The Bowler or Derby Hat

[Rmccamey]

A bonus in life to find a second excellent Penn-Craft bowler hat. With all the standard vintage bowler dimensions and attributes, this one is different than my first Penn-Craft in that it sports a pleated liner and a baby blue logo background. This one is a Long Oval but fits tighter than my first one that is a regular 1/8. My first P-C also sports an NRA tag but the hats appear very similar in age.



In a previous post, I mentioned something about P-Cs being an export brand. Looking at my first one, I noticed it says "Imported from America" on the sweatband, so I suppose Penn-Crafts were used somewhat in that regard.




Overall, a nice addition to my collection.

 

[steur]

A bonus in life to find a second excellent Penn-Craft bowler hat. With all the standard vintage bowler dimensions and attributes, this one is different than my first Penn-Craft in that it sports a pleated liner and a baby blue logo background. This one is a Long Oval but fits tighter than my first one that is a regular 1/8. My first P-C also sports an NRA tag but the hats appear very similar in age.

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In a previous post, I mentioned something about P-Cs being an export brand. Looking at my first one, I noticed it says "Imported from America" on the sweatband, so I suppose Penn-Crafts were used somewhat in that regard.

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Overall, a nice addition to my collection.

More than nice I'd say, Randy. That looks like brand new. Fabulous find.

 

[Rmccamey]

A little dusty on the outside when it arrived, the hat is in perfect condition and I am very pleased. This is one of those hats so soft and smooth I want to hold it in my lap and stroke it like a little kitten! Thank you, Stefan.

More than nice I'd say, Randy. That looks like brand new. Fabulous find.

 

[BobHufford]

S. F. Wilson “ The Avenue”.

I need to steam out the dent, clean a spot or two and reattach the sweat band bow. It fits perfectly! Very happy to have it.

 

[Steve1857]

S. F. Wilson “ The Avenue”.

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I need to steam out the dent, clean a spot or two and reattach the sweat band bow. It fits perfectly! Very happy to have it.

Even before you put right its small imperfections, that is a nice all round catch, Bob.

 

[BobHufford]

Thanks to @TheOldFashioned (for the heads-up) and @buler (for posting it) it looks like the S. F. Wilson might be of Schoble origin.

One made by Schoble for the Hurley Reilly Co. of Milwaukee.

 

[BobHufford]

Even before you put right its small imperfections, that is a nice all round catch, Bob.

Thanks Steve!

 

[Rmccamey]

S. F. Wilson “ The Avenue”.

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I need to steam out the dent, clean a spot or two and reattach the sweat band bow. It fits perfectly! Very happy to have it.

Thanks to @TheOldFashioned (for the heads-up) and @buler (for posting it) it looks like the S. F. Wilson might be of Schoble origin.

One made by Schoble for the Hurley Reilly Co. of Milwaukee.

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Great save, Bob.

 

[Blare]

Thanks to @TheOldFashioned (for the heads-up) and @buler (for posting it) it looks like the S. F. Wilson might be of Schoble origin.

One made by Schoble for the Hurley Reilly Co. of Milwaukee.

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Very cool

 

[BobHufford]

Great save, Bob.

Very cool

Thanks Randy and Joe!

 

[Rmccamey]

Good luck yesterday as I snagged a Crosby and Company bowler. Stefan posted its companion last year (I think Gary @The Shoe has it now). I have not seen another Crosby, and as both show exclusive distribution by Kaufman stores, I suspect it is a store brand. This one sports a Union label and a button size tag to also help with dating.

The Bowler or Derby Hat

To put it mildly: probably the little cousin in shape and age of Steve's fantastic 1900 Habig Bowler... J. Hückel's Söhne Melone/Bowler/Derby This stiff felt is really rather semi-stiff: Completely dented by shipping :eek:, but easily recovered thanks to this fact. It comes with a wind cord &...

www.thefedoralounge.com

This hat is a bit lighter than many of my other bowlers and sports a 2+ inch sweat, 4 3/4 crown, a tightly curled 2 1/8 D'Orsay brim, 1 1/8 ribbon, and an "autographed " white pleated liner. This one has a few light scuffs around the brim but is well-built with a smooth hand and is otherwise in excellent condition. I look forward to giving this Crosby a few more decades of good use!

 

[Steve1857]

Good luck yesterday as I snagged a Crosby and Company bowler. Stefan posted its companion last year (I think Gary @The Shoe has it now). I have not seen another Crosby, and as both show exclusive distribution by Kaufman stores, I suspect it is a store brand. This one sports a Union label and a button size tag to also help with dating.

http://[URL]https://www.thefedoralo...wler-or-derby-hat.32818/page-157#post-2856689

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This hat is a bit lighter than many of my other bowlers and sports a 2+ inch sweat, 4 3/4 crown, a tightly curled 2 1/8 D'Orsay brim, 1 1/8 ribbon, and an "autographed " white pleated liner. This one has a few light scuffs around the brim but is well-built with a smooth hand and is otherwise in excellent condition. I look forward to giving this Crosby a few more decades of good use!

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Nice catch, Randy. Like you, I particularly like the art-deco style font on the liner.

Wear it with joy!

 

[BobHufford]

Stetson Excellent Quality derby. 1915 - 1939 range.

My heart sank when I opened the box. "If we can make it fit, it ships".

And this was a box inside another box with more bubble wrap.

It popped back out with no really noticeable damage.

Not sure what to make of this trolley string/button. Added later? It is not currently functional and I'm not sure how to make it that way again with the two strings hanging loose on one end.

A layer of dust, a couple of blems and some marks on the liner, but pretty nice overall.

 

[Blare]

Stetson Excellent Quality derby. 1915 - 1939 range.

My heart sank when I opened the box. "If we can make it fit, it ships".

And this was a box inside another box with more bubble wrap.

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It popped back out with no really noticeable damage.

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Not sure what to make of this trolley string/button. Added later? It is not currently functional and I'm not sure how to make it that way again with the two strings hanging loose on one end.

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A layer of dust, a couple of blems and some marks on the liner, but pretty nice overall.

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Great find Bob. Glad it POPPED back into shape

 

[BobHufford]

Great find Bob. Glad it POPPED back into shape

Thanks Joe! It made a noticeable noise when I did it ... or maybe that was me.

 

[Rmccamey]

Great catch, Bob.

Stetson Excellent Quality derby. 1915 - 1939 range.

My heart sank when I opened the box. "If we can make it fit, it ships".

And this was a box inside another box with more bubble wrap.

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It popped back out with no really noticeable damage.

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Not sure what to make of this trolley string/button. Added later? It is not currently functional and I'm not sure how to make it that way again with the two strings hanging loose on one end.

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A layer of dust, a couple of blems and some marks on the liner, but pretty nice overall.

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[BobHufford]

Great catch, Bob.

Thanks Randy!

 

[The Shoe]

I think Gary @The Shoe has it now

I do indeed, and wear it quite regularly. Mine doesn’t have the art deco logo, though.

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice, Gary. I've managed to find one Kaufman Stores newspaper ad from 1920 which puts it in the middle of the UHNA union label period (1896-1934).

 

[Rmccamey]

Woo-hoo, four bowlers in two weeks!!! A Stetson, Penn-Craft, Crosby, and now a Dobbs courtesy of Bob @BobHufford (2023 Enabler of the Year nominee).

I'm not often brand loyal, but every vintage Dobbs I've handled is solid, well built, good looking and easy to wear. I could easily be a Dobbs man! This one is no different. Dimensions are on the small side with a 1 5/8 D'Orsay brim and a 4 1/2 crown. Overall, a very nice hat. Thanks, Bob.