The Lee Lounge

[Kkaderly]

Lee Black label Stretched to size and a noggin shot ... I still am not a fan of the homburg so much ... maybe it will grow on me! If not I shall return it to the bay!!! Great hat quality though!! They just don't make them like this in production anymore.

Kk

 

[David Conwill]

Looks great on you. I hope you adjust to it.

-Dave

 

[bowlerman]

[I still am not a fan of the homburg so much ... maybe it will grow on me! If not I shall return it to the bay!!!

Kk

...Well let us [me] know if you decide to get rid of it!

 

[Kkaderly]

No worries ... You fine folks will be the first to know!!!

 

[Lefty]

I thought I had posted these, but I can't find them. There seems to be a lot on my computer that I haven't uploaded to photobucket.

 

[HatsEnough]

My new Lee "genuine Panama" in an original Lee hat box. This is my second (and likely last) straw. It has a pretty big brim at 3 inches.

What do you guys think? Late 40s or the 1950s?

 

[Kkaderly]

My new Lee "genuine Panama" in an original Lee hat box. This is my second (and likely last) straw. It has a pretty big brim at 3 inches.

What do you guys think? Late 40s or the 1950s?

I don't know how old ... but I like it ... a lot!!!!!!! Looks new!!!!! Great catch!

 

[Joshbru3]

I thought I had posted these, but I can't find them. There seems to be a lot on my computer that I haven't uploaded to photobucket.

Those are both extremely cool!! I would love to have the light.

 

[Joshbru3]

Heres some vintage ad pictures pulled from ebay. My apologies if any of these are duplicates.

1931 Antique Mens Lee Fine Ulster

1939 Frank H. Lee Hats

1947 LEE HATS COCOANUT STRAW IN MAHOGANY

1952 Lee Hats

1953 Lee Mens Hat

1953 Lee men's Hat Ad Adventure Man & Llama

1953 Lee men's Hat Ad Thimble-Lee Treasure Chest

1954 Lee lightweight hats 60 Colors 40 styles

 

[Kkaderly]

OK folks ... even though its a cool hat the homburg is not for me ... PM me an offer if you want it ... or better yet have a vintage in a 7 1/8 to trade i would absolutely consider that! I'll give it a few days before I put it in the classifieds section. Thanks for all the info on it ... I was thinking about having the brim converted to a standard fedora ... but I hated to alter such a great vintage example .... the box is in bad shape btw!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

"Lee Adventure - Light weight with new contrast spring trim. $10.00"

I would like to share my new Lee Hat - Lee Adventure.

"More incredible are the light weight tests that prove how cloud-like a Lee-for-Spring really is. It actually takes two to balance an ordinary felt. Yet light as only a Lee can be, it is lifelong rigged too. Every Lee is pre-shaped. Crush it-and you just flick it back into shape. And for sheer quality, just feel the richness of these imported fur fibers. Water-repellent, or course -and nylon stiched, too."

The gun-metal gray hat with a green-gray ribbon is fine example of the hats offered with the advertisement in the pic. To offer a better contrast to the richness of the color I have included a pic with a cream Lee All American. This Lee hat is very smart looking when worn. It has a crisp masculine styling that steps beyond it's smaller brim.

The hat is without a liner and extremely clean and neat. The protector, at the top of the inside crown, has a green border and they have attached it with a pale yellow ribbon. Great looking effect. For the inquisitive, the thread shows no marks on the top suface of the hat. Stiched without nary a mark - wow. All for $10.00 at the time - I say good workman ship for the price. The felt is soft, maleable, supple without feeling flimsy. I dare say very close to my brown newer Borso -Alex.'s felt. Remarkable that a hat with this heritage has such nice features.

A parade, a pagent - featuring my Brilliant Lee Adventure. Thanks for taking a look.

Eric -

BTW: Behind the hat is a copy of a 2 page 1954 Lee Hat advertisment. Here is the second page;

This is not a good pic. I have included it to showcase the effortd that Lee was putting into ad marketing in mags with the use of color.

 

[Neophyte]

Wow that's a beautiful lid! I am envious .

 

[delectans]

Fabulous, and in remarkable condition, too! Love those Lees!

 

[alanfgag]

Fabulous, and in remarkable condition, too! Love those Lees!

+1. The Lees I've seen have been quality hats with some very handsome styling. It's always a treat to find a lightweight in primo condition... great catch Eric!

 

[buler]

Lee quality levels - color code

Cut from a 1949 book on advertising...

Lee Quality Identification Plan

Black - $7.50
Bronze - $8.50
Blue - $10
Silver - $12.50
White - $15
Gold - $20

B

 

[zetwal]

Thanks, buler ...:yo:

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks from me too.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks, Buler: very systematic; good!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Commenting on Lee Commentator

Good day folks. I am introducing my Lee Commentator. Olive brown with olive ribbon hat commpliments a large variety of clothing.

The hat arrived recently and I just completed preping the hat for wearing. A big thorough brushing, bath in white gas, brush, cleaning liner, treating leather, steam and a brushing makes this hat ready for Fall.

Lee Commentator is not seen often. The dimmensions of this Black Label, Du Pont Water Repelent treated hat are different than many of the Lee hats I have frequently worn. The hat is decidedly rounder in shape. The hat was blocked on a much different shape and it shows when it is on my head. Not bad, not good, just different. The crease is a factory done. Cleaning meant the hat was brought to open crown, after cleaning and the start of steaming it jumped into the factory crease. It was amazing how it went to the crease. I only imagine that it was done in a big press so that the hat, fibers and all, will never forget the crease. In a nod to the hat designers, I like the crease.

The hat is a medium or heavy weight felt. It has heft and texture to the eye and touch. The brim edge is folded over and then stiched. The stich does not come thru the top of the brim - very nicely done. The stiching is even throughout the brim edge. The felt is consistent in helft and denisty throughout. I have a few hats that the felt does vary. The ribbon details are clever. The middle of the ribbon, that holds the bows, has a over hand twist, that is a novel feature. The ribbon does have some twisting to the shape from the material stretching and showing age. The aged ribbon material used, does not stretch evenly in all directions and this does show as stretch marks (puckers) as the material ages. Darn gravity!

I like the hat. The color and overall dimensions will make it frequently a go to hat.

Commenting on my Lee Commentator, Eric -

 

[bowlerman]

Eric, I must have missed that one. Great colors.

Here's the back end of my first Lee, a Blue Label Trinity, acquired back in the early spring of 2011. I don't make a habit of picking up hats that aren't my size in antique shops, but this couldn't be passed up.

I just love this color-- very difficult to photograph and to describe. It reflects quite a lot of dark purple by my perception, as well as brown and grey. The ribbon is black but the binding is "matching" if you could call it that.

Rodkins' newly acquired (and very sharp) Lee inspired me to post here today. I'll post all three of my Lees as soon as I get a chance.