Toppers Unite

[Koechinggendoet]

Welp,people head was much smaller in the past,my grandpa is born in 1879 and passed away in 1956,i found some of his hat,mostly fedora and they were all size 55,when i was 14 it fits me well and then now many of them are just relics,and i still dont understand the term oval,could you get an explanatory or an web about it,thankyou

 

[Steve1857]

If you have a top hat that fits you well, measure it as in the photos attached. Send the photos to a potential seller and ask them to do likewise with the hat they're selling. That will be the best way to see if the topper will be your size.

It's my experience that most top hats don't have a size in them and most non hat people don't really know how to measure a hat properly. Using the way to measure as suggested will help a lot.

Welp,people head was much smaller in the past,my grandpa is born in 1879 and passed away in 1956,i found some of his hat,mostly fedora and they were all size 55,when i was 14 it fits me well and then now many of them are just relics,and i still dont understand the term oval,could you get an explanatory or an web about it,thankyou

 

[Koechinggendoet]

What if i dont have a top hat?

 

[Steve1857]

A stiff felt like a Bowler or Homburg would be best, otherwise a hat that fits you well. The measurements won't guarantee an absolutely perfect fit, but will put you in the right ballpark with regard to size.

 

[Koechinggendoet]

Can boater do that,the hat was stiff

 

[Steve1857]

Yes, if it fits you well. By well I also mean, how the hat fits the way you like to wear it. Some people like a bit higher up on the head, others a bit lower down. Personal preference is also important.

 

[Koechinggendoet]

It fits me well actually,but olney make their boaters high

 

[Steve1857]

Ja, Boaters tend to fit high on the head, but the measurements should give a good indication.

 

[Koechinggendoet]

Thank you! And i have a question that says you must polish your top hat only with a velvet mouse made of silk velvet,in here the best velvet is only cotton and can't find any silk velvet one,i think one of top hats master,cadcaptor charlie or charles tsua says that

 

[Steve1857]

A velvet pad and/or a brush as in the photos . Use the brush to remove dust, the pad to brush the silk in the right direction (anti clockwise) and give it its shine.

 

[Koechinggendoet]

Well thank you,but i want to ask the fabric for the pad,because mainly velvet was made from cotton now,someone say that you have to use the velvet pad made out of silk velvet

 

[Steve1857]

Silk velvet would be best, but no harm in a cotton velvet pad as long as it's velvety soft.

 

[Koechinggendoet]

Thank you!and about brush should i use fine cashmere brush or just some normal cloth brush or an normal horsehair brush?and do really water polish top hat work?some say that it drying so fast that the nap strand were lifted while the water dry

 

[Steve1857]

I can recommend you check out oliverbrown.org.uk and Lock & Co's homepage. They're experts in top hats and give some good advice.

 

[bowlerman]

Hello topper people! I found this little beauty yesterday and am trying to dig around for information about the company and nail down a date range. The construction and dimensions suggest Victorian to me, maybe up until 1920, but I’d like to narrow that range down.

the liner cites B.L. Ames, but I can’t find a thing about that company. However the address is of the Chicago Tribune building(s) where it existed between 1868 and 1902, not sure if that was the address from 1902 to 1925, when tribune tower opened in a different location.

anyone have other insights or resources I could check out?

 

[mayserwegener]

Hello topper people! I found this little beauty yesterday and am trying to dig around for information about the company and nail down a date range. The construction and dimensions suggest Victorian to me, maybe up until 1920, but I’d like to narrow that range down.

the liner cites B.L. Ames, but I can’t find a thing about that company. However the address is of the Chicago Tribune building(s) where it existed between 1868 and 1902, not sure if that was the address from 1902 to 1925, when tribune tower opened in a different location.

anyone have other insights or resources I could check out?

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Jeff, Congrats! Looks later 19th Century to me. I found some articles on B.L. Ames that I will post later.

 

[mayserwegener]

Jeff, Here is what I found on B.L. Ames. Based on the information below your Silk Top Hat is from 1908 or later so I was incorrect about it being late 19th Century.

The American Hatter 1916

The American Hatter 1920-21

 

[Koechinggendoet]

Gre

Hello topper people! I found this little beauty yesterday and am trying to dig around for information about the company and nail down a date range. The construction and dimensions suggest Victorian to me, maybe up until 1920, but I’d like to narrow that range down.

the liner cites B.L. Ames, but I can’t find a thing about that company. However the address is of the Chicago Tribune building(s) where it existed between 1868 and 1902, not sure if that was the address from 1902 to 1925, when tribune tower opened in a different location.

anyone have other insights or resources I could check out?

View attachment 311658 View attachment 311659 View attachment 311660 View attachment 311661 View attachment 311662 View attachment 311663 View attachment 311664 View attachment 311665 View attachment 311666

Great find! They were unique because the brim were more flatter and the sides are straight,like this one even thought i more into a bell crown guy,try polishing them

 

[Steve1857]

Great find, Jeff. I can't help with the company, but look forward to seeing Steve's articles.

Interesting dates on the inside. I'd put it at before 1942, if that's what the earliest date is. I'd even say before 1920. Either way, great catch. Suits you, too!

Hello topper people! I found this little beauty yesterday and am trying to dig around for information about the company and nail down a date range. The construction and dimensions suggest Victorian to me, maybe up until 1920, but I’d like to narrow that range down.

the liner cites B.L. Ames, but I can’t find a thing about that company. However the address is of the Chicago Tribune building(s) where it existed between 1868 and 1902, not sure if that was the address from 1902 to 1925, when tribune tower opened in a different location.

anyone have other insights or resources I could check out?

View attachment 311658 View attachment 311659 View attachment 311660 View attachment 311661 View attachment 311662 View attachment 311663 View attachment 311664 View attachment 311665 View attachment 311666

 

[bowlerman]

Jeff, Here is what I found on B.L. Ames. Based on the information below your Silk Top Hat is from 1908 or later so I was incorrect about it being late 19th Century.

The American Hatter 1916

The American Hatter 1920-21

This is incredible Steve! Thanks! Where did you find it? Google hasn’t been much help for me.
edit— oh, the American Hatter!