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Toppers Unite

JJ Katz

Familiar Face
Messages
57
20221022c.JPG
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,142
Location
Germany
Today: The opera hat - chapeau claque - Klappzylinder
from the possession of my grandfather with associated hat box.
In this hat he married my grandmother in 1951, however I assume
that this hat originally belonged to my great-grandfather,
as I believe it dates from the 1920s:

"Garantie-Klapphut" of the company "F.W.G.", as can be seen
from the initials in the logo on the lining and hat box.
I have so far no idea which company this is, but the collapsible hats
of this company can be found quite often on the net.
Maybe Steve or Steve know more...!?

45008399of.jpg

45008398ji.jpg

45008397eh.jpg

45008396ua.jpg

45008395ep.jpg

45008394if.jpg

45008393sn.jpg

45008392pl.jpg

45008391fr.jpg
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,813
Location
Denmark
Today: The opera hat - chapeau claque - Klappzylinder
from the possession of my grandfather with associated hat box.
In this hat he married my grandmother in 1951, however I assume
that this hat originally belonged to my great-grandfather,
as I believe it dates from the 1920s:

"Garantie-Klapphut" of the company "F.W.G.", as can be seen
from the initials in the logo on the lining and hat box.
I have so far no idea which company this is, but the collapsible hats
of this company can be found quite often on the net.
Maybe Steve or Steve know more...!?

45008399of.jpg

45008398ji.jpg

45008397eh.jpg

45008396ua.jpg

45008395ep.jpg

45008394if.jpg

45008393sn.jpg

45008392pl.jpg

45008391fr.jpg
Wonderful family heirloom, Matt.
I have no idea about the company, but I bet Steve can come up with a name.
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,142
Location
Germany
The other topper I would like to present was owned by my other grandfather:
neither previously owned by the family nor did anyone get married under it,
rather my grandpa, who was a great carnivalist, took a lot of old clothes
from people of the village to use for carnival. So over the decades he had
gathered a huge fund of stuff, from which also this top hat comes.
The hat box in turn, however, does not belong to it, but it is again from
the estate of the other grandfather and in it I found the folding hat.

No-name top hat with british coat of arms - maybe older than the other one.
I also believe - despite the so often used British-English coat of arms
- that it is a German product... But who knows exactly.
Unfortunately someone tried to make a collapsible hat out of this one too... ;)
The usual and so common hat box is from Paul Pfab from Oelsnitz in the Erzgebirge
(where this part of the family comes from)

45008390yo.jpg
45008389io.jpg
45008388fr.jpg
45008387nn.jpg
45008386dl.jpg
45008385vc.jpg
45008384ym.jpg
45008383es.jpg
45008382ff.jpg
45008381xx.jpg
45008379ma.jpg
45008378iz.jpg
45008377co.jpg
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,813
Location
Denmark
The other topper I would like to present was owned by my other grandfather:
neither previously owned by the family nor did anyone get married under it,
rather my grandpa, who was a great carnivalist, took a lot of old clothes
from people of the village to use for carnival. So over the decades he had
gathered a huge fund of stuff, from which also this top hat comes.
The hat box in turn, however, does not belong to it, but it is again from
the estate of the other grandfather and in it I found the folding hat.

No-name top hat with british coat of arms - maybe older than the other one.
I also believe - despite the so often used British-English coat of arms
- that it is a German product... But who knows exactly.
Unfortunately someone tried to make a collapsible hat out of this one too... ;)
The usual and so common hat box is from Paul Pfab from Oelsnitz in the Erzgebirge
(where this part of the family comes from)

45008390yo.jpg
45008389io.jpg
45008388fr.jpg
45008387nn.jpg
45008386dl.jpg
45008385vc.jpg
45008384ym.jpg
45008383es.jpg
45008382ff.jpg
45008381xx.jpg
45008379ma.jpg
45008378iz.jpg
45008377co.jpg
If I saw that one on Facebook Market Place or ebay, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Another wonderful family heirloom, Matt.
 
Messages
18,378
Location
Nederland
The other topper I would like to present was owned by my other grandfather:
neither previously owned by the family nor did anyone get married under it,
rather my grandpa, who was a great carnivalist, took a lot of old clothes
from people of the village to use for carnival. So over the decades he had
gathered a huge fund of stuff, from which also this top hat comes.
The hat box in turn, however, does not belong to it, but it is again from
the estate of the other grandfather and in it I found the folding hat.

