" The Great British Hat Makers "

[Chepstow]

Post here your Hats from " The Great British Hat Makers "

I will begin with an Hat from Lock & Co, specially made for an German retailer Hat shop Ernst Köln! Ernst, the retailer shop, is no longer in business
The felt is thin but stiff and holds the shape great, raw edge brim. My guess he is from the early 60s!

 

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Folks,

I am going to try and post photos of my first Lock and Co. hat, found at a Swap Meet, for the princely sum of $15. It's actually in very good condition, but sorely in need of a cleaning and refurbishing a bit. The felt if strong, and feels very good to the hand, and the liner is really in wonderful condition. But, the sweat band has detached from the hat, and I've talked to Art Fawcett about doing his magic on this old guy to get him back up and into wearable condition again. Meant to have already sent it to Art, but business demands have kept me from it, so far. Soon, however..... So, here goes:

I ran out of room, and so will post the next three photos as soon as these post.

So, there you have it, Friends. I like this old hat, quite a lot, actually, and it's interesting that, once I put my hat jack into it for just a bit, it now fits very well, indeed. I'm sure that this will be a wonderful hat, once Art has done what he does best to it! Thanks for viewing, and I'll be posting more hats as time passes. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Doc Mark]

Hi,

OK, there are the last three shots of my first Lock & Co. hat:

Thanks, again, for checking it out. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[mikespens]

Manfred, I have a Lock & Co as well, believe it's from the 60-70's. It's was filthy when I got it so I gave it a gas bath and it turned out great. It's obviously a high quality hat. It was also too small so I took it to my local hatter who is re-blocking it into a more vintage style as well as replacing the sweat. I'll post it when it gets back. Found this quote about Lock:

A postcard was once delivered to the orignal Lock & Co. store addressed simply to "The best hatters in the world, London." Established in 1676 to wait upon the Court at St. James, Lock & Co. is now known across the globe for its superior hats.

Still in business:

http://www.lockhatters.co.uk/

P.S. It looks just like yours Doc and was also sold by Brooks Bros.

 

[Chepstow]

Doc, lovely Hat, the old one! I am sure after work at this hat, he shines in new shine. Great find!
Thanks for your photos!

 

[Chepstow]

Mike, thanks for the Info! I cant await photos of you Lock & Co. They are indeed very well made Hats with a very good felt!
You feel, the british restraint / conservative in this hats

 

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Manfred, Mike, and All,

Thanks, very much, Gentlemen! I've found, in my short time here, that good hats are "infectious", and it's very hard to stop trying to seek them out and buy them! I tend to wear mine often, and get compliments and comments most all the time, which is fun! Here is the second Lock & Co. hat that I found. It's a bit later, I'm guessing, then the black Homburg, and feels completely differently. The felt is VERY soft, and buttery, and there is no liner, at all. Manfred, this hat looks very much like yours, but yours has a lovely liner, whilst mine only has the sticker underneath the inside of the crown. Looks like it was actually offered that way, but hey, maybe at one time, mine had a liner, too. Who knows? This one fits me already, though the crown is a tad short for my liking. Still, it feels good, and after a good brushing, should do just fine in use. So, here goes:

Nice hat, though, again, not as old as the black Lock & Co.. It's going to get it's share of wear, that's for sure. I don't know about dating info for this hat, but I'm assuming it's quite a bit later than the first Lock hat. I also have no idea what "100% Fine Fur Felt" means, but I'm thinking it's not 100% beaver, but rather a blend of fur felts. Sound right? I'd certainly buy more Lock & Co. hats, if any come my way, and fit. They are worth owning and wearing, me thinks! Thanks for checking it out, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Chepstow]

you are right Doc, the shape is different, my shape is 6143 but the color is the same Sable.
What a coincidence. This color ist great! Very nice Hat Doc.

 

[Chepstow]

by the way! 100% fur felt means, I am sure, Rabbit felt!

 

[davidraphael]

Great thread!
I hope to see a lot of classic British trilbies!

 

[danofarlington]

Rabbit is definitely true if the words don't mention beaver. But rabbit fur can be really good. There's nothing wrong with that. Anyway, most hats are rabbit fur, and we don't have to worry about running out of them.

 

[Rabbit]

Manfred, how about widening the scope of this thread to vintage British hatmakers in general, and re-naming it accordingly?

 

[davidraphael]

I guess it would good to include some of the big British names: Dunn & Co, Henry Heath, Christy's etc
http://andrewsandpygott.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/the-great-british-hat-makers/

btw, does everyone know that Lock & Co actually invented the bowler hat?

 

[Rabbit]

I guess it would good to include some of the big British names: Dunn & Co, Henry Heath, Christy's etc
http://andrewsandpygott.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/the-great-british-hat-makers/

Absolutely. There were quite a few big names. Making this thread a home for all of them would be great.

 

[Edward]

Rabbit is definitely true if the words don't mention beaver. But rabbit fur can be really good. There's nothing wrong with that. Anyway, most hats are rabbit fur, and we don't have to worry about running out of them.

Plus rabbit fur is a by-product of the pet food industry, so it's environmentally responsible.

I was past Lock's yesterday, though alas the day I can afford to shop in there seems far off yet.... I have my eye on a beautiful fawn Homberg in their window. In my daydreams of late I go in and buy one of those, before wandering up the road and round the corner to Bates and picking up one of their beaver fedoras in a pale blue....sigh....

 

[Two Types]

Edward: Ah, the fawn Homburg. How many times have I looked at that in awe?

 

[Two Types]

Absolutely. There were quite a few big names. Making this thread a home for all of them would be great.

Isn't there already a British Hat Thread?

 

[jamespowers]

btw, does everyone know that Lock & Co actually invented the bowler hat?

Yes, Coke, Bowler, Derby. It just depends where you are when wearing one. They were much more stiff when first invented for Thomas Coke though. They have come quite far---from a gamekeeper's hat to an everyman hat. Quite a long journey.

 

[RBH]

Isn't there already a British Hat Thread?

Let me know and I will merge accordinly.

I have my family line going back to Thomas Farmer in Berkshire in 1612.

 

[danofarlington]

Edward: Ah, the fawn Homburg. How many times have I looked at that in awe?

Window-shopping for hats, always on websites whether EBay, custom hatters, or retailers, is my life. The possibilities always outstrip the resources I can devote to hats.