blueAZNmonkey
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,446
- Location
- San Diego, CA
I bought this Julius Garfinckel & Co. department store branded homburg 3 to 4 years ago.
Until recently, it sat in its box. The reason: whomever creased it years back, put the crease in about 10 degrees off center. The diagonal tilt drove me nuts but I was too timid to mess with it to try to resolve the problem. I put sending it off to a professional for resolution onto my gonna list.
A few weeks ago, I pulled it out and decided to mess around with it myself. After steam and some being rough (but not too rough) with it, the problem is largely resolved, though the felt exhibits some recidivistic tendencies.
The impression that I get is that it dates from no later than the forties. I base that on liner, sweatband and general construction quality. Of course, I readily admit my fallibility, so if anyone has other ideas, please give me the guidance.
Garfinckel's was the cream of the crop as far as DC department stores went. The main store was located across from the Willard Hotel. For quite some time it owned Brooks Brothers and Lord & Taylor's. The company finally went bankrupt in the 1990s. I occasionally visited one of its satellite locations when I was a child.
Julius Garfinckel was, from all accounts that I have read, an exceptional man. Kind, service oriented, and philanthropic. Yet he largely remained outside of DC's political and social hubbub. He remained a bachelor until his 1936 (if memory serves me) death. His favorite pastime was riding his horse in Rock Creek park. And he used to go riding there with Calvin Coolidge.
The felt quality and general construction is stupendous. I'm dying to know the company that Garfinckel's contracted with for the production of its hats during that period. The selling price was $12.50.
Enough babbling... View attachment 66589 View attachment 66590 View attachment 66591 View attachment 66592 View attachment 66593 View attachment 66594
Be well. Have fun.
DROOOOOOOL