The Bowler or Derby Hat

[Ken O]

Hello All,
I originally posted the below post in the "1890's-1900's early hat manufacture HAWES (Hawes Von Gal) HAT CO" thread and was asked to repost it hear. I have always loved hats and I love to save older items in general when I find them, I do have a few other hats and never thought much about the history behind them. This is my first derby and researching the history has struck a cord to find out more.


"I found you all after researching information about a Hawes Von Gal Derby I found at a thrift shop. Someone on this thread did a ton of research and I thank you. After reviewing the data on this thread and on the web I realized the derby could be around 100yrs old, which I found hard to believe. I was wondering if anyone here could help me confirm an approximate age on the hat. Here are the details I have and I will also provide some pics. Thank you in advance for any additional info that can be provided.

The hat is a Black or Grey, 6 7/8, Vented Derby, manufactured by Hawes, von Gal incorporated Danbury, Conn.
The Hat Band has two imprints - "Fine Quality von Gal made Hat" and "Hawes, von Gal inc. New York, Boston, Chicago".
It has a Hawes, von Gal style number tag but I cant make out the number, it could be 1828, 7828 or something else.
It also has a combination Hawes von Gal trade mark tag and a (misspelled) store tag from Wm. Argersinge(r), Johnston, N.Y.".
There is another "To duplicate mention" tag with the number 6870 and a tag with the numbers "(5 ' 4x2 ' 4)"
There is what I think is a union hatters tag as well.

Does anyone have additional info or an idea of the age? Condition seems great if the hat is almost a century or older."

 

[Blare]

Hello All,
I originally posted the below post in the "1890's-1900's early hat manufacture HAWES (Hawes Von Gal) HAT CO" thread and was asked to repost it hear. I have always loved hats and I love to save older items in general when I find them, I do have a few other hats and never thought much about the history behind them. This is my first derby and researching the history has struck a cord to find out more.


"I found you all after researching information about a Hawes Von Gal Derby I found at a thrift shop. Someone on this thread did a ton of research and I thank you. After reviewing the data on this thread and on the web I realized the derby could be around 100yrs old, which I found hard to believe. I was wondering if anyone here could help me confirm an approximate age on the hat. Here are the details I have and I will also provide some pics. Thank you in advance for any additional info that can be provided.

The hat is a Black or Grey, 6 7/8, Vented Derby, manufactured by Hawes, von Gal incorporated Danbury, Conn.
The Hat Band has two imprints - "Fine Quality von Gal made Hat" and "Hawes, von Gal inc. New York, Boston, Chicago".
It has a Hawes, von Gal style number tag but I cant make out the number, it could be 1828, 7828 or something else.
It also has a combination Hawes von Gal trade mark tag and a (misspelled) store tag from Wm. Argersinge(r), Johnston, N.Y.".
There is another "To duplicate mention" tag with the number 6870 and a tag with the numbers "(5 ' 4x2 ' 4)"
There is what I think is a union hatters tag as well.

Does anyone have additional info or an idea of the age? Condition seems great if the hat is almost a century or older."

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Welcome! Very cool find.

 

[steur]

Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

 

[mayserwegener]

Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

Stefan, Super! It's an old one. Great liner. Color +,design.

 

[Steve1857]

Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

Lovely shape to it, Stefan. The art nouveau liner steals the show, though. I'd have bought it just for that.

 

[steur]

Stefan, Super! It's an old one. Great liner. Color +,design.

Thanks you, Steve. Hard to resist when they look that good.

Lovely shape to it, Stefan. The art nouveau liner steals the show, though. I'd have bought it just for that.

You and me both! Thanks, Steve.

 

[Blare]

Meteor bowler. Size 56 with the bound brim at 5cm and the crown at 12cm. Fairly low bowler and a woolfelt one (it is a dustmagnet). I bought it for the rather lovely liner it has. What can you do?
It is an old one and it does show its age here and there. French or Belgian in origin. Meteor isn't actually the brand, but the quality.

Very cool liner

 

[JJ Katz]

A recent outing of my one and only bowler and vintage hat

Some close-ups, as people have asked before...

 

[BobHufford]

A recent outing of my one and only bowler and vintage hat

Great look JJ!

Gotta love a hat that appreciates the wearer.

