The Allan Quatermain Hat Thread - Where oh where

[MDFrench]

THREAD RENAMED DUE TO INTENSE ACTIVITY

Hey all,

Now that the Raiders of the Lost Ark fedora quest is over thanks to Steve Delk, there is only one more hat I MUST own. Know any of you where I could find a felt safari hat like the one worn by Stewart Granger in the 1950 film, King Solomon's Mines?

It looks like THIS:

Thanks a lot for any help!

Mike

 

[BellyTank]

It's a military style hat, like a Gurkha hat- the Gurkhas are a native Nepalese regiment of the British Army and have been since Colonial days.(you know) Their hats are like this>

...not exactly- but reminds me of the British Colonial style- the Australian slouch hat and the NZ lemon squeezer and the RCMP hat.

More like what Orde Wingate's Chindits war in Burma. The Pugaree Hat, like the other slouch types but with the pugaree- like a Sikh Turban(pugaree)
It's definitely a Colonial/Raj style with the Pug but Granger's one looks taller.

http://www.messdress-britishmilitaria.com/raf/raf_headress.html

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr1292.html

I know I've seen something closer- just amatter of remembering- I have a vast catalogue of links and saved crap- just like in my head.
I'll keep looking-

BT.

 

[MDFrench]

WOW - Thanks a lot BT! I really appreciate the help!

Mike

 

[BellyTank]

...more

...who is this???
If you want to find one- first you need to know what it's called-
I think it's older than that- more British/African Colonial- that would suit the era better wouldn't it? Maybe it's a bit more Boer War-ish- bit more turn of the Century-ish rather than '30s/'40s with the higher more pointed crown style.
Where were the British and Colonial forces around that time? North and Central Africa, South Africa, India, Turkey? Find the theatre of operations and you might find the name of the hat-

Check out this page>
http://www.chindit.net/March.htm

http://www.chindits.info/Photos/Index.html

Looks like a Chindits hat would be close-
or the Gurkha comes second>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67580&item=6516280815&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67580&item=6516184513&rd=1
...it's amazing what you can find with the internet and a little interest.

That's enough of this for me for now- if I can think of anything more, I'll drop you a line.
I want one too now!!!

BT.

 

[BellyTank]

Actually...

Just a thought... a Civil War repro slouch or an Old West hat in the right colour- tall open crown- bit of steam- whack, whack- wrap a pugaree around it- Bob's your Uncle- man of your talents and all- good project for you.
Check out the CW reenactor suttlers and old West vendor sites... looks like you need a high crown and a wide brim to start with- a big dent or crease will get you the taper...brim- droopy front and back. Yeahhh!!!!
Getting me excited now....
BT.

 

[Flitcraft]

MD French:
Try a place in New York called "Hunting World". I don't have their website address because I haven't bought anything from them in awhile. They are expensive, but they do carry pretty much anything you need in the Safari line.
Peter Capstick used to shop there.
P.S.
If I find any more info., I'll pass it on.

 

[BellyTank]

...the middle guy, right? Are we on the same page? By George that's it...
And the guy on the right's hat looks more Gurkha style. Kind of a floppy tapered Indy Fedora in Olive/Khaki with a centre-dent and a pinch and a pug. And on the far right, the same as the first with a top view, maybe a little lower in the crown... It's looking like a Chindit hat, which would be a British Army Jungle/tropical/slouch/pugaree hat(?)
I think we're getting there by George!- I like a good mystery....

BT.

 

[BellyTank]

...only me...

Hey- there's quite a few Akubras that look quite a bit like that...
http://www.akubra.com.au/products_special.html
http://www.akubra.com.au/products_western.html ...the Colly could work...
http://www.akubra.com.au/products_country.html ...quite a few of 'em...
http://www.davidmorgan.com/proddetail.html?product_number=1622&ticket=612964-7660337
...just gotta get the right colour...

http://www.davidmorgan.com/proddetail.html?product_number=1625&ticket=612964-7660337
http://www.bootsonline.com.au/coober.htm
...if you can get the right colour- then all you need's a pug wrap.

G'nite.
BT.

 

[BellyTank]

...just one more French.

http://www.lawranceordnance.com/new/hats-akubra.html
...check out the Pugaree one*

http://www.grantsmilitaria.com/asp/search1/gallsingle.asp?idGallery=80

some info here...
http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/slouch/army.htm

https://secure.cpplus.com/ozbird/slouchhat.htm

BT.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Get Steve to make you one out of rabbitt and thr ribbon you can get from Millers

Just a thought And cheaper than an Akubra

 

[BellyTank]

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/Content/ProductDetail.php?ID=812b4ba287f5ee0bc9d43bbf5bbe87fb|525d
...that's a funny URL- it's not red!
...check out the hat weight...

The Gurkha ones are really heavy- look at the brims on them- like 3/8 inch!
The Aussie hats are much lighter.
BT.

 

[Panamabob]

Ask steve about a rabbit.

 

[MDFrench]

WOW WOW WOW

BT, you have outdone yourself - I am in your debt! I have scoured hat shops for such things for years and haven't been able to find one shred of info on this hat. In less than a day you slam the subject home.

I am not your equal - thanks to all of you for all of your help.

Oh and by the way BT, that photo you posted of King Solomon's Mines in the 1937 version with Paul Robeson and Cedric Harwick or something like that.

Kindest regards,
Mike

 

[MDFrench]

HERE ARE SCREENGRABS - Oh, and in the beginning he has the Gurkha-like wrap on the hat - later his hat has a leopard-thingy on it. I think the Gurkha wrap looks much better, and its what I am shooting for.

Also, you might think from these photos that he's got a really thick brim. Strangely enough - his hat seems to have TWO brims as often in the film the lower one will get caught in the wind and flap lower in his face while the outside one stays put.

I know this sounds really complicated - I'd happily settle for a single-brimmed version.

Anyway - pics below.

 

[MDFrench]

 

[MDFrench]

The rest are at this link:

http://www.geocities.com/indyfrench/grangerhat.html

Yeah, the story takes place near the Congo in 1887, but that hat has carried forward some decades I am sure. It looked so Golden Era of safari to me.

Mike

 

[Mycroft]

Sorry to ruin this thread for a bit MD, but since we are talking about the hat, is the movie, King Soloman's Mines any good.

 

[MDFrench]

I'm actually writing a rundown on all four versions right now for theraider.net with a full analysis on them and how they compare with H. Rider Haggard's original novel. However Mycroft, for our purposes I'll cut to the quick rundown for you - All of the versions are on DVD.

1937 version - Very good Golden Era action-adventure
1950 version - Amazing Technicolor epic adventure - part action part anthropological documentary with most everything shot on location in Africa. Truly amazing film and this is the version that my "hat" comes from.
1985 version - Sacrifices the integrity of the novel in an attempt to rip off Indiana Jones - terrible film - AVOID
2004 version - Over three hours long, not very close to the novel in actual plot-for-plot, but very entertaining and preserves all the great elements and characters. Ties with the 1937 version for Second best.

In short Mycroft - three out of four of them are great with the 1950 version being the best IMHO. The 1937 version is really decent as is the 2004 miniseries. 1985 version should only be watched by completists or the cinematic risktakers.

 

[Mycroft]

WOW, thanks a buch, that is more then I expected.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

I loved the 1950 version with Stewart Granger and I believe Deborah Kerr was in that one. I don't know who the tall fellow was who played the African prince or king (I can't recall what he was), but he was so mysterious and interesting.

I saw something on TV -- was Richard Chamberlain in that one playing Quatermain? Didn't like it at all.

I would love to see the 1937 version. Did Paul Robeson play the mysterious fellow?

karol