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What Hat Are You Wearing Today ?

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,829
Location
Denmark
I read this is a reference to “West Berlin” during the Cold War, but that’s an assumption. I had an address in Berlin at one time, but it was so long ago that I can’t even remember if it had a direction incincluded.
Ja, nothing to do with east or west Berlin after WWII.

Steve's hat box is post, mine is pre, both addresses are in the West area of Berlin. Though Friedrich Strasse would have been in what we know as east Berlin post WWII.
 

The Lost Cowboy

One Too Many
Messages
1,696
Location
Southeast Asia
Ja, nothing to do with east or west Berlin after WWII.

Steve's hat box is post, mine is pre, both addresses are in the West area of Berlin. Though Friedrich Strasse would have been in what we know as east Berlin post WWII.
You have a “W” on yours as well?

Part of Friedrichstrasse was in East, part in West. I believe Checkpoint Charlie was on Friedrichstrasse.
 

The Lost Cowboy

One Too Many
Messages
1,696
Location
Southeast Asia
Ja, nothing to do with east or west Berlin after WWII.

Steve's hat box is post, mine is pre, both addresses are in the West area of Berlin. Though Friedrich Strasse would have been in what we know as east Berlin post WWII.
Here’s the proof of what you’re saying, an envelope addressed to Berlin from 1950 (the “S.W.” being “Sudwest”).

Other examples abound, thanks for clarifying Steve!
IMG_1375.jpeg
 
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Dlaniger

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,305
Location
Philadelphia PA
Borchert Berlin W., date stamped August 6, 1952. I found this hat back in 2011 and I have always enjoyed wearing it. I am not sure who made this hat for Borchert. C.W. Borchert goes way back and they change locations after WWII.

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Borchert Berlin W. carton that came with another hat from the same time period. I really like the Borchert Berlin W. logo. :)

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I can see why you like wearing that one. It is just simply a great looking hat!
 
Messages
17,477
Location
Maryland
Wonderful colour, shape, look to the felt, brim binding, plus ribbon and bow treatment, Steve.

I'm the lucky owner of a pre World War II C.W. Borchert hat box from their original address at Friedrich Strasse. Sadly, it didn't come with a hat inside.

View attachment 609040
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Steve, Thanks! That is a great old C.W Borchert hat box!


Cool, they even have the “W” after Berlin (for “West”, I assume). I’m sure that was normal but I never thought about it as part of a formal address.

Great looking hat, your collection is fascinating!

Nathan, Thank you! Steve, replied regarding the addresses but here are some photos of a C. W. Borchert 157 Friedrichstrasse Berlin. W. Stiff Felt of mine.

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The Lost Cowboy

One Too Many
Messages
1,696
Location
Southeast Asia
Steve, Thanks! That is a great old C.W Borchert hat box!




Nathan, Thank you! Steve, replied regarding the addresses but here are some photos of a C. W. Borchert 157 Friedrichstrasse Berlin. W. Stiff Felt of mine.

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Very cool!

It seems “Berlin W.” was a formal division of (what is now) Berlin-Mitte that was further divided into numbers. That’s why Steve’s hatbox says “Berlin W. 8”. I did not know this, and it is interesting to learn about.

Also interesting, it seems the Berlin Wall ran straight through Berlin W. 8 so that even though the original 157 Friedrichstrasse address for this hat maker was on the western side, the original post office for Berlin W. 8 was on the Soviet side (at least according to this webpage:

https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=28984)

20th Century German history is so very complicated and your hat collection bears the marks of those complications - fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing!
 
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Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
Good morning. A walkabout in a Stetson. The other Stetson, Stephen L. Stetson.

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I changed into a green hued Adam gilled fedora when I arrived home.

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The temp on the deck has warmed to 36'f (2'c) and I changed into a Playboy Air Light for more coffee. This Air Light has a snowflake crown vent. The unreeded sweatband and extremely light felt make this hat very comfortable to wear about.

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This Stetson Playboy has a bound edge treatment.

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Cheers, Eric -
 

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