Steed's Bowler- Herbert Johnson

geo · Nov 7, 2006

I've been wondering for a long time who made John Steed's bowler, but now I found this picture:

From the liner, it's an HJ. HJ still sells a black and a light grey bowler: http://swaineadeney.co.uk//perl2/v2.cgi?page=/catalogue/details.html&productid=416&sectiontoken=herbert-johnson-hats

Dinerman · Nov 7, 2006

The picture on their website is awful! It's so grainy and it makes it look like there's a huge mothbite through the crown on the back.

Marc Chevalier · Nov 7, 2006

I'm not a fan of 1960s bowlers: too low a crown, too stingy a brim for me.

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The Duke · Nov 7, 2006

I believe he wore James Lock & Company Bowlers as well.

Harp · Nov 7, 2006

Steed

John Steed epitomized the Coldstream Guards officer; elegantly attired
and topped by a bowler, the regimental civil dress lid.

geo · Nov 8, 2006

The crown doesn't look low to me.

Lock's bowlers have a wider and flatter brim.

Marc Chevalier · Nov 8, 2006

geo said:
The crown doesn't look low to me.

Just a matter of personal preference. I'm a fan of the late 19th-early 20th century high crowned bowlers.

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Marc Chevalier · Nov 9, 2006

.

This is the high-crowned bowler hat style that I prefer: http://cgi.ebay.com/EARLY-1900-MANS...7QQihZ008QQcategoryZ14065QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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The Duke · Nov 9, 2006

Hey Marc,

I have a bowler similar to that, it has a high crown, but the one you posted looks better and my size too.

Marc Chevalier · Nov 9, 2006

That one on eBay went for a very low price -- and it was a relatively large size for a late 19th/early 20th century bowler! Ones from that era usually go for at least $60. I should have bid on it ... [huh]

.

EricH · Nov 9, 2006

Pardon me, but bowler lover that I am, was I the only one more interested in watching Emma Peel? Granted I am a huge fan of John Steed, but I must admit I didn't care nearly as much about how well his hat and suit fit as I did about how well Mrs. Peel's suit fit .

Thanks Geo for bringing back some fond memories.

Eric

Matt Deckard · Nov 9, 2006

We had a thread on this a while back The bowler is refered to as a Locke hat in one of the later episodes, though I remember the liner shot from that episode which clearly shows it is a Herbert johnson Bowler. Locke is proud of their furry finish, so when you see the furry ones in the show I usually think they are Locke hats.

I have a few bowlers of my own and one is a Locke whcih I show here and wear around now and again.

Pilgrim · Nov 9, 2006

I believe I once read that much of Steed's wardrobe was actually made for Macnee by his personal tailor.

Macnee's web page is found here.

An amusing excerpt from his web bio: "Patrick then entered Eton College, where apart from an active role with the school's dramatic society, he distinguished himself as the leading bookie and pornographer on campus -- and was promptly expelled."

Marc Chevalier · Nov 9, 2006

Pilgrim said:
"Patrick then entered Eton College, where apart from an active role with the school's dramatic society, he distinguished himself as the leading bookie and pornographer on campus -- and was promptly expelled ...."

... due to his active role with the dramatic society, no doubt

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Jay · Nov 9, 2006

I was at an antique store a while back and they had a couple bowlers from...I think 1909 was the date. I noticed that each of them had several small holes punched in the top in a circular pattern. Is this for venilation? I don't think I've heard about them before. Then again, I tend to be more of a snap-brim kind of guy.

Marc Chevalier · Nov 9, 2006

Jay said:
I noticed that each of them had several small holes punched in the top in a circular pattern. Is this for ventilation?

Yes. Good for the summer.

For the same reason, some top hats were made with a small round ventilation hole at the top. The hole was usually covered by a round, ringed mesh filter made of metal. These hats show up on eBay from time to time.

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Jay · Nov 9, 2006

Fascinating. Thanks for the quick response.

Marc Chevalier · Nov 9, 2006

Always a pleasure.

If you look closely at the photo below, you'll see the hole in the top of the crown:

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John in Covina · Nov 9, 2006

Ventilated

Marc Chevalier said:
Always a pleasure. If you look closely at the photo below, you'll see the hole in the top of the crown:

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**********
I thought it was the bullet hole from the assassin gun!
"Most unusual Holmes! Shot from directly above! A hot air balloon perhaps!"

Seems that ventilation and hats go way back.

Topper · Nov 9, 2006

There were a number of different ways patented to provide ventilation in a Topper. The most common I have seen is as per one above.

One theory is these the hats with ventilation may be more associated with working class, such as coachmen who wore the hat all the time. As this method was practical but also took away the beauty of the hat.

Other more discreet ways consisted of having holes around the lower crown and covering them up with the outer hatband. Allowing the air to circulate inside the hat.

As to Steeds bowler – A number were made. The Label may be HJ in some though unsure if all were. I do know someone/firm who made at least one of his bowlers, and they still make hats today!

Steed's Bowler- Herbert Johnson

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