The Bowler or Derby Hat

[ofcoursemyhorse]

Delightful looking Bowler Kolchak, I actually just left a couple bowlers with a local hatmaker to have her put some different colored ribbons put on so I'd have a bit more variation between my black bowlers.

I can only pray that i'll have an opportunity to visit Optimo in person someday.

 

[ManofKent]

Kolchak - very nice - I like the crown and ribbon proportions

 

[hatsRme]

Previously posted on the New Hat thread, this beauty turned up from a classified ad in the NEWSPAPER. Good thing I am old enough and stalwart enough in my habits that I still look forward to pensively perusing the pages of a paper.

It belonged to the grandfather of the 85 year old gentleman who sold it to me. In his possession for over 60 years, I think it was made around 1920. Opinions?

 

[doberdadinmd]

That is fantastic! The hat, the story, etc...

 

[hatsRme]

Thank you, DoberDad! Still hoping for other weigh-ins on the age of this one...

 

[mayserwegener]

Fantastic Derby! Really like the sweatband design. I am not up American Union labels but my guess would be 1900 - 1925. It's especially tough dating stiff felts. I am sure there is info on Besse in "The American Hatter" that might prove helpful with dating.

 

[hatsRme]

Thank you kindly Steve. If I know that Besse Bryant was a retail clothing store, would that exclude them from the American Hatter pages?

I also JUST got off the phone with the seller, and he provided the name, place of residence, and approximate date of passing of the original owner. AND, if he can locate it, he has a photograph of him with the derby!

 

[alanfgag]

The union label indicates pre-1934, but the references found to the Besse system in Google Books date from the first two decades of the 20th C. Here is one, that describes the "system" as a chain of 18 retail stores. The texture of the sweatband recalls "the Fray" process sweats from that period as well.

Really nice!!

 

[hatsRme]

Thank you so much, Alan! I have now begun an investigation into the owner and any provenance that can be established.

 

[bowlerman]

Really beautifully crafted. What a great flatness to that D'Orsay curl. Well done, HRMe!

 

[mayserwegener]

Thank you kindly Steve. If I know that Besse Bryant was a retail clothing store, would that exclude them from the American Hatter pages?

Retailers are mentioned often in "The American Hatter". I did a quick search and Besse-System showed up. I am sure if you search other TAH volumes you will find information on Besse.

http://books.google.com/books?id=mPtYAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+American+Hatter,+Volume+50&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jVEeUtWfG4fG4APaq4D4BQ&ved=0CDYQuwUwAQ#v=onepage&q=The%20American%20Hatter%2C%20Volume%2050&f=false

 

[hatsRme]

I can and shall, THANK you, sir!!

 

[jlee562]

Wow, a stunning 'time capsule' hat! Congrats on the score.

 

[mayserwegener]

J. Hückel'a Synove Vídeň (J. Hückel´s Söhne Wien) Melone, size 5 3/4 Point, crown 4 1/2 inches, brim 2 1/4 inches, 154 grams. The liner and sweatband wording are in Czech but I believe it's from right around WWI. I really like the lower profile and striking liner / sweatband.

 

[kolchak]

Gorgeous! I love the d'Orsay on that - its so low profile.

Here are pics a C & K that just arrived in a package from Optimo (in for a cleaning and smoothing.) It came out beautiful -

Dropping it off -

 

[mayserwegener]

Joel, Thanks! Your C & K Derby is fantastic!

 

[Chepstow]

Joel, Thanks! Your C & K Derby is fantastic!

as Steve said, fantastic!!

 

[ManofKent]

Joel, a hat to invoke envy!

 

[kolchak]

thanks guys!

Steve, I'll be back in Berlin in Jan and a trip to the Staatsbibliothek is on my list ;-)

 

[mayserwegener]

Joel, Fantastic! I know they have post 1920 volumes of Deutsche Hutmacher-Zeitung. They wouldn't digitize them for me because they were still under copyright. I am very much interested in finding list of German Hutfabriks.