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The Bowler or Derby Hat

Ken O

New in Town
Messages
5
Location
West Coxsackie, NY
Hello All,
I originally posted the below post in the "1890's-1900's early hat manufacture HAWES (Hawes Von Gal) HAT CO" thread and was asked to repost it hear. I have always loved hats and I love to save older items in general when I find them, I do have a few other hats and never thought much about the history behind them. This is my first derby and researching the history has struck a cord to find out more.


"I found you all after researching information about a Hawes Von Gal Derby I found at a thrift shop. Someone on this thread did a ton of research and I thank you. After reviewing the data on this thread and on the web I realized the derby could be around 100yrs old, which I found hard to believe. I was wondering if anyone here could help me confirm an approximate age on the hat. Here are the details I have and I will also provide some pics. Thank you in advance for any additional info that can be provided.

The hat is a Black or Grey, 6 7/8, Vented Derby, manufactured by Hawes, von Gal incorporated Danbury, Conn.
The Hat Band has two imprints - "Fine Quality von Gal made Hat" and "Hawes, von Gal inc. New York, Boston, Chicago".
It has a Hawes, von Gal style number tag but I cant make out the number, it could be 1828, 7828 or something else.
It also has a combination Hawes von Gal trade mark tag and a (misspelled) store tag from Wm. Argersinge(r), Johnston, N.Y.".
There is another "To duplicate mention" tag with the number 6870 and a tag with the numbers "(5 ' 4x2 ' 4)"
There is what I think is a union hatters tag as well.

Does anyone have additional info or an idea of the age? Condition seems great if the hat is almost a century or older."

Resized_20220103_162745.jpeg 20220106_183659.jpg 20220106_183511.jpg 20220106_183448.jpg 20220106_183435.jpg 20220104_161527.jpg 20220104_161409.jpg 20220104_161135.jpg 20220104_161100.jpg 20220104_160956.jpg
 
Messages
11,713
Hello All,
I originally posted the below post in the "1890's-1900's early hat manufacture HAWES (Hawes Von Gal) HAT CO" thread and was asked to repost it hear. I have always loved hats and I love to save older items in general when I find them, I do have a few other hats and never thought much about the history behind them. This is my first derby and researching the history has struck a cord to find out more.


"I found you all after researching information about a Hawes Von Gal Derby I found at a thrift shop. Someone on this thread did a ton of research and I thank you. After reviewing the data on this thread and on the web I realized the derby could be around 100yrs old, which I found hard to believe. I was wondering if anyone here could help me confirm an approximate age on the hat. Here are the details I have and I will also provide some pics. Thank you in advance for any additional info that can be provided.

The hat is a Black or Grey, 6 7/8, Vented Derby, manufactured by Hawes, von Gal incorporated Danbury, Conn.
The Hat Band has two imprints - "Fine Quality von Gal made Hat" and "Hawes, von Gal inc. New York, Boston, Chicago".
It has a Hawes, von Gal style number tag but I cant make out the number, it could be 1828, 7828 or something else.
It also has a combination Hawes von Gal trade mark tag and a (misspelled) store tag from Wm. Argersinge(r), Johnston, N.Y.".
There is another "To duplicate mention" tag with the number 6870 and a tag with the numbers "(5 ' 4x2 ' 4)"
There is what I think is a union hatters tag as well.

Does anyone have additional info or an idea of the age? Condition seems great if the hat is almost a century or older."

View attachment 393749 View attachment 393750 View attachment 393751 View attachment 393752 View attachment 393753 View attachment 393754 View attachment 393755 View attachment 393756 View attachment 393757 View attachment 393758
Welcome! Very cool find.
 
Messages
18,443
Location
Nederland
Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

meteor_01-jpg.394013
meteor_02-jpg.394014
meteor_03-jpg.394015
meteor_04-jpg.394016
meteor_06-jpg.394017
meteor_07-jpg.394018
meteor_08-jpg.394019
meteor_09-jpg.394020
meteor_10-jpg.394021
meteor_11-jpg.394022
 
Messages
17,514
Location
Maryland
Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

meteor_01-jpg.394013
meteor_02-jpg.394014
meteor_03-jpg.394015
meteor_04-jpg.394016
meteor_06-jpg.394017
meteor_07-jpg.394018
meteor_08-jpg.394019
meteor_09-jpg.394020
meteor_10-jpg.394021
meteor_11-jpg.394022
Stefan, Super! It's an old one. Great liner. Color +,design.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,857
Location
Denmark
Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

meteor_01-jpg.394013
meteor_02-jpg.394014
meteor_03-jpg.394015
meteor_04-jpg.394016
meteor_06-jpg.394017
meteor_07-jpg.394018
meteor_08-jpg.394019
meteor_09-jpg.394020
meteor_10-jpg.394021
meteor_11-jpg.394022

Lovely shape to it, Stefan. The art nouveau liner steals the show, though. I'd have bought it just for that.
 
