Toppers Unite

[Garrett]

Obviously, the brim ribbing, being as uniform as it is, is indicative of intention. Likely pressed during construction.

 

[Charlie Huang]

The Blaylock & Blynn is my favourite out of them all. Rather good nick and has a lovely bell crown similar to my Truefitt but much more pronounced.

The really old ones! I doubt I could even pull off wearing them! I might one day just buy one as a conversation piece.

 

[Garrett]

This case arrived today

 

[Garrett]

and its contents

 

[Garrett]

Cavanagh Popper Topper (Silk Grosgrain)

Brad Bowers dated this between 1928-1936

 

[Brad Bowers]

Wow, it's in beautiful condition.:eusa_clap

Brad

 

[Elgin1924]

Garrett, I love your toppers! I'm extremely envious of all of them!

 

[Garrett]

Copper Topper

Here's a mid-19th century COPPER topper

 

[mayserwegener]

Maysers silk Top Hat (Zylinderhut) size 59cm arrived yesterday. It has some wear but not bad for the price plus rarity. This is the first pre WWII Mayser hat (of any type) I have encountered. I am thinking this one is early 1900s. The "Form:" on the paper label is "1915" which might be the production year. The box is in very poor condition but original.

 

[jmrtnko]

It's official. This elusive polish is not sold anymore.

Haven't checked here in a while, but Merry Christmas. Here are two vintage formulas for silk hat polish.

I spent a day going through Google Patents and unearthed this one...

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=5HpyAAAAEBAJ&dq=235141

Now, I wouldn't recommend following the formula exactly as oil mirbane is refined nitrobenzene and quite toxic, but it's the refined petroleum, or petrolatum, or... petroleum jelly that does the bulk of the work. The nitrobenzene is probably just there to thin the petroleum a little and ease application. Going through old magazines on Google Books, petrolatum is recommended many, many times, not to mention monthly ironing (a hint to my next post about my Christmas present).

And a search of the UK IPO turned up this...

http://v3.espacenet.com/publication...b&FT=D&date=19050914&CC=GB&NR=190515076A&KC=A

It seems like this would make a harder, longer lasting finish, but is a much slower application than the first . Not sure if I would try it, as it would be difficult to fix or remove it once it has dried and hardened. This is likely the composition of that mystery polish (where did that picture go?).

 

[Charlie Huang]

Thanks! This is most useful!

Of cours, I dare not try these methods until I get a cheap crappy topper to test them on but this looks promising!

 

[jmrtnko]

Of cours, I dare not try these methods until I get a cheap crappy topper to test them on but this looks promising!

Definitely agreed on using the crappy topper first. I've tried water, glycerine, jojoba oil and lanolin mixtures on my test hat so far. The oil worked the best, so I think the first petroleum jelly method might be more promising. I'm a bit leery of the second. How has the tallow held up?

Also in the mix now is this:

It's an old Knox-branded McDonald's Rotary Silk Hat Iron that my wife got me for Christmas. I'd never even heard of these before. 5 minutes after opening it, a trial on the test hat went very, very well and so I took a deep breath and tried it on my good Cavanagh... and it worked amazingly. It had a small patch of slightly odd nap on one of the sides and the iron immediately fixed it. She also bought some old brim irons for her work that I will be trying out shortly.

 

[Charlie Huang]

The tallow is holding up amazingly well.

Oh god, one of those silk hat irons went up on eBay a few months ago and I forgot to bid on it (went for something like £15)! I SOOOO want one! If one comes up, do PM me!

 

[jmrtnko]

Great to hear that the tallow is still working.

Yes, get an iron next time you see one. Sadly, they seem to be mostly sold as collectibles and overpriced. Don't worry about getting the box or instructions; I found readable images of both of them that I can forward to you. I'm rarely on eBay, but my wife is always looking for old hatmaking tools. I'll have her tell me if she sees another.

 

[rlk]

The American Hatter Nov. 1928

 

[rlk]

Dobbs Opera

Excellent condition but rather malodorous.

 

[Charlie Huang]

Is that silk or cloth?

 

[rlk]

Is that silk or cloth?

Exterior Grosgrain and interior Silk. Not sure what the exact fabric is seems likely to be a cotton or blend.

 

[Charlie Huang]

I thought it might be cloth as I can hardly see the ribbing of the grosgrain. Eitherway, it is a lovely opera hat.

 

[Charlie Huang]

Oh, forgot to post pics of my Magic Circle opera hat:

At 5 1/8" tall, it is rather on the short side (almost bordering equestrian dimesions) which doesn't look that good on me and there is some wear spots but this will do for now. I bought it so I can choose been a satin and the Herbert Johnson grosgrain next time I'm in tails.