when a boy wears a hat...

[6StringShooter]

I was just wondering about something and I figured some of you folks on here just might know about it...During the era when men wearing hats in dress clothing was commonplace, at what age would a boy begin to wear a hat? Would teenage boys be seen with hats? Would they even have hats for little guys (age 5 or so)? Just curious...thanks!

 

[North Valley]

??

Hey! I was just having lunch in town yesterday at a diner that has an old 30s -40s atmosphere.
On the tables under the glass were ads from different publications.
I was taken by the fact that every man in the pictures had a hat on. Some appeared as young as late teens. But all of the more school aged boys had on more of a cap or driving cap so-to-speak.
I found this interesting.
On the dress hat side of the world I don't really know when boys start wearing hats??? But, In the cowboy world boys are wearing hats from the time they can walk!
[huh]

 

[MKL]

Don't know about back then, but my son (in the pic) has been wearing one for about a year or so. He is now 11. The hat is wearing is a size 7, vintage, of course.

 

[6StringShooter]

But, In the cowboy world boys are wearing hats from the time they can walk!

Oh yes, that is so true! I remember back when I used to do a little reining, I would see little kids that could barely walk wearing cowboy hats (some even nicer than mine lol)!

MKL, that's great that your boy is wearing them already! I figured that back then they would wear those drivig cap type hats, but I didn't know for sure...

 

[MKL]

I do see as I look through books of that period a few teens wearing fedoras. From that I have seen that is a rare thing. Most have the newsboy hats on if they are wearing anything.

 

[jamespowers]

I do see as I look through books of that period a few teens wearing fedoras. From that I have seen that is a rare thing. Most have the newsboy hats on if they are wearing anything.

From what I gather, wearing a true fedora or hat was a right of passage from boyhood to adulthood. A young boy would wear a cap or a newsboy. Later in their teen age years they might get a fedora.
I kind of like that tradition thing where the father went in with the son and bought him his first true hat. That being said, my son is getting one as soon as I can find one that fits. He already outgrew two caps and he is only five months old. I think I'll start looking at those 6 7/8 sized hats again.

Regards,

J

 

[John in Covina]

I was just wondering about something and I figured some of you folks on here just might know about it...During the era when men wearing hats in dress clothing was commonplace, at what age would a boy begin to wear a hat? Would teenage boys be seen with hats? Would they even have hats for little guys (age 5 or so)? Just curious...thanks!

*********
It depended on the family, I guess, some boys would get a hat at about 10 or 12 to wear with a suit. I recall my brother having a porkpie type fedora at about that time.

Sincerely,

 

[Art Fawcett]

hmm, rumor has it that your son already is into customs JP...

 

[Andykev]

Graham made one for my boy

Graham at Optimo sent my son a custom made straw with beautiful trim...for free. He looks great in it!

 

[Frederick Chook]

And on the English side of things, don't forget the wee tykes with their school uniforms, with teeny-tiny straw boaters! In fact, my local hatters has plenty of those tiny boaters... no regular-sized ones, though.

 

[feltfan]

A while back I searched unsuccessfully for a felt fedora
in a size suitable for a 2 year old. I know a kid who really
needs one...

Aside from the custom route, do post if you know of
a source.

 

[RedPop4]

My ten-year-old regularly wears his "Disney-puchased" wool Indy. His looks better than mine, and even fits me better than mine. His has the leather sweat, raw edge and c-crown.

 

[6StringShooter]

just had to say that I LOVE your avatar, RedPop4!!!

"That's governor Menelaus "Pass The Biscuits Pappy" O'Daniel..." lol

 

[RedPop4]

lol lol lol lol
Thanks......
Moral fiber? I invented Moral Fiber.

 

[jamespowers]

hmm, rumor has it that your son already is into customs JP...

Yes he does. Eventually he will be able to fit it but I confess I haven't tried lately. Maybe I will try to night.

Regards,

J

 

[Doh!]

I'm not sure if it was done for strictly comic effect, but Alfalfa occassionally wore a fedora in the Our Gang comedies:

http://www.thevintageplayhouse.com/image/littlerascals/our_gang.jpg

And let's not forget Stymie's derby:

http://www.nndb.com/people/120/000118763/stymie-1-sized.jpg

 

[John in Covina]

I'm not sure if it was done for strictly comic effect, but Alfalfa occassionally wore a fedora in the Our Gang comedies:

http://www.thevintageplayhouse.com/image/littlerascals/our_gang.jpg

And let's not forget Stymie's derby:

http://www.nndb.com/people/120/000118763/stymie-1-sized.jpg

***********
Stymie's Derby was a gift from Laurel & Hardy, fellow Hal Roach Studio stars.

 

[Doh!]

That's an interesting piece of trivia!

I've always assumed Stymie's to be a hand-me-down from his father and definitely played for comedy, but Alfalfa's fits him a lot better.