The Bowler or Derby Hat

[Steve1857]

Very cool find, Steve. That liner is spectacular!

Thanks, Stefan.

The black and white two tone middle material stitching is not something I've seen before. Quite unique in itself.

 

[steur]

Thanks, Stefan.

The black and white two tone middle material stitching is not something I've seen before. Quite unique in itself.

It's rare for sure. Some makers use two tone piping on liners here and there, but rarely in this way. I think Steve @mayserwegener has a hat with a similar decorative liner. Have to dig deep to see if I even have one myself.

 

[mayserwegener]

It's rare for sure. Some makers use two tone piping on liners here and there, but rarely in this way. I think Steve @mayserwegener has a hat with a similar decorative liner. Have to dig deep to see if I even have one myself.

Stefan, Steve @Steve1857 , Super find Steve! I have a Soft Felt Velour (see below) that has a very similar liner and most likely came from the same hat company. It looks like it's Fur Felt. Is that the case?

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/386-corona-deutsche-wertarbeit-german-quality/

The 3 Gate Towers Coat of Arms /Wappen on Steve' Stiff Felt Liner could point to a Guben source which would make sense. I believe there is another example with the 3 Gate Towers.

Coat of Arms of the City of Guben

 

[Rmccamey]

Indeed, a fantastic liner as well.

Rollo Bowler. Not sure who made this one, but the labels suggest a German maker.

The Prince of Wales feathers are pretty ubiquitous, so I doubt this one has any English connection.

From the style, quality, liner and sweatband features, I'd say ca. 1930s. Bonus it has a wind trolley.

A. Sponholtz was a gentleman's outfitters in the coastal town of Svenborg on the Danish Island of Funnen.

Thankfully, it's a nice fit.

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[Steve1857]

Stefan, Steve @Steve1857 , Super find Steve! I have a Soft Felt Velour (see below) that has a very similar liner and most likely came from the same hat company. It looks like it's Fur Felt. Is that the case?

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/386-corona-deutsche-wertarbeit-german-quality/

The 3 Gate Towers Coat of Arms /Wappen on Steve' Stiff Felt Liner could point to a Guben source which would make sense. I believe there is another example with the 3 Gate Towers.

Coat of Arms of the City of Guben

Thanks for the information, Steve. Most useful.

This one is indeed fur felt.

 

[Steve1857]

Coincidentally, another Bowler with a similar liner and two-tone piping has turned up on Facebook Market Place.

It doesn't look in particularly good condition, so I won't be making an offer.

 

[steur]

See, I knew it looked familiar. I do have one with a similar liner. This Steco is still hiding somewhere in the pile.

 

[Steve1857]

See, I knew it looked familiar. I do have one with a similar liner. This Steco is still hiding somewhere in the pile.

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You'll have to go digging in the pile, Stefan

The piping on the Bowlers is somewhat more intricate with alternate colours on either side of the material.

 

[PanosChris]

Rollo Bowler. Not sure who made this one, but the labels suggest a German maker.

The Prince of Wales feathers are pretty ubiquitous, so I doubt this one has any English connection.

From the style, quality, liner and sweatband features, I'd say ca. 1930s. Bonus it has a wind trolley.

A. Sponholtz was a gentleman's outfitters in the coastal town of Svenborg on the Danish Island of Funnen.

Thankfully, it's a nice fit.

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A great bowler, Steve! The liner design is indeed the icing on the cake

 

[PanosChris]

See, I knew it looked familiar. I do have one with a similar liner. This Steco is still hiding somewhere in the pile.

View attachment 570902 View attachment 570903

That's Awesome The whole theme and this in particular reminded me my BB Bristol

 

[mayserwegener]

Thanks for the information, Steve. Most useful.

This one is indeed fur felt.

Steve, So is my Velour. Awhile ago I collected all the hats that have the "Arbeits No." paper label. My Velour is missing the paper labels but the construction is similar. I will make a follow up post. Would it be possible to post your Stiff Felt in the German - Austrian thread? It would make more sense to discuss there. Thanks!

 

[mayserwegener]

You'll have to go digging in the pile, Stefan

The piping on the Bowlers is somewhat more intricate with alternate colours on either side of the material.

My Velour is a very similar design. As I mentioned above, I think it's best to move this to the German - Austrian thread.

 

[mayserwegener]

See, I knew it looked familiar. I do have one with a similar liner. This Steco is still hiding somewhere in the pile.

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Stefan, There might be others. I was thinking it would be good to move this dicussion to the German - Austrian thread because I have some other information too add.

 

[mayserwegener]

That's Awesome The whole theme and this in particular reminded me my BB Bristol View attachment 570931

Panos, I remember that one!

 

[mayserwegener]

A. Trahy PLZEN PILSEN "Weiner Spezialität", Wool, 58cm possibly later 1920s early 1930s. This Stiff Felt was sourced by A. Trahy PLZEN PILSEN (Bohemia) but I am not sure from what Austrian company (see below). This black Wool Felt has a very nice hand and is very dense.

I did some searching and I found another Wool Stiff Felt of mine with the same Paper Label format and matching "Farbe" (Color) and "Form." numbers. The Forms, Liners and Bow Designs are also similar.

The only difference is the above Paper Label has St. Veit (Sankt / Saint Veit) in the far left corner. Sankt Veit an der Glan Schafrasse is a small town in the South East corner of Austria and I couldn't find any Felt Hat production in the town. My guess is this is the source of the Wool used for the Felt. This Wool Stiff Felt was sold by a shop (Ludovikus Hagens Wwe) in a small town (Lustenau, Voralberg) in the upper North West corner of Austria.

https://germanaustrianhats.invision...veit-ludovikus-hagens-wwe-lustenau-voralberg/

 

[steur]

Borsalino Galmoela bowler. Size 58 with the brim at 5,2cm and the crown at 13cm. This one has some age to it and is not in pristine condition. It may have had a liner, but it's no longer there and it has received some bumps in its past it seems. Very thin felt with a nice hand to it as one would expect from Borsalino. It is a model we have not seen before and it does feature a very nice decorative sweatband (can't quite make out the words though). With the separate size label it's late thirties for this one.

 

[Rmccamey]

A very interesting sweatband, Stefan. I often wonder if that style actually improves the fit.

Borsalino Galmoela bowler. Size 58 with the brim at 5,2cm and the crown at 13cm. This one has some age to it and is not in pristine condition. It may have had a liner, but it's no longer there and it has received some bumps in its past it seems. Very thin felt with a nice hand to it as one would expect from Borsalino. It is a model we have not seen before and it does feature a very nice decorative sweatband (can't quite make out the words though). With the separate size label it's late thirties for this one.

 

[steur]

A very interesting sweatband, Stefan. I often wonder if that style actually improves the fit.

Thanks, Randy. Don't think it has much effect on fit. Ventilation maybe, but not fit.

 

[BobHufford]

Mid-to-late 1930s Stetson Excellent Quality Feather Weight. Size 7-1/4. This hat store was down the road from the Stetson factory — I wonder if it was some sort of special order as I’ve not seen a three-color logo debossing like this.

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice, Bob. I've only seen that once or twice myself.

Mid-to-late 1930s Stetson Excellent Quality Feather Weight. Size 7-1/4. This hat store was down the road from the Stetson factory — I wonder if it was some sort of special order as I’ve not seen a three-color logo debossing like this.

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