"Uncontested - The Champ"

[TheOldFashioned]

That Champ is a beauty!

Can't say I've seen another quite like it. Even the feather works. I can't quite put my finger on it but it just seems to have that "it" factor. I think it'll pair well with a tweed suit, which incidentally, I picked up a couple this summer.

 

[Yamahana]

Can't say I've seen another quite like it. Even the feather works. I can't quite put my finger on it but it just seems to have that "it" factor. I think it'll pair well with a tweed suit, which incidentally, I picked up a couple this summer.

I agree 100%. If it’s the one from eBay a few weeks ago I’m the one that ran the price up going after it as well. It reminds me of the Adam Mr Mainstreet. Glad it went to a good home.

 

[TheOldFashioned]

I agree 100%. If it’s the one from eBay a few weeks ago I’m the one that ran the price up going after it as well. It reminds me of the Adam Mr Mainstreet. Glad it went to a good home.

I must have missed that more recent one on eBay because I picked this up towards the end of winter. Early March my records indicate. I'm WAY behind getting stuff posted so I'm sitting on quite the backlog.

 

[Colonel seriously.]

Has anyone had any experience with the Champ Kasmire fedora, circa late 1950s-early 1960s? My research suggests this hat company was an economy brand, but it certainly doesn't feel that way. It’s far smoother and more light weight than either of my two Stetson's, a Sovereign and a Royal, and it has a bound brim. Both of those qualities suggest to me a hat well above an ecomomy everyday hat. My question is did Champ make a higher end hat?

 

[Rmccamey]

You will find a lot more information in the Champ thread.

"Uncontested - The Champ"

I thought this hat maker was deserving a thread like the others. Post your "Champs" here. I'll start with 2. The "Avenue"...... The "Triumph"..... I turned this into a Pork Pie, I didn't have one in Brown. PS. Thanks Lefty. ;)

www.thefedoralounge.com

Champ made some great hats. Across the board, however, I'm not sure they are thought of as high end. There are a lot of vintage Champ trilby hats on eBay, making them accessible at very reasonable prices.

Has anyone had any experience with the Champ Kasmire fedora, circa late 1950s-early 1960s? My research suggests this hat company was an economy brand, but it certainly doesn't feel that way. It’s far smoother and more light weight than either of my two Stetson's, a Sovereign and a Royal, and it has a bound brim. Both of those qualities suggest to me a hat well above an ecomomy everyday hat. My question is did Champ make a higher end hat?

 

[Colonel seriously.]

The brim is actually 2 3/4. I’ll try to post a few pics tomorrow. I’ve seen a few pics of one just like it from the mid 1950s. Thank for the intel just the same.

 

[MikeinRome]

Champ Supreme, 4X Quality, 100 percent White Coney. Has 2 3/4 inch brim and 5 1/2 inch open crown. No mfg tags. I know Champ was said to be a step down in quality from the major brands like Knox and Dobbs, etc, but if you told me this was a $15 or $20 hat when sold, I wouldn't doubt it for a second. Very nice soft felt.

 

[Blare]

Champ Supreme, 4X Quality, 100 percent White Coney. Has 2 3/4 inch brim and 5 1/2 inch open crown. No mfg tags. I know Champ was said to be a step down in quality from the major brands like Knox and Dobbs, etc, but if you told me this was a $15 or $20 hat when sold, I wouldn't doubt it for a second. Very nice soft felt.

That’s a really nice Champ.

 

[Mighty44]

Champ Supreme, 4X Quality, 100 percent White Coney. Has 2 3/4 inch brim and 5 1/2 inch open crown. No mfg tags. I know Champ was said to be a step down in quality from the major brands like Knox and Dobbs, etc, but if you told me this was a $15 or $20 hat when sold, I wouldn't doubt it for a second. Very nice soft felt.

Seriously beautiful hat, Mike!

 

[MikeinRome]

Thanks, guys. I was lucky to get it, even though it's small, but the seller estimated its size even smaller so that almost nobody would have bought it, but I figured he was wrong about the size, which turned out to be the case.

 

[RickP]

One of my grandfathers champs.. I replaced the rotted sweatband

 

[RickP]

My champ Featherweight... I really love this hat

 

[M Hatman]

A fairly recent addition: a Champ "Stratoliner" clone. In a nice rich taupe, 5 1/2" open crown, 2 5/8" brim. VERY nice thin felt on this one. Thin roan sweat (did not want to peak around too much).

EDIT: I just realized it has an un-reeded sweat. No wonder it is so comfortable to wear!

 

[Blare]

A fairly recent addition: a Champ "Stratoliner" clone. In a nice rich taupe, 5 1/2" open crown, 2 5/8" brim. VERY nice thin felt on this one. Thin roan sweat (did not want to peak around too much).

EDIT: I just realized it has an un-reeded sweat. No wonder it is so comfortable to wear!
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That is a beaut, Mark!

 

[M Hatman]

That is a beaut, Mark!

Thanks Joe!
Look up my addition to the Lee Lounge......it makes this one into a piker of sorts. VERY pleased with both of them....I have been scoring some really nice hats lately.

The Lee Lounge

This is a Lee Warren Black Label. 2 1/2 inch brim. Gray. The ribbon looks like a darker shade of gray. One cool thing is that the binding on the brim has yellowed giving the hat a third color. Judging by how easily the crown can be shaped, I think it was originally open-crown. The felt is...

www.thefedoralounge.com

 

[Rmccamey]

Wow, that is a very nice hat and looks to be in perfect condition. Congrats.

A fairly recent addition: a Champ "Stratoliner" clone. In a nice rich taupe, 5 1/2" open crown, 2 5/8" brim. VERY nice thin felt on this one. Thin roan sweat (did not want to peak around too much).

EDIT: I just realized it has an un-reeded sweat. No wonder it is so comfortable to wear!
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