German & Austrian Hutmachers

[ErWeSa]

mayserwegener - Steve - asked me to post 2 of my ancestor`s hats and so I do. He dated them to the 1920s/early 1930s and mid to late 1950s, so this could be my (great?)grandmother's (+ 1962/+ 1976) and my (grand)mother's (+ 1976/+ 2015) hats:

 

[jeffgarf]

mayserwegener - Steve - asked me to post 2 of my ancestor`s hats and so I do. He dated them to the 1920s/early 1930s and mid to late 1950s, so this could be my (great?)grandmother's and my (grand)mother's hats:

That is pretty cool that you still have those. Well done.

 

[mayserwegener]

mayserwegener - Steve - asked me to post 2 of my ancestor`s hats and so I do. He dated them to the 1920s/early 1930s and mid to late 1950s, so this could be my (great?)grandmother's (+ 1962/+ 1976) and my (grand)mother's (+ 1976/+ 2015) hats:

Wolfgang, Thank you for posting the photos!

 

[mayserwegener]

Altenburger Hut und Putz AHP GmbH, 58 cm, 1990 - 2020 (might receive more precise dating). There is no model information but it has a 4 1/2 inch Crown. I have always been interested in having one of these Altenburger Hut und Putz AHP GmbH Stiff Felt Top Hats because they looked very well made. I am fairly certain this one is made of Wool Felt, and is well finished and has the correct stiffness. The Brim Flange + Curl work are vintage Stiff Felt level. The Bow and Brim Binding are also well executed. The company was facing insolvency in 2022, but found a new owner and was renamed Altenburger Hut & Kostüm GmbH. Looking at the photos of the current models they don't look as well made as this one. Matt lives nearby so maybe he can stop by and see what they are up to. Altenburg was a major hat center up to WWII, similar to Guben. I have detailed information on my website.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Altenburger Hut und Putz AHP GmbH, 58 cm, 1990 - 2020 (might receive more precise dating). There is no model information but it has a 4 1/2 inch Crown. I have always been interested in having one of these Altenburger Hut und Putz AHP GmbH Stiff Felt Top Hats because they looked very well made. I am fairly certain this one is made of Wool Felt, and is well finished and has the correct stiffness. The Brim Flange + Curl work are vintage Stiff Felt level. The Bow and Brim Binding are also well executed. The company was facing insolvency in 2022, but found a new owner and was renamed Altenburger Hut & Kostüm GmbH. Looking at the photos of the current models they don't look as well made as this one. Matt lives nearby so maybe he can stop by and see what they are up to. Altenburg was a major hat center up to WWII, similar to Guben. I have detailed information on my website.

A truly interesting hat, Steve. Congratulations! I do indeed have connections to Altenburg, but time is always far too short. I have an article from the Altenburg daily newspaper about Hut & Putz and its hatmaker – at least for over half a year now. I've been meaning to scan and post it for a long time, but you can see I still haven't. And I've also been planning to visit and inspect the company for a long time... I'm really sorry, but I haven't had the chance, or rather, I've been putting it off.

 

[mayserwegener]

A truly interesting hat, Steve. Congratulations! I do indeed have connections to Altenburg, but time is always far too short. I have an article from the Altenburg daily newspaper about Hut & Putz and its hatmaker – at least for over half a year now. I've been meaning to scan and post it for a long time, but you can see I still haven't. And I've also been planning to visit and inspect the company for a long time... I'm really sorry, but I haven't had the chance, or rather, I've been putting it off.

Matt, Thank you! I jumped on it when I saw it listed. I checked with the seller, and he didn't know when this Stiff Felt Zylinderhut was purchased. I was just having some fun with the comment. I hope they don't go out of business before you can visit.

 

[mayserwegener]

Echter Mayser "Superbe 3 Star", 58 cm, possibly late 1950s. Made for the Mayser Flagship store "Hut-Seidel München". Anton Seidl, the owner of the J. A. Seidl hat factory took over sole ownership of the Mayser hat factory 1918. The Black Felt is finally finished and easily dry creases. This type of Bow work was common In the time period. Finally executed Brim Binding work. Excellent overall condition.

"Hut-Seidel München" had their own Paper Label. Dieses Etikett bei Nachbestellung desselben Hutes einsenden / Please use this label when reordering the same hat.

Open Crown

 

[jeffgarf]

Just in from a shipment from Italy, An Antelope Echter Mayser. The finish on this is amazing and I see that others have posted about how much they enjoy the great finish on these hats and I have to concur. I am still cleaning it up and shaping it, but it's hard to keep my grubby mitts off of it to let it settle. May even wear this to a wedding later in the week.

 

[wsmontana]

I picked up this Adolf Lindenlaub hat here in Missoula Montana just a few blocks from my house. The woman who sold it to me purchased the hat from a thrift shop in Frankfurt in 2004 when she was 16 years old.

I couldn’t find much about Adolf Lindenlaub and would appreciate any information the experts here might have on the age or any information on the hat or hat shop. I’m hesitant to dig under the sweatband for more information as the stitching seems very fragile. Obviously the box and hat have seen better days but it is very cool that something like this would show up so near by.

Also, any ideas what the small pillow was for?

 

[wsmontana]

I picked up this Adolf Lindenlaub hat here in Missoula Montana just a few blocks from my house. The woman who sold it to me purchased the hat from a thrift shop in Frankfurt in 2004 when she was 16 years old.

