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Magill Hat Co Montreal Canada.

59Lark

Practically Family
Messages
567
Location
Ontario, Canada
Dear loungers; I am curious knowing that they a few canadians, and people from everywhere else on this lounge. The question has any loungers own a magill hat co fedora,? are you happy with fedora or cap ? in business since 1920s , 15 employees. I have been buying magill for about ten years, since biltmore got expensive, buy myself a new one every fall for about $75.ca since there is no one to block or clean. I simply buy a new one and bump the old one back to a barn hat. Simply looking for some feedback, the co website says they now have a salesman in chicago, so some might be surfacing in the good old USA. thank you 59Lark.
 

barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
I looked at the 2009 hats (smooth finish) on their trade website (the company does not do retail) and the hats look nice. There are a few that appear to have fairly nice crowns (not a significant taper) and some of the brims on those hats are 2 1/2 inch or more. Difficult to speak to quality of the finished hat just on a photograph, but I don't know of any reason to presume a lack thereof. A corollary to that - without reading some testimony about the quality relative to other manufacturers - no reason to prefer magill.
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,005
Location
Alberta
I have one of their Robert Hall fedoras. In fact it was my first real fedora 15 years ago. Still looks good and is holding up great. A few stores carry them locally at about the price point you stated. Very good bang for buck.
Johnny
 

59Lark

Practically Family
Messages
567
Location
Ontario, Canada
why i asked that question.

I was considering putting hats in as a side line in our store and that was the brand, that I might be able to be a agent for. ITs a small name but made in Canada and not as expensive as biltmore. Just wanted some feedback negative or otherwise and I see its just not as well known . I find them a good fedora but I wear a hat everyday and am a different hat wearer only have a black biltmore for fancy and its my funeral hat, or is that wedding hat same thing right. When i see kids going to these fashion shops and paying $5. to 58. for chinese fake fedoras. Hey spend a bit more and get the real thing. 59Lark:eek:fftopic:
 

besdor

Vendor/Sponsor
Messages
1,726
Location
up north
We looked into Magill years ago. I would stick with Biltmore 100% . Even though the price is higher, you get what you pay for. They have a line called the Senator collection that isnt expensive. The Magill hats dont look good at all. The shapes are horrible and the quality isnt much better.


Steven
www.bencrafthats.com
 

Dewhurst

Practically Family
Messages
653
Location
USA
I have no experience with Magill Hat Manu.

So why reply? Just to say that Biltmore hats are COMPLETELY worth every penny that you pay for them. They make terrific hats. My Biltmore Rosellini is easily and without any doubt my favorite hat. Ever. The quality and styling are really impressive. A joy to wear.
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
A couple of years ago I was in Calgary trying to hunt up some vintage hats & found a store in the Kensington district that had quite a few Magills. I was unimpressed. The felt was nothing to write home about & the finish work (ribbon and especially the sweat) were atrocious. Though I must say this one from their website LOOKS pretty sweet.
Untitled-1.jpg

Among Canadian hats I have had better luck with Biltmore & Smithbilt... my .o2.
 

59Lark

Practically Family
Messages
567
Location
Ontario, Canada
biltmore more expensive here in Canada.

When i look for biltmore here, even at the factory outlet, no cheaper line, everything $150. and up, i may be out to lunch or just missed the day they had the cheaper stuff where i looked. But I CANT afford $150. to $200. fedora, the expensive magill is $75. ca and wholesale is less, so its going to be magill for a while. I MIGHT be wrong but because of the dollar they actually sell biltmore for quite a bit less in the USA. That makes me lean the other way and magill quality has improved the last few years by leaps and bounds. The ones that wear are there better line that most stores dont carry. A lot of the seniors who buy fedoras scream over $50.ca so the stores carry the cheaper line. But hey the salesman who has western canada, eastern canada and southern ontario has called me back in two weeks. So who knows. 59Lark
 

