Willoughby Hats...of Paris?

[Rick Blaine]

...it has the highest crown & widest brim I have seen lately. Only ever seen a handful more. One or two here and the one owned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute.
Looks promising.
Can anybody tell me anything about this Parisian Hatter with the Brit name?

 

[se couvrir]

Nice hat Rick! Never heard of Willoughby hats here in England. The print on the liner logo is very similar to those used by Bates Hatters and Lock & Sons, so I wonder if Willoughby was an offshoot of some kind (for a different market or quality) of one of those makers - unless the design of the logo was just a generic variation?

Chris

 

[Rick Blaine]

Well the roll of the dice was rewarded in this instance.
This is one of the three finest fur felts I own. Unbelievably thin yet dense, floppy but will hold a crease, 2 3/4" brim and a generous 6"+ open crown. French 7 3/8, so a roomy 60. I have found out very little of the company, Willoughby, below is a mention in a 1909 AMERICAN HATTER.

At the brims edge it comes in at about (?) 1/8" - 3/16" thick.

 

[RJR]

Beauty,Rick.

 

[Miamibruno]

I've had several Willoughby hats, and though I know nothing of the company, the hats were without question, EXCEPTIONAL. The felts were as you describe and very well made. Both of the ones I had, had backbows, but if I ever find another - as you did - I would buy it without hesitation. Congratulations on a fine find.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Nice hat Rick! Never heard of Willoughby hats here in England. The print on the liner logo is very similar to those used by Bates Hatters and Lock & Sons, so I wonder if Willoughby was an offshoot of some kind (for a different market or quality) of one of those makers - unless the design of the logo was just a generic variation? View attachment 39432 View attachment 39433
Chris

I am guessing such a distinctive logo on a number of "Anglais" hats may have, perhaps, been a bit of graphic, visual shorthand denoting hats with a UK design/origin.
Or I may be right off... just speculation.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Willoughby Pt. Deux



So another Willoughby came up, same BIN, same seller.... and so on. So I bit.

This one is, regrettably, not labeled Canadian Beaver like the last, but it too was a 60 and so very similar, must have belonged to the same owner.
It is absolutely the finest felt I have yet encountered. Old world craftsmanship, in spades! Just as nice or nicer than Borsos from (what I would guess to be) the same era, those being the Simon Zlateff Borsos.
But check this out ------->
Not only that funky, hella small edge stitch, but the felt itself is almost as light as a butterfly's wing. That is a key on edge shown for comparison. The weight came in at an amazing 85 grams, three ounces, liner, leather sweatband ... all in. I was blown away!
Now it does rather flap like a flag in the wind, truthfully... so windy days are out. But I was tickled to get a second of these spectacular felts. I have since noticed a couple of others but (now it seems I am sensitized to the name), alas, have learned nothing further about the company or hat-maker.

Happy 2016 to all!

 

[RJR]

Wow,heck of a catch!

 

[Lotsahats]

I love the looks of these hats, but I've yet to see one in my size. Thanks for the reviews!

 

[hatsRme]

Super find!

 

[feltfan]

Here's one I posted a while back.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/pelushe.11594/#post-174281

 

[splintercellsz]

C.1930s

"Real Nutria"

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[Redfokker]

Unsure of age. I want to say 30s or older but I do not know much when it comes to non-American made hats.

"Real Nutria"

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All of the English used on the sweat is interesting. Meilleure qualité for sure!

 

[Tonio]

Unsure of age. I want to say 50s or older but I do not know much when it comes to non-American made hats.

"Real Nutria"

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Really liking the sweatband on that.

 

[RJR]

Really liking the sweatband on that.

+1,nice find.

 

[mayserwegener]

All of the English used on the sweat is interesting. Meilleure qualité for sure!

They were an English owned distributor located in Paris. This hat appears to be made in England (if you can believe the liner). They most likely sourced their branded hats from various countries.

 

[DrMacabre]

Hello, i also own a pretty beat-up bowler from Willoughby, made by Robert Heath in London. No idea when. I'm using it for oldwest LARP

 

[Mustang Mike's Hats]

As a Single Action Shooting Society member, (we wear 1800's style clothes and guns) I can see how a bowler would be awesome! Can you explain LARP??

 

[DrMacabre]

As a Single Action Shooting Society member, (we wear 1800's style clothes and guns) I can see how a bowler would be awesome! Can you explain LARP??

it's live action role play, last one i participate was in Almeria in spain where Sergio Leone shot most of his western movies.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

Willoughby pocket Tuxedo Hat. Very soft, thin, dense, luxurious felt. The underbrim is satin.

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