Keith Brothers Hats & Caps

[Cigarband]

1903 graphic billhead for Keith Brothers & Co. manufacturers and jobbers of hats, caps, straw goods, gloves and mittens of Chicago Illinois. Left side has a graphic of a lurking Tiger and states that the company is the only seller of the Tiger Hat and sole proprietors of the Celebrated Champion Hat.



Keith Brothers & Co. – In 1854 Edson Keith settled in Chicago first obtaining employment in a dry goods stores. In 1856, he was a salesman and collector with the firm Benedict, Mallory & Farman, wholesale dealers in hats, caps and furs. In 1860, he started Keith & Faxon – in the hat and cap business. This firm was run by Edson Keith, OR Keith and AE Faxon and is subsequently became Keith, Faxon & Co. In 1865, Faxon retired and Elbridge Keith came into the firm of Keith Bros. In 1883, the firm again changed to Edson Keith & Co. However, Keith Bros & Co. still existed. Edson’s son Walter Woodruff Keith would become a grain trader in Chicago.

 

[Joshbru3]

1898 Keith Brothers #1

1898 Keith Brothers #2

1898 Keith Brothers #3

Note the "Champion" Logo. This is the only ad I have seen that actually has a picture of the Chamption logo made by the Keith Brothers.

 

[Joshbru3]

Late 1890s/Early 1900s Champion Derby (Made by Keith Brothers)

 

[mayserwegener]

Amazing / exciting find! The profile front and side profiles are fantastic!

 

[Iyor]

Great find!

Interesting to see that style 19 is called a fedora.

 

[Dinerman]

Back when "Fedora" meant a soft felt hat.

 

[mayserwegener]

What would today be called a Homburg. Fedoras and Homburgs were pretty much the same thing in that time period (you also see them called Alpine). Fedora is an American designation and Homburg American / UK.

 

[scottyrocks]

What a beautifully proportioned bowler!

 

[Dinerman]

 

[moehawk]

Adding my beat, battered and slightly moth-eaten "The Tiger Special" to the thread.

Not sure of the age, but there's an ad from 1915 in The American Hatter about that patent pending soil-proof leather process. I'll use that as a tentative date, not knowig yet when the patent was no longer pending.

 

[alanfgag]

Additional photos of the hat posted by Dinerman above:

 

[buler]

Keith Bros, history.

 

[hatophile]

Additional photos of the hat posted by Dinerman above:

What a beauty!

 

[buler]

Maybe your hats came from one of these boxes.....

 

[Brad Bowers]

In terms of advertising, the "Tiger Special" only comes up between 1905 and 1921. It doesn't necessarily seem to be a specific model in their Tiger hat line, as there is a Tiger Special Derby on the early side, and soft hats throughout the rest of the range. Perhaps "Special" is more of a quality designation from Keith Bros.

Brad
~The Hatted Professor

 

[moehawk]

Thanks, Professor! That helps narrow it down.

 

[dh66]

Just discovered this thread today, thanks to Moe and Alan.

Here's some pics of one I have. I'm guessing from the stingy brim it's probably from the 60s

It doesn't say brothers anywhere, but there is a KB in the logo above where it says Keith, so I'm presuming this is what it is.

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[Chepstow]

Nice Stingy, Dale! Also the ribbon looks fantastic!


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[dh66]

Nice Stingy, Dale! Also the ribbon looks fantastic!


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Thanks Manfred!

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[RJR]

Nice Stingy, Dale! Also the ribbon looks fantastic!


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+1,interesting ribbon.