Boater faction!

[MikeinRome]

Now THIS is how you bring back the boater to the public consciousness!

(From the Met Gala, not my copyright - I present, Miss Jennie Kim)

At least you didn't say, "I sure would like to boat her!"

 

[jeffgarf]

At least you didn't say, "I sure would like to boat her!"

Heavens! We are gentlemen (and ladies occasionally), are we not?

 

[Bill Hughes]

I managed a few more photos. The straw seems so delicate!

There is no writing on with side of the brown leather. I did find a couple of tags under the netting - just numbers.
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This person lives close to Texas Instruments (my workplace) and I was able to see the hat in person. Now I have another boater. The straw is pretty awesome but the bow was shabby looking. I decided to replace the bow.

 

[Blare]

This person lives close to Texas Instruments (my workplace) and I was able to see the hat in person. Now I have another boater. The straw is pretty awesome but the bow was shabby looking. I decided to replace the bow.

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What a weave!

 

[alanfgag]

Some photos of the newly arrived Swann boater. It follows the same direction as the hat posted by @Bill Hughes just above - a wonderful specimen of early 20th century exotic straw construction. Before cleaning it up a bit I put it on the scale with a similar era yeddo straw for contrast. The Yeddo weighed in at 2.8 ounces - the Swann was a full 5 ounces heavier. Swann-Abraham (later shorted to Swann-Abram) is a well known Louisville hat company and provider of headwear to the Kentucky Derby crowds. Their building still exists today as the site of the Hotel Grady.

 

[MikeinRome]

Some photos of the newly arrived Swann boater. It follows the same direction as the hat posted by @Bill Hughes just above - a wonderful specimen of early 20th century exotic straw construction. Before cleaning it up a bit I put it on the scale with a similar era yeddo straw for contrast. The Yeddo weighed in at 2.8 ounces - the Swann was a full 5 ounces heavier. Swann-Abraham (later shorted to Swann-Abram) is a well known Louisville hat company and provider of headwear to the Kentucky Derby crowds. Their building still exists today as the site of the Hotel Grady.

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You look right at home in that hat, Alan!

 

[Blare]

Some photos of the newly arrived Swann boater. It follows the same direction as the hat posted by @Bill Hughes just above - a wonderful specimen of early 20th century exotic straw construction. Before cleaning it up a bit I put it on the scale with a similar era yeddo straw for contrast. The Yeddo weighed in at 2.8 ounces - the Swann was a full 5 ounces heavier. Swann-Abraham (later shorted to Swann-Abram) is a well known Louisville hat company and provider of headwear to the Kentucky Derby crowds. Their building still exists today as the site of the Hotel Grady.

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What a gorgeous weave!

 

[alanfgag]

What a gorgeous weave!

Isn't it something? I wish I could have been a fly in the factory that made this.

 

[Steve1857]

Some photos of the newly arrived Swann boater. It follows the same direction as the hat posted by @Bill Hughes just above - a wonderful specimen of early 20th century exotic straw construction. Before cleaning it up a bit I put it on the scale with a similar era yeddo straw for contrast. The Yeddo weighed in at 2.8 ounces - the Swann was a full 5 ounces heavier. Swann-Abraham (later shorted to Swann-Abram) is a well known Louisville hat company and provider of headwear to the Kentucky Derby crowds. Their building still exists today as the site of the Hotel Grady.

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What an absolutely fabulous find, Alan.

Super looking weave. You can sense how heavy it is just from the photos.
A hat with a history is always a plus, too.

Congrats!

 

[alanfgag]

What an absolutely fabulous find, Alan.

Super looking weave. You can sense how heavy it is just from the photos.
A hat with a history is always a plus, too.

Congrats!

Thank you Steve. I don’t add much to my collection these days but I find myself most tempted by boaters and derbies. These have also become my favorite hats to wear.

 

[Cuvier]

Well I bought a new old boater. It's in great shape and fits like it was made for me.
Can anyone tell me what I got?

