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The Bowler or Derby Hat

Lokar

A-List Customer
Messages
383
Location
Nowhere
My mother in law was at a car boot sale today and found a brown bowler. She phoned me and asked if she should buy it and I said yes.

Unfortunately it's not my size, wool felt (I think) and has a short crown. Despite the wool felt it is super stiff - more than my vintage fur bowler. I think I will eBay it - I'll post a classified thread when I do.

It's not vintage, but it's MUCH higher quality than modern Christys' hats. The sweatband is thin proper leather, not the reconstituted thick stuff in the modern hats, and the ribbon is properly stitched in, invisibly.

Brim measured from the underside is 2 inches at the front and back, 1.8 inches at the sides. Crown is 4.5 inches tall, ribbon is 1 inch. Measured as 57.8cm inside the hat, so the size of 58 seems accurate.

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Cordite Blues

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
Rochester, MI USA
if it wasn't for bad luck....

Lokar said:
My mother in law was at a car boot sale today and found a brown bowler. She phoned me and asked if she should buy it and I said yes.

Why can't my mother-in-law call me and say she's stumbled upon a vintage bowler, size 7 3/4, and would I like her to buy it? You, sir, married well, in spite of any evidence you might offer to the contrary. :D Please give 'mom' my regards.

Cordite Blues.
 

Lokar

A-List Customer
Messages
383
Location
Nowhere
Funnily enough, my truly vintage bowler (and first real felt hat) was a present from her. She seems to have a knack for bowlers...
 
Messages
17,521
Location
Maryland
Lembert ?

I am not sure about this Lembert ? (Augsburg, Germany). It has a very short crown and is softer than a typical old Bowler. I have to think it goes back to the 1920s maybe earlier. When I posted it on the eBay thread a while ago someone thought it might be a school boy hat but it measures 58cm and actually fits me. If anyone has any idea what it is please comment. I am also checking around but haven't heard anything back yet.

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Messages
17,521
Location
Maryland
P. & C. Habig Melone (Bowler), Holder & Case

P. & C. Habig Melone (Bowler). The paper label has a date stamp of 1932. The hat is in new condition and came with the original holder and case.

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Same shop as the hat so must be original. Notice the felt protector.

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Dreispitz

One Too Many
Messages
1,164
mayserwegener said:
P. & C. Habig Melone (Bowler). The paper label has a date stamp of 1932. The hat is in new condition and came with the original holder and case.

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Che bombetta!

Excellent overall ensemble! And certainly a 59, isn´t it!?
 
Messages
17,521
Location
Maryland
C. G. Wilke Melone (Bowler)

C. G. Wilke Melone (Bowler) probably late 1920s early 30s. They were a famous hat company out of Guben (near Berlin), Germany prior to WWII.

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Very unique logo design!

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A book I have on C. G. Wilke "Die Hutmacher".

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handlebar bart

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,623
Location
at work
mayserwegener said:
I am not sure about this Lembert ? (Augsburg, Germany). It has a very short crown and is softer than a typical old Bowler. I have to think it goes back to the 1920s maybe earlier. When I posted it on the eBay thread a while ago someone thought it might be a school boy hat but it measures 58cm and actually fits me. If anyone has any idea what it is please comment. I am also checking around but haven't heard anything back yet.

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I saw one just like this at a antique store today. It was not in very good shape. Bound edge was alittle raggedy and it had stains and what appeared to be spilled paint on portions of the hat body. Unlined and the intact sweat band had faint markings I couldn't make out. Definately a different look.
 
Messages
17,521
Location
Maryland
handlebar bart said:
I saw one just like this at a antique store today. It was not in very good shape. Bound edge was alittle raggedy and it had stains and what appeared to be spilled paint on portions of the hat body. Unlined and the intact sweat band had faint markings I couldn't make out. Definately a different look.

I did find out more about this style from a hatter friend in Augsburg, Germany.

"Ries is an area in the north of Augsburg. People there had typical hats, called 'Rieser Hut'. That's why Lembert obviously called the Bowler trimmed
hat 'Ries'. (the shape) "
 

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