RLF

New in Town
Messages
5
Location
Williamsburg, Virginia
First Post, Magill Hat

This is my first post, so I don't want to get off on the wrong foot. But, that said, I just have to weigh in on Magill hats. I wish I'd read the comments here before ordering one. I was actually looking for a brown Borsalino Alessandria in my size (7 3/8), but Bencraft was out and I couldn't find another shop that sold them. I already have a gray one and just love it. So, I did an online search and found a fellow on eBay going by the handle Caliqo (Scott Poet) who sold "Johnny Depp" hats. The photo on his page showed Depp wearing what appears to be a brown Borsalino, so I thought he could make one to my specifications. At that time I thought he was the maker. Well, I called him and we talked for a good long while and he sounded like a stand-up guy (He's affable and friendly and I certainly do not want to impugn his reputation). That's when I learned that he was simply the online presence of Magill. But, he assured me that Magill could do the job and, yes, the felt was rabbit fur and very soft and flexible, just like my Borsalino. I placed the order and paid via Paypal. About three weeks later the hat arrived. To say I was completely underwhelmed by it is an understatement. It bears absolutely no resemblance to my Borsalino, though the cost was in the same range. The Magill hat is almost as stiff as a cowboy hat and looks about the same on me. I have serious doubts that it is made of Czech rabbit fur as advertised. It certainly does not look like a fedora. It reminds me of a lower end Aussie style hat, the kind you can buy at Cabela's for about $50. I really don't know what I'm going to do with this hat. It's not my style at all. Live and learn, I guess. I just thought I'd share this experience with anyone contemplating buying from Magill.
 

danofarlington

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,122
Location
Arlington, Virginia
RLF said:
This is my first post, so I don't want to get off on the wrong foot. But, that said, I just have to weigh in on Magill hats. I wish I'd read the comments here before ordering one. I was actually looking for a brown Borsalino Alessandria in my size (7 3/8), but Bencraft was out and I couldn't find another shop that sold them. I already have a gray one and just love it. So, I did an online search and found a fellow on eBay going by the handle Caliqo (Scott Poet) who sold "Johnny Depp" hats. The photo on his page showed Depp wearing what appears to be a brown Borsalino, so I thought he could make one to my specifications. At that time I thought he was the maker. Well, I called him and we talked for a good long while and he sounded like a stand-up guy (He's affable and friendly and I certainly do not want to impugn his reputation). That's when I learned that he was simply the online presence of Magill. But, he assured me that Magill could do the job and, yes, the felt was rabbit fur and very soft and flexible, just like my Borsalino. I placed the order and paid via Paypal. About three weeks later the hat arrived. To say I was completely underwhelmed by it is an understatement. It bears absolutely no resemblance to my Borsalino, though the cost was in the same range. The Magill hat is almost as stiff as a cowboy hat and looks about the same on me. I have serious doubts that it is made of Czech rabbit fur as advertised. It certainly does not look like a fedora. It reminds me of a lower end Aussie style hat, the kind you can buy at Cabela's for about $50. I really don't know what I'm going to do with this hat. It's not my style at all. Live and learn, I guess. I just thought I'd share this experience with anyone contemplating buying from Magill.
I'm sorry to hear that. BTW Peters Brothers in Texas sells Borsalino Alessandrias, including the mink color of Johnny Depp. I have a camel one.
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Caliqo+French for "rip-off"

