Post New Hats Here!

[steur]

I have a bit of a backlog of hats I haven't posted yet (then again: they only came in this week). Here's the first one.
Echter Mayser homburg in grey. Size 58 with the brim at a good 5,5cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. A few nicks but it seems hardly ever worn (basting stitches are still on the ribbon). No label under the sweat, so not much to go on. Joh Schnell Nachf. of Koblenz was founded in 1806 (!) and is still around today. The sweatband mentions its 150th anniversary, which would make it 1956, but the sweatband is dated 19-12-1961, which usually means the selling date. Could have sat on the shelf for 5 years, but who would leave a good looking hat like this there? Interesting that the liner is already glued in on this one (German manufacturers did that very early on).

 

[steur]

Let's continue with the Maysers (they seem quite popular with the members here and rightly so).
Mayser fedora in brown. Size 60 with the bound brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. Very thin felt with a nice hand, which made me buy it. Sold by Ernst of Köln, who also sold hats under his store brand name of Esko. The label mentions Aachen, which is likely the model name (the colours are numbered). My guess is late sixties to mid seventies for this one.

 

[steur]

Third one. Always nice to find heather felts.
Woodrow&Sons fedora in brown heather felt called "mix" on the label. Size 57 with the raw edge brim at 5cm and the crown 11,5cm at the center dent. I'm guessing late fifties or early sixties. made especially for A.H. Kuyper of Enschede, Holland.

 

[steur]

Let's stick with the heather felts. Here's one I got from our member @Garrett (thanks, Garrett!). A lovely Portis Royal Quality in heather. Model is called "hunter". Size 7 fedora in a dark grey heather, with a nice ("swansback") hand and an awesome ribbon. Underwelt brim with lovely contrasting stitching sits at 5,5cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. The liner has seen better days, but how often do you come across one of these?

 

[steur]

Moving up towards the heavy hitters of this haul. Borsalino is the first of these.
Borsalino Celesca Ontano. Size 57 with the raw edge brim at 7cm and the crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. This is a coffin box hat in the Qualitá Extra Extra Superiore and it shows. The hand of the felt is outstanding and the hat came back to life without much fuss after being squeezed in a box for about 70 years. It does need some TLC though, because it has collected some dirt and stains for some reason. Not as lightweight as I would have expected from a coffin box hat with its 118 grams on the scale (but no heavyweight). Label points towards the 1936-1953 time period. I'm thinking late forties to early fifties for this one.

 

[steur]

Now we're getting to the really interesting ones.
Hora "Münster" velour in grey. Size 57 with the raw edge brim at 5cm and the crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. Never heard of the brand before, but the felt is great and aside from some staining on the liner the hat is in excellent condition. Judging by the sweatband my thought is pre-war. German made, because it has a German label. Colour is called "eis" (ice).

 

[steur]

We're getting there: two more to go. First one.
Janyška Gazela chamois in glorious blue. Size 55 (@Hagwood are you paying attention?) with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown 10cm at the center dent. I think "gazela" refers to the finish (much like "antilope") and the "New Style" on the liner to the model. Janyška was founded in 1921 and got nationalised after the war into Tonak. I don't think they kept the brand alive after WWII. They weren't around for long and I can't recall having ever seen one before.
I tend not to bring along hats smaller than my size, but this one is in such a great colour and condition that it had to come. Kind of a funny story actually: I found four (of friday's five hats in total) in the same shop. Appears they have a shop policy though that you can only buy two of the same item (to prevent dealers coming in). I've known about this, but usually the shop help isn't that concerned once I tell them I'm a collector. Not this girl though; she wouldn't budge a millimeter. Well, what to do? I made my choice and paid for two hats. As soon as she was helping other customers I grabbed the two others and trundled down the stairs (the hats are upstairs) and paid for the other two at the downstairs cashier's desk. Felt a bit like I was shoplifting or doing something else illegal, but I got my hats!

 

[Blare]

Third one. Always nice to find heather felts.
Woodrow&Sons fedora in brown heather felt called "mix" on the label. Size 57 with the raw edge brim at 5cm and the crown 11,5cm at the center dent. I'm guessing late fifties or early sixties. made especially for A.H. Kuyper of Enschede, Holland.

Kinda unique liner on this one as well.

 

[Blare]

Let's stick with the heather felts. Here's one I got from our member @Garrett (thanks, Garrett!). A lovely Portis Royal Quality in heather. Model is called "hunter". Size 7 fedora in a dark grey heather, with a nice ("swansback") hand and an awesome ribbon. Underwelt brim with lovely contrasting stitching sits at 5,5cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. The liner has seen better days, but how often do you come across one of these?

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Mentioned this ribbon in the portis thread,., but I’ll say it again.. very cool pattern on this ribbon

 

[steur]

Kinda unique liner on this one as well.

Thanks, Joe. Woodrow mentions their connection to royalty in various ways over the years.

About the Portis: it would be great if a vintage ribbon like this could be found somewhere.

 

[Blare]

Moving up towards the heavy hitters of this haul. Borsalino is the first of these.
Borsalino Celesca Ontano. Size 57 with the raw edge brim at 7cm and the crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. This is a coffin box hat in the Qualitá Extra Extra Superiore and it shows. The hand of the felt is outstanding and the hat came back to life without much fuss after being squeezed in a box for about 70 years. It does need some TLC though, because it has collected some dirt and stains for some reason. Not as lightweight as I would have expected from a coffin box hat with its 118 grams on the scale (but no heavyweight). Label points towards the 1936-1953 time period. I'm thinking late forties to early fifties for this one.
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These coffin box hats are way cool... I think I will keep an eye out for one in a more ‘daily wear’ style as opposed to the somewhat ‘foo foo’ duo I have. LOL

I like that single sided bow. I feel like since I found one on the Hobart hat that Bill gave me... all of a sudden I am noticing them more and more. Even on a hat I already had. LOL. It really does make a sleek look.