 

[Steve1857]

A recent outing of my one and only bowler and vintage hat

View attachment 394208

Nice looking Bowler JJ. Like the labels and embossed sweatband, too. Any marks under it?

Super ensemble BTW.


Some close-ups, as people have asked before...
View attachment 394209

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View attachment 394211

 

[JJ Katz]

Thanks!

All there's under the band is a number (5143), perhaps a serial. There is an embossed moniker, too (visible on the band) that says "The Buoyant", perhaps the model of the hat>.

The hat has small holes at the top of the crown for ventilation I guess, in the days when gents wore derbies even when it was hot.

 

[Steve1857]

Thanks!

All there's under the band is a number (5143), perhaps a serial. There is an embossed moniker, too (visible on the band) that says "The Buoyant", perhaps the model of the hat>.

The hat has small holes at the top of the crown for ventilation I guess, in the days when gents wore derbies even when it was hot.

Ja, ventilation holes. Not unusual, but I often wonder how effective they were.

I've not heard of the maker before, but found a poster for Falcon Headwear via Google.

Along with Manchester, Luton was one of the main hatmaking areas in England back in the day. Perhaps Falcon, like the store the Bowler was sold in, were from there.

 

[Ken O]

Nice Bowler! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Blare]

A recent outing of my one and only bowler and vintage hat

View attachment 394208


Some close-ups, as people have asked before...
View attachment 394209

View attachment 394210

View attachment 394211

Very sharp!

 

[Just Daniel]

Great hat!

I think that is a United Hatters of North America tag? That gives you some decades to work with. I always forget the dates on that tag.

Here it is…1896 to 1934. That gets you closer…

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/look-for-the-union-label.59329/


The unsewn seam at the back of the sweat band generally means 1920s or before.

Hello All,
I originally posted the below post in the "1890's-1900's early hat manufacture HAWES (Hawes Von Gal) HAT CO" thread and was asked to repost it hear. I have always loved hats and I love to save older items in general when I find them, I do have a few other hats and never thought much about the history behind them. This is my first derby and researching the history has struck a cord to find out more.


"I found you all after researching information about a Hawes Von Gal Derby I found at a thrift shop. Someone on this thread did a ton of research and I thank you. After reviewing the data on this thread and on the web I realized the derby could be around 100yrs old, which I found hard to believe. I was wondering if anyone here could help me confirm an approximate age on the hat. Here are the details I have and I will also provide some pics. Thank you in advance for any additional info that can be provided.

The hat is a Black or Grey, 6 7/8, Vented Derby, manufactured by Hawes, von Gal incorporated Danbury, Conn.
The Hat Band has two imprints - "Fine Quality von Gal made Hat" and "Hawes, von Gal inc. New York, Boston, Chicago".
It has a Hawes, von Gal style number tag but I cant make out the number, it could be 1828, 7828 or something else.
It also has a combination Hawes von Gal trade mark tag and a (misspelled) store tag from Wm. Argersinge(r), Johnston, N.Y.".
There is another "To duplicate mention" tag with the number 6870 and a tag with the numbers "(5 ' 4x2 ' 4)"
There is what I think is a union hatters tag as well.

Does anyone have additional info or an idea of the age? Condition seems great if the hat is almost a century or older."

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[Rmccamey]

Perhaps not the last, but certainly one of the last old dye black cherry felts courtesy of Northwest Hats. I figured, if this was the last of its kind, why not do something special. Mike is a master bowler maker, so why not let him do what he does best! I hope the color comes through in some of these pictures. The silver/grey ribbon and binding really make the rich red stand out.

 

[Ken O]

A beautiful hat!

 

[Rmccamey]

Thanks, Ken.

A beautiful hat!

 

[BobHufford]

Perhaps not the last, but certainly one of the last old dye black cherry felts courtesy of Northwest Hats. I figured, if this was the last of its kind, why not do something special.

Fantastic Randy! Way to go Mike!

 

[steur]

Perhaps not the last, but certainly one of the last old dye black cherry felts courtesy of Northwest Hats. I figured, if this was the last of its kind, why not do something special. Mike is a master bowler maker, so why not let him do what he does best! I hope the color comes through in some of these pictures. The silver/grey ribbon and binding really make the rich red stand out.

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Beautiful hat, Randy. Mike sure does know how to get them right.