U.S. Fedoras, Circa 1919

[Tony in Tarzana]

I just noticed the odd green-fedora-ed ghost in the upper right corner. lol

Yep, I was taking a picture of the TV screen with my digital camera.

 

[deanglen]

Thanks for posting that pic, Tony, I think you mentioned it earlier and it had me curious to see it. They say the montana peak had superior rain run-off so perhaps this bash was trying for that benefit. What say you? Anyone?

dean

 

[Dinerman]

maybe he just liked the way it looked...

 

[deanglen]

Italian-wiseguy's argument makes sense. Think of all the European immigrants that came over during the 1900s. Perhaps that's where these hat bashes really originated?

Cheers!

I think Italian-wiseguy might agree that the fedora has a pedigree from both sides of the big pond. How about you? I inclined to think so. I was open to it before he posted. As I said, I like to trace developements of things like fighter planes, cars, tanks, weapons, hats. et. al. and sometimes the theory starts to drive the data, as it did with the fedora origin theory I cooked up. Hats are fun!!!

dean

 

[Baggers]

Definitely. The Europeans, particularly the French, influenced a lot of American military fashion throughout the 1800s. Look at the American Civil War with kepi style forage caps and the Zouaves with their baggy red trousers and fez. Even toward the turn of the century when U.S. dress uniforms included a British "Zulu" style foreign service helmet complete with decorative chains and a finial on the top.

It's not hard at all to imagine foreign born U.S. servicemen styling their campaign hats with creases such as you've illustrated as a result of their European roots.

Cheers!

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Thanks for posting that pic, Tony, I think you mentioned it earlier and it had me curious to see it. They say the montana peak had superior rain run-off so perhaps this bash was trying for that benefit. What say you? Anyone?

dean

I wonder if he always wore his hats that way or if that was his WWI-era hat that he pulled out for this movie.

If anybody wants this DVD, I can PM you the seller's eBay store URL.

 

[Italian-wiseguy]

Hi again and thank you all for your nice answers!

I'm so glad to have found this board, and having the possibility to meet and speak with you guys, cause you all seem so correct, nice and friendly, the kind of persons it's a pleasure to speak with; and you have good taste!

I'm currently managing to post some pictures here.

Answering Dean's question, I dont't think Borsalino ever did hats for the Alpini, but for sure the Alpini officers' hats are produced by Cappellificio Cervo; it's one of some good italian brands.
The officers' model, that's different from the enlisted and NCOs' one only in being more refined, was and still is for some reason known as "Bantam" in italian military jargon.

As all the males in my family served proudly in the Alpini corps, I could speak lenghts about their beloved hat, but maybe this will be another thread, if someone is interested.

Ciao!!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The Europeans, particularly the French, influenced a lot of American military fashion throughout the 1800s.

Not just American military fashion, but military fashions worldwide.

Interestingly, after the French were resoundingly defeated in the Franco-Prussian War (1870), many countries abandoned their French-looking uniforms in favor of -- you guessed it -- Prussian-looking uniforms.

Furthermore, more than a few of those countries sacked their French military advisors and trainers, and hired Prussian advisors and trainers. This led to wonderful results in Japan, and mediocre results in Brazil and Chile. (To this day, however, Chilean soldiers wear uniforms that look practically identical to the Wehrmacht's in WWII. They even do the Prussian goosestep.)


.

 

[deanglen]

Hi again and thank you all for your nice answers!

I'm so glad to have found this board, and having the possibility to meet and speak with you guys, cause you all seem so correct, nice and friendly, the kind of persons it's a pleasure to speak with; and you have good taste!

I'm currently managing to post some pictures here.

Answering Dean's question, I dont't think Borsalino ever did hats for the Alpini, but for sure the Alpini officers' hats are produced by Cappellificio Cervo; it's one of some good italian brands.
The officers' model, that's different from the enlisted and NCOs' one only in being more refined, was and still is for some reason known as "Bantam" in italian military jargon.

As all the males in my family served proudly in the Alpini corps, I could speak lenghts about their beloved hat, but maybe this will be another thread, if someone is interested.

Ciao!!

Italian-wiseguy, please feel free to start any thread, post any picture...climb every mountain, swim any sea, follow every rain bo-o-o-ow til you find your...sorry I was digressing, some Loungers might get the reference, inspiration from some other thread, anyway. Always looking to learn more and can't encourage you enough. Go for it!

dean