Willoughby Hats...of Paris?

• Nov 25, 2015

• #1

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,958

Location

Saskatoon, SK CANADA

...it has the highest crown & widest brim I have seen lately. Only ever seen a handful more. One or two here and the one owned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute.
Looks promising.
Can anybody tell me anything about this Parisian Hatter with the Brit name?

 

• Nov 26, 2015

• #2

se couvrir

One of the Regulars

Messages

143

Location

Hardy country UK

Nice hat Rick! Never heard of Willoughby hats here in England. The print on the liner logo is very similar to those used by Bates Hatters and Lock & Sons, so I wonder if Willoughby was an offshoot of some kind (for a different market or quality) of one of those makers - unless the design of the logo was just a generic variation?

Chris

 

Last edited: Nov 27, 2015

• Dec 9, 2015

• #3

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,958

Location

Saskatoon, SK CANADA

Well the roll of the dice was rewarded in this instance.
This is one of the three finest fur felts I own. Unbelievably thin yet dense, floppy but will hold a crease, 2 3/4" brim and a generous 6"+ open crown. French 7 3/8, so a roomy 60. I have found out very little of the company, Willoughby, below is a mention in a 1909 AMERICAN HATTER.

At the brims edge it comes in at about (?) 1/8" - 3/16" thick.

 

Last edited: Dec 9, 2015

• Dec 10, 2015

• #4

RJR

Messages

10,620

Location

Iowa

Beauty,Rick.

 

• Dec 10, 2015

• #5

Miamibruno

One Too Many

Messages

1,018

Location

Milton, MA

I've had several Willoughby hats, and though I know nothing of the company, the hats were without question, EXCEPTIONAL. The felts were as you describe and very well made. Both of the ones I had, had backbows, but if I ever find another - as you did - I would buy it without hesitation. Congratulations on a fine find.

 

• Dec 20, 2015

• #6

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,958

Location

Saskatoon, SK CANADA

se couvrir said:

Nice hat Rick! Never heard of Willoughby hats here in England. The print on the liner logo is very similar to those used by Bates Hatters and Lock & Sons, so I wonder if Willoughby was an offshoot of some kind (for a different market or quality) of one of those makers - unless the design of the logo was just a generic variation? View attachment 39432 View attachment 39433
Chris

Click to expand...

I am guessing such a distinctive logo on a number of "Anglais" hats may have, perhaps, been a bit of graphic, visual shorthand denoting hats with a UK design/origin.
Or I may be right off... just speculation.

 

• Dec 30, 2015

• #7

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,958

Location

Saskatoon, SK CANADA

Willoughby Pt. Deux



So another Willoughby came up, same BIN, same seller.... and so on. So I bit.

This one is, regrettably, not labeled Canadian Beaver like the last, but it too was a 60 and so very similar, must have belonged to the same owner.
It is absolutely the finest felt I have yet encountered. Old world craftsmanship, in spades! Just as nice or nicer than Borsos from (what I would guess to be) the same era, those being the Simon Zlateff Borsos.
But check this out ------->
Not only that funky, hella small edge stitch, but the felt itself is almost as light as a butterfly's wing. That is a key on edge shown for comparison. The weight came in at an amazing 85 grams, three ounces, liner, leather sweatband ... all in. I was blown away!
Now it does rather flap like a flag in the wind, truthfully... so windy days are out. But I was tickled to get a second of these spectacular felts. I have since noticed a couple of others but (now it seems I am sensitized to the name), alas, have learned nothing further about the company or hat-maker.

Happy 2016 to all!

 

• Dec 30, 2015

• #8

RJR

Messages

10,620

Location

Iowa

Wow,heck of a catch!

 

• Dec 30, 2015

• #9

L

Lotsahats

One Too Many

Messages

1,370

I love the looks of these hats, but I've yet to see one in my size. Thanks for the reviews!

 

• Dec 30, 2015

• #10

hatsRme

Messages

10,476

Location

Boston area

Super find!

 

• Jan 2, 2016

• #11

feltfan

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,190

Location

Oakland, CA, USA

Here's one I posted a while back.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/pelushe.11594/#post-174281

 

Last edited: Jan 2, 2016

• Jun 29, 2017

• #12

splintercellsz

I'll Lock Up

Messages

6,137

Location

Somewhere in Time

C.1930s

"Real Nutria"

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

 

Last edited: Jun 29, 2017

• Jun 29, 2017

• #13

Redfokker

Messages

12,384

Location

Albany Oregon

splintercellsz said:

Unsure of age. I want to say 30s or older but I do not know much when it comes to non-American made hats.

"Real Nutria"

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

All of the English used on the sweat is interesting. Meilleure qualité for sure!

 

• Jun 29, 2017

• #14

Tonio

A-List Customer

Messages

445

splintercellsz said:

Unsure of age. I want to say 50s or older but I do not know much when it comes to non-American made hats.

"Real Nutria"

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Really liking the sweatband on that.

 

• Jun 29, 2017

• #15

RJR

Messages

10,620

Location

Iowa

Tonio said:

Really liking the sweatband on that.

Click to expand...

+1,nice find.

 

• Jun 30, 2017

• #16

mayserwegener

Messages

17,247

Location

Maryland

Redfokker said:

All of the English used on the sweat is interesting. Meilleure qualité for sure!

Click to expand...

They were an English owned distributor located in Paris. This hat appears to be made in England (if you can believe the liner). They most likely sourced their branded hats from various countries.

 

• Nov 26, 2017

• #17

DrMacabre

One of the Regulars

Messages

178

Location

France

Hello, i also own a pretty beat-up bowler from Willoughby, made by Robert Heath in London. No idea when. I'm using it for oldwest LARP

 

• Nov 27, 2017

• #18

Mustang Mike's Hats

A-List Customer

Messages

399

Location

Southern California

As a Single Action Shooting Society member, (we wear 1800's style clothes and guns) I can see how a bowler would be awesome! Can you explain LARP??

 

• Nov 27, 2017

• #19

DrMacabre

One of the Regulars

Messages

178

Location

France

Mustang Mike's Hats said:

As a Single Action Shooting Society member, (we wear 1800's style clothes and guns) I can see how a bowler would be awesome! Can you explain LARP??

Click to expand...

it's live action role play, last one i participate was in Almeria in spain where Sergio Leone shot most of his western movies.

 

• Jun 9, 2019

• #20

drmaxtejeda

I'll Lock Up

Messages

8,329

Location

Mexico City

Willoughby pocket Tuxedo Hat. Very soft, thin, dense, luxurious felt. The underbrim is satin.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk