattJH]

As promised, here are the pictures. I can't believe I found a vintage 7 3/4 Long Oval. Pure luck.

Now that I've had a bit of time to really check the hat out after getting home from work, I really like it. As a matter of fact, I think I actually like it more than my Stetson Whippet, which it's very, very similar to. I can't pinpoint the reason why. Maybe it's that it's new. It just fits better and, I think, looks better on me. Anyone have any guesses to the age other than Steven from Bencraft (not that he doesn't have all the experience in the world to wager a guess!)? I had a lounger PM me stating that the style of the "Long Oval" tag indicates that it's a much later hat, perhaps from the late 60's. Thoughts?

Measurements once more:

Crown: 6"
Ribbon: 2"
Brim: 2 3/8" (just short of 2 1/2")

P.S. - It seriously bothers me that I unintentionally unattached the wind trolley from the body of the hat. I'm terrible with thread and needle, so I guess I'll just live with it.

Front view of the hat.

Side view of the hat.

Back view of the hat. Nice and square. I like that.

Top view of the hat. I put the crease in. My usual sloppy mess that I like.

The embossed logo along with the Long Oval tag I spoke about.

"Tropic Weight" - the hat is light, but I don't think it's meant as a summer hat what with the liner and all.

The liner, which is held onto the internal hat body with tape. Is that weird?

A nice, close-up view of the ribbon treatment that is exclusive to this hat in my collection. I'm into it.

A close-up of the double-stitched brim from the underside.
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[MattJH]

A comparison of this Bott alongside a Carbon Grey Akubra Federation IV.

A comparison of this Bott alongside a Stetson Whippet.
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[MarkL]

Bott Hats

Hi! I just saw your post of the hat you got on ebay. It looks great. I am from Cincinnati, (now living in Pennsylvnia) and I have never heard of Botts hats. I am sure back several decades ago there were many hatters in the city, but as in most areas, all that has changed. There is one hatter left there, Batsakes Hats. The guy who runs that place might have some info on the guy/company who made your hat. He would be the best lead.

I am quite familiar with Vine Street, and at 716, there isn't much these days...and certainly not a good hat shop.

 

[Dinerman]

Anyone have any guesses to the age other than Steven from Bencraft (not that he doesn't have all the experience in the world to wager a guess!)? I had a lounger PM me stating that the style of the "Long Oval" tag indicates that it's a much later hat, perhaps from the late 60's. Thoughts?

I've seen that style on hats from the '50s. I don't have any pictures of them, though. I want to say I've seen that style tag on old resistol fedoras, but I can't be positive. The sweatband style says late '40s through mid '50s to me. The liner and sweatband sport an obviously older design of logo, but on a newer style liner, with the plastic covering. From what I've seen with other hats, I'm going to go with early '50s, but there's no way to be absolutely positive.

The liner, which is held onto the internal hat body with tape. Is that weird?

Not at all. I've seen it on quite a few vintage hats, including late '40s Stetsons.

 

[MattJH]

Thanks for the help, folks.

Dinerman - Your new avatar rules.

Unpopular Opinion Time: I like this hat so much that I think I'm going to sell my Whippet. I'm not much of a hat-hoarder and I can't think of any reason why I'd grab the Whippet over this one if I'm reaching for a gray.

 

[JohnnyB53]

Unpopular Opinion Time: I like this hat so much that I think I'm going to sell my Whippet. I'm not much of a hat-hoarder and I can't think of any reason why I'd grab the Whippet over this one if I'm reaching for a gray.

The Whippet may help you through the hard times, like Devo said:

When a problem comes along
You must Whippet
Before the cream sits out too long
You must Whippet
When something's going wrong
You must Whippet

Now Whippet
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
Its not too late
To Whippet
Whippet good

When a good time turns around
You must Whippet
You will never live it down
Unless you Whippet
No one gets away
Until they Whippet

I say Whippet
Whippet good
I say Whippet
Whippet good

 

[MattJH]

This hat is now up for auction. You can read my post in the Classifieds here. Aside from my custom-made Vintage Silhouettes from Art Fawcett, this is the only hat I own that is actually designated as a lightweight, so it will certainly make itself useful during the upcoming spring season. Good luck. I hope someone from The Fedora Lounge wins it. You're all so easy to do business with!

 

[DRB]

Try calling Gus Miller at: 513-721-9345 . He now owns the Batsake Hat shop in Cincinnati. I am from Cincinnati, born and raised there and have not heard of them. As Stephen (Besdor) said, that is an old hat, at least 40 years old.

 

[Joshbru3]

Bott Hat on Etsy (Pictures from Etsy)
The proportions and liner style makes me think 20's, but could be later. The hat is missing the original ribbon, but still looks cool.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

google maps street view:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=715+Vine+Street,+Cincinnati,+OH&hl=en&ll=39.104622,-84.512436&spn=0,0.018861&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=28.529345,77.255859&z=16&layer=c&cbll=39.10428,-84.513755&panoid=ldmH-uJXobcJLlw_sDeWeA&cbp=12,237.28,,0,10.41

 

[Joshbru3]

google maps street view:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=715+Vine+Street,+Cincinnati,+OH&hl=en&ll=39.104622,-84.512436&spn=0,0.018861&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=28.529345,77.255859&z=16&layer=c&cbll=39.10428,-84.513755&panoid=ldmH-uJXobcJLlw_sDeWeA&cbp=12,237.28,,0,10.41

That's pretty cool. Thanks for posting this, Wiser Hatter.