No-name top hat with british coat of arms - maybe older than the other one.
I also believe - despite the so often used British-English coat of arms
- that it is a German product... But who knows exactly.
Unfortunately someone tried to make a collapsible hat out of this one too... ;)
The usual and so common hat box is from Paul Pfab from Oelsnitz in the Erzgebirge
(where this part of the family comes from)

45008390yo.jpg
45008389io.jpg
45008388fr.jpg
45008387nn.jpg
45008386dl.jpg
45008385vc.jpg
45008384ym.jpg
45008383es.jpg
45008382ff.jpg
45008381xx.jpg
45008379ma.jpg
45008378iz.jpg
45008377co.jpg
Two fantastic heirlooms, Matt.
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,142
Location
Germany
Thank you, gentlemen!
I was really surprised that I had not yet shown the pair here,
although they have - in retrospect - laid the foundation of my love for hats:
I have pilfered both already as a child - they are therefore "the first hats in the collection"!
 
Messages
17,466
Location
Maryland
Today: The opera hat - chapeau claque - Klappzylinder
from the possession of my grandfather with associated hat box.
In this hat he married my grandmother in 1951, however I assume
that this hat originally belonged to my great-grandfather,
as I believe it dates from the 1920s:

"Garantie-Klapphut" of the company "F.W.G.", as can be seen
from the initials in the logo on the lining and hat box.
I have so far no idea which company this is, but the collapsible hats
of this company can be found quite often on the net.
Maybe Steve or Steve know more...!?

45008399of.jpg

45008398ji.jpg

45008397eh.jpg

45008396ua.jpg

45008395ep.jpg

45008394if.jpg

45008393sn.jpg

45008392pl.jpg

45008391fr.jpg
Hello Matt,

Fantastic!

Felix Weissbach Klapphut Fabrik, Glauchau i Sa. (Saxony)

DHZ April 11, 1925

52624796313_ae45bde950_b.jpg
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,142
Location
Germany
Today: The opera hat - chapeau claque - Klappzylinder
from the possession of my grandfather with associated hat box.
In this hat he married my grandmother in 1951, however I assume
that this hat originally belonged to my great-grandfather,
as I believe it dates from the 1920s:

"Garantie-Klapphut" of the company "F.W.G.", as can be seen
from the initials in the logo on the lining and hat box.
I have so far no idea which company this is, but the collapsible hats
of this company can be found quite often on the net.
Maybe Steve or Steve know more...!?

45008399of.jpg

45008398ji.jpg

45008397eh.jpg

45008396ua.jpg

45008395ep.jpg

45008394if.jpg

45008393sn.jpg

45008392pl.jpg

45008391fr.jpg
As a supplement: While searching for my grandfather's wedding picture with top hat - unfortunately I have not found yet - another picture fell into my hands: Wedding picture of my great-grandparents from June 3, 1922 - on the right side of the picture exactly this Felix Weissbach, Glauchau opera hat, which not only gives me the proof that it was already in the possession of my great-grandfather like I thought, but also gives us a dating approach.

45063224pk.jpg
45063225pn.jpg
 
Last edited:

Faux Brummell

Familiar Face
Messages
64
Hello all.

I came across a top hat with the following logo inside, but can't seem to figure out the brand. Does anyone happen to know more about it?
Looks like Excelled By None is the brand name, not just a slogan.
 

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Messages
18,378
Location
Nederland
P&C Top hat. That's not Habig, but the Dutch (originally from Germany) retailer Peek&Cloppenburg. Still located on Dam square in Amsterdam to this day. This one was made by Spoorenberg, who produced toppers under different brand names, mainly Burton and Ambassador. I bought this one because it's a size 60 and these things are rare in larger sizes. Brim at 6cm and 14cm high. Excellent condition except for some waviness on the sweatband. PM me if you're interested.

pc tophat60_01.jpg


pc tophat60_02.jpg


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pc tophat60_06.jpg


pc tophat60_07.jpg


pc tophat60_08.jpg


pc tophat60_09.jpg


pc tophat60_10.jpg
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,813
Location
Denmark
P&C Top hat. That's not Habig, but the Dutch (originally from Germany) retailer Peek&Cloppenburg. Still located on Dam square in Amsterdam to this day. This one was made by Spoorenberg, who produced toppers under different brand names, mainly Burton and Ambassador. I bought this one because it's a size 60 and these things are rare in larger sizes. Brim at 6cm and 14cm high. Excellent condition except for some waviness on the sweatband. PM me if you're interested.

pc tophat60_01.jpg


pc tophat60_02.jpg


pc tophat60_03.jpg


pc tophat60_04.jpg


pc tophat60_05.jpg


pc tophat60_06.jpg


pc tophat60_07.jpg


pc tophat60_08.jpg


pc tophat60_09.jpg


pc tophat60_10.jpg
Great catch, Stefan, especially in that size!
 

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