Alphonse Capone's Hat

[guitarmasta12]

Okay, here's an honest question. Does any one know what brand/model pf the hat Al Capone is wearing in my profile pic and avatar? I'd love to buy one of those for my collection. It's a very awesome looking hat. Agree? Hehe! If it's a custom hat then it's probably impossible to get one.....maybe.

 

[jlee562]

Even if somebody did know, the odds of finding that exact hat are likely slim to none. If you really want to replicate it, the best advice I can give is to go custom.

 

[guitarmasta12]

Yeah I was looking at Optimo for that. They are like one of the only modern hat shops that make hats like they did in the golden days of hats hehe.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Contact Art Fawcett and Vintage Silhouettes. http://vintagesilhouettes.com/
He has made this hat many times. The brim style is called a Hollywood brim.

 

[guitarmasta12]

Contact Art Fawcett and Vintage Silhouettes. http://vintagesilhouettes.com/
He has made this hat many times. The brim style is called a Hollywood brim.

Ah... I'll check it out.

 

[viclip]

You might be interested in a Biltmore offered by Detroit's Henry the Hatter called the "Giorio Cellini Capone":

https://www.henrythehatterdetroit.com/images/stories/virtuemart/product/capone-white.jpg

It comes in white as shown or else in black. I have the white version, these are very nice hats which approach Biltmore's Rosellini line quality. (I'm referring to the Canadian-made products throughout)

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Of coarse Bilmore plant in Canada is no more.

The hat doesn't have the crown height or ribbon width to be an exact copy of the Capone hat.

 

[viclip]

Of coarse Bilmore plant in Canada is no more.

The hat doesn't have the crown height or ribbon width to be an exact copy of the Capone hat.

Henry the Hatter's site lists these hats but doesn't indicate relevant dimensions. So I unboxed mine to measure it & I just realized that I was mistaken when I said that the hat was Canadian Biltmore production, it's actually tagged MADE IN USA so presumably haled out of the relocated Texas facility.

Anyways the brim is 2-1/2" with an open crown of 5-1/4". With the center crease the crown varies between 4 and 5 inches. Sporting a 1-3/4" grosgrain ribbon plus a snappable brim, it's actually a good looking hat. I get numerous compliments esp. from the ladies when I wear it; now that it's springtime I might as well keep it out & get some mileage out of it.

 

[Nyah]

What Capone photo was that all-white hat modeled after? I'm not seeing any similarity to the OP's example.

 

[Mr.Astor]

That white hat is not even close wrong felt,crease, ribbon, and so on. His hat I believe was an off white almost a light camel color it matched his topcoat. If I were a betting man I would say it was a Borsalino velour. JMO!

 

[TheDane]

Hmmm ... it seems like TFL's BB-parser is down. I can't use IMG-tags ...?!!

Anyway, it could be this hat, they tried to copy. Still a poor try [huh]

 

[jlee562]

Ah... I'll check it out.

Would recommend either Mr. Fawcett or Optimo without reservation.

 

[facade]

Okay, here's an honest question. Does any one know what brand/model pf the hat Al Capone is wearing in my profile pic and avatar? I'd love to buy one of those for my collection. It's a very awesome looking hat. Agree? Hehe! If it's a custom hat then it's probably impossible to get one.....maybe.

A Capone hat in a museum was a Borsalino so, assuming he had brand loyalty, I'd say that was a gray Borsalino he's sporting in your photo. However absent a successful séance, its all just a guess.

http://www.myalcaponemuseum.com/id175.htm[

 

[jhe888]

In a photo like that, all you can say about color is that it was light. Could be gray, light tan, nearly white, pale blue - almost anything. I'd guess a pale gray, but who knows?

Who knows what was popular among mobsters then?

 

[jlee562]

Wow, he was a 6 7/8...interesting correlation to the theory that head sizes were generally smaller back in the day.

 

[gtdean48]

Could be Silverbelly given the photo flash technology back then...

 

[Lotsahats]

Wow, he was a 6 7/8...interesting correlation to the theory that head sizes were generally smaller back in the day.

/shrug But other evidence doesn't back up that idea.

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

There were a number of stories that the Chicago Outfit preferred light/pearl gray hats almost as a trademark. However, the most famous one that Capone wore was a light cream colored hat - likely the one in your photo. GT could well have it nailed as being silverbelly.

Fed

 

[facade]

/shrug But other evidence doesn't back up that idea.

Obesity rates do, fat people tend to have fat heads. No doubt in my mind that the average head size in the US has grown, if for no other reason then to keep pace with the average waistline.

 

[tommyK]

Obesity rates do, fat people tend to have fat heads. No doubt in my mind that the average head size in the US has grown, if for no other reason then to keep pace with the average waistline.

Not sure obesity has much effect on hat size, I'm 50 pounds heavier than when I graduated high school almost 30 years ago. Same hat size. My father is the same hat size as well and he's probably 50 pounds heavier than I. Perhaps if one is morbidly obese this might be true.