The Bowler or Derby Hat

[kolchak]

Man I really love that rust brown Knox. What an awesome hat

I found a vintage G.A. DUNN & Co. bowler that I really like that fits and is in nice condition. It has a curved brim and high profile and is a lot different from the other two vintage bowlers I have. The construction and materials (felt esp) are def superior and it looks entirely different when worn - sits at a totally different position.

If someone here could help on dating the period it would be great!

 

[Garrett]

Looks pre-WW2. Great find and only 2 pounds, 10 pents when new! Does it fit true to the 7 1/8 size? Should fit like a 7 1/4 since its Brit sizing.

 

[kolchak]

Looks pre-WW2. Great find and only 2 pounds, 10 pents when new! Does it fit true to the 7 1/8 size? Should fit like a 7 1/4 since its Brit sizing.

Its 57.75 cm. inside. Has a real roan leather band and I may put a little strip of cork inside to get it to sit a little higher.

 

[Chepstow]

kolchak, that Melone looks fantastic, great shape and brim wide! Congrats to that beauty!

 

[bowlerman]

Garret, the Knox is spectacular!

Kolchak, yes that Dunn does have an interesting profile-- way cool, and you look absolutely formidable wearing it. Is this one of the wider brimmed models? Gorgeous lid!

 

[mayserwegener]

kolchak, that Melone looks fantastic, great shape and brim wide! Congrats to that beauty!

+1

 

[Dannny Boy]

G.A Dunn made some awesome hats.

 

[Dannny Boy]

I recently aquired this Stetson Bowler from the bay, anyone help me with its age?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ste...g%2BvvV26g3dIBvGBu7E8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[splintercellsz]

Nice score! I am going to go out on a limb, and say 30's due to the liner logo, but as I am still learning how to date, I may be wrong! Again, what a nice hat, great price, and it looks to be in pristine condition!

 

[Dannny Boy]

Thank you sir for the help!

 

[kolchak]

Garret, the Knox is spectacular!

Kolchak, yes that Dunn does have an interesting profile-- way cool, and you look absolutely formidable wearing it. Is this one of the wider brimmed models? Gorgeous lid!

Thank you and thanks all! The hat has a 2 1/4" brim and a 5 3/4" crown height measured from where the brim meets the crown in the middle of the side.

 

[kolchak]

Danny Boy - Great Stetson!
Here's something I just noticed - the brim is enough wider on my G.A. DUNN at the sides where it curls into the d'Orsay so that the brim then has the same 2 1/4" profile all the way around the hat. It looks like that Stetson is similar.

 

[mayserwegener]

The brim width is the same as my Möckel but the crown form is different.

 

[splintercellsz]

The Lennox Co. Unsure on the date of this hat, but I am sure it is earlier 1900s.

 

[syzygywon]

my derby

I fell in love with the bowler I tried on at optimo's, but my entry in this catagory would be the stetson derby I picked up recently. It's a bit too small for me, but i plan on bringing it with me the next time I go to Optimo and see if they can block it and make it work for me. i'll add photos later.

 

[ofcoursemyhorse]

Looks great on you! Very well made Bowler, especially if it can survive a fire!

 

[splintercellsz]

Agreed, OCMH, agreed! The only issue with the hat is that the crown has dents, and the brim is bent on the left side, but in the end, I view these as some unique wear and added character!

 

[Chepstow]

Justin, congrats to that find. The Bowler looks great on you!

 

[splintercellsz]

Manfred, thank you!

 

[ofcoursemyhorse]

Thanks for checking the weights! It appears the German and Austrian makers produced the lightest ones. Your Herbert Johnson Bowler looks fantastic!

So far the lightest bowler I have has been 130 grams. I think you're correct on american makers not being able to get theirs much lighter than that.

I did see an interesting article concerning Woodrow bowlers advertising a 3oz model.


http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/84200717