Messages
11,713
Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

meteor_01-jpg.394013
meteor_02-jpg.394014
meteor_03-jpg.394015
meteor_04-jpg.394016
meteor_06-jpg.394017
meteor_07-jpg.394018
meteor_08-jpg.394019
meteor_09-jpg.394020
meteor_10-jpg.394021
meteor_11-jpg.394022
Very cool liner
 

JJ Katz

Familiar Face
Messages
57

Thanks!

All there's under the band is a number (5143), perhaps a serial. There is an embossed moniker, too (visible on the band) that says "The Buoyant", perhaps the model of the hat>.

The hat has small holes at the top of the crown for ventilation I guess, in the days when gents wore derbies even when it was hot.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,857
Location
Denmark
Thanks!

All there's under the band is a number (5143), perhaps a serial. There is an embossed moniker, too (visible on the band) that says "The Buoyant", perhaps the model of the hat>.

The hat has small holes at the top of the crown for ventilation I guess, in the days when gents wore derbies even when it was hot.

Ja, ventilation holes. Not unusual, but I often wonder how effective they were.

I've not heard of the maker before, but found a poster for Falcon Headwear via Google.

Along with Manchester, Luton was one of the main hatmaking areas in England back in the day. Perhaps Falcon, like the store the Bowler was sold in, were from there.
 

Just Daniel

One Too Many
Messages
1,454
Great hat!

I think that is a United Hatters of North America tag? That gives you some decades to work with. I always forget the dates on that tag.

Here it is…1896 to 1934. That gets you closer…

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/look-for-the-union-label.59329/


The unsewn seam at the back of the sweat band generally means 1920s or before.



Hello All,
I originally posted the below post in the "1890's-1900's early hat manufacture HAWES (Hawes Von Gal) HAT CO" thread and was asked to repost it hear. I have always loved hats and I love to save older items in general when I find them, I do have a few other hats and never thought much about the history behind them. This is my first derby and researching the history has struck a cord to find out more.


"I found you all after researching information about a Hawes Von Gal Derby I found at a thrift shop. Someone on this thread did a ton of research and I thank you. After reviewing the data on this thread and on the web I realized the derby could be around 100yrs old, which I found hard to believe. I was wondering if anyone here could help me confirm an approximate age on the hat. Here are the details I have and I will also provide some pics. Thank you in advance for any additional info that can be provided.

The hat is a Black or Grey, 6 7/8, Vented Derby, manufactured by Hawes, von Gal incorporated Danbury, Conn.
The Hat Band has two imprints - "Fine Quality von Gal made Hat" and "Hawes, von Gal inc. New York, Boston, Chicago".
It has a Hawes, von Gal style number tag but I cant make out the number, it could be 1828, 7828 or something else.
It also has a combination Hawes von Gal trade mark tag and a (misspelled) store tag from Wm. Argersinge(r), Johnston, N.Y.".
There is another "To duplicate mention" tag with the number 6870 and a tag with the numbers "(5 ' 4x2 ' 4)"
There is what I think is a union hatters tag as well.

Does anyone have additional info or an idea of the age? Condition seems great if the hat is almost a century or older."

View attachment 393749 View attachment 393750 View attachment 393751 View attachment 393752 View attachment 393753 View attachment 393754 View attachment 393755 View attachment 393756 View attachment 393757 View attachment 393758
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,862
Location
Central Texas
Perhaps not the last, but certainly one of the last old dye black cherry felts courtesy of Northwest Hats. I figured, if this was the last of its kind, why not do something special. Mike is a master bowler maker, so why not let him do what he does best! I hope the color comes through in some of these pictures. The silver/grey ribbon and binding really make the rich red stand out.

BC 1.jpg BC 2.jpg BC 3.jpg BC 4.jpg BC 5.jpg BC 6.jpg
 
Messages
18,443
Location
Nederland
Perhaps not the last, but certainly one of the last old dye black cherry felts courtesy of Northwest Hats. I figured, if this was the last of its kind, why not do something special. Mike is a master bowler maker, so why not let him do what he does best! I hope the color comes through in some of these pictures. The silver/grey ribbon and binding really make the rich red stand out.

View attachment 396254 View attachment 396255 View attachment 396256 View attachment 396257 View attachment 396258 View attachment 396259
Beautiful hat, Randy. Mike sure does know how to get them right.
 

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