Bowler hats anyone?

[Caity Lynn]

I'm tempted to get a bowler as well for my London meetings. It might have to be a Lock after juggling between the pros and cons from various forums and threads. I think Patey makes the best (the original stiff as a helmet type with what looks like top hat fur felt) but the cost is just too high at £440 (probably dabble with that thought if I get to be invited to The Palace or something)...

Palace...as in Buckingham?! (watch it not be and I'll look foolish for assuming that it is) I can't say that idea thrills me, but I'm a bit prejudiced, I can't help but associating bowlers with Dandies and ruffians (blame Newsies for that) I'd rather see a more formal hat at formal settings like that...I still love bowlers, but not for that.

 

[Charlie Huang]

Of course, a top hat is a must for investitures, Garden Parties, etc. Other ocassions call for something less formal, such as a bowler or homburg. I'm sure you must have seen the photo of the Princes in bowlers, have you not?

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I've got this old boy:

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I have a Thomas Moore bowler in my collection...I only wear it at Christmas and the grandkids love it.

And well they should!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Charlie Huang]

Alex Langlands who was on Victorian Farm on the BBC (a brilliant series it was) wore what looked like a vintage high crown bowler during the whole year he was there. It was magnificent.

 

[thecoolmiester]

Bowlers amuse me, I REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY want to just run into someone wearing one lol if he were my age it would probably be love at first sight lol a bowler or a top hat, and I'm yours lol They're so neat.

... I gotta get me a bowler hat.

 

[Lone_Ranger]

Sorry! Couldn't resist. Just read this while doing some "surfing."

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Stetson’s remarkable hat was paid by an unknown cowpuncher. According to W. C. Tuttle, a Western author, a man rode into town wearing a derby one Sunday morning. “It was a terrible faux pas,” related Tuttle. “The derby was knocked off his head and cruelly mistreated.” Later, some cowboy picked up the ruined derby and squinted at the imprint on the hatband. “My God!” he gasped. “It says Stetson. I bet it’s a counterfeit. I’d just as soon think of a bow and arrow with the name ‘Colt!’”

 

[CigarMan]

Sorry! Couldn't resist. Just read this while doing some "surfing."

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Stetson’s remarkable hat was paid by an unknown cowpuncher. According to W. C. Tuttle, a Western author, a man rode into town wearing a derby one Sunday morning. “It was a terrible faux pas,” related Tuttle. “The derby was knocked off his head and cruelly mistreated.” Later, some cowboy picked up the ruined derby and squinted at the imprint on the hatband. “My God!” he gasped. “It says Stetson. I bet it’s a counterfeit. I’d just as soon think of a bow and arrow with the name ‘Colt!’”

If they only knew . . . .:eusa_clap

 

[immortaldiamond]

Charlie - I wish you hadn't told me that

I'm tempted to get a bowler as well for my London meetings. It might have to be a Lock after juggling between the pros and cons from various forums and threads. I think Patey makes the best (the original stiff as a helmet type with what looks like top hat fur felt) but the cost is just too high at £440 (probably dabble with that thought if I get to be invited to The Palace or something)...

Greetings from London, Charlie! I think you might have made me spend £440 (or £880)! I was at Hornet's Hats the other day and they told me that their Christie's are made near Manchester - and are the same hats (for a 1/3rd of the price) as Locks or Bates. Is this true?

 

[Charlie Huang]

Greetings from London, Charlie! I think you might have made me spend £440 (or £880)! I was at Hornet's Hats the other day and they told me that their Christie's are made near Manchester - and are the same hats (for a 1/3rd of the price) as Locks or Bates. Is this true?

The only way to be sure is to go to said hatters and compare and contrast. It wouldn't be surprising if they all came from the same factory (hell, the boaters from Lock, Bates and the Hat Company all come from Olneys and the price diffence is mindblowing!)

From my own snooping, Patey's seem to be the only one who makes bowlers themselves (they look very different from the Lock-Bates models and they are open about the processes involved) and if you make all the ceremonial headwear in the country all from scratch you are bound to be able to make a simple bowler and I think that is why their prices are almost double.

