Post New Hats Here!

[Steve1857]

Stefan enabled the acquisition of this one, my second Knox Homburg. Colour wise, a slightly more lighter brown than the one I bought from Brent earlier this year, and a slightly more lighter/thinner felt too, hence the pinches.

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[Hagwood]

I’ve been visiting Mr. Elmore for quite a few years. At 91 he is still running his mens and boys wear in small town Houston, Missouri. He does a decent Levi’s business, but I swear the remainder of the stock is left over from the 1980s or older. I’ve bought a old-stock jacket or two, but the hats he still has in stock we’re moth eaten or too small (brands are Beaver and Bee). Today I figured neither one of us was getting any younger and I thought I should a least buy a hat with a store imprint just for posterity. The only one the moths missed (other than the denim cowboy hats) was this Beaver Brand and I think it will fit OK with a small stretch.

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Original store dust...

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Mr. Elmore was part of a gospel group since 1948 and they recently recorded their first album. I’ll have to make a trip back and buy a copy.

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Mr. Elmore is the second from the right. There have been 22 member changes over the years, but he is a founding member.

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I also bought a shirt.

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Very Cool !! I think I enjoy the history of the hat company or store as much as the hats themselves ! And any provenance on a particular hat is the icing on the cake.

Great job with that one !!

 

[Altiori]

Very nice. The open crown Stetsonian is a fine hat, I have two.

We do not know the felt compositions of the open crown RS hats, though. That info is not public, to my knowledge.

You are correct. I’ve seen speculation on line but nothing definitive. The guess of rabbit came from the JJ hatter. I asked and he indicated that the feel and hand was likely rabbit.

 

[Frunobulax]

I’ve been visiting Mr. Elmore for quite a few years. At 91 he is still running his mens and boys wear in small town Houston, Missouri. He does a decent Levi’s business, but I swear the remainder of the stock is left over from the 1980s or older. I’ve bought a old-stock jacket or two, but the hats he still has in stock we’re moth eaten or too small (brands are Beaver and Bee). Today I figured neither one of us was getting any younger and I thought I should a least buy a hat with a store imprint just for posterity. The only one the moths missed (other than the denim cowboy hats) was this Beaver Brand and I think it will fit OK with a small stretch.

View attachment 200643

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Original store dust...

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Mr. Elmore was part of a gospel group since 1948 and they recently recorded their first album. I’ll have to make a trip back and buy a copy.

View attachment 200649

View attachment 200650

Mr. Elmore is the second from the right. There have been 22 member changes over the years, but he is a founding member.

View attachment 200651

I also bought a shirt.

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Not a bad looking lid, Bob.

You are correct. I’ve seen speculation on line but nothing definitive. The guess of rabbit came from the JJ hatter. I asked and he indicated that the feel and hand was likely rabbit.

We used to have a member here - I think his name is Jeff - who worked at Del Monico and left to rep Hatco. Even he admitted he had no idea. Although I believe the consensus is Excellent Quality is all beaver.

 

[M Hatman]

Nice find! Bob, I'm going to have to visit you one of these days and go on a hat hunt[emoji1]

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How did your trip to Levines work out? I usually end up there a couple of time a year myself.......

 

[steur]

Just picked up this Courtney hat from Goodwill. I like having some of the lesser known brands, and after some research, there is a thread on them here, but not a lot of info. Appears to have been a brand made specifically for the Harry Levinson Hat Co in Indianapolis. There is speculation that they were made by Lee because of the DuPont Process. Quality is pretty good with heavy, dense, yet soft felt, and the stitching is very good. Definitely a subpar sweatband though. Only $8, so what the heck.

Some pretty interesting history on Harry Levinson too, they are the ones that dropped all of the Straw Hats over the city with little parachutes, to start the Straw Season starting in 1934. Anyone getting one could exchange it for one in their size. Apparently a successful advertising gimmick until the Indianapolis Police Dept shut it down in the 50’s.


https://www.indystar.com/story/news...hen-indianapolis-bombed-straw-hats/926608002/


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That's the nice thing about these unknown brands; you're able to get them cheap and sometimes you're in for a very pleasant surprise. Good get, Tim.

 

[steur]

The Trans-Atlantic hat exchange is alive and well thanks to our favorite Dutch enabler. The P.C. Habig, Staalmeester, and Mayser posted above recently made it across the pond. This post, however, isn't about some new hats for me. Instead, it's about this Anton Pichler:
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Sinterklaas (@steur) was kind enough to find this unique little hat for my son. Suffice to say, he was quite happy to receive a package in the mail with a hat for him.

