Hat Center (UK) quality?

[Chuck Bobuck]

What are the dimensions of the crown and brim? Where is it made?

 

[Ordinary Guy]

What are the dimensions of the crown and brim? Where is it made?

Brim in front 2 1/4" and in front from the brim to top of crown 4". Brim on the side at it's highest point is 4 3/4" .. I can not determine where it is made. [huh]

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

Brim in front 2 1/4" and in front from the brim to top of crown 4". Brim on the side at it's highest point is 4 3/4" .. I can not determine where it is made. [huh]

Thanks for the dimensions. I contacted Hatcentre and they replied saying the hat is made in the Czech Republic.

 

[Fletch]

Brim on the side at it's highest point is 4 3/4"

Don't you mean crown?

 

[Ordinary Guy]

Don't you mean crown?

Yes I did ,

I hate it when I'm stupid

Fletch did you get one of these hats?????

 

[Fletch]

Not yet. I'm surprised by the low crown - not much higher than a modern job. I may pick one up, tho, especially because of the unusual colors offered.

 

[Jauntyone]

My Hat Centre hat arrived to-day.
Overall, I think it's a real bargain for the money. Here are my impressions:

Negative:
Sweatband is top-stitched at the brim-break, not stitched higher up and through the reed as are most American hats. This is my main gripe against European hats.
The crown is rather tapered. Not necessarily bad, but most here at the Lounge prefer a straight-sided crown.
Snug fit; I ordered a size up from my normal size and it fits just right.
Liner has been glued in.
The stitches on the ribbon are not hidden, but they are discreet and well executed.
No feather .

Positive:
Low price.
Smooth, dense felt
Good workmanship and finishing throughout. Not too many loose threads.
Lots of little extras that are reserved for high-quality hats like: wind trolley, plastic sweatguard between leather sweatband and felt, faux adjustable bow at the back of the sweatband, retractable "locker-loop" that you can use to hang up your hat (at least that's what I think it's for).
Really nice quality leather sweatband.

The crown measures exactly 4 3/8" at the front pinch and the brim measures 2 1/4".
This hat really resembles a Tonak hat which I have in both form and workmanship.
Here are a few quick pictures before I go off to work:

Of course, we'll see how it holds up to the rain and humidity of the Picardy region. After several days of heavy rain, my Stetson Nostalgia tapered severely. My Vintage Silhouettes fedora just got a bit softer but hasn't tpered at all. Perhaps I should treat this hat with a water-repellant spray.
I do wish it was blocked with bit less taper, but I think it's proportioned to go well with the very slim-fitting suits that are sold in Europe.

 

[mayserwegener]

retractable "locker-loop" that you can use to hang up your hat (at least that's what I think it's for).

Yes that is what it is for. A vintage Hückel of mine has the same thing. Also a few vintage Habigs. Looks like they are stepping back in time with the sweat band.

1930s Hückel with the same thread loop (pulled out position).

 

[daizawaguy]

Very nice JO, and IU think it suits your suits (pun intended) for daily wear. The good thing about having some taper, is you get to appreciate the non-tapered ones, and it gives some change in the look. Great hat for the price:eusa_clap

 

[daizawaguy]

Just to confirm...that`s the Classic Fedora in Tan?

Also, I have to admit when I first read this thread a few days ago, I confused it with Hornet hats...anyone have any idea on the difference in quality between the two?

 

[Jauntyone]

Yes, Classic Fedora in tan. The Christys' hats I got from Hornets are of comparable quality as far as the felt is concerened, but the sweatbands were not carefully installed.

 

[Ordinary Guy]

You guys just had to resurrect this post.....

Never do that to an addict... I Ordered another hat from here....

I got the Brown and it is a nice deep rich brown.....

I will post pics as soon as I charge the battery in my camera.......

 

[Jauntyone]

Good for you, Ordinary Guy! I look forward to seeing your pictures. I, too, am thinking of ordering a second hat. I'm curious about their summer hats; specifically the ones made of "Dralon".
The hat I have really makes me think of a British trilby style hat. Something like this fellow is wearing:

Maybe it's the tapered crown or the tight snap in the brim. I think these are sharp little hats for the price!

 

[Jauntyone]

It looks like the Hat Centre folks have gotten in a few new styles, including this line of open-crown hats:

http://www.hatcentre.co.uk/open-crown-fedora-brown-p-222.html

I think I'm going to have to order one of these!

 

[lecky]

I've just got back from visiting The Hat Centre, in Stoke Newington. It's a nice place to visit, and I like their hats. Ari, the proprietor is very friendly and happy to share his knowledge about hats. I tried on a good few of his hats. The open crown ones are good value, nice and soft felt, the crown isn't very high, and they'd need some moisture to set a crease. I liked the soft almost velvety finish of the antelope hats, but came away with a black melusine model - essentially the same shape as the hats earlier in this thread, the felt is stiffer I think, but it's comfortable. The melusine is velvety, and I guess it'll get better still with care in brushing it, or could be polished up like a melusine topper. I also got a rather high crowned optimo that Ari had tucked away I suspect for a good few years. I really recommend paying Ari a visit if you're in London.

 

[Edward]

I bought a silver-grey version of the hat in the OP a couple of years ago. Nice hat. The ribbon is a silver grey rather than a black, which makes it more flexible, to my eye, when pairing with earthtones. Only downside is I wore it out on too hot a day once and sweated through the ribbon - it now has a couple of stains I really should have cleaned up. Like almost all hats these days, it has a white liner and white bow inside, which while not a dealbreaker is a pet hate of mine. I shave my head and thus have no hair to soak up any natural oils that come out of my head. White liners stain and look grubby easily. I wish the standard was a deep wine, or even a black. Surely that can't be more expensive? The furfelt is nice - comparable to my Akubra Rap (pork pie) model. Not as good as hat as my Federations, but great for a fifties-type look, IMO, and a great option for pairing with an A2 or similar if I don't care for the generic Indy look or want something that just sits a bit easier with a short jacket. The wind trolley didn't last on mine. The button is held on with a looping stitch to the cord, and mine worked loose and fell off while being worn on a very wet day in Vienna. I ended up clipping the cord off altogether. Still like the hat, though. Overall, excellent value for money IMO. If I was pointing someone in the direction of a first fedora and they liked a fifties look, this would be high up the list.