" The Great British Hat Makers "

[glider]

very nice bowlers but I'd really like to know what that machine is that they are setting on.

 

[Steve1857]

Two very nice finds, Panos. What great colours both Homburgs have, too.

And another one. Wilson, camper style in greenish grey. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329482 View attachment 329483 View attachment 329484 View attachment 329485 View attachment 329486 View attachment 329487 View attachment 329488 View attachment 329489 View attachment 329490 View attachment 329491

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice, Panos.

And another one. Wilson, camper style in greenish grey. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329482 View attachment 329483 View attachment 329484 View attachment 329485 View attachment 329486 View attachment 329487 View attachment 329488 View attachment 329489 View attachment 329490 View attachment 329491

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice, Panos.

And another one. Wilson, camper style in greenish grey. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329482 View attachment 329483 View attachment 329484 View attachment 329485 View attachment 329486 View attachment 329487 View attachment 329488 View attachment 329489 View attachment 329490 View attachment 329491

 

[steur]

Seems like a hot hat-hunting period in my local area.. Different hat styles and sizes... Here are two bowlers.

First one, unknown maker. I am guessing English, due to the sizing. Unlined, in near mint condition. The crown patch maybe says something to some of you. View attachment 326336 View attachment 326337 View attachment 326338 View attachment 326339 View attachment 326340 View attachment 326341 View attachment 326342
View attachment 326343
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I am guessing 30s. The best thing about it imo is that is full wool but still soft and flexible. It almost feels it wants to be creased and snapped.

Stars and stripes do suggest an American made hat, but European sizing on an American hat is very uncommon, certainly on the earlier ones. Whatever the origins, it's a magnificent hat.

Next, J.Moores & sons, the "Electric" hat, size 55. Cushion pads and ventilation holes on the sweatband. "Fit for a king". Stamped date 27 May 1927. Also wider brim but deeper curl and more flange. View attachment 326346 View attachment 326348 View attachment 326349 View attachment 326350 View attachment 326351 View attachment 326352 View attachment 326353 View attachment 326354 View attachment 326355 View attachment 326356

Wow! Just fantastic, Panos. Certainly the earliest Moores I have seen.

 

[steur]

My very first feeling, Stefan, told me it was a German-made hat:
sweat, label etc. are very similar to some hats I've seen at flea markets.
The size tag would also fit this. In addition, the flags are in black-white-red:
These were the colors of the official flag in the Kaiserreich and also at the beginning
of the Nazi era (black-red-gold in between in the Weimar Republic and later BRD).
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagge_Deutschlands#Norddeutscher_Bund_und_Deutsches_Reich

Strange, however, is the combination with an "English" brand name
- which was quite common after the war in the 50s, but before?
So maybe this is a German production in/shortly after the war?
But this is all just a gut feeling with me!

However, Holborn is also a German family name...
Maybe Steve knows more?

Thanks, Matt. Couldn't have put it better myself. I was thinking a German made hat, but I haven't seen the fancy English names on such an early one. Could be it was made shortly after the war under an English name. I have been digging a bit deeper and it could well be that it is in fact Dutch. There's a mention of it in this advert from 1949, shortly after the Dutch hat factory Nehoefa started manufacturing again. Now why didn't I think of looking there before?

 

[steur]

Some more local finds.
Clark Homburg in navy blue. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329472 View attachment 329473 View attachment 329474 View attachment 329475 View attachment 329476 View attachment 329477 View attachment 329478 View attachment 329479 View attachment 329480 View attachment 329481

Super find, Panos. Such a pity it isn't your size. Great style and colour on that one.

And another one. Wilson, camper style in greenish grey. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329482 View attachment 329483 View attachment 329484 View attachment 329485 View attachment 329486 View attachment 329487 View attachment 329488 View attachment 329489 View attachment 329490 View attachment 329491

Another beauty. Hard to leave those hats orphaned, isn't it?

 

[steur]

very nice bowlers but I'd really like to know what that machine is that they are setting on.

It's a metal hat-stretcher. There's a heating element inside of the two half-domes to help stretch the hat. Very useful if you're collecting hats. I've never used the heating element in mine though.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Thanks, Matt. Couldn't have put it better myself. I was thinking a German made hat, but I haven't seen the fancy English names on such an early one. Could be it was made shortly after the war under an English name. I have been digging a bit deeper and it could well be that it is in fact Dutch. There's a mention of it in this advert from 1949, shortly after the Dutch hat factory Nehoefa started manufacturing again. Now why didn't I think of looking there before?

