Thanks, Steve. Yes, it works well and I like it.
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" The Great British Hat Makers "
- Thread starter Chepstow
- Start date
Alexwood
New in Town
- Messages
- 23
I really like the two tone, a stellar hat!Joseph E Ward homburg in black. Size 56 with the bound brim at 6,5cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. This one has a contrasting ribbon and binding, but it's hard to say if that was intentional or that they just lost their colour over time. I like the effect though. Sold by Kioes of Luxembourg. Georges Kioes was the successor of Waldbillig somewhere between 1935 and 1962. So this hat is centrainly before 1962. Late forties or early fifties would be my guess. The brim is still a bit uneven, likely because of the way at was stored.
Alexwood
New in Town
- Messages
- 23
Thanks for the information, I remember my grandpa used to wear nice fedoras and beautiful wool suits, I wish I had appreciated hats more when I was younger.
Thank you. Much appreciated.
- Messages
- 18,287
The Tress Hat Company
The Tress Hat Co doesn’t have a thread of its own but is mentioned a few times throughout this thread, so I’ll add this here. Some of this could have been previously posted.
The Tress & Co. was established in 1846 and was finally taken over by Christy’s in 1953. Its hats were sold globally and received prize medals at exhibitions in Paris 1855, 1867 & 1878, London 1862, Philadelphia 1876, Sydney 1879 and Calcutta. It was a huge operation. The main manufacturing base was at Southwark in London, pictured below. The only remaining part of this complex is now the Mad Hatter Hotel on Stamford Street. It also had manufacturing in Luton.
Tress & Co was granted a patent on a stereograph-like process & viewer that they used as a salesman’s catalog, giving their hats a 3D-like quality instead of being just two dimensional on paper. These stereographs are now in a private collection. There could be more out there.
Their Model KK 36 reminds me of the Stetson Congress, a style I like a lot.
The Tress Hat Co doesn’t have a thread of its own but is mentioned a few times throughout this thread, so I’ll add this here. Some of this could have been previously posted.
The Tress & Co. was established in 1846 and was finally taken over by Christy’s in 1953. Its hats were sold globally and received prize medals at exhibitions in Paris 1855, 1867 & 1878, London 1862, Philadelphia 1876, Sydney 1879 and Calcutta. It was a huge operation. The main manufacturing base was at Southwark in London, pictured below. The only remaining part of this complex is now the Mad Hatter Hotel on Stamford Street. It also had manufacturing in Luton.
Tress & Co was granted a patent on a stereograph-like process & viewer that they used as a salesman’s catalog, giving their hats a 3D-like quality instead of being just two dimensional on paper. These stereographs are now in a private collection. There could be more out there.
Their Model KK 36 reminds me of the Stetson Congress, a style I like a lot.
Fantastic information, Jack. Thanks for posting this. Would love to find me one of these. That KK36 model is indeed an atractive style.
- Messages
- 18,287
I have a small collection of Stereograph cards looking for only 3 subjects. I’ve looked thru boxes full at flea markets but have never seen one of these.
It's been way too long since anyone posted here.
Lock&Co heather felt fedora. Size 57 with the overwelted and triple stitched brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. At least partly woolfelt, but how it could and should be done. I have the feeling this one is early, likely pre-war. Not a lightweight felt at 156 grams nor a very refined hand to it, but still. A fine shark-gill bow on it to top it off.
I've been critical of Lock&Co in the past and in a way I still am. They could and did produce fine hats back in the day though.
Lock&Co heather felt fedora. Size 57 with the overwelted and triple stitched brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. At least partly woolfelt, but how it could and should be done. I have the feeling this one is early, likely pre-war. Not a lightweight felt at 156 grams nor a very refined hand to it, but still. A fine shark-gill bow on it to top it off.
I've been critical of Lock&Co in the past and in a way I still am. They could and did produce fine hats back in the day though.
Finally, a Lock & Co you like, Stefan. Great find.It's been way too long since anyone posted here.
Lock&Co heather felt fedora. Size 57 with the overwelted and triple stitched brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. At least partly woolfelt, but how it could and should be done. I have the feeling this one is early, likely pre-war. Not a lightweight felt at 156 grams nor a very refined hand to it, but still. A fine shark-gill bow on it to top it off.
