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DJH

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,355
Location
Ft Worth, TX
Lock & Co London

Some might have seen this hat on eBay recently; the seller claimed it was from the early 1900's and with the original box and receipt.

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Knowing the description was probably not accurate, I still bought it assuming that the eBay buyer protection would take care of me if I needed it. Being an English guy in the US, it was tempting to get a UK made hat.

Anyway, once the hat arrived it was clear that it wasn't as old as claimed. Lefty had suggested 1960's and I suspect he is correct. The buyer refunded me about half the amount I had paid so I have the hat at a reasonable price.

The condition is very nice and the hat fits comfortably. The crown is 5 1/2 inches when open and the brim 1 7/8 inches. The box is a Brooks Bro's one, maybe the original (the hat was sold there) maybe not. The receipt supplied is actually for a cleaning and re-blocking, not the original sale. The date on it is 5/11 - nothing to say the year, but it has certainly been around a while.

Anyway, enough rambling, here are a few pics:

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I don't have a decent shot of me wearing the hat yet, here is a crappo cellphone one from earlier today

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Messages
15,268
Location
Somewhere south of crazy
Dobbs Homburg
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Pumpkin ribbon. Great on top, dry-rot sweatband.

Cavanagh woven straw Boater
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Remarkable condition and excellent fit. No paper maker body label.

Knox Superfine pre-HCA Velour
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Almost like -new. Fairly shaggy velour, a little softer and nicer than the early C & K but not quite up to Austrian finish quality. Big hand filled-in factory paper label but a liner stitch runs through the middle.

Another great set. I like the Cinnamon hat with the pumpkin ribbon best.
Your Lock is very nice, DLH.
 

Rodkins

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Orlando
Here is a recent Tonak I purchased. This one is interesting. The crown height/taper is more contemporary. The felt weight feels like my stetson playboy and this hat didn't come with a liner (I'm not sure if it was supposed to have one or not)
My wife actually likes this one but it will take some getting used to if I'm going to wear it. I would guess this is one of their less expensive models, but I have to say I'm impressed with the felt. I am a little biased in that I've really been on a light felt kick lately.
Sorry about the cheezy pic in the T-shirt - I was shaping it last night after work and was lazy.
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Rodkins

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Orlando
I also received this old black Tonak. It was advertised as a 7 3/8 but it's more like a tight 7 1/4 - so it'll be up on the classifieds soon because I can wear it.
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Joshbru3

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,409
Location
Chicago, IL
Knox Superfine pre-HCA Velour
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Almost like -new. Fairly shaggy velour, a little softer and nicer than the early C & K but not quite up to Austrian finish quality. Big hand filled-in factory paper label but a liner stitch runs through the middle.

Beautiful hats all around, Robert. However, the Knox interests me the most. Would you say that this hat dates from the late 20's? (HCA startup 1932) What interests me the most, is about the Knox "Superfine" line. I know that this hat is pretty old, but Ive owned two knox "Superfine" hats from the 50's and the logo is fairly similar. My question is, was the Knox "Superfine" line a line that was dedicated to hats that looked different from ordinary hats at the time? For example, my first Knox Superfine was a chocolate brown felt with a bright orange ribbon and wide honey colored brim binding. That color combo and look was a bit "loud" by comparison to MOST hats made in the 50's. My second Knox Superfine is a dual colored felt. The brim is brown and the crown is grey with a purplish domino pattern ribbon. That hat was also a bit loud for the time. It seems that your Superfine, though it was an early example, seems a bit "different" from most hats made at the time. So do you think that the Superfine line was a line dedicated to "different" more "interesting" hats?
 
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