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The School of Hard Knox

TheOldFashioned

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,179
Location
The Great Lakes
A Superfine black white whale:
image1.JPG
image2.JPG
image3.JPG
20220208_161537.jpg


6" Crown (open)
2-3/8" Brim
2-1/4" Ribbon
98g Weight


20220208_162039.jpg
1644367833370.jpg
1644367968322.jpg
1644368037045.jpg


This old medium hair Knox cleaned up quite nicely after a few brushing and some steam. It was caked pretty well in dust, but revealed a deep black underneath with a nice sheen, so maybe a melusine type finish. Moldable felt to die for that rivals my Stetson of a similar era.

I combed through the forum but couldn't find a label like this one. Found some similar, but not the same. See following post for more.
 
Messages
18,401
Location
Nederland
A Superfine black white whale:
View attachment 400928 View attachment 400929 View attachment 400930 View attachment 400931

6" Crown (open)
2-3/8" Brim
2-1/4" Ribbon
98g Weight


View attachment 400932 View attachment 400933 View attachment 400934 View attachment 400935

This old medium hair Knox cleaned up quite nicely after a few brushing and some steam. It was caked pretty well in dust, but revealed a deep black underneath with a nice sheen, so maybe a melusine type finish. Moldable felt to die for that rivals my Stetson of a similar era.

I combed through the forum but couldn't find a label like this one. Found some similar, but not the same. See following post for more.
Gorgeous hat and quite the find, Jonathan!
 

TheOldFashioned

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,179
Location
The Great Lakes
Some similar cell style labels:

From a post by Tonio:
IMG_4382.JPG


From this police helmet at the Springfield Museum:
IMG_4363.jpg


From my hat above:
20220208_162432.jpg


From this post by delectans:
IMG_4383.JPG


In 1903 Knox was split into two companies, the Knox Hat Manufacturing Company and the E.M. Knox Retail Hat Company. This lasted for approximately a decade before once again merging into the Knox Hat Company Inc.

I believe Tonio's hat/label is the oldest of the bunch. Note how closely the label from the police helmet is to the label in my hat. The helmet label includes "Manufacturing" whereas mine doesn't, but the layout is the same. As such I'm guessing my label evolved shortly after the merger of the two branches, thus possibly dating my hat to the mid-late teens or 1920s.

Obviously a sample size of one and based solely on this feature is not concrete proof. I only offer a hypothesis based on this information and other dating clues from the construction of the hat.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
A Superfine black white whale:
View attachment 400928 View attachment 400929 View attachment 400930 View attachment 400931

6" Crown (open)
2-3/8" Brim
2-1/4" Ribbon
98g Weight


View attachment 400932 View attachment 400933 View attachment 400934 View attachment 400935

This old medium hair Knox cleaned up quite nicely after a few brushing and some steam. It was caked pretty well in dust, but revealed a deep black underneath with a nice sheen, so maybe a melusine type finish. Moldable felt to die for that rivals my Stetson of a similar era.

I combed through the forum but couldn't find a label like this one. Found some similar, but not the same. See following post for more.
Wow! That’s a gorgeous hat!
 
Messages
11,663
A Superfine black white whale:
View attachment 400928 View attachment 400929 View attachment 400930 View attachment 400931

6" Crown (open)
2-3/8" Brim
2-1/4" Ribbon
98g Weight


View attachment 400932 View attachment 400933 View attachment 400934 View attachment 400935

This old medium hair Knox cleaned up quite nicely after a few brushing and some steam. It was caked pretty well in dust, but revealed a deep black underneath with a nice sheen, so maybe a melusine type finish. Moldable felt to die for that rivals my Stetson of a similar era.

I combed through the forum but couldn't find a label like this one. Found some similar, but not the same. See following post for more.
Wonderful hat
 
Messages
19,409
Location
Funkytown, USA
Some similar cell style labels:

From a post by Tonio:
View attachment 400937

From this police helmet at the Springfield Museum:
View attachment 400938

From my hat above:
View attachment 400941

From this post by delectans:
View attachment 400940

In 1903 Knox was split into two companies, the Knox Hat Manufacturing Company and the E.M. Knox Retail Hat Company. This lasted for approximately a decade before once again merging into the Knox Hat Company Inc.

I believe Tonio's hat/label is the oldest of the bunch. Note how closely the label from the police helmet is to the label in my hat. The helmet label includes "Manufacturing" whereas mine doesn't, but the layout is the same. As such I'm guessing my label evolved shortly after the merger of the two branches, thus possibly dating my hat to the mid-late teens or 1920s.

Obviously a sample size of one and based solely on this feature is not concrete proof. I only offer a hypothesis based on this information and other dating clues from the construction of the hat.

That's just a great hat by anybody's standards. I dig the finish.
 

Louis Mountbatten

A-List Customer
Messages
311
I have a Knox 100 in an original Knox hard case for sale. It is a size 7-1/4. I am in some financial trouble, otherwise I would never, ever, EVER sell this... so, anyone interested? We all know how rare this is, so you know I am not interested in letting it go cheap. Size 7-1/4.
 

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AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,829
I have a Knox 100 in an original Knox hard case for sale. It is a size 7-1/4. I am in some financial trouble, otherwise I would never, ever, EVER sell this... so, anyone interested? We all know how rare this is, so you know I am not interested in letting it go cheap. Size 7-1/4.
So how much is “not cheap”?
 

Louis Mountbatten

A-List Customer
Messages
311
So how much is “not cheap”?
I am wrestling with that. As it is, I paid close to a grand for it in 2019. But when I bought it, it was only the hat. I added the case later when I found it. And with the case, the price is deeper, because the case is at least as rare as the hat, if not more so. I am leaning toward the $1,300 range. But... ebay may give me much more. So, I am wrestling with what I want to do. Add to it that I hate, hate, hate to sell it and I am struggling.
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,829
I am wrestling with that. As it is, I paid close to a grand for it in 2019. But when I bought it, it was only the hat. I added the case later when I found it. And with the case, the price is deeper, because the case is at least as rare as the hat, if not more so. I am leaning toward the $1,300 range. But... ebay may give me much more. So, I am wrestling with what I want to do. Add to it that I hate, hate, hate to sell it and I am struggling.
Thank you for the clarification.
I hope you can remedy your issue without letting go such a fine, fine hat.
Best wishes.
B
 

Fourman110

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
New to me Knox Vagabond felt hat. I've really been looking for a sage/olive color hat for a while and very pleased. The color changes quite a bit in different light sources.
 

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