Let's see if we can improve even further the rest of the year, Steve. Thanks.Not a bad start to the new hat year at all, Stefan. Love that liner.
Let's see if we can improve even further the rest of the year, Steve. Thanks.Not a bad start to the new hat year at all, Stefan. Love that liner.
Tonak "Brillant" "бриллиант", 58 cm possibly mid 1950s. This fantastic Velour was found by Brent and kindly offered to me a few months ago. The condition of the light colored Velour is excellent along with the all the components. The Velour felt is very pliable and easily dry creases. The liner is really special along with the Russified Tonak mark. This hat was made for the Russian market. The Sweatband mark "бриллиант" is Russian for "Brillant".
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Here is a probably a slightly later Tonak "Brillant" made for the Czech market.
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https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/348-tonak-brillant/
Fabulous hat Steve. Perfect for your collectionTonak "Brillant" "бриллиант", 58 cm possibly mid 1950s. This fantastic Velour was found by Brent and kindly offered to me a few months ago. The condition of the light colored Velour is excellent along with the all the components. The Velour felt is very pliable and easily dry creases. The liner is really special along with the Russified Tonak mark. This hat was made for the Russian market. The Sweatband mark "бриллиант" is Russian for "Brillant".
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Open Crown
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Here is a probably a slightly later Tonak "Brillant" made for the Czech market.
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https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/348-tonak-brillant/
Joe, Thank you!Fabulous hat Steve. Perfect for your collection
Whoa, Steve. That is indeed a brilliant hat. What an amazing find. A beauty.Tonak "Brillant" "бриллиант", 58 cm possibly mid 1950s. This fantastic Velour was found by Brent and kindly offered to me a few months ago. The condition of the light colored Velour is excellent along with the all the components. The Velour felt is very pliable and easily dry creases. The liner is really special along with the Russified Tonak mark. This hat was made for the Russian market. The Sweatband mark "бриллиант" is Russian for "Brillant".
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Open Crown
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Here is a probably a slightly later Tonak "Brillant" made for the Czech market.
![]()
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https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/348-tonak-brillant/
Stefan, Thank you! Brent gets all the credit on the great find!Whoa, Steve. That is indeed a brilliant hat. What an amazing find. A beauty.
I always have a soft spot for these. Been planning on pulling mine out for some wear.
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather.
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks.
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
View attachment 395332
1920's Stetson Select "The Fray”
Midnight Navy Blue - Thin Light Weight Felt
5 1/4 Crown
Bright Orange Grosgrain Ribbon
2 1/2" Brim with whip stitched edge
Double row of brim stitching
My goal of late with new hats has been to only go for hats that are rare, old or unusual and unlike others in my collection… Or hats that really just “Speak to me”. This one managed to check just about all the boxes. In fact this one not only spoke to me on its own.. it also spoke to me via friends Anthony and @BobHufford. @Garrett was kind enough to work out a deal with me on this beautiful hat that I just knew had to be in my collection. But it wasn’t till the hat arrived that I realized there may have been a reason this hat was “speaking to me”. I mean as if I needed a reason other than the beautiful dark midnight blue felt that is so thin and easily shaped… it the realm of Vita-Felt. Or other than the wildly unusual bright Orange ribbon. Or the I have not come across a 1920s Stetson Select The Fray… if not for any of those reason… as I looked at it today.. I realized looking at the sweatband that the the store where this hat was originally sold matched my own sir name. (Unless I am miss reading the script… but certainly close enough). Oh yes… this hat has come home where it belongs. Thank you again to Garrett for being a rock star! And to Bob and Anthony for somehow knowing where this hat needed to be.
View attachment 395338 View attachment 395337 View attachment 395339 View attachment 395334 View attachment 395335 View attachment 395336 View attachment 395333 View attachment 395340 View attachment 395341
By the by…. I can’t help but think of the gentleman who walked into McCarthy The Hatter in Lafayette, Indiana in the 1920s and saw this gorgeous midnight blue hat with its bright Orange ribbon nestled among a sea of grey and black hats… and said “That one… that one right there! That’s the hat for me!”
