RBH
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Just from the looks I would guess the '30s.
Just from the looks I would guess the '30s.
I
What do others think of the hat and the possible offer price that was accepted (something less than asking)?
That's a fantastic Dobbs, CaramelSmoothie! Dobbs & Co. offered hats for women, made by Crofut & Knapp, from their start in 1908. Yours is very easy to date to between 1923 to 1928, thanks to the addresses on the liner tip. Dobbs & Co. opened the 324 Fifth Avenue storefront sometime between 1923 and 1924, but had to close their flagship 620 Fifth Avenue shop in 1928 because the building was torn down to make way for Rockefeller Center.
Those few Dobbs women's hats I have are much harder to date than the men's hats, and I just have to guess at their ages. I may run some photos by you someday to see if you can help date them by style.
Brad
Here's an odd one; an old bowler with back bow. I'm inclined to think the ribbon isn't original and it's not in very good shape but still interesting.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Black-Derby-Hat-Lynde-Gosser-Steampunk-Victorian-Mans-Mens-Felt/111252943796?_trksid=p2047675.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D177%26meid%3D3975878472510797683%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D131084581937%26
Alan,
How neat! I went to the hotel's website and see that they kept the original structure but added a modern facade.
This is like the third hat that I have that indicates that the milliner's shop or sales shop where the hat was sold was located in a hotel. I am guessing that retail shops located in hotels were common back in the old days? Here in DC, the historic Mayflower Hotel has at least one shop on the ground floor from what I can see from the outside. I haven't seen retail shops in any other hotel that I have been to. Anybody know anything about this type of retail/lodging arrangement?
It seems that back bows were popular for a time in the teens and 20s but went away until the late 50s--then went away after a few years then, too.We have a Stetson trilby with a back bow from the mid-1950's. The hat has little wear and the bow appears original. I have seen other Stetsons with the exact same bow on the back. I think hats were offered with a back bow. Our example is a size 6-3/4, so possibly on smaller sizes?
High end retail in hotels and resorts was a staple and remains today, especially in properties with a history... though today I guess restaurants are much more popular fixture.
This Dobbs came from such a shop (later than yours).
I have to say, I am not a fan of the back bow look on a man's hat.