 

[cazares]

Well I bought a new old boater. It's in great shape and fits like it was made for me.
Can anyone tell me what I got?
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I bought myself a very similar-looking hat too, with the only exception being the liner. Mine is a Ponte Rialto Venice. From what I’ve been able to gather, it was probably made in the mid-20th century. A keper for sure!

 

[Steve1857]

I bought myself a very similar-looking hat too, with the only exception being the liner. Mine is a Ponte Rialto Venice. From what I’ve been able to gather, it was probably made in the mid-20th century. A keper for sure!

Congrats. Can we see photos?

 

[Steve1857]

Well I bought a new old boater. It's in great shape and fits like it was made for me.
Can anyone tell me what I got?
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I think you got yourself a really nice Boater there, Cuvier, congrats!

It's perhaps not as old as it appears to be, but looks nicely made. The contrasting ribbon and bow treatment is particularly atttractive.

The Bon-Ton Ivy is a nice touch, but doesn't look as it did back in the 20s to 30s. The material sweatband with "Made in Italy" also suggests a more modern date of manufacture. The liner logo, too, while nice, looks somewhat more modern than old.

Are there any labels under the sweatband?

Whatever its age, it's a fine looking Boater!

 

[cazares]

Congrats. Can we see photos?

 

[Steve1857]

Nice find. As you mentioned it's similar to @Cuvier 's Boater. Probably made by the same company by the look of it with just a different liner logo.

Any labels under the sweatband?

 

[Cuvier]

I think you got yourself a really nice Boater there, Cuvier, congrats!

It's perhaps not as old as it appears to be, but looks nicely made. The contrasting ribbon and bow treatment is particularly atttractive.

The Bon-Ton Ivy is a nice touch, but doesn't look as it did back in the 20s to 30s. The material sweatband with "Made in Italy" also suggests a more modern date of manufacture. The liner logo, too, while nice, looks somewhat more modern than old.

Are there any labels under the sweatband?

Whatever its age, it's a fine looking Boater!

I don't think mine is all that old. I just liked the looks of it. There's no markings I could find under the sweat. There was another boater at that antique store but it was rather cheap looking.

 

[Steve1857]

I don't think mine is all that old. I just liked the looks of it. There's no markings I could find under the sweat. There was another boater at that antique store but it was rather cheap looking.

I like the look of it, too. You did well to buy it.

 

[Matthew S.]

With "official" Felt Hat Day tomorrow, I'd like to share an up-close look at my Superfine Knox which has survived straw hat season. This was my new (to me) straw hat this year and, with a semi-stiff consistency and beautiful braided design, it's become a favorite. I've found that a "Sizor" adjustability label on the "Comfit" sweatband dates the hat to c. 1940.

The original hatband (or, at least, the hatband I got with it) is a maroon-navy stripe that unfortunately is showing some wear, and I've mostly switched it out for the solid black band from my "Disney" (New York) straw and the aubergine band from my "Copley."

As I personally am sad to bid the season adieu, especially with it being warm, pleasant, and plenty sunny today (here in Massachusetts), I am tempted to rebel against custom one of these days (we shall see!).

 

[Matthew S.]

Well, though I dutifully switched to felt for the past couple days, I finally decided to break with custom while inspired by a centennial example:

One hundred years ago, to the day, on September 18, 1925, U. S. President Calvin Coolidge dared to wear his straw for an afternoon stroll after September 15—making front page news and reportedly giving some befuddlement to the hat industry. Certainly makes you think... was it not Big Hat that prescribed these "official" dates for a sales boost? The cynic says yes, so I'm taking a page from Mr. Coolidge and plan to wear the straw tomorrow too. Then I suppose it's back to felt (we shall see!) and... I could (honestly!) use a new felt from Big Hat!

To close here I have a picture of me today, in my Knox straw—and as a detachable collar enthusiast, I feel obliged to mention my Cluett, Peabody, & Co. "Archer" Arrow (starched by yours truly!).