thunderw21
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,044
- Location
- Iowa
I’m pleased to offer this amazing hat, made in England and sold by Brooks
Brothers. Most of the Brooks Brothers hats you see are marked with the
maker (Lock or Herbert Johnson).
The features of this hat, and consultation with eminent Floungers, all lead me to the conclusion that it is from the 1930s. The liner is made of exquisite satin. The intricate, old-fashioned styling of the liner logo, and the signs of oilcloth/celluloid linertop are two good indicators.
The sweatband also appears to be very old, both in style and in its construction. The russet grainy leather I’ve never really seen on postwar hats. It’s of the reeded type, but this is not uncommon in British (or American for that matter) hats of the era. See Dinerman’s sweatband thread to make your own mind up.
The dimensions are also not uncommon for a British hat of this era. Its 4 ¾” crown and 2” brim work very well for some head-types - note the pic below of myself wearing that hat (suits me well, don't ya think?). The dimensions of the crown vs the ribbon would
also suggest the 1930s era.
The condition is good for the age of the hat. The felt, while still very sturdy and heavy weight is surprisingly soft and moldable with no moth nips or holes. The caramel brown color is consistant throughout with no uneven fading or staining. There is some waviness in the felt just above the bow but does not detract from the overall appearance of the hat. The black ribbon and bow have some wrinkles and loose stitches here and there but still have plenty of life in them. The vertical piece of the bow is nicely pleated.
The inside is just as nice as the outside. There is evidence of an oilcloth/celluloid linertop that has flaked off, exposing the Brooks Brothers liner logo to full effect. No staining on the liner. The sweatband is in very good condition with no signs of drying or cracking. Still soft and pliable. Unfortunately the sweatband stitching has come undone in a couple places and while the sweatband is still secure and the hat is wearable, it wouldn't hurt to restitch the loose areas.
The interior of the sweatband measures 23", so the size is right around 7 1/4 to 7 3/8.
Here are a couple photos showing similar 1930s hats with narrow brims like this BB fedora:
1933
1937
Overall a very attractive and rare 1930s fedora in good condition. Don't let this one slip by!
Reduced to $75 plus shipping in the U.S. and international. Paypal only, PM if interested.
Brothers. Most of the Brooks Brothers hats you see are marked with the
maker (Lock or Herbert Johnson).
The features of this hat, and consultation with eminent Floungers, all lead me to the conclusion that it is from the 1930s. The liner is made of exquisite satin. The intricate, old-fashioned styling of the liner logo, and the signs of oilcloth/celluloid linertop are two good indicators.
The sweatband also appears to be very old, both in style and in its construction. The russet grainy leather I’ve never really seen on postwar hats. It’s of the reeded type, but this is not uncommon in British (or American for that matter) hats of the era. See Dinerman’s sweatband thread to make your own mind up.
The dimensions are also not uncommon for a British hat of this era. Its 4 ¾” crown and 2” brim work very well for some head-types - note the pic below of myself wearing that hat (suits me well, don't ya think?). The dimensions of the crown vs the ribbon would
also suggest the 1930s era.
The condition is good for the age of the hat. The felt, while still very sturdy and heavy weight is surprisingly soft and moldable with no moth nips or holes. The caramel brown color is consistant throughout with no uneven fading or staining. There is some waviness in the felt just above the bow but does not detract from the overall appearance of the hat. The black ribbon and bow have some wrinkles and loose stitches here and there but still have plenty of life in them. The vertical piece of the bow is nicely pleated.
The inside is just as nice as the outside. There is evidence of an oilcloth/celluloid linertop that has flaked off, exposing the Brooks Brothers liner logo to full effect. No staining on the liner. The sweatband is in very good condition with no signs of drying or cracking. Still soft and pliable. Unfortunately the sweatband stitching has come undone in a couple places and while the sweatband is still secure and the hat is wearable, it wouldn't hurt to restitch the loose areas.
The interior of the sweatband measures 23", so the size is right around 7 1/4 to 7 3/8.
Here are a couple photos showing similar 1930s hats with narrow brims like this BB fedora:
1933
1937
Overall a very attractive and rare 1930s fedora in good condition. Don't let this one slip by!
Reduced to $75 plus shipping in the U.S. and international. Paypal only, PM if interested.