Of course, I would put off getting a Patey's until I have buyed and tried some cheaper ones so eBay is your first port of call!

 

[immortaldiamond]

Headache

The only way to be sure is to go to said hatters and compare and contrast. It wouldn't be surprising if they all came from the same factory (hell, the boaters from Lock, Bates and the Hat Company all come from Olneys and the price diffence is mindblowing!)

From my own snooping, Patey's seem to be the only one who makes bowlers themselves (they look very different from the Lock-Bates models and they are open about the processes involved) and if you make all the ceremonial headwear in the country all from scratch you are bound to be able to make a simple bowler and I think that is why their prices are almost double.

Of course, I would put off getting a Patey's until I have buyed and tried some cheaper ones so eBay is your first port of call!

I bought one from Hornets last week (in dove grey with a brown ribbon) and, once I'd got over the embarrassment of having everyone in Kensington look at me, I enjoyed wearing the style very much. But the traditional, hard-hat design gave me a headache after a while. There is literally no give at all and it did feel a little like balancing a basket on my head. I wonder if it's permitted to wear one of the soft versions?

 

[Charlie Huang]

I bought one from Hornets last week (in dove grey with a brown ribbon) and, once I'd got over the embarrassment of having everyone in Kensington look at me, I enjoyed wearing the style very much. But the traditional, hard-hat design gave me a headache after a while. There is literally no give at all and it did feel a little like balancing a basket on my head. I wonder if it's permitted to wear one of the soft versions?

Did you have the hard version blocked? If not then that is the reason why it feels like a basket on your head. Go to one of the hatters in London and have it blocked (they will use the conformater on you and probably charge you) so it will fit properly.

 

[mayserwegener]

I have a couple of 1920-30s Habig bowler hats. They have slight bulb shape (wider at the top) as you can see in this picture. Is this blocking unique to Habig?

 

[Brad Bowers]

I have a couple of 1920-30s Habig bowler hats. They have slight bulb shape (wider at the top) as you can see in this picture. Is this blocking unique to Habig?

Most manufacturers probably offered this style. C&K/Dobbs/Cavanagh called it an English model with belled crown. Just one of several different styles offered.

Brad

 

[mayserwegener]

Most manufacturers probably offered this style. C&K/Dobbs/Cavanagh called it an English model with belled crown. Just one of several different styles offered.

Brad

Thanks for the info. I did a quick scan of some info I have but couldn't find anything.

 

[immortaldiamond]

Did you have the hard version blocked? If not then that is the reason why it feels like a basket on your head. Go to one of the hatters in London and have it blocked (they will use the conformater on you and probably charge you) so it will fit properly.

Thanks Charlie. Hornet's did offer (and try) to stretch it but it didn't seem to make much difference. I'll try what you suggest.

 

[Charlie Huang]

Thanks Charlie. Hornet's did offer (and try) to stretch it but it didn't seem to make much difference. I'll try what you suggest.

You might need to ask politely. I would also buy a hat brush or cheap hat maybe as a token of appreciation.

 

[Lokar]

This is my lovely black bowler, which I got for free!

I unfortunately know nothing at all about it (Or P. Borgquist). I've tried searching but have had no luck, and the person I got it from knew nothing about it, they'd just had it sitting in a very dusty barn for years.

 

[Dreispitz]

Here is a Cavanagh Bowler, now to be seen in Germany

<a href="http://s713.photobucket.com/albums/ww136/dreispitz/?action=view&current=CavanaghBowler.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww136/dreispitz/CavanaghBowler.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Charlie Huang]

I just contacted Lock to ask if they could re-conform a bowler for me. They said yes and said that the charge for this service was £50.

Yes, that's right. FIFTY ENGLISH POUNDS STERLING!

OMG, I almost snorted my tea onto the monitor when I read that... There's more discomfort in that price than an uncomfortably fitting bowler...

I'm going through all the hatters in the country to compare prices and see who is the cheapest at re-conformation.