Toppers Unite

[scotrace]

You give me new hope, Brad. That's my size, so they can be found. A beautiful hat.
I would have also pegged it at late 19th century. Interesting.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Yes, they're out there, but as we've found out, we usually have no idea of the real size until the hat is received. I was certainly suprised I could pull it down on my head. There's a cloth-wrapped steel spring under the sweatband, with only a couple of stitches holding it in. I'm assuming it's there to help hold the shape, but if I remove it, the hat might fit better.

I suppose the hat could have been a hand-me-down, making it older.

One thing I noticed, going back through this thread, is that the sweatbands on all of the hat I've seen are are installed with a normal orientation, meaning, if you're looking at the inside of the hat, the top of the maker's crest is on the same side as the back of the hat and the sweatband seam, just like any other hat I've ever seen, top hat or not. On my hat, the sweatband seam aligns with the bottom of the Knapp-Felt crest. Anybody have an explanation, other than a factory mistake, which doesn't seem likely?lol

I'm torn about the hat regarding repair/restoration. It would be nice to wear it, though I have no idea when I would ever be invited somewhere that I'd need morning dress or white tie. I do use my hats in my lectures, as my students are interested in my historical pieces. Photographs for my research would also look better it if has new binding.

This would necessitate replacing the binding on the edge. I'd also replace the sweatband, but keep the original leather for some vestige of historical integrity, as leather this old wouldn't stand up to wear for very long.

I'll have to think long and hard about this one, and look into the cost to have done. If I can safely remove the crown ribbon, I can replace the sweatband myself, but the edge binding I'd leave to a top hat professional.

Brad

 

[XPLSV]

You give me new hope, Brad. That's my size, so they can be found. A beautiful hat.
I would have also pegged it at late 19th century. Interesting.

I picked up a Knox 7 3/8 LO earlier in the year off EBAY...and I'm amazed I got it at the price I did. That said...there sure aren't many larger sized vintage toppers out there, let alone the LOs.

Bernie

 

[m000m000]

50$ for a relatively good condition 7 3/8 LO silk topper is equivalent to robbing the bank if you ask me.

Maybe I should I start trying my luck on no-size-listed -auctions too...

 

[MisterGrey]

I'm torn about the hat regarding repair/restoration. It would be nice to wear it, though I have no idea when I would ever be invited somewhere that I'd need morning dress or white tie. I do use my hats in my lectures, as my students are interested in my historical pieces. Photographs for my research would also look better it if has new binding.

If for nothing else than to wear it to class, it'd be worth it (barring the cost running you into the quadruple digits, or something extreme like that). One of the history professors at the college where I got my lib arts degree used to come to class dressed according to the time period being covered. He had an extensive collection of authentic and repro menswear from most periods in American history, going from Colonial to Late Victorian. It always made an impression, and in a good way. (It also rocked to see a guy in Revolutionary War garb marching around campus playing the bagpipes).

 

[jwalls]

http://www.xoopit.com/s/20um7cjq58enexp0thn5 I've posted this one previously, but here a head shot with the owner.

 

[Lokar]

I finally got some velvet to polish my top hat with. Rather than follow Charlie Huang's advise and pour water on the hat, I used a spray bottle with a mist option and then polished the hat. It worked fantastically, although it highlights the structural damage on the hat (look at the middle of the left side for an example). One day I'll get it repaired, but I don't use it enough (or at all) at the moment, so I can't justify the expense.

I erred on the side of caution, and so didn't soak the hat as much as perhaps I should, but I think I'll risk it some day soon to get the sheen completely perfect.

 

[MustangLoverMex]

My new Topper

Hello my friends!
What do you think about this baby?

Regards,
-Mike

 

[CRH]

Hello my friends!
What do you think about this baby?

...

I think the baby is fine but the goggles are pushing the style boundaries into oblivion.

Well done Mr. Mex! :eusa_clap

 

[Yeps]

That is quite the beauty, as are the goggles (a little steampunk, are we?).

In your best interest, however, I reccomend either some mustache wax to neaten up the whiskers, or a trim.

 

[CRH]

...I reccomend either some mustache wax to neaten up the whiskers, or a trim.

Good idea.

In my teens I had a Sunday school teacher with a handlebar 'stash to die for. He used to joke that he used it to measure his faith.

 

[Charlie Huang]

I finally got some velvet to polish my top hat with. Rather than follow Charlie Huang's advise and pour water on the hat, I used a spray bottle with a mist option and then polished the hat. It worked fantastically, although it highlights the structural damage on the hat (look at the middle of the left side for an example). One day I'll get it repaired, but I don't use it enough (or at all) at the moment, so I can't justify the expense.

I erred on the side of caution, and so didn't soak the hat as much as perhaps I should, but I think I'll risk it some day soon to get the sheen completely perfect.

Oh, fantastic! :eusa_clap

 

[Chasseur]

Lokar,

I love that brim! What a fantastis hat!:eusa_clap

 

[MustangLoverMex]

That is quite the beauty, as are the goggles (a little steampunk, are we?).

In your best interest, however, I reccomend either some mustache wax to neaten up the whiskers, or a trim.

Well, it looked like that because it was just a quick picture with my cellphone haha. And sadly I shaved completelly because of the graduation picture and all the "official" documents... But now is growing again haha.

High regards!
-Alfonso

 

[Charlie Huang]

I bought one of Patey's top hat cases:

http://www.pateyhats.com/category/hat-bags/

This case is made of reinforced canvas with leather trimmings and is good for general light transportation of a topper. If you want a hard heavy case good enough to go through an airport and abroad, you should get the wooden leather-covered one that has a combination lock.

This is how you should put the topper in. You must first line the bottom of the case with a folded sheet of light packing paper to avoid the silk nap rubbing in the rough lining. You should also put another sheet on top of the topper afterwards over the brim edges to stop them rubbing on the sides.

The mark 1 had a tartan lining. Note that the case isn't very deep IMO. You shouldn't really put toppers higher than 5 3/4" in.

I needed one as the box that came with the topper is not fit for transporting the topper around.

 

[Dinerman]

I found this yesterday at an antique shop downtown.

 

[Charlie Huang]

It is silk. The underbrim requires a clean as the browning shows up when you wear it.

I've got my new topper today:

Before polish

After polish

The condition is good but there needs to be some renovation work to iron out the lumps and bumps (you can see one at the top). I've removed the black wool mourning band as there was a silk grosgrain one underneath it.

 

[Charlie Huang]

On Saturday:

Belgravian Victorian Stroll



More pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/retro_mark/



I only needed to wear a very high wing collar, Ascot tie and vintage glasses with my normal morning dress et voila! Victorianisation complete!

This is the first public outing of my above said topper, fully restored by Patey's.

 

[Charlie Huang]

Made a mourning band for one of my toppers today:

 

[Chasseur]

Great looking outfit and topper Charlie! :eusa_clap Still waiting on mine back from Patey, but I did hear they shipped it a few weeks ago...