View attachment 329992

Great research, Stefan: Better late than never looked there!

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Some more local finds.
Clark Homburg in navy blue. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329472 View attachment 329473 View attachment 329474 View attachment 329475 View attachment 329476 View attachment 329477 View attachment 329478 View attachment 329479 View attachment 329480 View attachment 329481

And another one. Wilson, camper style in greenish grey. Size 58, imported for the Norwegian market. View attachment 329482 View attachment 329483 View attachment 329484 View attachment 329485 View attachment 329486 View attachment 329487 View attachment 329488 View attachment 329489 View attachment 329490 View attachment 329491

Panos, also at this point again:
Great hats in great colors - I'm looking forward to them!

 

[PanosChris]

Stars and stripes do suggest an American made hat, but European sizing on an American hat is very uncommon, certainly on the earlier ones. Whatever the origins, it's a magnificent hat.


Wow! Just fantastic, Panos. Certainly the earliest Moores I have seen.

very nice bowlers but I'd really like to know what that machine is that they are setting on.

Two very nice finds, Panos. What great colours both Homburgs have, too.

Very nice, Panos.

Stars and stripes do suggest an American made hat, but European sizing on an American hat is very uncommon, certainly on the earlier ones. Whatever the origins, it's a magnificent hat.


Wow! Just fantastic, Panos. Certainly the earliest Moores I have seen.

Thank you !! For some reason these English brands are more abundant than other European hats in my local market...more to come

 

[PanosChris]

Panos, also at this point again:
Great hats in great colors - I'm looking forward to them!

Matt, thank you and "like hell it's yours" (along with others )

 

[PanosChris]

Another one of these local gets for my fellow loungers. Coronation, size 59, in grey. As liner suggests, "Honour & Dignity"

Same label as many others I have found here, though this one was initially sold in another city (Bergen), probably a common distributor in Norway.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Great new gets these last ones! The velours look outstanding, but the felt & colour of this one look fantastic too!
Congrats!

 

[PanosChris]

Great new gets these last ones! The velours look outstanding, but the felt & colour of this one look fantastic too!
Congrats!

Matt thank you! And congrats to you as well

 

[steur]

Another one of these local gets for my fellow loungers. Coronation, size 59, in grey. As liner suggests, "Honour & Dignity"
View attachment 331644 View attachment 331645 View attachment 331646 View attachment 331647 View attachment 331648 View attachment 331649 View attachment 331650 View attachment 331651
Same label as many others I have found here, though this one was initially sold in another city (Bergen), probably a common distributor in Norway.

Very nice. Not a brand I've seen before. Interesting find, Panos.

 

[PanosChris]

A Lincoln Bennett& Co bowler. Size is 56

Unfortunately no label pics since I don't dare flipping the sweatband. It's not dry or anything, but it's very thick and not flexible. Never seen one like that before, still very high quality leather.

 

[steur]

A Lincoln Bennett& Co bowler. Size is 56
View attachment 335196 View attachment 335198 View attachment 335197 View attachment 335199 View attachment 335200 View attachment 335201 View attachment 335202 View attachment 335203
Unfortunately no label pics since I don't dare flipping the sweatband. It's not dry or anything, but it's very thick and not flexible. Never seen one like that before, still very high quality leather.

Gorgeous hat, Panos. Nice find and it seems to be an early one; reference to George V makes it earlier than 1936.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

A Lincoln Bennett& Co bowler. Size is 56
View attachment 335196 View attachment 335198 View attachment 335197 View attachment 335199 View attachment 335200 View attachment 335201 View attachment 335202 View attachment 335203
Unfortunately no label pics since I don't dare flipping the sweatband. It's not dry or anything, but it's very thick and not flexible. Never seen one like that before, still very high quality leather.

I am tending to love British high quality hat makers and their products for some time now.
Your new bowler is a great example for the content of my passion, Panos! Congrats!

 

[Rmccamey]

A sweet bowler from Edinburgh, what could be better!

A Lincoln Bennett& Co bowler. Size is 56
View attachment 335196 View attachment 335198 View attachment 335197 View attachment 335199 View attachment 335200 View attachment 335201 View attachment 335202 View attachment 335203
Unfortunately no label pics since I don't dare flipping the sweatband. It's not dry or anything, but it's very thick and not flexible. Never seen one like that before, still very high quality leather.