I couldn’t find much about Adolf Lindenlaub and would appreciate any information the experts here might have on the age or any information on the hat or hat shop. I’m hesitant to dig under the sweatband for more information as the stitching seems very fragile. Obviously the box and hat have seen better days but it is very cool that something like this would show up so near by.

Also, any ideas what the small pillow was for?
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Here are the only two images I could find online:

 

[Pellie]

Wegener Biber in grey. Very nice and soft felt. There are some issues with the sweatband, but overall in excellent condition.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Wegener Biber in grey. Very nice and soft felt. There are some issues with the sweatband, but overall in excellent condition.

Interesting to note how the hat is marked on the lining "Biber" and then on the paper label that describes the production details it is marked "Otter" which is a different animal than what is written on the lining
Steve will, for sure, clarify the enigma

 

[Pellie]

Interesting to note how the hat is marked on the lining "Biber" and then on the paper label that describes the production details it is marked "Otter" which is a different animal than what is written on the lining
Steve will, for sure, clarify the enigma

Yes!! I saw that too. I also hope Steve @mayserwegener can explain this haha.

 

[ErWeSa]

I picked up this Adolf Lindenlaub hat here in Missoula Montana just a few blocks from my house. The woman who sold it to me purchased the hat from a thrift shop in Frankfurt in 2004 when she was 16 years old.

I couldn’t find much about Adolf Lindenlaub and would appreciate any information the experts here might have on the age or any information on the hat or hat shop. I’m hesitant to dig under the sweatband for more information as the stitching seems very fragile. Obviously the box and hat have seen better days but it is very cool that something like this would show up so near by.

Also, any ideas what the small pillow was for?
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The velvet "pillow" is used to "polish" the top hat - you pass it over the silk-fibres and get a very shiney top hat. These can be repaired, BTW, i. e. the dent could be ironed out, see here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/toppers-unite.36577/page-71#post-3167803, post # 1410 ff.

 

[wsmontana]

The velvet "pillow" is used to "polish" the top hat - you pass it over the silk-fibres and get a very shiney top hat. These can be repaired, BTW, i. e. the dent could be ironed out, see here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/toppers-unite.36577/page-71#post-3167803, post # 1410 ff.

Thanks!

 

[mayserwegener]

I picked up this Adolf Lindenlaub hat here in Missoula Montana just a few blocks from my house. The woman who sold it to me purchased the hat from a thrift shop in Frankfurt in 2004 when she was 16 years old.

I couldn’t find much about Adolf Lindenlaub and would appreciate any information the experts here might have on the age or any information on the hat or hat shop. I’m hesitant to dig under the sweatband for more information as the stitching seems very fragile. Obviously the box and hat have seen better days but it is very cool that something like this would show up so near by.

Also, any ideas what the small pillow was for?
View attachment 722635 View attachment 722636 View attachment 722637 View attachment 722638 View attachment 722639 View attachment 722640 View attachment 722641

Great find! It's hard to know who made it. Is there a paper label behind the sweatband (at the rear or rear sides)? Be careful not to damage the sweatband.

 

[mayserwegener]

Wegener Biber in grey. Very nice and soft felt. There are some issues with the sweatband, but overall in excellent condition.
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Marcel, Super find! It could be beaver or a mix or rabbit / hare. R. & M. Wegener did have a connection with Resistol USA so it might have been a factor in using beaver. From the photo the felt looks dense. I doubt that it was made from Otter. The R. & M. Wegener paper label Quality wording is not straight forward. My guess is it is from the early 1970s.

 

[mayserwegener]

Hückel Weilheim, "?" , 57 cm, possibly late 1950s. Unfortunately it has some heavy wear to the thin ribbon due to sweat + dirt collection. Also the liner is torn so the model information is missing. Other than that it's in good condition. The taupe color felt has a fine finish + easily dry creases. Also very nice brim binding work and an interesting thin ribbon + bow. This Soft Felt came with my recent Mayser "Superbe 3 Star" (which is in pristine condition) and they were from the same original owner.

Open Crown

 

[Pellie]

Marcel, Super find! It could be beaver or a mix or rabbit / hare. R. & M. Wegener did have a connection with Resistol USA so it might have been a factor in using beaver. From the photo the felt looks dense. I doubt that it was made from Otter. The R. & M. Wegener paper label Quality wording is not straight forward. My guess is it is from the early 1970s.

Thanks for the information Steve.

 

[wsmontana]

Great find! It's hard to know who made it. Is there a paper label behind the sweatband (at the rear or rear sides)? Be careful not to damage the sweatband.

Unfortunately, no paper label was found but I wasn’t able to dig too deeply without popping more stitches.

I did find a stamped 7 1/2 and a 5 on the inside. I assume the 5 is for the size as the circumference is 22 3/8”. Not sure what the 7 1/2 is for.

The hat and box has little value to me (even if restored) but I felt it was worth rescuing from the trash bin. The lady who sold it to me was sad that her sentimental treasure generated little interest at her garage sale :-(. I paid her asking price of $25 and promised I would find an appreciative new owner. To that end, I’d be happy to pass it along to an appreciative new owner for my cost of $25 + shipping. The hat box will fit in a box less than a cubic foot so shipping shouldn’t be too crazy. Message me if interested .

if there is no interest, I will take a shot at restoring the hat and box as a learning experience. I have no experience with restoring top hats but how hard can it be .