Hopkins Baltimore

[Alex]

Just acquired a vintage Hopkins Milan Straw. Already posted this in the New Hats thread, but I was hoping to get some info on this company. I haven't been able to find much about them. Sorry if it's been covered already, but I haven't be able to come up with any results.

Found a pretty interesting article, which is where I got part of my signature from

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/20...0508_1_straw-hat-day-paca-lombard-hat-s-crown

 

[hutch]

I am not familiar with this and I haven't done any research on it but man, I like the looks of this straw. May I ask where you acquired it?

 

[fluteplayer07]

Jazzy 'pug. I like it.

50's or 60's perhaps? My dating skills don't extend to this company.

 

[Alex]

I got it from a woman that was probably in her 40s. She said it belonged to her grandfather. He had a small collection of hats. I picked only this one. It definitely stood out to me.

 

[michael78]

My new Hopkins arrived this morning, and what a belter!!!!... as a newbie, don't no a lot about them, so can any of you connoisseurs enlighten me?
The felt is like velvet, really smooth and very pliable.
What date is It?. Enough talking here some Pics.

 

[RJR]

My new Hopkins arrived this morning, and what a belter!!!!... as a newbie, don't no a lot about them, so can any of you connoisseurs enlighten me?
The felt is like velvet, really smooth and very pliable.
What date is It?. Enough talking here some Pics.

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Good looking.

 

[hatsRme]

Welcome aboard, @michael78! Great lid, sir! Your homework assignment is to pensively peruse the pages here about dating hats by the Union Label, which seems to be the best indication available from what you've provided. My guess is the late 1950s, but you should be able to be more precise with what you'll find in the various Union Label threads, listed here.

Nice find, and enjoy the search!

 

[michael78]

Thank you Sir!!... will do.

Mike

 

[Redfokker]

Welcome Michael, and what a wonderful hat to debut with. Nice rich brown, great lines and looks to be in great shape. As I tell everyone who is new to the fold, read, read, read. There are thousands of posts that will only reinforce your new addiction.

 

[michael78]

Thanks Red, Yes! its immaculate, the brim is 2 3/4" and crown at pinch 4 1/2". the Liner cover is not the usual plastic, but seems like oily paper-ish, if thats a word.

 

[Redfokker]

That liner tip is also a clue to the hat's age. Search "oil skin"

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks Red, Yes! its immaculate, the brim is 2 3/4" and crown at pinch 4 1/2". the Liner cover is not the usual plastic, but seems like oily paper-ish, if thats a word.

The not plastic tip likely moves it back to at least early '50s.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[michael78]

Thanks Fruno!... gonna do a bit more digging......some times i wish i was over there, a lot easier to find great hats!

 

[michael78]

Hi Guys, having done a little research i believe the hat dates from the mid to late forties, and was custom made for H. Tooey Mercantile Company based in Brookfield, Mo. I found a scrap of info listing them in 1941, but nothing else.

Here's some better Pics

Mike

 

[Frunobulax]

There is still a Tooey's listed in Brookfield, MO. Likely a shadow or remnant of the store that sold your hat, but still listed in the business listings as H. Tooey's Mercantile.

Perhaps they could give you an idea of the history of the former store.

https://www.facebook.com/Tooeys-184956804878996/?ref=page_internal

 

[RJR]

There is still a Tooey's listed in Brookfield, MO. Likely a shadow or remnant of the store that sold your hat, but still listed in the business listings as H. Tooey's Mercantile.

Perhaps they could give you an idea of the history of the former store.

https://www.facebook.com/Tooeys-184956804878996/?ref=page_internal

Interesting,the FB pics look like an old general store.

 

[Frunobulax]

Interesting,the FB pics look like an old general store.

Agreed. At first, I thought it my be consignment or second-hand, but they're also listed as a Red Wing shoe retailer on Red Wing's site.

Perhaps I'll give them a call after lunch...

 

[michael78]

Thats interesting, Fruno, i'll have a look.
Cheers!

 

[Frunobulax]

Thats interesting, Fruno, i'll have a look.
Cheers!

I just gave them a call. The information I have will not help us nail down the hat's age, though. Tooey's today, while not in the original location, is still in business and is currently being operated by a descendant of the original owner. I did not ask the lady's name. The only information she could provide was that, if it had the H. Tooey Mercantile Company name, it was after 1902.

I think a better way to date it is from the Union label and the re-order tag. I can't remember which is which, but I think there is a demarcation date on whether the Union lablel's "bug" is slanted or not. That's the little imprint above the red "50" on the label. I think the non-slanted ones are older. The re-order tag also seems to have more in common with 40s tags than later ones.

See the Professor's website here.

 

[michael78]

I've seen the article regarding the union labels, the label on hat has the "bug" straight, (ie its not slanted). Does that give us a date of Forties?