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The Bowler or Derby Hat

Wedowns

New in Town
Messages
3
Can someone help me date these two Knox Bowlers?
 

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Messages
18,290
Location
Nederland
Battersby first quality bowler. Size 56 (I think) with the brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 13cm. This hat has a had a tough life it seems and has been mucked about with. The brim binding is is not original as it is petersham ribbon and done poorly likely even glued (!). The sweatband is reeded on both sides with the reed sticking through in several places. It has been reattached at some time it seems. The liner has been glued in and could be a replacement. The hat weighs 164 grams and is probably thirties. It deserved better, but what can you do?

battersby bowler_01.jpg


battersby bowler_02.jpg


battersby bowler_03.jpg


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battersby bowler_06.jpg


battersby bowler_07.jpg


battersby bowler_09.jpg


battersby bowler_10.jpg


battersby bowler_11.jpg


battersby bowler_12.jpg
 
Messages
18,290
Location
Nederland
Picked this one up in Tours, France, while on vacation there. Had a few dings and bumps, but nothing that couldn't be easily fixed.
JB Zephyr bowler in a size 56. Brim at 5cm and the crown at 13 cm. It is indeed "zephyr" in weight as it only weighs 103 grams. Not entirely sure about the maker though. The JB Zephyr points toward Jean Bourrel, but the size label has the letters BSF or SBF on it, which doesn't ring a bell. Sold by Eugene Butscher of La Rochelle.

JB zephyr bowler_02.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_03.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_04.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_06.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_07.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_08.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_09.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_10.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_11.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_12.jpg
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,750
Location
Denmark
Battersby first quality bowler. Size 56 (I think) with the brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 13cm. This hat has a had a tough life it seems and has been mucked about with. The brim binding is is not original as it is petersham ribbon and done poorly likely even glued (!). The sweatband is reeded on both sides with the reed sticking through in several places. It has been reattached at some time it seems. The liner has been glued in and could be a replacement. The hat weighs 164 grams and is probably thirties. It deserved better, but what can you do?

battersby bowler_01.jpg


battersby bowler_02.jpg


battersby bowler_03.jpg


.

battersby bowler_06.jpg


battersby bowler_07.jpg


battersby bowler_09.jpg


battersby bowler_10.jpg


battersby bowler_11.jpg


battersby bowler_12.jpg
A Battersby Bowler that has been through good times and bad. Nevertheless, well worth saving, and thank you for doing so, Stefan.
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,140
Location
Germany
Battersby first quality bowler. Size 56 (I think) with the brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 13cm. This hat has a had a tough life it seems and has been mucked about with. The brim binding is is not original as it is petersham ribbon and done poorly likely even glued (!). The sweatband is reeded on both sides with the reed sticking through in several places. It has been reattached at some time it seems. The liner has been glued in and could be a replacement. The hat weighs 164 grams and is probably thirties. It deserved better, but what can you do?

battersby bowler_01.jpg


battersby bowler_02.jpg


battersby bowler_03.jpg


battersby bowler_04.jpg


battersby bowler_06.jpg


battersby bowler_07.jpg


battersby bowler_09.jpg


battersby bowler_10.jpg


battersby bowler_11.jpg


battersby bowler_12.jpg
Love the Battersby Logo with the Lions!
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,140
Location
Germany
Picked this one up in Tours, France, while on vacation there. Had a few dings and bumps, but nothing that couldn't be easily fixed.
JB Zephyr bowler in a size 56. Brim at 5cm and the crown at 13 cm. It is indeed "zephyr" in weight as it only weighs 103 grams. Not entirely sure about the maker though. The JB Zephyr points toward Jean Bourrel, but the size label has the letters BSF or SBF on it, which doesn't ring a bell. Sold by Eugene Butscher of La Rochelle.

JB zephyr bowler_02.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_03.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_04.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_06.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_07.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_08.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_09.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_10.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_11.jpg


JB zephyr bowler_12.jpg
Wonderful! You can see the light weight straight away.
 

Mean Eyed Matt

One Too Many
Messages
1,140
Location
Germany
Hutfabrik Josef Pichler & Söhne, Graz "Flexible", FP 5 3/4, possibly 1930s. Old Hutfabrik Josef Pichler & Söhne, Graz hats are not common especially in my size. I believe this is Fur Felt with a Chamois like finish. Based on the condition it must not have been worn often. Also a FP quarter size 5 3/4 so 58.5cm. An extra bonus is that it came with the original cardboard shipping box which rarely survived.

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Original Box from Hutfabrik Josef Pichler & Söhne, Graz.

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Wonderful and well preserved Melone, Steve.
I think you can narrow down the dating - at least of the box: The address label at the bottom right says “NS-Gaudruckerei Graz”, which means it must have been printed between 1940 and 1945, when the Nazis, with the support of the Austrian fascists, had incorporated the state of Austria into the German Reich and restructured it into Gaue (1940). Graz was the capital of the Reichsgau of Styria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsgau_Steiermark
The number combination 1226/40 could (but this is not certain) indicate that it was manufactured directly in 1940.
 
Messages
17,443
Location
Maryland
Wonderful and well preserved Melone, Steve.
I think you can narrow down the dating - at least of the box: The address label at the bottom right says “NS-Gaudruckerei Graz”, which means it must have been printed between 1940 and 1945, when the Nazis, with the support of the Austrian fascists, had incorporated the state of Austria into the German Reich and restructured it into Gaue (1940). Graz was the capital of the Reichsgau of Styria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsgau_Steiermark
The number combination 1226/40 could (but this is not certain) indicate that it was manufactured directly in 1940.
Matt, Thanks. I also saw that after posting.
 

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