Most excellent!!View attachment 395332
1920's Stetson Select "The Fray”
Midnight Navy Blue - Thin Light Weight Felt
5 1/4 Crown
Bright Orange Grosgrain Ribbon
2 1/2" Brim with whip stitched edge
Double row of brim stitching
My goal of late with new hats has been to only go for hats that are rare, old or unusual and unlike others in my collection… Or hats that really just “Speak to me”. This one managed to check just about all the boxes. In fact this one not only spoke to me on its own.. it also spoke to me via friends Anthony and @BobHufford. @Garrett was kind enough to work out a deal with me on this beautiful hat that I just knew had to be in my collection. But it wasn’t till the hat arrived that I realized there may have been a reason this hat was “speaking to me”. I mean as if I needed a reason other than the beautiful dark midnight blue felt that is so thin and easily shaped… it the realm of Vita-Felt. Or other than the wildly unusual bright Orange ribbon. Or the I have not come across a 1920s Stetson Select The Fray… if not for any of those reason… as I looked at it today.. I realized looking at the sweatband that the the store where this hat was originally sold matched my own sir name. (Unless I am miss reading the script… but certainly close enough). Oh yes… this hat has come home where it belongs. Thank you again to Garrett for being a rock star! And to Bob and Anthony for somehow knowing where this hat needed to be.
View attachment 395338 View attachment 395337 View attachment 395339 View attachment 395334 View attachment 395335 View attachment 395336 View attachment 395333 View attachment 395340 View attachment 395341
By the by…. I can’t help but think of the gentleman who walked into McCarthy The Hatter in Lafayette, Indiana in the 1920s and saw this gorgeous midnight blue hat with its bright Orange ribbon nestled among a sea of grey and black hats… and said “That one… that one right there! That’s the hat for me!”
Just wow! Not a colour combination I would have come up with, but it looks fantastic!View attachment 395332
1920's Stetson Select "The Fray”
Midnight Navy Blue - Thin Light Weight Felt
5 1/4 Crown
Bright Orange Grosgrain Ribbon
2 1/2" Brim with whip stitched edge
Double row of brim stitching
My goal of late with new hats has been to only go for hats that are rare, old or unusual and unlike others in my collection… Or hats that really just “Speak to me”. This one managed to check just about all the boxes. In fact this one not only spoke to me on its own.. it also spoke to me via friends Anthony and @BobHufford. @Garrett was kind enough to work out a deal with me on this beautiful hat that I just knew had to be in my collection. But it wasn’t till the hat arrived that I realized there may have been a reason this hat was “speaking to me”. I mean as if I needed a reason other than the beautiful dark midnight blue felt that is so thin and easily shaped… it the realm of Vita-Felt. Or other than the wildly unusual bright Orange ribbon. Or the I have not come across a 1920s Stetson Select The Fray… if not for any of those reason… as I looked at it today.. I realized looking at the sweatband that the the store where this hat was originally sold matched my own sir name. (Unless I am miss reading the script… but certainly close enough). Oh yes… this hat has come home where it belongs. Thank you again to Garrett for being a rock star! And to Bob and Anthony for somehow knowing where this hat needed to be.
View attachment 395338 View attachment 395337 View attachment 395339 View attachment 395334 View attachment 395335 View attachment 395336 View attachment 395333 View attachment 395340 View attachment 395341
By the by…. I can’t help but think of the gentleman who walked into McCarthy The Hatter in Lafayette, Indiana in the 1920s and saw this gorgeous midnight blue hat with its bright Orange ribbon nestled among a sea of grey and black hats… and said “That one… that one right there! That’s the hat for me!”
Thank you Steve… it certainly is a bright one.A truly wonderful looking hat, Joe. It would stand out in any collection. Congrats.