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OK...so what is your oldest hat?

Joshbru3

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,409
Location
Chicago, IL
That is a cool hat.

It really is! Ive seen it in person and that hat not only has a lot of character but its truly a real "soft hat." I was surprised how much stiffener that felt contained and even after all these years, still would hold a dry crease.
 

Iyor

One of the Regulars
Messages
200
Location
NYC
Borsalino Nutria that I bought from randooch I have it dated from 1921

$(KGrHqN,!iUE2L-ZNhY5BNsvj(VeTQ~~0_3.JPG
 

Joshbru3

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,409
Location
Chicago, IL
That is such a neat hat! That ribbon is so wide, it makes the crown look short. Which I'm sure its not. How wide is that ribbon? That's a great looking 4 row stitched brim edge as well. I think later on, Stetson had a edge treatment like that. I believe they called it their Wafer-Edge.
 

Iyor

One of the Regulars
Messages
200
Location
NYC
The ribbon is about 2 3/4" wide. I'm having the ribbon fixed by Gary White so that it stays straight against the hat.
 

Joshbru3

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,409
Location
Chicago, IL
The ribbon is about 2 3/4" wide. I'm having the ribbon fixed by Gary White so that it stays straight against the hat.

2 3/4, wow, thats a wide ribbon! I'm sure that Gary White will do an excellent job securing the ribbon. I would love to see a photo of the open crown profile of that hat.
 
Messages
15,077
Location
Buffalo, NY
Very nice boater... on the date, I think it's hard. Straw boaters in this style were popular into the fifties. There are a number of major brand examples on ebay now that share identifying elements from 1950's hats, but because they are boaters, are invariably advertised as 1920s-1930s.

Both companies go back a long way, but Lock & Co. uses the same logo today. I have a fifties Brooks Brothers fedora with a very similar sans serif "made in England" imprint and sweatband finish. The taped sweatband seam, interesting corrugated material behind the sweat and the size label are features that suggest this example might be older than that.

Not very helpful, I'm afraid!
 

Joshbru3

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,409
Location
Chicago, IL
Lefty, Thats one of my favorites from your collection. The finish is gorgeous, the pug looks great on the hat (even if its a replacement), and I love how flat the brim is. Is there a leather sweatband underneath the fabric, or is the sweatband completely fabric?
 
Messages
15,077
Location
Buffalo, NY
I have a number of hats from the 1930s and a Stetson derby that might drift back to the twenties. Looking at the liner imprint, I'm going out on a limb guessing that this boater might be earlier than 1920. Only reference I can find to the maker is an 1890 want ad from the San Francisco Morning Call.

eagle5.jpg


eagle3.jpg


eagle2.jpg


chronicle2.jpg
 

TCMfan25

Practically Family
Messages
589
Location
East Coast USA
Very nice boater... on the date, I think it's hard. Straw boaters in this style were popular into the fifties. There are a number of major brand examples on ebay now that share identifying elements from 1950's hats, but because they are boaters, are invariably advertised as 1920s-1930s.

Both companies go back a long way, but Lock & Co. uses the same logo today. I have a fifties Brooks Brothers fedora with a very similar sans serif "made in England" imprint and sweatband finish. The taped sweatband seam, interesting corrugated material behind the sweat and the size label are features that suggest this example might be older than that.

Not very helpful, I'm afraid!

NO very helpful indeed! Hopefully between '25 and '55... still my oldest :)
 

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