BARRISTER Fedora

[HarpPlayerGene]

Anyone know anything about this hat maker? Or any ideas of age of this one? Here's a couple of pix from when it was listed on EB, as well as a link to some more shots.

Kind of falls into the beater-ish category but after a little steam and bash work, plus some attention to moth divets, I really love its look. Very similar in weight, styling and proportions to an old Champ I have. Also, like the Champ, this has an unreeded sweatband.

Just curious since I haven't seen "Barrister" come up before.

http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii79/harpplayergene/Barrister Hat/

 

[Marcus Brody]

Actually, I posted a gray Barrister hat once, and it was the first I had ever heard of that brand as well. Your's looks pretty beat though, which seems to indicates that it's an older brand, but mine was in perfect condition. The logo on the liner is identical too and they seem for the most part to be of the same model.

Although I didn't like the ribbon, so I changed it to a 1.5" black one.

Original:

Now:

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Thanks Marcus! Yours is a beauty - good job.
I still wonder what the story is on this manufacturer. I suspect that some hat companies came and went early on, like the auto companies that wound up whittling down to "the big three." If I learn when Barrister came and went it would narrow the guesses about the hat's age. And just be generally interesting.
Anyone else with ideas?

 

[Brad Bowers]

Neat find!

Barrister was a brand of the LaSalle Hat Company. The brand dates to 1935, but your hat looks later '40s to me. LaSalle was the Saleskys' (Champ Hats) company, started in 1911.

Brad

 

[NY_Confidential]

Neat find!

Barrister was a brand of the LaSalle Hat Company. The brand dates to 1935, but your hat looks later '40s to me. LaSalle was the Saleskys' (Champ Hats) company, started in 1911.

Brad

Anything else you guys know about Barrista? When did they stop making hats?

 

[alanfgag]

Here's another Barrister... model is "Goal", color "Nickel." Pleated liner which is taped in place rather than sewn. Not many other clues to ascertain vintage - a guess of late 40s early 50s seems safe enough.

 

[Aureliano]

nice hat, Alan. Off Topic, sort of, where the hell is Gene? haven't seen him in a while...

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks... here are a couple of other shots of the Barrister:

 

[jimmy the lid]

Very, very nice, Alan. The width of the ribbon really locks in the proportions on that hat. Beautiful.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks!... them were the days when demand was high enough to support a slew of small makers and labels.

 

[hatophile]

Nice lookin' hat, Alan.

 

[danofarlington]

Very, very nice, Alan. The width of the ribbon really locks in the proportions on that hat. Beautiful.

Cheers,
JtL

Exactly.

 

[mjd]

This hat came the other day...

Got this hat via Ebay. Great shape, and looks like it has never been worn. Here is the listing and the before pics:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/370607557038?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1450wt_1039


It was even flatter when it arrived.

I decided to give it a shot and try to reshape it myself. Here are the results of my attempt (first time trying!):

 

[randooch]

Nice job, mjd! That's a good-lookin' lid.

 

[mjd]

Thanks!

 

[Chepstow]

Nice job, mjd! That's a good-lookin' lid.

+1

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

MJD you can wear a 6 3/4 !!!!! Well look out budget as you will be finding a lot of hats too buy at cheap prices. Lucky dog small head.

 

[mjd]

I admit it, I'm lucky in that regard! I was able to pick up a bunch of lovely 6 3/4 hats from http://www.johnnyphi.com/index.php for a good price from a large selection thanks to my small head luck!

 

[Griemersma]

Reviving a 10-year-old thread! I just came into possession of a nearly identical hat as above: a Barrister "Goal" in "Nickel." In my relatively limited experience, it seems like a nice hat to me. The color is interesting--changing quite a lot depending on the light.

Based on the seller's measurements, I was hoping it would be a 7 1/4. It is actually a 7 1/8--I found the size tag under the sweatband when I got it. She had a picture of the model info tag which is also under the band, but I guess she didn't see the size. Nevertheless, it isn't uncomfortably small. I'm also due for a haircut, which might help as well. What do you all think--does it look ok, size-wise? It is a color that I think will be useful, so I think I'm leaning towards keeping it, but haven't decided yet.

Pics:

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Reviving a 10-year-old thread! I just came into possession of a nearly identical hat as above: a Barrister "Goal" in "Nickel." In my relatively limited experience, it seems like a nice hat to me. The color is interesting--changing quite a lot depending on the light.

Based on the seller's measurements, I was hoping it would be a 7 1/4. It is actually a 7 1/8--I found the size tag under the sweatband when I got it. She had a picture of the model info tag which is also under the band, but I guess she didn't see the size. Nevertheless, it isn't uncomfortably small. I'm also due for a haircut, which might help as well. What do you all think--does it look ok, size-wise? It is a color that I think will be useful, so I think I'm leaning towards keeping it, but haven't decided yet.

Pics:

View attachment 452698
View attachment 452699 View attachment 452700 View attachment 452701

Looks great and the condition is fantastic!