- Messages
- 17,247
- Location
- Maryland
Thanks for posting them!
-
The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.
The Bowler or Derby Hat
- Thread starter carter
- Start date
fabiovenhorst
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,063
- Location
- Gaspar - SC - Brazil
[/QUOTE]Hello I love your beaver skin bowler hat. Do you want to sell it?
So this one is a bit odd. It doesn't appear to have been converted from a top hat to bowler. But its very clearly two different colors of silk plush or beaver fur. the bottom is a dark brown, the top is more often seen black. It looks like it was repaired at some point by someone other than Dunlap.
Whats also strange is that the construction seems far more delicate than what would be needed for an equestrian derby. This would provide very little head protection.
Aside from that it's in wonderful condition considering its age. It is a small size, but after wearing it out and about I feel like this was meant to be worn on the very top of the head. I don't think i've gotten more compliments on a hat than this one.
Indeed a very interesting one... :O
fabiovenhorst
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,063
- Location
- Gaspar - SC - Brazil
My vintage Tress & Co. bowler is stiff and heavy, fells like a helmet.
TheManInTheHat
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 161
- Location
- Hong Kong
That's interesting. Here's my high-crown
Tress, which is one of the lightest Bowlers I own. Weighs just 132g. Is it possible yours is an Equestrian hat?
- Messages
- 17,247
- Location
- Maryland
Super!
Very light Stiff Felts weigh in around 110 - 120g. For example this Rehfus & Cie ZEPHIR that belongs to Manfred. This one weighs 115g (the hat shell only 70g) and is from the early 1900s.
Details
http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/20-rehfus-federleicht/#entry605
Very light Stiff Felts weigh in around 110 - 120g. For example this Rehfus & Cie ZEPHIR that belongs to Manfred. This one weighs 115g (the hat shell only 70g) and is from the early 1900s.
Details
http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/20-rehfus-federleicht/#entry605
fabiovenhorst
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,063
- Location
- Gaspar - SC - Brazil
My Tress & Co. seems to be a little bit taller than yours and and have less taper on the crown. I think it's older too. The lining is (or was) white with black printing in a 20's style
- Messages
- 17,247
- Location
- Maryland
C. G. Wilke "Haar Rival", 60cm, 168g, probably late 1920s maybe early 1930s. This is a great Stiff Felt with a fantastic finish and a interesting bow design. It measures closer to 61cm so a big one. This one was definitely conformed causing a small amount of brim distortion front to back.
You can see the can see conformed head shape in the following photo.
You can see the can see conformed head shape in the following photo.
Last edited:
TheManInTheHat
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 161
- Location
- Hong Kong
These German Bowlers are an absolute revelation. I had no idea!
- Messages
- 17,247
- Location
- Maryland
Thanks! I have about 35 old German and Austrian Stiff Felts.
fabiovenhorst
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,063
- Location
- Gaspar - SC - Brazil
Beautiful bowler... I really like the bow job in the ribbon.C. G. Wilke "Haar Rival", 60cm, 168g, probably late 1920s maybe early 1930s. This is a great Stiff Felt with a fantastic finish and a interesting bow design. It measures closer to 61cm so a big one. This one was definitely conformed causing a small amount of brim distortion front to back.
You can see the can see conformed head shape in the following photo.
- Messages
- 17,247
- Location
- Maryland
Thanks! I agree! 
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
Aaaand ninety-five pages later....
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
I've got two bowlers on the way. Well, a bowler and a derby, to be most accurate.
First, the bowler. Forgive the pictures, they are eBay specials. It hasn't arrived yet. My head seems to measure 23 3/16s, so I hope this is a bit small. It is marked 7 5/8s and 62, but I wore 7 5/8 in the military. I like this brim. You guys can probably date it off of the top of your head, but I can't. Yet.
Then...
First, the bowler. Forgive the pictures, they are eBay specials. It hasn't arrived yet. My head seems to measure 23 3/16s, so I hope this is a bit small. It is marked 7 5/8s and 62, but I wore 7 5/8 in the military. I like this brim. You guys can probably date it off of the top of your head, but I can't. Yet.
Then...
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
...
A Dobbs derby which the seller noted as being 7 3/8 (excellent), but also noted 22 3/4 inside the brim (not so excellent).
And, can't really make out the tag on the right of the photograph, other than "4393":
We shall see when they arrive. Could end up being two up, two down.
A Dobbs derby which the seller noted as being 7 3/8 (excellent), but also noted 22 3/4 inside the brim (not so excellent).
And, can't really make out the tag on the right of the photograph, other than "4393":
We shall see when they arrive. Could end up being two up, two down.
TheManInTheHat
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 161
- Location
- Hong Kong
Looks beautiful! And lightweight I think. I have the same hat - yours has been better looked-after. But British sizes tends to be one full size larger than US so you may need to make a discreet adjustment.
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
Thank you all for your posts over the years, I have learned a lot!
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
Crap, then the Dunn will likely be huge on my 23 3/16" head.
One down, one to go.
Actually, one up, one down. D'oh!
TheManInTheHat
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 161
- Location
- Hong Kong
See when it arrives. But there are easy ways to make it fit perfectly. I often use little strips of sponge - (kitchen sponge, nothing fancy) - about 3 inches long and 0.75 inches wide and 0.25 inches thick and just tuck them here and there under the sweatband. It works.
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
Thank you for the tips, I'll give it a shot.
I assume that hat shops today do something similar with something other than sponge?
Steph
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 50
- Location
- Washington, DC
What do you professionals do with the little fiddly bits of provenance in your vintage hats?
Some lovely condition Austrian miracle bowler shows up at your place, filled with stamps and tags and bits behind the sweatband. Do you leave them there, knowing that if you're going to use the hat that they will quickly get destroyed? Remove them for safekeeping? Just roll with it, as it's a hat to be enjoyed?
Unless you are ordering a museum piece for looking at, what say you?
Some lovely condition Austrian miracle bowler shows up at your place, filled with stamps and tags and bits behind the sweatband. Do you leave them there, knowing that if you're going to use the hat that they will quickly get destroyed? Remove them for safekeeping? Just roll with it, as it's a hat to be enjoyed?
Unless you are ordering a museum piece for looking at, what say you?
