Demon Hanover by Hoyt Hats.

Frunobulax said:

I struggled for a few days before stretching it. Unreeded sweats can be tricky. I was very close to diverting it your way.

I think you're right about the employees, but I think the production run was for a few years. I subscribe to the theory that the reorder tag has a date. This one would be March, 1953. My previous one is marked September, 1951.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

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AbbaDatDeHat said:

Good point on the date hypothesis, i agree. I was just trying to pump up the mystery, oh my gosh factor, and had an in!! Ha ha
I appreciate you keeping me in mind but i am glad you got it in shape to wear.
I promise not to tell anyone about that furnace pipe clamp contraption you used to make your head fit!! Pinky swear!
Now, finding where that one with the box and tie and part of the Demons’s tail is will be harder then finding an Ermine!! I’m keep an eye out!
Glappy for ya.
B

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Frunobulax said:

Lightning strikes twice. This one came up with a very low price and I nabbed it. It's a size small at 7 1/8, but a little gentle stretching made it mine with no harm done to the hat. Cleaned it in naphtha (turned the darn stuff black), stretched it a bit, reblocked it, and now I have two!

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There is a weak spot in the felt from it's previous handling, but I think it will survive.

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moehawk said:

Nice score!
One more and you'll have a herd!

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AbbaDatDeHat said:

I could be wrong but it seems to me i read where Hoyt made one of these hats for each of his employees in celebration of winning the Hambletonian, the greatest of all harness races.

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Frunobulax said:

I think the production run was for a few years.

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Frunobulax said:

Yeah, I wonder if anybody ever bought that set with the tie and all.

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Snowman said:

Just saw one of these on the Bay. It’s WAY too rich for my blood, though.

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Frunobulax said:

It's been on there off and on for a couple years. It used to be $1500. I have had a couple of convos with him about its value, but it fell on deaf ears. The fact is, despite their rarity, they don't seem to command a high value on eBay. I think I shelled out ~$135 for my first one and less than $100
for the second. I have seen the boxes go for $100+, though, and I could use a couple of those!

Max offered him $200 for it at one time; he should have taken it.

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seabass said:

I have a real nice one. This has been safely stored a very long time no box though I really like the color as it has a hint of peach
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Che

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seabass said:

I have a real nice one. This has been safely stored a very long time no box though I really like the color as it has a hint of peach
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Che

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Frunobulax said:

That's a fine one in great condition, Che.

The seller just sent me an offer of $100 off! Oh boy.

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Frunobulax said:

That's a fine one in great condition, Che.

The seller just sent me an offer of $100 off! Oh boy.

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Snowman said:

I received that amazing offer too! I could barely contain myself.

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gilligan said:

I thought everyone would enjoy this. I just started posting on this forum and I wanted to show you one of my prize fedoras. About seven years ago, I picked this Hoyt Demon Hanover Hat off of ebay for less than $100.00. At the time, I was just getting started in acquiring hats so I had no idea what I was bidding on. I was the only one bidding on it and I was just thrilled to get a vintage fedora for a small price.
Later I found out what the hat was and to this day I can honestly say I hit the honey hole on this one. I had JJ Hat Center in New York City put a new liner, sweat band, wind cord and ribbon on it. Other than that, the hat was in really great shape. I still have the original parts. For years I kept it in the box because I was afraid it may get ruined but lately I started wearing it. I am positive deals like this only View attachment 498518 View attachment 498517 come along once in a lifetime.

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