The Dobbs Diner...

[LocktownDog]

Wow. That's a beauty, rlk.

 

[Lefty]

+1. I also realized how perfectly your Optimo camel velour would fit into that catalog's line.

 

[alanfgag]

Gave this homburg love on the hat of the day thread... but it deserves another hug here. Beautiful.

 

[rlk]

Thanks LD,Lefty and Alan. The slightly modified tones make for a less formal and highly wearable 'Burger vs. the all black.

 

[rlk]

Bluegrass Dobbs 1939

After the Gay Blade was seen at the Sport Club, the Two-Timer fled Cross Country.

 

[alanfgag]

Dobbs Gay Prince - 2 7/8" brim

This Gay Prince at a very nice price I found courtesy of a FL friend (thank you!) Shown as it came off the boat from Ebay, it will benefit from a steam cleaning and some work with a pin on the shallow moth nibbles. There are a bunch, but they are not too noticeable on the suede finish felt. A little lighter than my other GP posted earlier on this thread (color is shown best in the head shot) ... and a bit more dash with the wide brim. It looks a little Robin Hoodish, no?... will work well with my green tights.

 

[DJH]

Hmm, I suppose you could get yourself some of the Mantihose discussed in this thread Alan.

While I don't see myself in that style of hat, it does look good on you!

 

[Feraud]

Dobbs Gay Baron.
Sorry about the low quality cellphone pics

2 1/8ths. inch brim.

 

[delectans]

I really like this GP on you, Alan! :eusa_clap

The wide-brim GPs have an elan and bravado that I find quite singular and appealing.

 

[alanfgag]

The wide-brim GPs have an elan and bravado that I find quite singular and appealing.

Thanks, Al... these seem to get very mixed reviews on the FL, but I find the style flattering and very easy to wear.

 

[rlk]

Thanks, Al... these seem to get very mixed reviews on the FL, but I find the style flattering and very easy to wear.

Me too! The lacing is a Western influence(muy macho) not really such a fringe style.

 

[alanfgag]

Dobbs Gay Baron.
Sorry about the low quality cellphone pics

Very good pictures and nice to have the rich representation of brown Gay Dobbs. I wonder about the timeframe... were all three brim widths offered concurrently? The Gay Prince I posted earlier in this thread is a 2 1/2" brim - very similar construction but with subtle differences. The narrower brim has a firmer felt, red accents in an otherwise identical logo. The 2 7/8" has slightly different stitching in the liner, a oiled paper crown protector (the other is plastic) and a barrier lining behind the sweatband.

I only have a few Dobbs hats, but guessing, I would think the timeline would begin with the widest brim and end with the Gay Baron.

2 7/8"

2 1/2"

 

[rlk]

2-7/8" brims are on OPS tagged hats('51-3). Both yours are 50's. Brims narrowed mid-50's.
Style dates back to 1940

Here's Brad's early one:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...Dobbs-Diner...&p=906412&viewfull=1#post906412

 

[ejbhats]

Apologies for the late comment, I am not certain how it is that I missed this until now. At any rate, an absolutely stunning, and very early Gay Prince. I would estimate, based upon the sweatband, crown logo, and brim, that this is one of the earliest Gay Princes and dates to the mid-'40s. Very similar to Brad's fine example earlier in this thread.


Sorry for the slow reply! Glad you like it. This is one of those hats that will probably be buried with me. Comr to think of it, it may be a two casket funeral or a really big fire!

 

[alanfgag]

2-7/8" brims are on OPS tagged hats('51-3). Both yours are 50's. Brims narrowed mid-50's.
Style dates back to 1940

Many thanks, Robert. Clearly a lot of good history to mine in the pages of this thread.

 

[ejbhats]

I am saturated with envy over the Prince and Baron! Especially the way you can work with those brims! My Prince needs to go to the Dr. for some hat Viagra... Back brim wants to curl up too much. What is a good form for steaming the brims to shape into a slight lift on the edge?

 

[alanfgag]

Mine have heavy back curls too... style perhaps? The stitching seems to make this hard to adjust with steam. It adds to the Robin Hood flair. I spent some time working on this hat over the weekend. Had good success tempering the moth nibbles poking with the point of a sharp sewing needle.

 

[Twill]

Great Thread...

This thread is great. Thanks everyone for the wealth of information.

I picked up this amazing lid a couple of days ago at an antique shop down the street from me. From what I've gathered from this thread, I assume this is a 1950's Hankachif. If you have a second to spare, could an expert let me know if I'm right about the date or perhaps could narrow down the date for me? I really appreciate the time.

 

[hatophile]

Great hat, Twill. I am not hugely experienced with dating hats (don't even date women now, being married and all) but its a great hat. I would guess late, 40's-50's.

 

[bowlerman]

Great hat, Twill.

:arated: and that's a great textured ribbon, too.