Sad Sight: A Sagging Homburg

[Edward]

Indeed, the homburg did begin as a relatively casual hat. But, of course, it's a platitude that every generation's idea of 'formal' tends to the last generation's casual: there is much overlap betwix 'old fashion' and 'formal'. Of course, one interesting tid-bit about the homburg is that it's by far the most popular hat to see on the heads of the stodgiest world leaders from the Great War through the 'Forties and 'Fifties. Look at Asquith, Lloyd George, Chamberlain, Churchill, &c. in Britain, and Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, &c. in America. All stiff homburgs.

...while in the Irish Republic - for much of that period still "officially" the Irish Free State - Eamon de Valera, Taioseach and multiple times President thereafter, was spotted in a few Hombergs - or, at least, what might be Fedoras given a very homberg-like bash. This is quite a typical photo:

Mick Collins is probably the best known Irish political figure associate with wear a homberg (seen on him in very many of the photos that exist, at least prior to early 1922 when he became General Collins and spent the majority of his public appearances in the uniform of the Free State Army), though as the Big Man was murdered in mid-1922, these were probably considered to be rather fashionable as opposed to the 'fusty old man' image projected by those who wore them later - Churchill, deV, et al.

 

[mayserwegener]

That one doesn't appear to have the typical Homburg curl but it could be the photo. It has a Fedora crease as do Homburgs with side dents optional.

This is Edward VII wearing a Homburg (Möckel?) in Bad Homburg. Soft felt, only in gray, extreme brim curl, no binding, high tapered crown, center crease with no side dents. This is not the Homburg you see later.

This I believe is an original Möckel Homburg (from Bad Homburg city museum) and similar to what Edward is wearing. It appears to be bowless (same with the one Edward is wearing)?

 

[Nick D]

Did homburgs ever have back bows?

 

[rlk]

That one doesn't appear to have the typical Homburg curl but it could be the photo. It has a Fedora crease as do Homburgs with side dents optional.

This I believe is an original Möckel Homburg (from Bad Homburg city museum) and similar to what Edward is wearing. It appears to be bowless (same with the one Edward is wearing)?

[

Perhaps a back-bow?

 

[Dinerman]

I've seen a few, so they did exist, but they're not very common.

 

[mayserwegener]

Perhaps a back-bow?

I have no idea in this case. The photo could have been taken from the back. I will try contacting the Bad Homburg City Museum.

 

[EggHead]

"I have a sagging homburg" - hmm, there is something about that statement that doesn't feel right. I was thinking maybe viagrafix?

 

[Edward]

That one doesn't appear to have the typical Homburg curl but it could be the photo. It has a Fedora crease as do Homburgs with side dents optional.

You could be right - going through photos I have and can find online of deV, in some it definitely is a 'berg, in others it might well be a fedora without side dents.... I only have seen one photo of him wearing a fedora with the sort of (stereo)typical bash we associate with those. Maybe when came the time for a new hat he simply opted for what was available, and shaped it in a way that was familiar to him.... [huh]

 

[Nick D]

I've seen a few, so they did exist, but they're not very common.

It's good to be king!

It must be a backbow or the photo has been flipped. They had to do something with the end of the ribbon.

 

[Brad Bowers]

This is Edward VII wearing a Homburg (Möckel?) in Bad Homburg. Soft felt, only in gray, extreme brim curl, no binding, high tapered crown, center crease with no side dents. This is not the Homburg you see later.

I try not to be contrarian, but I swear I see a line demarcating the edge of binding on the upward sweep of the brim. Am I seeing things?

Brad

 

[rlk]

I try not to be contrarian, but I swear I see a line demarcating the edge of binding on the upward sweep of the brim. Am I seeing things?

Brad

Better view from Bad Homburg Museum. Looks like a missing back-bow to me.

 

[Nick D]

I think Brad was refering to what looks like a brim binding on Edward VII's hat. It looks like a binding to me, but this one makes me wonder. Is this actually the king's hat?

 

[mayserwegener]

Brad, You could be correct regarding the binding.

Robert, I sent a e-mail to the Bad Homburg musuem so hopefully I will get a reply back.

Yorkshire, I said this could be a original Möckel Homburg. It looks similar to the hat Edward is wearing (binding or no binding). Hopefully I will get some info back from the museum.

 

[Aureliano]

My 2 homburgs:

Worth & Worth:

1950's Borsalino