The Bowler or Derby Hat

[Blare]

House rules are strict on adding new black derbies... has to be clean, has to fit and it has to have a third thing of some sort. Finding a good candidate at the flea market usually qualifies if the price is fair. Here is an early depression era Select Quality (LOT66XX) sold at Buffalo's storied The Kleinhans - a hat that never left town. Comfort Fit sweatband angles away from the hat body at its turned edge and gives a little suspension spring - it is very comfortable to wear. Wind cord button is present and sewn to the hat. The ends of the cord remain but the cord itself was cut at some point.

No house rules broken on this one. Wonderful hat Alan

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Cloning the HOW Western Derby.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

New arrival: The Beautiful Gardener comes from France - including the original box.
Bowler/Derby resp. Chapeau melon - certainly sourced from a larger hat factory
- unfortunately no manufacturer's label - but sold by La Belle Jardinière in Bordeaux.
These were a large French clothing department stores' chain from Paris
with many branches in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nancy etc.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/À_la_Belle_Jardinière

The age? My guess is (late) 1930s.
In any case, the felt and the workmanship are really beautiful.

 

[Blare]

New arrival: The Beautiful Gardener comes from France - including the original box.
Bowler/Derby resp. Chapeau melon - certainly sourced from a larger hat factory
- unfortunately no manufacturer's label - but sold by La Belle Jardinière in Bordeaux.
These were a large French clothing department stores' chain from Paris
with many branches in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nancy etc.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/À_la_Belle_Jardinière

The age? My guess is (late) 1930s.
In any case, the felt and the workmanship are really beautiful.

Quite nice

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice, you are getting my HAS all stirred up!

New arrival: The Beautiful Gardener comes from France - including the original box.
Bowler/Derby resp. Chapeau melon - certainly sourced from a larger hat factory
- unfortunately no manufacturer's label - but sold by La Belle Jardinière in Bordeaux.
These were a large French clothing department stores' chain from Paris
with many branches in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nancy etc.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/À_la_Belle_Jardinière

The age? My guess is (late) 1930s.
In any case, the felt and the workmanship are really beautiful.

 

[Steve1857]

Superb find, Matt. Love the label on the box.

New arrival: The Beautiful Gardener comes from France - including the original box.
Bowler/Derby resp. Chapeau melon - certainly sourced from a larger hat factory
- unfortunately no manufacturer's label - but sold by La Belle Jardinière in Bordeaux.
These were a large French clothing department stores' chain from Paris
with many branches in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nancy etc.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/À_la_Belle_Jardinière

The age? My guess is (late) 1930s.
In any case, the felt and the workmanship are really beautiful.

 

[steur]

New arrival: The Beautiful Gardener comes from France - including the original box.
Bowler/Derby resp. Chapeau melon - certainly sourced from a larger hat factory
- unfortunately no manufacturer's label - but sold by La Belle Jardinière in Bordeaux.
These were a large French clothing department stores' chain from Paris
with many branches in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nancy etc.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/À_la_Belle_Jardinière

The age? My guess is (late) 1930s.
In any case, the felt and the workmanship are really beautiful.

Beautiful hat. Nice to find them in such a good condition, and with the box as well.

 

[steur]

Bought this on on commission so to speak. I knew it wasn't my size. Sometimes you get lucky with hats like that, but not this time, so it will go to a trusted collection.
Stetson Standard Quality bowler. Brim at 5,3cm and crown at about 13cm (eyeballing it a bit here). Lovely hand to the felt and finishing is top notch. Only thing is some foxing on the liner. From what I gather early to mid-thirties. Imported by Sools of Paris.

 

[Steve1857]

It just looks better and better, Stefan. The new, lucky custodian is certainly most grateful for your kind efforts

Bought this on on commission so to speak. I knew it wasn't my size. Sometimes you get lucky with hats like that, but not this time, so it will go to a trusted collection.
Stetson Standard Quality bowler. Brim at 5,3cm and crown at about 13cm (eyeballing it a bit here). Lovely hand to the felt and finishing is top notch. Only thing is some foxing on the liner. From what I gather early to mid-thirties. Imported by Sools of Paris.