I may not know s*** about hats, but fortunately it doesn't take a draftsman, design engineer, or retired photographer to recognize and appreciate kindness. Thank you, Stefan, for some holiday cheer. You are a true gentleman.

Very cool ! I bet your son loves that unique hat. Cool ribbon to go with the cool colors in the hat.

Very nice of you Stefan.

Congrats to your son for getting that way cool hat, Jonathan. Great Christmas present. Hats off too to Stefan. He truly is a great guy.

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Bravo again Stefan! The colors in that felt are amazing. Old fashioned... I hope your son loves it!

Best,
Joe.

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Don't thank me; as we say in Holland: dank u, Sinterklaasje! I myself would be like Scrooge McHat rolling around in my vault of hats

 

[steur]

Sombrero Cordobés.

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I can only approve!

 

[steur]

Stefan, This one is really fantastic. I have run across similar pressed finish like this but always very small sizes.

Thank you, Steve. It was a lucky find, for sure.

 

[steur]

How's the felt on that, Alan? I tried to find a vintage Cordobés that wasn't for tourists without luck. Yours is vintage, right? Were vintage made better than the modern ones?

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I think you've gone the right way, Max. I've handled a few but none of them came close to a decent quality vintage hat.

 

[steur]

Stefan enabled the acquisition of this one, my second Knox Homburg. Colour wise, a slightly more lighter brown than the one I bought from Brent earlier this year, and a slightly more lighter/thinner felt too, hence the pinches.

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Looks good on you, Steve. Being a size larger than my own and of substantial proportions I had a difficult time making it work for me (and it sat on my ear, which I hate).

 

[dkstott]

It's not exactly new, because I've modified the hat since I originally posted it. Bought it for $75 from my neighbor.

The original thin leather hatband just wasn't right for my personal taste.

Here's my converted Stetson Roadster with a 1 inch ribbon hat band.

I really like the look of this hat now.

Before & after photos

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[Héctor Fernández]

How did your trip to Levines work out? I usually end up there a couple of time a year myself.......

I had to change plans for this week, so I'm going next week. I'm only 30 minutes away[emoji106]

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[Blare]

It's not exactly new, because I've modified the hat since I originally posted it. Bought it for $75 from my neighbor.

The original thin leather hatband just wasn't right for my personal taste.

Here's my converted Stetson Roadster with a 1 inch ribbon hat band.

I really like the look of this hat now.

Before & after photos

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Very nice job

Best,
Joe


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[drmaxtejeda]

Alcalde Luis Ramone, Wikipedia says.
Did you ever watch "Zorro the *** Blade" with George Hamilton? Hilarious movie, and o e of my faves. Another G. Hamilton movie I like is "Love at First Bite". If you haven't watched them, do. Chistosísimas. Te duele la panza de la risa.

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A Spanish rejoneador wearing a Sombrero Cordobés

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[Héctor Fernández]

A Spanish rejoneador wearing a Sombrero Cordobés

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The *** Blade is one of the funniest films ever[emoji1]

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[Steve1857]

Looks good on you, Steve. Being a size larger than my own and of substantial proportions I had a difficult time making it work for me (and it sat on my ear, which I hate).

Thanks, Stefan. Sorry this one was too big for you. Nah, not really [emoji6]

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[drmaxtejeda]

The *** Blade is one of the funniest films ever[emoji1]

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I am watching Love At First Bite now. The full movie is on Youtube! And it is even funnier than I remembered. Classic scenes!
The Romanian communists evict Count Dracula from his Transylvanian castle to turn it into a training center for Nadia Comaneci, so he is forced to emigrate to America. His coffin is sent to the wrong address in New York, and then...
Really, really funny movie. For free on Youtube

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[Héctor Fernández]

I swore to myself that I was going to get away from vintage hats to concentrate on some of the modern versions of the greats. Unfortunately for me, I was browsing Etsy and found a Grey Dobbs Rainbow at a great price.

I enjoy embroidered liners and this one is a very nice looking liner.

I'll post pictures when I get it.

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[Hagwood]

Well Steve, you talked me into a Bowler. I’m really excited about this one. I’ve also been looking for an older Pre-Stetson Mallory, so this kills two birds with one stone ! 1823 date on the Mallory logo, and the older Union label that puts it 1934 or earlier. Phenomenal condition after a little cleaning. The box evidently isn’t the right one for the hat but a very cool old Higbee box in like new condition. Looks like May and Higbee were both in the famous Euclid Ave Retail District in Cleveland.

https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/241