Cosmopolitan Hat Company

[AlanD]

I purchased a derby hat made by Cosmopolitan hats out of New York. I was just wondering if anybody here had ever heard of them. It still had the original price tag of $3.00, marked down to $1.95 from the Golden Eagle store in Denver, Colorado. I gave less than $20.00 for it, so if it isn't vintage, I'm not out anything. Besides, my wife looks pretty good in it. LOL

 

[jeffgarf]

I am going to respond to this ancient thread for posterity and to record the information. I just received a fedora from the Cosmopolitan Hat Company of New York myself (15 years later). It seems that this company went out of business as late as the 1950's or so. It actually has a piece of clothing placed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, part of a costume worn by Cab Calloway, so we do have that going for its authenticity as a company.

 

[Frunobulax]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[jeffgarf]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Coming later this PM

 

[jeffgarf]

Making it's debut here at the Fedora Lounge, I present an actual Cosmopolitan Hats of NY brown fedora. With a teardrop bash, a 4-4.5 inch crown and a 2 inch brim, this guy came to me as part of a $10, 5 hat haul from Goodwill. It is certainly vintage, as the best guess is that the company closed in the 50's, but I'd guess that this hat was older than that. The sweatband is a thick, canvas-like, fabric and I would not be surprised, based upon the lack of any contemporary historical information about the company, to learn that these were probably produced cheaply for the African American market of the era (see previous post, re: Can Calloway). It really is a great hat to wear.