RLF said:
This is my first post, so I don't want to get off on the wrong foot. But, that said, I just have to weigh in on Magill hats. I wish I'd read the comments here before ordering one. I was actually looking for a brown Borsalino Alessandria in my size (7 3/8), but Bencraft was out and I couldn't find another shop that sold them. I already have a gray one and just love it. So, I did an online search and found a fellow on eBay going by the handle Caliqo (Scott Poet) who sold "Johnny Depp" hats. The photo on his page showed Depp wearing what appears to be a brown Borsalino, so I thought he could make one to my specifications. At that time I thought he was the maker. Well, I called him and we talked for a good long while and he sounded like a stand-up guy (He's affable and friendly and I certainly do not want to impugn his reputation). That's when I learned that he was simply the online presence of Magill. But, he assured me that Magill could do the job and, yes, the felt was rabbit fur and very soft and flexible, just like my Borsalino. I placed the order and paid via Paypal. About three weeks later the hat arrived. To say I was completely underwhelmed by it is an understatement. It bears absolutely no resemblance to my Borsalino, though the cost was in the same range. The Magill hat is almost as stiff as a cowboy hat and looks about the same on me. I have serious doubts that it is made of Czech rabbit fur as advertised. It certainly does not look like a fedora. It reminds me of a lower end Aussie style hat, the kind you can buy at Cabela's for about $50. I really don't know what I'm going to do with this hat. It's not my style at all. Live and learn, I guess. I just thought I'd share this experience with anyone contemplating buying from Magill.

That guy (or company) charges more than anyone I have ever see. I always thought he was F.O.S. & now I KNOW it. $150 USD for a bloody WOOL HAT? And $230 f/ fur felt. I know they have killer buds up there, so no need to ask what he's smokin'. What are the jokers that keep this clown in business smoking is what I wanna know.

59 Lark, dollah for dollah I think vintage is the way to go. It take patience tho' for us 7 3/8 & above.
 

59Lark

Practically Family
Messages
567
Location
Ontario, Canada
i pay less

Loungers ; the last magill i bought i paid wholesale but i had to buy three, i own a shop, just think half of what i said retail was, i bought a traditional fedora nothing johnny depp, and it was fine, sold one for retail after we replaced the ribbon and got enough almost to pay for three. But i only buy a traditional fedora nothing weird a 137 w, look at their website no prices for trade only, i buy a new one everyear and wear them all winter. just think i can buy 6 magill for what one biltmore retails for, roughly but make sure you like the style. 59Lark:eek:fftopic:
 

AbridgedPause

One of the Regulars
Messages
141
Location
Montreal, Canada
*I posted this in the "Bootleg vintage hats" thread but it directly relates to the Magill Hats company so I thought I would repost it here too, to make sure that everyone knows what kind of shady background this company has.


I have found a very interesting article in relation to the bootlegging of Buckley hats in Canada from 1921, which follows the article that I previously posted above two months ago. It appears that the infamous bootleggers of Buckley hats, those who put fake "Buckley" sweatbands on their own inferior quality hats, were none other than the two brothers who owned Magill Hats / Magill Hat Manufacturing.

That's the same Magill Hats company that's still around in Montreal. They've been mentioned and criticized over and over again on the Fedora Lounge by Loungers who had the misfortune of ordering their awful hats. I have been to their factory on Saint-Lawrence Boulevard in Montreal and the employees/current owners are some seriously shady and arrogant people. What they claim to be beaver felt is anything but. The quality of hats they manufacture make Bailey hats look high-quality. So I am pleased to share this article with you fellow Loungers and add to the ongoing list of their shady past. If you go to their website, they boast about their ancestor Isidor Magill who founded the company in 1895. I wonder if they knew he was a fink.

brock-buckley-hat-jpg.106016


This is a print screen of the article which appeared in Le Devoir, a francophone Montreal newspaper in April of 1921. I have translated the article for you fellow loungers bellow.

buckley-bootlegs-png.111810


"THEY CONFESS. Isidore and Jacob Magill, accused of having usurped the English trademark of Buckley, and of having used it on hats of their manufacture, appeared this morning before Judge Leet and confessed their guilt. The Drouin company, which is the sole distributor of Buckley hats in Montreal, has agreed to hand over the hats back to the accused, provided, however, that the trademark's signage is removed and that the accused pay the fees of the court. Mr. O-P Dorais represented the plaintiffs and Mr. J.-A. Budyk represented the accused."

I will even provide the direct link to the newspaper: http://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2800853?docsearchtext=buckley drouin
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
I don’t recall seeing one around here. I see they offered 40% off all hats for Black Friday so I’d definitely wait for a sale rather than pay retail.

Their European rabbit hats are likely from Tonak and their felts make decent hats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

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