French Hats and makers.

[John Galt]

I have a great old whippet clone (the bubble weight ) made by Barclay. I had found very little on the company other than a couple of Australian ads from the late 1920's, but a few ads I've seen recently suggest that it was actually a french company. Possibly, this could have been made by that company...


"Faint hat never won fair lady."

 

[mayserwegener]

It looks older to me with the wide brim and high untapered crown. The ribbon also looks like a much older style. I would have to see some 50s or 60s Fletchets for comparison purposes. The hat box could provide a clue if anyone would know what period it's from. The size tag might be a place to start as you say.
[/IMG]

As Besdor and others suggest it might be a Fléchet. They (French makers) still made hats in this style in the late 1950s into the 1960s.

 

[Purplesage]

It could very well be a Flechet.

 

[John Galt]

Here are the Barclay ads, for posterity. There was a dearth of information on this company when I looked.

"Faint hat never won fair lady."

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It could very well be a Flechet.

The label in yours looks like the Flechet label posted by Fastuni above. Also the size label poking out from under the liner.

 

[Purplesage]

Leon

I have a couple of French hats that are some of my favorites, this happens to be one. I'm not too familiar with this manufacturer so if anyone has some information this company I would like to hear from you.

 

[bowlerman]

No info about Leon, but that's an exceptional hat. The double stitched overwelt is verrry nice.

 

[mayserwegener]

Super! I would send Robert (RLK) a PM. He has a big collection of French made vintage hats.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Léon appears on lists of the great hat shops in Paris from back in the era, a bit like Sools, Motsch etc.

 

[ManofKent]

A beautiful hat!

 

[Purplesage]

B Kurtz - Where can I find a list of great French hat shops?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Here's an example from a recent-ish blog post. At the bottom, et enfin pour les grands chapeliers:, purporting to be from a 1958 copy of "Adam". I think I remember something similar from a copy of a men's French magazine that I have. I'll have a check. I've certainly seen more lists than this!

http://stiff-collar.com/2009/10/13/les-grands-tailleurs-de-paris-en-1958/

 

[Purplesage]

I see Leon is on the list.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Black Morreton. 40s?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Brosson. Sold a long while ago.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Another one from the archive.

Mossant. This was the thinnest floppiest felt I've ever had on a hat.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Last one from the archive for now.

Jean Peille, Espéraza long hair fuzzy beaver. The town of Espéraza was apparently famous for hat making, which probably explains the extremely high quality of this felt, now belonging to Edward. The Brosson box did not come with the Brosson hat I posted above.

According to Wikipedia: "In the early 20th century, Espéraza was known for hat making. The town has a Hat Making Museum. Around 1815, the village experienced a considerable economic growth thanks to Bugarach hatters who settled there. First in 1830, then 1878, then Espéraza enjoyed a prosperous period in the headgear. The arrival of the railway at that time certainly encouraged this growth industry. By 1929, there were 3000 Espéraza workers and 14 factories which allowed the village to become the second largest in the world of felt hats (after Monza, Italy). But fashion, a phenomenon unknown at the time, had a terrible impact on the garment industry. The hat was less and less worn in the mid-20th century, plunged Espéraza into an economic depression. Now all that remains of the 14 Espéraza hat factories is a museum after the last factorie burnt down in 2002."

 

[mayserwegener]

Super!

 

[Garrett]

Pete,

Great parade of Frenchies! Just to be clear - none of these are still in your collection?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The Morreton is my daily go-to hat. But the rest are sold, yes. Many years ago on most of them. The vast majority of french hats I find are black for some reason …