The Bowler or Derby Hat

mayserwegener · Apr 28, 2014

Josh, Fantastic old Baird & Levi Brown Derby! The binding work is similar to Garrett's Knox Style Derby (also same time period). Great that you were able to find the background historical information.

OCMH, Super Dunn & Co. Bowler!

Chepstow · Apr 29, 2014

Super. Bowler and Derby, Josh and Of!
Congrats!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

1mach1 · Apr 29, 2014

:arated:

bowlerman · Apr 29, 2014

FANTASTIC. I prefer brown derbies to black. Both of those are really amazing, Josh and OCMH.

I took this photo last week, while repairing my English Horn. I had absolutely no reason to be doing it while wearing my Knudsen Hats Bat Masterson derby, but... oh well.

1mach1 · Apr 29, 2014

^ Nice derby, Jeff. I like the brown ones better as well. Love the photo. For a second, I thought you were repairing your lightsaber.

ManofKent · Apr 30, 2014

1mach1 said:
^ Nice derby, Jeff. I like the brown ones better as well. Love the photo. For a second, I thought you were repairing your lightsaber.

The force is strong in that hat

Garrett · Apr 30, 2014

but he is not a Jedi..yet

Zombie_61 · Apr 30, 2014

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good bowler on your head, kid.

CaramelSmoothie · Apr 30, 2014

Huertecilla said:
That leads to the second surprise which was the guest who had been the owner/managing director of a large hat manufacturing company in Soho, London for many decades.
His wife was over the moon so happy as her husband came to life with sparkling eyes talking about the hat making.
Long and interesting stories short:
- He immediately poored out detailed info about the felt my hat was made of, which animals furs were blended in and how he finish was called.
- He had provided the four straight top indy hats and had the task to replicate them for the second movie. The enigma about the blocks getting lost had a simple basis answer too. I was flabbergasted about it all. Of me hearing it directly from thé guys mouth.
- Allthough he had in the end liquidated when the hat making business had collapsed* because of chinese imports, he had gone to rediculous lengths/cost to haul two machines over to his villa at the coast.
Lastly, upon saying goodby, he not only invited me for a diner and hat talk at his house but;'I still have an 1850s bowler with low top and you can have that.'

* very soon after ww2 womens' hats became the main stay, the bread and butter of his company despite military contracts. As time progresses daily wear by ladies disappeared but the death knell of it all came when the ladies did not dig into their purses anymore for weddings and parties but bought a cheaper chinese lookalike for the day.
This echos the stories I have been told over here: like Isesa would have disappeared alltogether is not for the main stay of jewish traditional hats.

This is some very interesting information. I wish you had pictures of yourself as well as the other people at this get together. not surprised that the cheap chinese imports killing the industry.

Huertecilla · Apr 30, 2014

CaramelSmoothie said:
This is some very interesting information.

As the man was a forth generation miliner and ever so proud on that word and the origins of that since his greatgrandfather was a liiner from Milan, he has SO much to share. I am very much looking forward to diner at his villa for that too.

His gem on 'the missing writer's block' was just one thing.

I wish you had pictures of yourself

Yes, I regret that too. I am generally not into taking fotos as the experience is between your ears anyway.
It looks like I may drop by at hers this evening so .. pictue of me perhaps? To avoid forgetting the camera I will put it next to my mobile and to avoid forgetting them both

, my car keys on top.

Back to bowlers, I will NOT forget to take the camera when I go 'collect' the Victorian original.

Huertecilla · May 10, 2014

Great reading this topic.
When reading up on bowlers the history bowled me over.
I am deeply involved with horse riding and o.a. have witten a book about 'the game keepers dog': the bowler was invented as a safety hat for horse riding game keepers...

Just one other example of the tudududu experiences and hatventures.
The last one is that a distant family member with the same family name had a small felt and leather factory around the turn of the 19th into 20th c. and that great grandma on that side was a hatter.

Back on topic I am now looking for a wearable bowler.

johnnycanuck · May 10, 2014

I find it interesting that the bowler was very prominent hat the turn of last century even in Alberta. Looking at the archives photos, the bower and boater still seemed to be very common with town people. Even wider brimmed bowlers with the working class.
Johnny

Matt Deckard · May 10, 2014

Ballcap of its day, and very easy city wear.

Huertecilla · May 10, 2014

johnnycanuck said:
I find it interesting that the bowler was very prominent hat the turn of last century even in Alberta. Looking at the archives photos, the bower and boater still seemed to be very common with town people. Even wider brimmed bowlers with the working class.
Johnny

It was the hat that made the West.

countryclubjoe · May 10, 2014

I presently only own 1 bowler and I only wear the aforementioned bowler when I wear a suit, never with simply a blazer and trousers.
The bowler to me feels more of a formal look where a fedora can be worn with anything a wearer wishes to wear...
I actual enjoy wearing my bowler simply because I feel it is quit unique and I must add quit stylish... On a side note, I have yet to encounter anyone sporting a bowler, or a Homburg for that matter... May be when they start making cheap looking wool models of each I will see some out there. LOL-- I plan to add one more to my collection either a gray or brown, currently have black.
My .02

Regards
CCJ

Brad Bowers · May 10, 2014

The Derby was the hat that won the American West! Bowlers are for those folks on the other side of the Atlantic.

Zombie_61 · May 11, 2014

countryclubjoe said:
...On a side note, I have yet to encounter anyone sporting a bowler, or a Homburg for that matter... May be when they start making cheap looking wool models of each I will see some out there. LOL...

Most Americans that I know associate bowlers with two things--"prim and proper" Brits, and Laurel and Hardy. Either way, I don't think we'll be seeing much of a resurgence on this side of the pond unless they start handing them out free at sporting events emblazoned with the teams' logos.

hwell:

guitarmasta12 · May 13, 2014

Well for historical purposes. I have a derby and I don't know the brand of it. It is a beautiful hat. It needs work.

ofcoursemyhorse · May 13, 2014

[

Garrett · May 13, 2014

Alex, is that the Bagnara? Stunning, indeed! :eusa_clap

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