Do you use your wind trolley?

[fedoracentric]

Didn't the original wind cords come on derbies with a swivel on the back of the brim?

 

[TheDane]

The wind cord is a very old thing - and as so much else, it has a military origin. Cavalry head gear has had different types of wind cords (or lanyards) for centuries. Here are some Royal Danish Guards in their Galla-uniform:

The cord on the right side of the bear (seen from the soldier's PoW) goes down in front of his right shoulder - under the arm - up the back - and around the neck, where it ends in two tassels on the breast, just below the chin. Actually this type of "tassels" also have their origin in a practical function. Many of those stylized "closed tassels" (like the well known acorns) were supplied with a small needle. It was used as a reamer for cleaning the primer- or percussion-hole on earlier muzzle-loaded firearms. Nowadays the tassels are just a traditional part of the uniform without any practical use.

I haven't seen any swirveled wind cords on the back of bowlers, but why not ...

 

[Loz Dawes]

I've recently had my 2 Porkies fitted with trolleys, and have 2 customs in the pipeline, both to be fitted with them..
better safe than sorry!!

 

[Lotsahats]

Kansas City can be a really windy place; even still, I've never used a wind cord. I've even removed them from hats. If it's windy, I make sure I wear one my better-fitting hats.

A

 

[1mach1]

I used a wind trolley for the first time yesterday. Akubra Campdraft during a storm. Worked like a charm!

 

[Hercule]

I was hat less for a month after I lost a hat in high winds so when I got a new one the first thing I did, even before shaping the crown (Fed IV), was to put a wind cord on it.

 

[1mach1]

I used the wind trolley on my Campdraft most days in Greece, since it was really windy. Never really used it at home, but have started to use it here within the past few weeks. I must say, I am glad to have that feature on a hat. Windy days beware!

 

[Bob Roberts]

I like the way it looks and I'm afraid I'll break it!

 

[Rogera]

Harv did it ever have to do it's job?

 

[APP Adrian]

Can someone post a picture of a wind trolley on a fedora? I've never seen one. I only have a FED IV.

 

[alanfgag]

Here you go:

 

[1mach1]

Harv did it ever have to do it's job?

Once. I was glad I was using it, or it would be somewhere in the Mediterranean at the moment.

 

[Frunobulax]

I've used mine, but sporadically. The only time I've ever actually had one blow off my head, I was driving, and it was a rather big hat on me, anyway.

Do the rest of you find you've developed the fine art of cocking your head at such an angle as to use the wind to keep the hat on your head? I try to keep the wind from giving my hat "lift" by positioning my head so the pressure is down on the brim, rather than up. At least it's nice to see my flight mechanics classes weren't a total waste!

 

[photogravity]

Here you go:

Knox had the coolest buttons on their wind trolleys. I do not recall any other hat maker who put their name and logo on the button as they did. Of course, I'm pretty new to this and I'm pretty sure someone will prove me wrong.

 

[RJR]

Amen to the "cocking head"comment.

 

[APP Adrian]

Here you go:

I know that one part attaches to your coat lapel. But where does the other part go? Is it attached to the ribbon? Inside the hat? Can a wind trolley be attached to a FED IV?

 

[APP Adrian]

I've used mine, but sporadically. The only time I've ever actually had one blow off my head, I was driving, and it was a rather big hat on me, anyway.

Do the rest of you find you've developed the fine art of cocking your head at such an angle as to use the wind to keep the hat on your head? I try to keep the wind from giving my hat "lift" by positioning my head so the pressure is down on the brim, rather than up. At least it's nice to see my flight mechanics classes weren't a total waste!

I thought everyone titlted fheir hats straight down to face the wind.

 

[alanfgag]

I know that one part attaches to your coat lapel. But where does the other part go? Is it attached to the ribbon? Inside the hat? Can a wind trolley be attached to a FED IV?

In this example, the cord is sewn to the hat beneath the ribbon and the button would be put through a buttonhole on a jacket. There are other styles. In the Stetson Imperial below, the button is sewn to the bow and the looped cord would affix to a button on the coat. Stetson used this variant briefly in the late 1930s-1940.

I can't see any reason that you couldn't add a wind cord to a Fed IV or any other hat. I've purchased ready made cords from Optimo in Chicago. In my opinion they are more style than substance. For a very windy day, a cap (or a derby) is a better choice. Or a chinstrap.

 

[Frunobulax]

I thought everyone titlted fheir hats straight down to face the wind.

Well, yeah, but wind changes direction, and you can't always be facing it. I find myself, especially when out walking in an open area, changing the tilt of my head to match the wind direction. I might tilt my head down at one point, then find myself looking up at another. That's all I was saying/asking.

 

[APP Adrian]

In this example, the cord is sewn to the hat beneath the ribbon and the button would be put through a buttonhole on a jacket. There are other styles. In the Stetson Imperial below, the button is sewn to the bow and the looped cord would affix to a button on the coat. Stetson used this variant briefly in the late 1930s-1940.

I can't see any reason that you couldn't add a wind cord to a Fed IV or any other hat. I've purchased ready made cords from Optimo in Chicago. In my opinion they are more style than substance. For a very windy day, a cap (or a derby) is a better choice. Or a chinstrap.

Thanks! Is there any place I can get a wind cord in Toronto? Do I need a "specialist" to install it or can I do it by myself?

That's a really a nice hat btw =).