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That sure is some felt there SteveThis week I will feature J. Hückel´s Söhne Soft Felt Hats. J. Hückel´s Söhne was nationalized as Tonak after 1945.
J. Hückel´s Söhne "Zephyr Seal Velour", made for the American market, possibly mid 1930s. This is a light weight "Zephyr" "Seal Velour" so difficult to understand without in hand. Only a soft touch is required to form a crease or side dents. The overall condition of this hat is excellent so a prize example. I always have a difficult time photographing this hat because it absorbs so much light (this is why I look like a ghost).
From the front view you can see the gloss effect from the very dense close cropped "Seal Velour".
From the side view the dents are not visible because the light absorption.
Red, White, Blue are the Czecho Slovkia Flag Colors.
J. Hückel´s Söhne 110 Year Anniversary. I was lucky to find this booklet back in 2012.
MEMORIAL WRITING
ON THE OCCASION OF THE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS
OF THE COMPANY
J. HÜCKEL'S SONS
K. AND K. HOF-HUTFABRIKANTEN
NEUTITSCHEIN - VIENNA
From small beginnings, our company has developed over the course of a century to its present size and significance. Founded in the traditional forms of craftsmanship and continued for two generations, it owes its fame. and its flowering, the timely application and exploitation of all technical advances and the commercial prudence and energy of its owners.
The founding of our company dates back to the year 1799. In that year JOHANN NEPOMUK HÜCKEL, born in Fulnek in Moravia, the hatmaker JOSEF HÜCKEL and the ELISABETH GOLD "marital son", was accepted by the hatters' guild in Neutitschein "as an urban master".
Twelve years later, in 1811, his younger brother AUGUSTIN, who had been a milliner in Fulnek since 1808, came to see him. Also he was accepted by the Neutitscheiner Hatter guild on a master job just completed. Each of the two brothers ran the business independently. In 1835, JOHANN HÜCKEL, son of AUGUSTIN HÜCKEL, acquired master craftsmanship and took over the business of his uncle JOHANN. When his father died in 1848, he also took over the business of the AUGUSTIN HÜCKEL and led both together in the previous craftsmanship form on. Manual labor was still active in all stages of production, and the old forms of tools were still in use, which had been in use for manual operation from time immemorial. The finished goods were offered in town and on markets; the shipping and commercial operation remained within the narrowest limits.
But JOHANN HÜCKEL proved his full understanding of the demands of his time. He saw the great advances in technology and realized the need to factory-design his business.
(The entire booklet is available here: https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/6-johann-hückel´s-söhne-hückel-hutfabrik-weilheim/?do=findComment&comment=592 )