 

[steur]

Last one of the haul and certainly not the least one.
Wilke velour called "Bürstel Electra" in blue. Fedora in size 58 with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. The label says 7 as a size, but the measurements add up to a size 58. The blue colour is called "schwalbe" (swallow) on the label. I'm thinking 1930's. Steve @mayserwegener has one on his website in grey. Same model with the loose bow ends. I do find Wilke hats on a regular basis, but they're always the later ones (sixties most likely). This was a nice change, both in style and colour. The hand of the felt is wonderful and the condition is excellent. Just look at that colour.
Otto Döppe of Rostock is in business since at least 1910, but I don't think the hat is that early.

 

[Blare]

Now we're getting to the really interesting ones.
Hora "Münster" velour in grey. Size 57 with the raw edge brim at 5cm and the crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. Never heard of the brand before, but the felt is great and aside from some staining on the liner the hat is in excellent condition. Judging by the sweatband my thought is pre-war. German made, because it has a German label. Colour is called "eis" (ice).

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Does this brand go along with the cheese? Hmmm don’t think it would fit the ginormous head of Herman Munster...... maybe a nice fit for grandpa Munster though.

 

[Blare]

Last one of the haul and certainly not the least one.
Wilke velour called "Bürstel Electra" in blue. Fedora in size 57 with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. The blue colour is called "schwalbe" (swallow) on the label. I'm thinking 1930's. Steve @mayserwegener has one on his website in grey. Same model with the loose bow ends. I do find Wilke hats on a regular basis, but they're always the later ones (sixties most likely). This was a nice change, both in style and colour. The hand of the felt is wonderful and the condition is excellent. Just look at that colour.
Otto Döppe of Rostock is in business since at least 1910, but I don't think the hat is that early.

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Oh so Bluuuuuueeeeee!

 

[steur]

Does this brand go along with the cheese? Hmmm don’t think it would fit the ginormous head of Herman Munster...... maybe a nice fit for grandpa Munster though.

Best leave the cheese to the Dutch and the hatmaking to the Germans and italians. The Munsters never made it across the ocean, as opposed to the Addams Family, which did get broadcast over here. Münster is in fact not far from the Dutch border: lovely town.

 

[Blare]

Ha. @steur The Munsters weren’t especially known for their stylish hats either though Herman could rock a hat when he needed to. Grandpa Munster -Al Lewis.. seemed to favor them in real life

 

[Frunobulax]

Ha. @steur The Munsters weren’t especially known for their stylish hats either though Herman could rock a hat when he needed to. Grandpa Munster -Al Lewis.. seemed to favor them in real life View attachment 213451

OT - A sportstalk show on WLW in Cincinnati used to interview him regularly during college hoops season. He was apparently a basketball aficionado.

 

[BobHufford]

Great hat haul @steur ! I am particularly drawn to the (soon to be @Hagwood 's) Janyška Gazela .

 

[Daniele Tanto]

We're getting there: two more to go. First one.
Janyška Gazela chamois in glorious blue. Size 55 (@Hagwood are you paying attention?) with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown 10cm at the center dent. I think "gazela" refers to the finish (much like "antilope") and the "New Style" on the liner to the model. Janyška was founded in 1921 and got nationalised after the war into Tonak. I don't think they kept the brand alive after WWII. They weren't around for long and I can't recall having ever seen one before.
I tend not to bring along hats smaller than my size, but this one is in such a great colour and condition that it had to come. Kind of a funny story actually: I found four (of friday's five hats in total) in the same shop. Appears they have a shop policy though that you can only buy two of the same item (to prevent dealers coming in). I've known about this, but usually the shop help isn't that concerned once I tell them I'm a collector. Not this girl though; she wouldn't budge a millimeter. Well, what to do? I made my choice and paid for two hats. As soon as she was helping other customers I grabbed the two others and trundled down the stairs (the hats are upstairs) and paid for the other two at the downstairs cashier's desk. Felt a bit like I was shoplifting or doing something else illegal, but I got my hats!

Magnificent day, dear Stefan, in the search for new goodies among the big sea of vintage hats. I quoted my favorite which is follow, in order of preference by Hora, Wilke, Woodrow & Sons and the two Maysers, the only close to my size.
I should be angry because no one fits my head in such beauty, but I don't want to be greedy.
A separate speech for the folding Borsalino.
It shows one of the bow designs among the best ever seen in many years of frequenting the world of hats.
Great find!!!

 

[Zombie_61]

OT - A sportstalk show on WLW in Cincinnati used to interview him regularly during college hoops season. He was apparently a basketball aficionado.

Off-topic, but one of my brothers-in-law met Al Lewis and Fred Gwynne at a Lakers game here in southern California in the late-60s when The Munsters was still airing new episodes. He said Mr. Lewis was cranky and complained, "Hey kid, can't you see we're trying to watch the game?" but Mr. Gwynne chastised him saying, "Oh, come on Al, be nice," and chatted with BIL for a few minutes before signing his autograph and getting Mr. Lewis to sign his.