View attachment 339780 View attachment 339781 View attachment 339782 View attachment 339783 View attachment 339784 View attachment 339785 View attachment 339786 View attachment 339787 View attachment 339788 View attachment 339789

 

[Rmccamey]

Looks perfect but for the liner and that is a nit, at best. An import to Paris turns it into a real conversation piece. Great find, Stefan.

Bought this on on commission so to speak. I knew it wasn't my size. Sometimes you get lucky with hats like that, but not this time, so it will go to a trusted collection.
Stetson Standard Quality bowler. Brim at 5,3cm and crown at about 13cm (eyeballing it a bit here). Lovely hand to the felt and finishing is top notch. Only thing is some foxing on the liner. From what I gather early to mid-thirties. Imported by Sools of Paris.

View attachment 339780 View attachment 339781 View attachment 339782 View attachment 339783 View attachment 339784 View attachment 339785 View attachment 339786 View attachment 339787 View attachment 339788 View attachment 339789

 

[steur]

Looks perfect but for the liner and that is a nit, at best. An import to Paris turns it into a real conversation piece. Great find, Stefan.

It just looks better and better, Stefan. The new, lucky custodian is certainly most grateful for your kind efforts

Thanks, gentlemen. Very gratifying to find hats like these.

 

[mayserwegener]

Bought this on on commission so to speak. I knew it wasn't my size. Sometimes you get lucky with hats like that, but not this time, so it will go to a trusted collection.
Stetson Standard Quality bowler. Brim at 5,3cm and crown at about 13cm (eyeballing it a bit here). Lovely hand to the felt and finishing is top notch. Only thing is some foxing on the liner. From what I gather early to mid-thirties. Imported by Sools of Paris.

View attachment 339780 View attachment 339781 View attachment 339782 View attachment 339783 View attachment 339784 View attachment 339785 View attachment 339786 View attachment 339787 View attachment 339788 View attachment 339789

Stefan, Fantastic Stiff Felt! Also a pre WWII French Market Stetson. Congrats!

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Beautiful J. A. Seidl Melone/bowler made of wool felt without size tag
- I estimate it to be from the 30s, but I have little experience.
The condition is very good except for a few minor quirks!
However, it has little to contribute to the discussion about labels
and manufacture that Steve hasn't already said.
As a wool felt, it comes from a different source than the fur felts
and the only label it has is one of the simple paper labels known
from many pre-war hats with a number on it.
Same linner-logo as in my other J. A. Seidl (fur felt) bowler.

 

[Blare]

Beautiful J. A. Seidl Melone/bowler made of wool felt without size tag
- I estimate it to be from the 30s, but I have little experience.
The condition is very good except for a few minor quirks!
However, it has little to contribute to the discussion about labels
and manufacture that Steve hasn't already said.
As a wool felt, it comes from a different source than the fur felts
and the only label it has is one of the simple paper labels known
from many pre-war hats with a number on it.
Same linner-logo as in my other J. A. Seidl (fur felt) bowler.

A real nice looking bowler.

 

[Rmccamey]

Looks mighty nice whatever material it is.

Beautiful J. A. Seidl Melone/bowler made of wool felt without size tag
- I estimate it to be from the 30s, but I have little experience.
The condition is very good except for a few minor quirks!
However, it has little to contribute to the discussion about labels
and manufacture that Steve hasn't already said.
As a wool felt, it comes from a different source than the fur felts
and the only label it has is one of the simple paper labels known
from many pre-war hats with a number on it.
Same linner-logo as in my other J. A. Seidl (fur felt) bowler.

 

[JJ Katz]

The bowler worn here is alight weight model with a series of pinholes at the top of eh crown (for ventilation, I assume).
A vintage find

 

[Steve1857]

Nice looking Bowler JJ. Cool matching outfit, too.
Yes, the"pinholes" are ventilation holes. Can you take and post more photos of the hat inside and out, plus any labels under the sweatband?

The bowler worn here is alight weight model with a series of pinholes at the top of eh crown (for ventilation, I assume).
A vintage find

View attachment 343577

 

[steur]

The bowler worn here is alight weight model with a series of pinholes at the top of eh crown (for ventilation, I assume).
A vintage find

View attachment 343577

Very nice. Like Steve said: more!

 

[JJ Katz]

Will do.

 

[Rmccamey]

Smashing, sir!

The bowler worn here is alight weight model with a series of pinholes at the top of eh crown (for ventilation, I assume).
A vintage find

View attachment 343577