Dobbs "Gay Blade"

[jimmy the lid]

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Just won this Dobbs on the 'Bay:

Looks quite "Whippet-esque," and love the color combo. Can't wait for this to arrive...

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Stoney]

Looks very spiffy Jimmy.

 

[John in Covina]

Great color combo looks mighty fine.

 

[tonyb]

I like it a bunch.
You've been on quite the buying spree of late, eh Jimmy?

 

[DOUGLAS]

Wow, That's nice! congrats:eusa_clap

 

[MK]

.

I really like it. Let's see it from the front.

 

[Duck]

Nice hat, Jimmy. When you get it, post some more pics.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The Dobbs Gay Blade is a different model, i assume, from the Gay Prince?

bk

 

[jimmy the lid]

Here is a 1947 ad touting the "Gay Blade," the "Gay Prince," and introducing Dobbs' new color, "Gay Gray."
[Apparently, Dobbs did not have a "don't ask/don't tell" policy... ]:

I believe that the Gay Prince featured a felt on felt "ribbon" treatment that was attached with whip stitching. This same whip stitching was used around the brim, offering a rather unique look. The Gay Blade, on the other hand, appears to have been more traditional in appearance.

I'll definitely be posting photos once the hat arrives...

Cheers,
JtL

 

[RBH]

Cool fedora Jimmy ! :eusa_clap
To my untrained eye it looks as if the edge trim is wider than on a Whippet.
Those in the know, is that correct?

 

[Feraud]

Here is a 1947 ad touting the "Gay Blade," the "Gay Prince," and introducing Dobbs' new color, "Gay Gray."
[Apparently, Dobbs did not have a "don't ask/don't tell" policy... ]:

Fascinating! Apparently Dobbs was the first out of the closet hatmaker.
And some of us think the "old days" were so square.

If jimmy the lid posts the dimension of the bound edge we can compare it to the Whippet edge.

 

[spiridon]

Great looking hat. I was keeping an eye on that one as well......had to chuckle at the name, but MAN, what a great look!

 

[jimmy the lid]

To my untrained eye it looks as if the edge trim is wider than on a Whippet. Those in the know, is that correct?

You could be right, RBH. The bound edge on my Whippet is 3/8".

 

[Fletch]

Of course the "g" word was a kind of private code even before 1947, so it's entirely possible someone at Dobbs' design staff was hiding in plain sight. It happened back then.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That's true. The most common (and derogatory) golden era words describing gay men were "fruit," "fairy" and "pansy."


Speaking of the term "fairy," it was said of flamingly gay men that they were "light in the loafers" and "their feet never touched the ground."

.

 

[jamespowers]

Let's not forget the 1940:

Its not out of the closest---its flaming. Look at the guy. lol
The Gay Blade was likely named after something else (Zorro maybe) and the hat looks great. I was going to bid but forgot about it. Glad you got it instead.

Regards,

J

 

[big kahuna]

Does anyone have a photo of the gay prince whip stitching...or whip stitching on any hat other than a western hat??[huh]

 

[DOUGLAS]

Not to hijack the thread a Mallory VX

 

[WEEGEE]

Sweet Mallory

Nice one Douglas!!!

 

[DOUGLAS]

Not quite the whip but decorative non the less.