Hat Corporation of America Block Profile Numbers

[scottyrocks]

Josh what would really be good for this thread is having the actual blocks along side of pictures of the hat the block produces.

What would be even better would be to see these hats on a (the same) human head. That gives me a better idea of how these hats really look.

 

[scottyrocks]

Here you go, Josh. I don't think this one has been included in this thread, yet. 52-Block 5725, 5 5/8" OC...

I happen to have a 952 block in my size. It is what I use to reblock anything that I don't like the shape of.

 

[Mr.Astor]

What about the ladies! Blocks the same size just different profiles. Closed back cloche! High profile, brim edge treatment's. Women's hat's from the 1920's to 1940's will test a hatter's hand! Look at some of those hat's they are very artistic.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Purplesage, that Dobbs you just posted is from the early-1940s, quite a bit older! CAY are the owner's intials, though, not the model name.

Brad

 

[Purplesage]

Dobbs Able the Hatter Omaha NE Block 600 5 1/2

The tag on this Dobbs says "Crown and Depth - 600 5 1/2". It also has a block for "Flange and Width". So I guess the Block (Crown) is 600! I had this one refurbished by Optimo a while back. They put in a new sweatband and ribbon and brim trim. I had them leave the liner to keep it as original as possible. They did a very nice job but I think I like the original ribbon and brim colors to the ones they replaced them with. I'll have to post some before and after photos. What do you think the age of this one is? I was thinking late 30s or early 40s! I also think it would be helpful if a photo(s) of the hats which are associated with block and depth would be posted for comparison purposes. I don't think there photos that go along with all the block numbers you have compiled on the list.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Well, the liner is Dobbs, and is a '30s to early-'40s liner, but I don't know about the rest of the hat. Unless there is an HCA label under the sweatband somewhere, I'm suspicious. It's possible that it is a Dobbs that was renovated by Able the Hatter at some point in its life, receiving a new sweatband and such, and perhaps the original HCA label was lost in the cleaning bath. In any case, the block number is for the block Able the Hatter used, and not HCA.

Brad

 

[Purplesage]

That's interesting because there is a "Block 600, 5 1/2" on the list, which is the same at the Able tag! I'll have to check the hat again in case I missed anything. If there is it may be covered up from the redue.

 

[Purplesage]

Cavanagh Pre-50s Block 5364, depth 5 5/8

I still have this one for sale in the classifieds so I figured I would just go ahead and post to this thread. The hat is small 6 7/8. I know there a a couple of folks on this site who wear this size. It had a copper colored ribbon with characteristic Cavanagh bow with frayed trailing edge but it had a bad case of mildew so I removed it. Other than that the hat is in great shape for it's age. It was a $30.00 hat back in the 40s which was a pretty expensive hat back then. The dark spot on the left side of the crown is just a thread from where the sweatband use to be attached. If anyone is interested in the hat please let me know, it needs a new home.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?74626-Vintage-Olive-pre-50s-Cavanagh-Fedora&highlight=

 

[Brad Bowers]

It's 1950s, 1950-1953 or so. Sorry to keep bursting your bubble.

Brad

 

[Purplesage]

Educate me Brad. How can you tell me it's from 1950-1953. I get half credit. 1950 is as close as you get to pre-50s. In any case, what make this hat unique to 1950-1953? I discover something new here everyday.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Educate me Brad. How can you tell me it's from 1950-1953. I get half credit. 1950 is as close as you get to pre-50s. In any case, what make this hat unique to 1950-1953? I discover something new here everyday.

How about three-quarters credit?

This link, http://www.thehattedprofessor.com/datecavanagh.html provides a fairly comprehensive dating guide to Cavanagh hats. at least as comprehensive as I can make it for now. Even though the other HCA brands don't have dating guides, the information about the factory labels for the '40s, '50s, and '60s also holds true for the other HCA brands. The labels also are pretty rigidly defined to those decades, and there doesn't seem to be any overlap that I've found, and if there is, it's only by a year.

Hope this helps.

Brad

 

[Purplesage]

Dobbs VVL Twenty Block 551, depth 5 1/2

 

[Purplesage]

Brad, I skimmed over the link you provided. I'll look it at it more in depth when I'm not so tired. There's some very good information in there. I have a couple of more Cavanagh hats and some other HCA hats I'll post including a Cavanagh 100. I would like to find a block number that you don't have on the list. No luck so far.

 

[Purplesage]

Dobbs Gamebird Block 5330, Depth 5 3/4

 

[Joshbru3]

Thanks for all the additions, Purplesage!

 

[Joshbru3]

UPDATED LIST (Effective 12-17-2013, 10:12am Central time)

Profile - Depth
54 – 5 3/4
62 - 6
68 - 4 1/8
91 - 5 3/4
105 - 5 3/8
151 - 5 1/2
164 - 5 1/2
419 - 5
461 - 5 1/2
600 - 5 3/8
600 - 5 1/2
600 - 5 3/4
824 - 5 1/2
824 - 5 5/8
925 - 5
1020 - 5 1/4
4605 - 5 3/4
5025 - 5 1/2
5064 - 5 1/2
5064 - 5 5/8
5064 - 5 3/4
5067 - 5 3/8
5181 - 5 3/4
5193 - 5 5/8
5233 - 5 3/4
5233 - 6
5234 - 5 7/8
5251 - 6
5262 - 5 5/8
5288 - 5 3/8
5330 - 5 3/4
5330 - 5 7/8
5339 - 5 7/8
5361 - 5 1/2
5361 - 5 5/8
5364 - 5 5/8
5725 - 5 5/8

 

[Purplesage]

Cavanagh Block 5064

Brad when did Cavanagh drop Depth from the tag since it isn't on this one? 5064 is already on the list. The crown depth measures 5 3/4."

 

[Purplesage]

You're welcome Josh.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Brad when did Cavanagh drop Depth from the tag since it isn't on this one?

HCA dropped the block depth from their labels on all of their brands sometime about or after 1960.

 

[Purplesage]

Dobbs Fifteen Mexicali, Mex.

Brad I'm surprised because I thought this hat was from around the early 50's just after Cavanagh started putting "Cavanagh Edge" on the front of their sweatbands. The hat certainly has all of the features of an older hat and the quality is exceptional. So the fact that HCA dropped the block depth from their labels about or after 1960 is just another weapon in the arsenal to help date HCA brands.

This is a beautiful Dobbs that I sold a while back which I originally bought from a lady in Texas. I was really surprised it took so long to sell. I didn't really get the history of the hat but it was sold at J. J. Montono, Mexicali, Mex. It appears to have been made expressly for the Mexican market. The size is European (Latin American) 58. On the tag is says "714" above Block so I don't know if this is Block 714 or it means an American size 7 1/4! The sweatband also says, "Dobbs, Mara Registrada, Made in South Norwalk, Conn USA..." I'm sure if this hat could talk it would have a lot of stories to tell. The hat has a 2 3/4" brim with Guild Edge and a 5 3/4" open crown and oilskin liner cover. I would swear this is a 40s era Dobbs with the wide brim and high untapered crown in spite of the fact that there is no Depth listed on the tag. Please tell me I'm right. You didn't see too many people in the 60s walking around with style of hat.