German & Austrian Hutmachers

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Steve, your collection is really great and so is your memory:
unlike me, you can also remember the stuff
- the many you have and have also shown here!

In a free minute I will take the time to browse through your site.

 

[mayserwegener]

I just noticed that the lowest quality of the three "Standard" has a "E" designation for Velour. This might have been a carry over from earlier.

By the way I have a good number of similar documents. I will try to get them posted over the next couple months.

 

[PanosChris]

J. Hückel's Söhne "Prima" for the French market:
this hat was sold by "Chapeau Raoul" in Nevers
Label says "A V" so "Alpha Velour", as Steve indicated
French Point 6 1/2 (fits perfectly), possibly (late) 1920s (?)
brim at 6.3 cm, crown at the dent at impressive 12.5 cm
5.5 cm crown ribbon with a very nice bow treatment
The "ventilation system" at the front is unusual -
I only know this feature from Borsalino hats...
Nice condition except some stains on the lining

Phenomenal gets Matt!!!

 

[steur]

Went for a bit of shopping this week and actually found two nice hats, even though the vintage hat season hasn't started yet. First one.
Wegener Super homburg in a mid to dark grey. Colour is called "glatz" on the label. Size 59 with the bound brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. These "Super" designated Wegener hats have a lovely hand to the felt, but are a bit "springy", that is they tend to spring back to their form and are not easily persuaded to take just any form. The felt is quite thin, although the hat isn't that lightweight at 137 grams. Always happy to find a larger sized hat in another colour than black.

 

[steur]

And number two.
Mayser Libelle in a size 56. Bound brim at 6,5cm and the crown sits at 11cm at the center dent. The way the flange is shaped I'm guessing this was meant to be worn brim up or in the "camber" style it has now. When Steve @mayserwegener posted his "Libelle" labelled Mayser hats last week I could not recall having ever seen it (that or I just have poor memory), so I was quite surprised to find this one. Libelle may refer to the weight of the hat even though it's not extremely lightweight at 105 grams.

 

[mayserwegener]

Went for a bit of shopping this week and actually found two nice hats, even though the vintage hat season hasn't started yet. First one.
Wegener Super homburg in a mid to dark grey. Colour is called "glatz" on the label. Size 59 with the bound brim at 6cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. These "Super" designated Wegener hats have a lovely hand to the felt, but are a bit "springy", that is they tend to spring back to their form and are not easily persuaded to take just any form. The felt is quite thin, although the hat isn't that lightweight at 137 grams. Always happy to find a larger sized hat in another colour than black.
View attachment 362353 View attachment 362354 View attachment 362355 View attachment 362356 View attachment 362357 View attachment 362358 View attachment 362359 View attachment 362360 View attachment 362361 View attachment 362362

Stefan, Great looking Homburg! The color is especially nice. Wegener's were definitely well built.

 

[mayserwegener]

And number two.
Mayser Libelle in a size 56. Bound brim at 6,5cm and the crown sits at 11cm at the center dent. The way the flange is shaped I'm guessing this was meant to be worn brim up or in the "camber" style it has now. When Steve @mayserwegener posted his "Libelle" labelled Mayser hats last week I could not recall having ever seen it (that or I just have poor memory), so I was quite surprised to find this one. Libelle may refer to the weight of the hat even though it's not extremely lightweight at 105 grams.

View attachment 362368 View attachment 362370 View attachment 362371 View attachment 362372 View attachment 362373 View attachment 362374 View attachment 362375 View attachment 362376 View attachment 362377 View attachment 362378

Stefan, Super find! Yours is somewhat similar to my other "Libelle / Dragon Fly" but its Form feels more Snap Brim + Bow to me (my other one feels more Camber although I snapped the Brim).

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/3-mayser-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=1286

 

[steur]

Stefan, Great looking Homburg! The color is especially nice. Wegener's were definitely well built.

Stefan, Super find! Yours is somewhat similar to my other "Libelle / Dragon Fly" but its Form feels more Snap Brim + Bow to me (my other one feels more Camber although I snapped the Brim).

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/3-mayser-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=1286

Thank you, Steve. Wegener hats of this make are a no-brainer to bring along.
As for the Mayser: it could well be they made these Libelle hats in several shapes. I kind of like this other shape as it's a bit of a change of pace for me.

 

[mayserwegener]

St. Veit (Sankt Veit), 58 cm, Wool Felt, possibly early 1930s. There isn't a company mark but the paper label has a Sheep with a St. Veit Banner. Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse is a small town in the South East corner of Austria and I couldn't find any Felt Hat production in the town. My guess is this is the source of the Wool used for the Felt. The Stiff Felt Hat was sold by a shop (Ludovikus Hagens Wwe) in a small town (Lustenau, Vorarlberg) in the upper North West corner of Austria. The Wool Felt has a nice finish and is in very good condition. The Stiff Felt has great looking Silver Gray Liner with a sharp looking Bow design.

Ludovikus Hagens Wwe (Wwe = Widow of)

Handwriting on the Sweatband which I will have to take a closer look at.

Sheep With St. Veit (Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse) Banner

Natural Light

Ludovikus Hagens Wwe (Lustenau, Vorarlberg) was located in the front of this house. Photo from 1908.

Ludwig "Ludovikus" Hagen passed away in 1929.

Ludwig "Ludovikus" Hagen wife 1. Sophie (Wwe, Widow) was owner of the shop when the Stiff Felt was sold.

 

[Steve1857]

Super find, Steve. Looks in near NOS condition. Thanks for sharing the history and photos, too.

