The Dobbs Diner...

[Rogera]

If I may I would like to drop another Dobbs in here I have had for a while. It has a Guild Edge and the felt is very easily shaped. Seems to be a nice hat. The liner is taped in which I thought was weird. Any ideas on age?









Thanks for any help!

 

[Brad Bowers]

It's a Garland, TX-made hat, anywhere from 1972 through the 1980s.

Brad

 

[Rogera]

Thanks again Brad!

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

Dobbs FIFTEEN Homburg

This is a very special hat for me. For the longest time, I've wanted a very nice fedora or homburg in a midnight blue felt with a plum or black cherry ribbon. This hat fit the bill; a Dobbs FIFTEEN homburg in midnight blue, plum ribbon, and navy blue edge binding. And it's a long oval, something the seller overlooked under the sweatband! Check this one off the bucket list.

Everything about this hat says, "Class". Although the hat does have a few moth nibbles, they aren't even noticeable, so you wouldn't even know they're there. The FIFTEEN felt is dense and workable to just about any pinch and brim shape (within the limitations of the edge curl). A felt so deep blue it's almost black. The plum colored crown ribbon is soooo beautiful against the deep blue, and the navy edge binding finishes the brim just right. Inside is showcased with a very nice light cream colored liner and a soft, practically unworn, medium brown leather sweatband.

I'm very intrigued by the Dobbs crest at the top of the liner. The gold stamping is very unique. Brad, your decade input is valued. Thanks for looking, everyone! On with the specs...

Brand: Dobbs FIFTEEN Homburg
Color: Midnight blue w/ 2" plum ribbon and navy edge binding
Size: 7 1/4 LO
Crown: 5 5/8" OC, 52-block
Brim: 2 3/4" to the edge of the brim, 2 1/4" profile

 

[Rogera]

Wow AnA that Homburg is sweet!! I have decided that my antiquing from now on will be focused on finding my first Homburg. You are right when you say everything about that lid says "class". Very nice

 

[Brad Bowers]

+1 to what Roger said. Very nice find, AnA! That's an early-'40s Homburg. The roundel in the liner tip was used through most of the '30s and into the war years of WWII, but sometime during or right after the war they switched back to the more typical Dobbs liner tip. The factory label is '40s. The patent refers to a new finishing process patent that John Garvan Cavanagh, John Cavanagh's son, received in early 1939.

Brad

 

[ManofKent]

That looks great AnA

 

[rlk]

Dobbs Cross Country Poster


WW2 ad campaign
Never seen one with ventilation Grommets.

 

[Preacher Man]

A n A that is a very classy homburg! Beautiful find! I'm like Rogera here, from now on when I go into an antique or curio shop, I'll be focused on a homburg. My problem though will be my head size, I've been told I've got a head like a coal bucket!! You've got a great looking and well made hat. I like it. Wear it proudly!!!

 

[Rogera]

I found this Milan yesterday. Any idea on the age? I don't know if it is vintage or not. I just finally found one with a nice full crown and I love the straw color and the puggaree.

 

[Brad Bowers]

It's a '60s hat, Roger.


Brad

 

[Rogera]

It's a '60s hat, Roger.


Brad

Thanks Brad. I thought it had a vintage look to it. My modern Dobbs milan has a much more tapered crown and it just isn't my favorite. This one is.

 

[mikespens]

That milan is SWEET Rogera, congrats.

 

[Rogera]

That milan is SWEET Rogera, congrats.

Thanks Mike! I had just about given up for the day and looked up on a shelf in the last room of the last antique mall and there it sat looking at me.

 

[ManofKent]

Nice find Roger

 

[Rogera]

Nice find Roger

Thanks ManofKent!

 

[alanfgag]

Dobbs branded boater

Unusual rolled edge is hollow and seamed invisibly on the underside of the brim. 2 3/8" brim is flexible and upward curved. 2 3/8" ribbon. Sold on eBay as a woman's hat, it was sold by a men's furnishing shop C.J. Mathis in Portland OR. References I found to this store in the trades are from mid 1920s and earlier. A non-Dobbs identified tag behind the sweatband shows the size and four digit number only. Very nicely made and in fine condition.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Great catch, Alan! I thought about bidding on it, but forgot later. Beautiful condition, and dates 1917-1923. Too cool! I thought it might be the normal-sized cousin to this hat:


I'm not sure the brim is quite the same, but this is such a rare style that they have to be related a bit.

Brad

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks Brad! It was a heads up from one of our esteemed auction watchers... and a very reasonable buy it now listing. Very similar to the giant hat in styling - the brim curl is executed beautifully, the edge lined up with the weaving rows so carefully as to be almost invisible. Would Dobbs have owned the factory where these were made?

 

[Brad Bowers]

Yep, they made their own straw hats in the factory in Norwalk, at least until the mid-'50s.

Brad