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" The Great British Hat Makers "

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,306
Location
Denmark
Many thanks Steve, it is always a pleasure know more about hats makers

You're welcome, Daniele.
As an addition, this from Penny McKnight's book "Stockport Hatting".
I would place your Tress & Co hat to before 2000, so ca. 1990s. IMG_20201013_210657.jpg IMG_20201013_210351.jpg
 

Christopher Smith

New in Town
Messages
39
Hello everyone! Just got this Herbert Johnson for Brooks Brothers fedora from eBay. I was told I should post it here when it arrived. I also posted a few pictures of it in the "Dating your hat" thread to see if anyone could put a date on it. From what I found it looks like this hat is from 1969, based on the small sticker that reads "69" that I found under the sweatband. If anyone has any further information for me that would be really great!

Edit: Just added another photo. It's a tag under the lining that shows 7 5/8 col. Cobalt No. 8741 Style 421. Wondering if this could be any help in finding out how old it is.
 

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Last edited:
Messages
17,855
Location
Nederland
Hello everyone! Just got this Herbert Johnson for Brooks Brothers fedora from eBay. I was told I should post it here when it arrived. I also posted a few pictures of it in the "Dating your hat" thread to see if anyone could put a date on it. From what I found it looks like this hat is from 1969, based on the small sticker that reads "69" that I found under the sweatband. If anyone has any further information for me that would be really great!
Great looking hat and a nice find in that size for sure. I doubt that the label refers to the year of manufacture though. But almost certainly an older hat.
 

Christopher Smith

New in Town
Messages
39
Thanks! I'd like to think it's older than 1969 but honestly I'm not sure. I know Herbert Johnson was located at 38 New Bond Street until 1975 in which case the 69 would make sense. The lining also reads "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen" which would imply this was after Queen Elizabeth II became queen so after 52-53 something like that. Does anyone think it's worth a try contacting Herbert Johnson directly?
Great looking hat and a nice find in that size for sure. I doubt that the label refers to the year of manufacture though. But almost certainly an older hat.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,306
Location
Denmark
Always worth a try, so try it.
Based on the style, I'd definitely say older than 1969. Approximately 10 years older in fact.

Thanks! I'd like to think it's older than 1969 but honestly I'm not sure. I know Herbert Johnson was located at 38 New Bond Street until 1975 in which case the 69 would make sense. The lining also reads "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen" which would imply this was after Queen Elizabeth II became queen so after 52-53 something like that. Does anyone think it's worth a try contacting Herbert Johnson directly?
 

Christopher Smith

New in Town
Messages
39
Always worth a try, so try it.
Based on the style, I'd definitely say older than 1969. Approximately 10 years older in fact.
Thanks Steve! I reached out to them yesterday. They got back to me this morning saying that the old records, including model numbers would have been retained or destroyed by the previous owner each time the company changed ownership, so the people who work there now have no way of dating the hat on their end. They said I could try contacting Brooks Brothers, see if they had any information. I just reached out to them. By the way, this might be a more appropriate question for the "dating your hat" thread, but what factors do you look for when dating a vintage hat? I get looking at the address on the label, and looking at the fact that this refers to "Her Majesty the Queen" placing the hat within the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. What other factors do you look for that would make this a 50's hat? I've been collecting hats for awhile now but there's still so much I have to learn.
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
Yesterday I spent a lot of time at medical appointments, doctor in the morning, oral surgeon in the afternoon. Getting a tune up of medications for my decrepit body and some needed work on a broken molar that lost its crown (in 2019, back surgery and Covid has delayed this hell). Not looking forward to the next couple of weeks to say the least. I felt the need for a proper English Homburg to meet the doctors with. This one is by Joseph Wilson and has a "heathered" felt. Probably mid 1950s. This gem came my way via Stefan Steur a while back, I love it. This hat made me feel better... I'll be out in the freezing cold today collecting the new drugs.

26Oct20 Wilson Homburg smile 550x.jpg
26Oct20 Wilson Homburg side 550x.jpg
26Oct20 Wilson Homburg brim 550x.jpg
wilson homburg_07 450x.jpg
wilson homburg_10 450x.jpg
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,306
Location
Denmark
That is one nice looking Wilson, Mike. Hope the drugs make your aches and pains feel better, too.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time at medical appointments, doctor in the morning, oral surgeon in the afternoon. Getting a tune up of medications for my decrepit body and some needed work on a broken molar that lost its crown (in 2019, back surgery and Covid has delayed this hell). Not looking forward to the next couple of weeks to say the least. I felt the need for a proper English Homburg to meet the doctors with. This one is by Joseph Wilson and has a "heathered" felt. Probably mid 1950s. This gem came my way via Stefan Steur a while back, I love it. This hat made me feel better... I'll be out in the freezing cold today collecting the new drugs.

View attachment 274667 View attachment 274668 View attachment 274669 View attachment 274670 View attachment 274671
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,306
Location
Denmark
Various clues can give an idea of the date of a hat. It depends to an extent on the actual maker. You mention some of them. Labels, font, type of sweat band, style, quality of the felt, etc. All can be used to help with dating. However, without an actual date stamp, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly. Doesn't stop us trying though :)

Thanks Steve! I reached out to them yesterday. They got back to me this morning saying that the old records, including model numbers would have been retained or destroyed by the previous owner each time the company changed ownership, so the people who work there now have no way of dating the hat on their end. They said I could try contacting Brooks Brothers, see if they had any information. I just reached out to them. By the way, this might be a more appropriate question for the "dating your hat" thread, but what factors do you look for when dating a vintage hat? I get looking at the address on the label, and looking at the fact that this refers to "Her Majesty the Queen" placing the hat within the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. What other factors do you look for that would make this a 50's hat? I've been collecting hats for awhile now but there's still so much I have to learn.
 

daizawaguy

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,661
Location
Tokyo

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,306
Location
Denmark
Messages
17,855
Location
Nederland
Messages
17,855
Location
Nederland
I didn't expect all that much of this one as I made the deal for the other one. I was wrong.
Scott&Co (liner) or Scotts (sweatband) Bruton beaver blend in St James blue. Size 57 with the overwelt (?) brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 10,5 at the center dent. It is not as common for European hats to advertise beaver fur as a felt feature. This one does, so uncommon for that alone. The felt has that moldability you'd expect from a beaver felt, without it being stiff. So an excellent felt with a great hand as well. The very narrow overwelt brim is done to a high standard with some sort of blind stitch to finish it off.
I don't see Scott&Co all that often and the other one I had was a nice enough hat, but not of this quality.

scott-beaver_01-jpg.290955
scott-beaver_02-jpg.290956
scott-beaver_03-jpg.290957
scott-beaver_04-jpg.290958
scott-beaver_06-jpg.290959
scott-beaver_07-jpg.290960
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scott-beaver_12-jpg.290964

scott-beaver0-jpg.290968
 

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