St. Veit (Sankt Veit), 58 cm, Wool Felt, possibly early 1930s. There isn't a company mark but the paper label has a Sheep with a St. Veit Banner. Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse is a small town in the South East corner of Austria and I couldn't find any Felt Hat production in the town. My guess is this is the source of the Wool used for the Felt. The Stiff Felt Hat was sold by a shop (Ludovikus Hagens Wwe) in a small town (Lustenau, Vorarlberg) in the upper North West corner of Austria. The Wool Felt has a nice finish and is in very good condition. The Stiff Felt has great looking Silver Gray Liner with a sharp looking Bow design.

Ludovikus Hagens Wwe (Wwe = Widow of)

Handwriting on the Sweatband which I will have to take a closer look at.

Sheep With St. Veit (Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse) Banner

Ludovikus Hagens Wwe (Lustenau, Vorarlberg) was located in the front of this house. Photo from 1908.

Ludwig "Ludovikus" Hagen passed away in 1929.

Ludwig "Ludovikus" Hagen wife 1. Sophie (Wwe, Widow) was owner of the shop when the Stiff Felt was sold.

 

[mayserwegener]

Super find, Steve. Looks in near NOS condition. Thanks for sharing the history and photos, too.

Steve, Thank you! The Sweatband is stained but other than that it's in very good condition especially the Wool Felt. I became interested when I saw the shop location so I made some inquiries and I ended up contacting one of the family members. The shop location moved post WWII and is still in business today (not owned by the family) but no longer selling hats.

 

[steur]

St. Veit (Sankt Veit), 58 cm, Wool Felt, possibly early 1930s. There isn't a company mark but the paper label has a Sheep with a St. Veit Banner. Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse is a small town in the South East corner of Austria and I couldn't find any Felt Hat production in the town. My guess is this is the source of the Wool used for the Felt. The Stiff Felt Hat was sold by a shop (Ludovikus Hagens Wwe) in a small town (Lustenau, Vorarlberg) in the upper North West corner of Austria. The Wool Felt has a nice finish and is in very good condition. The Stiff Felt has great looking Silver Gray Liner with a sharp looking Bow design.

Ludovikus Hagens Wwe (Wwe = Widow of)

Handwriting on the Sweatband which I will have to take a closer look at.

Sheep With St. Veit (Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse) Banner

Natural Light

Ludovikus Hagens Wwe (Lustenau, Vorarlberg) was located in the front of this house. Photo from 1908.

Ludwig "Ludovikus" Hagen passed away in 1929.

Ludwig "Ludovikus" Hagen wife 1. Sophie (Wwe, Widow) was owner of the shop when the Stiff Felt was sold.

Missed this posting in this thread, but nice find and wonderful backstory, Steve.

 

[steur]

Close to a month and no German or Austrian hats? Unthinkable. As luck would have it...
Mayser Modena Primus in lightbrown/beige colour. A later make of Mayser, probably seventies, and not their very best but an attractive every day quality hat. Size 56, with the raw edge brim at 7cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. Nice hand to the felt. The crown is noticeably softer than the brim. Weighs 124 grams.

 

[mayserwegener]

Missed this posting in this thread, but nice find and wonderful backstory, Steve.

Stefan, Thank you! I enjoy finding such backstories.

 

[mayserwegener]

Close to a month and no German or Austrian hats? Unthinkable. As luck would have it...
Mayser Modena Primus in lightbrown/beige colour. A later make of Mayser, probably seventies, and not their very best but an attractive every day quality hat. Size 56, with the raw edge brim at 7cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. Nice hand to the felt. The crown is noticeably softer than the brim. Weighs 124 grams.
View attachment 369849 View attachment 369850 View attachment 369851 View attachment 369852 View attachment 369853 View attachment 369854 View attachment 369855 View attachment 369856 View attachment 369857 View attachment 369858

Stefan, Yes it's been a while. I have a couple hats on the way. One is lost somewhere in Virginia. Nice to see this later Mayser "Modena Primus". I really like the color combination.

 

[steur]

Stefan, Yes it's been a while. I have a couple hats on the way. One is lost somewhere in Virginia. Nice to see this later Mayser "Modena Primus". I really like the color combination.

Thanks, Steve. I usually look for the more vintage ones, but on this one the colours appealing and the price was right.

 

[Wyldkarma]

A. Breiter Munich.

 

[mayserwegener]

A. Breiter Munich. View attachment 370045 View attachment 370046 View attachment 370047 View attachment 370048 View attachment 370049 View attachment 370050 View attachment 370051

Great looking Trachtenhut! Really like the felt and cord band! Breiter is still in business and very legendary.

 

[steur]

A. Breiter Munich. View attachment 370045 View attachment 370046 View attachment 370047 View attachment 370048 View attachment 370049 View attachment 370050 View attachment 370051

Nice! That's the real deal alright, Ken.

 

[steur]

Hückel velour in grey, made for Sools, Paris. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. This was a bit of a close call as the shipping company neglected to send me a notification of its arrival at the pick-up point. The seller did point out to me that it had been delivered there and indeed it was. This hat has been worn and loved and alas also got some unwanted attention from moths, as there is some light surface mothing on the brim and crown.
Perfectly wearable hat though and an added bonus it that it has a date on it: as far as I can make out (it's close to impossible to photograph) it says 29 sept 1936. Seems about right to me. It's a pre-war Hückel velour, that is already enough to tell you something about the felt.

Maybe this should technically be in the Czech thead, but I expect to see the Hückels here.