Recent content by Steve1857

Wonderful ribbon and bow treatment, Bill. Very unique.

Thank you, Reggie. I was pleased how this one turned out.

Yet another wonderful array, Stefan. All winners, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Borsalino Caffe. Great colour and super wide ribbon!

Thanks for the info and link, Steve.

Thanks, Stefan. Thought it was a German maker. I just couldn't find any examples on the FL of Prima.

Thank you, Stefan. Apart from the sweatband problem, I couldn't be happier with this classic Manchester Bowler.

T & W Lees Bowler from 1930.

Thanks, Mark. I must admit, I'm pretty pleased :)

T & W Lees of Stockport, Manchester Bowler from 1930: The lady I bought it from said that her maternal grandfather bought it in 1930 for his wedding to her grandmother. Like so many hats from back then, his initials were placed on the sweatband: The hat shop where it was bought in...

T & W Lees Bowler from 1930. I'm somewhat saddened that the stitches on the sweatband have come away in places:

Prima Homburg: Don't remember having seen these logos before: It's nothing special, but quite a well made, solid Homburg. At just under 7 euros, it was well worth buying.

Newly acquired Prima Homburg. Never seen this brand before, but it's not at all a badly made hat. At just under €7, it was worth a punt.

This is the "unknown stranger" that came with the T & W Lees Bowler I posted the other day: I haven't seen this brand or logo before: The liner is glued in, and this is the only label under the sweatband: It's definitely nothing special, but a quite well made, solid Homburg. And at...

This is why I love collecting hats, and what I told my students yesterday during my talk on Top Hats. You're not just collecting a hat, your collecting a piece of history that you just have to find out more about :) Extra bonus: it connects you with people you would never have connected with...

Thanks, Nathan. I'm pretty good at reading German, but must admit, I haven't read Matt's Wiki link. I must do so.