I've been critical of Lock&Co in the past and in a way I still am. They could and did produce fine hats back in the day though.
There was one before this one to be fair, but I do like this one above that one. Been going through this thread for no particular reason yesterday; loads of wonderful hats to be seen. Thanks, Steve.
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PanosChris
Practically Family
- Messages
- 979
Fantastic, Stefan! Your recent posts reminded me of the old good days of regular stellar findsIt's been way too long since anyone posted here.
Lock&Co heather felt fedora. Size 57 with the overwelted and triple stitched brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. At least partly woolfelt, but how it could and should be done. I have the feeling this one is early, likely pre-war. Not a lightweight felt at 156 grams nor a very refined hand to it, but still. A fine shark-gill bow on it to top it off.
I've been critical of Lock&Co in the past and in a way I still am. They could and did produce fine hats back in the day though.
Thanks, Panos. Going through this thread reminded me of that as well. Some sources of those finds have completely dried up though.
the_imperialist
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 221
- Location
- New Zealand
Great find Stefan! I'm quite taken by the texture and colour of this. I personally quite like the rugged nature of wool felt - provided it's executed as well as your fine example from Lock & Co. Do let me know if you ever tire of itIt's been way too long since anyone posted here.
Lock&Co heather felt fedora. Size 57 with the overwelted and triple stitched brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. At least partly woolfelt, but how it could and should be done. I have the feeling this one is early, likely pre-war. Not a lightweight felt at 156 grams nor a very refined hand to it, but still. A fine shark-gill bow on it to top it off.
I've been critical of Lock&Co in the past and in a way I still am. They could and did produce fine hats back in the day though.
Thank you, Wayne. Will do, but I don't think it's going anywhere soon.
- Messages
- 14,883
Sold for $50 at auction recently. 15” x 11”. Not mine…
Fantastic! I would have paid $50 for that in a heartbeat (only to be declared insane by my wife afterwards
).Quite a bit cheaper than the €1200 Borsalino mirror (still for sale that one)!
It's glorious, Steve! Good to see one of England's finest makers on display with this one. Pity about the sweatband coming away from the reed, but that should be fixable.
Thank you, Stefan. Apart from the sweatband problem, I couldn't be happier with this classic Manchester Bowler.
Johnson & Co Hatters Top Hat. Crown height 15.5cm, brim 5cm.
I believe this company must be the one Herbert Johnson claim to be the heir of.
When looking at the history of Herbert Johnson, it is mentioned that he was apprenticed to Lincoln Bennett in 1872, and started his own hattery in 1889.
However, their logo states, established in 1790, as is the date on the liner logo of this one:
A fun address explanation - 111 Regent Street, one door from Vigo Street.
While trying to find information about Johnson & Co, I found this bill of sale on English Ebay, which I just had to buy:
It is not the bill of sale to my Topper. However, it is interesting to see that in 1845 Johnson & Co were at 113 Regent Street at the corner of Viggo Street.
They also claim to be the inventor of and patent holder of the flexible velvet hat. I assume this to be an English version of the Gibus or Opera Hat.
The bill of sale is for such a patented velvet hat. £1 and 3 shillings sounds cheap, but was a whopping equivalent of over £150 back then.
While mine is not as old as 1845, I believe it to be pre 1900s, and quite possibly beaver felt.
I believe this company must be the one Herbert Johnson claim to be the heir of.
When looking at the history of Herbert Johnson, it is mentioned that he was apprenticed to Lincoln Bennett in 1872, and started his own hattery in 1889.
However, their logo states, established in 1790, as is the date on the liner logo of this one:
A fun address explanation - 111 Regent Street, one door from Vigo Street.
While trying to find information about Johnson & Co, I found this bill of sale on English Ebay, which I just had to buy:
It is not the bill of sale to my Topper. However, it is interesting to see that in 1845 Johnson & Co were at 113 Regent Street at the corner of Viggo Street.
They also claim to be the inventor of and patent holder of the flexible velvet hat. I assume this to be an English version of the Gibus or Opera Hat.
The bill of sale is for such a patented velvet hat. £1 and 3 shillings sounds cheap, but was a whopping equivalent of over £150 back then.
While mine is not as old as 1845, I believe it to be pre 1900s, and quite possibly beaver felt.
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