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Swiss Hat Companies

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,813
Location
Denmark
Found on eBay. I was waffling for a few days over whether I needed another black bowler when it went on sale at 30 percent off, so I just had to. Plus, Swiss hats don't pop up all that often.
National Extra quality by Hochstrasser Waedenswil.
Pardon the lint.

7ecb587c8eca58e8ab3c13630078356b.jpg
039edd080c6a8fa623fd9a09e150533f.jpg
3587c75dadc5b2ab5581f47cbcadf124.jpg


In the sun

402d7a1f7c2abe49bdf72ae1b20c77a2.jpg


The stamps and tags

ebbd36499787683e1d4b7aba0b7b3812.jpg
0c7cd5c95b0e5303c391b327651780b3.jpg
272f9bde151636244e5d80f9461b099d.jpg
faab41a3785597123f1cb85b230012f5.jpg


The sweat looks reeded, but is an odd type that has no fabric tape behind the sweat, just the edge. Only other one I've seen is on my French Maximes mystery hat.

d28dd10212aa888ac1137ff3a412e22d.jpg


The liner is a beauty. Reminds me of a tuxedo shirt. :)

dc6fbc2075dd718c08958acc3cd512c8.jpg
1b7bf39cdf74b8d80f8a4f7faa315af9.jpg


And a head shot. Fits nice!

f4b274970e9aca1a6c15844d9e0ceb58.jpg


It has a 5" crown and a 2" brim. 156g. The felt is in great shape, only one little dimple ro steam out. Feels like there may be wool in the blend as it has a somewhat coarse hand compared to some of my other bowlers. The sweat is a little dry, made me a bit nervous to turn it down for the pic. It survived unscathed (I hope) and should respond well to a Lexol-ing. Otherwise it has very little wear.
My thought on it's age is 30's. As always, all input to confirm or refute that assertion is welcome.


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A really nice find Moe. Sweet temptation at 30% off. By the look of the liner alone, I think your speculation about age is correct. 1930s would be my estimate, too.

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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,813
Location
Denmark
Thanks Steve!
Not a bad deal at all for 35 dollars including shipping... :)
Not a bad deal at all. In fact, $35 plus the 30% would have been a steal in itself. At $35, I'd have been laughing all the way to the Swiss bank. Sweet Moe. I really like it.

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Messages
18,378
Location
Nederland
Found on eBay. I was waffling for a few days over whether I needed another black bowler when it went on sale at 30 percent off, so I just had to. Plus, Swiss hats don't pop up all that often.
National Extra quality by Hochstrasser Waedenswil.
Pardon the lint.

7ecb587c8eca58e8ab3c13630078356b.jpg
039edd080c6a8fa623fd9a09e150533f.jpg
3587c75dadc5b2ab5581f47cbcadf124.jpg


In the sun

402d7a1f7c2abe49bdf72ae1b20c77a2.jpg


The stamps and tags

ebbd36499787683e1d4b7aba0b7b3812.jpg
0c7cd5c95b0e5303c391b327651780b3.jpg
272f9bde151636244e5d80f9461b099d.jpg
faab41a3785597123f1cb85b230012f5.jpg


The sweat looks reeded, but is an odd type that has no fabric tape behind the sweat, just the edge. Only other one I've seen is on my French Maximes mystery hat.

d28dd10212aa888ac1137ff3a412e22d.jpg


The liner is a beauty. Reminds me of a tuxedo shirt. :)

dc6fbc2075dd718c08958acc3cd512c8.jpg
1b7bf39cdf74b8d80f8a4f7faa315af9.jpg


And a head shot. Fits nice!

f4b274970e9aca1a6c15844d9e0ceb58.jpg


It has a 5" crown and a 2" brim. 156g. The felt is in great shape, only one little dimple ro steam out. Feels like there may be wool in the blend as it has a somewhat coarse hand compared to some of my other bowlers. The sweat is a little dry, made me a bit nervous to turn it down for the pic. It survived unscathed (I hope) and should respond well to a Lexol-ing. Otherwise it has very little wear.
My thought on it's age is 30's. As always, all input to confirm or refute that assertion is welcome.


Powered by happy thoughts
Very nice catch, John. Looks to be very well made. Love the liner.
 

moehawk

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Messages
5,822
Location
Northern California
Something I noticed while conditioning the band. There is some sort of a flexible white filament around the top edge of the sweatband. It can be seen in this pic. Seems to be all around the edge.

a016957603176c12489eefd9a5a59630.jpg


It is flexible enough to bend the sweat down and stiff enough that it makes a pop when the sweat is folded back up. Never seen anything like it.

Powered by happy thoughts
 

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
Something I noticed while conditioning the band. There is some sort of a flexible white filament around the top edge of the sweatband. It can be seen in this pic. Seems to be all around the edge.

a016957603176c12489eefd9a5a59630.jpg


It is flexible enough to bend the sweat down and stiff enough that it makes a pop when the sweat is folded back up. Never seen anything like it.

Powered by happy thoughts
That is the reed.
 

moehawk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,822
Location
Northern California
Interesting Moe. My Moores' bowler has a similar "filament" as can be seen in the photos below. This bowler is from the 20s/30s. Perhaps this double reed effect was something done with bowler hats at that time.
bc5126bb3043ff56ed1257e9981152e6.jpg
e874be5dfafdfe77ba7f28df15201c33.jpg


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I just checked all of my other bowlers. All had a rolled free edge, but only my G. B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C. from the 20's also had a filament that I could feel.
Interesting.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,813
Location
Denmark
I just checked all of my other bowlers. All had a rolled free edge, but only my G. B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C. from the 20's also had a filament that I could feel.
Interesting.
Very interesting. It seems like it could well be a 20s/30s thing. When I first acquired the bowler, I thought it had something to do with the claim "Vacuum Fitting" on the sweat band. The leather band is rather thick and "puffy" for want of a better word. It feels like a kind of suction cup effect once worn. It's a hat that won't easily be knocked off.
Is your Swiss bowler in any way like that, Moe? The sweat band on it looks thinner than the one on mine.
03bcfc66596f4f2bb20ab46526237fc7.jpg


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moehawk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,822
Location
Northern California
Very interesting. It seems like it could well be a 20s/30s thing. When I first acquired the bowler, I thought it had something to do with the claim "Vacuum Fitting" on the sweat band. The leather band is rather thick and "puffy" for want of a better word. It feels like a kind of suction cup effect once worn. It's a hat that won't easily be knocked off.
Is your Swiss bowler in any way like that, Moe? The sweat band on it looks thinner than the one on mine.
03bcfc66596f4f2bb20ab46526237fc7.jpg


Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk
I had forgotten to check my Tirard Freres, also 20's to 30's. It has it as well, plus the reed edge. All three of mine are thin leather sweats.
 

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