" The Great British Hat Makers "

The bells all ring for that one, Stefan. Scott & Co, while not consistently Manchester standard, were top of the range at their best. Looks like you picked up one of the very best.

 

Thank you, Steve. They went all out with this one.

 

Like Wayne in the German/Austrian threat, I would like to show
the last order of the hat year that I am currently waiting for:

Henry Heath - black Homburg resp. tuxedo hat



G. A. Dunn & Co. - brown velour



Two big names in the British millinery guild (resp. men's outfitters)
- I can't wait to see when they arrive...

 

Love the lightly pleated liner on the Heath.

 

Saw these go by; glad they found their way to a good home. Great catches, Matt. Nice early English hats.

 

I can't wait either, Matt. Looking forward to seeing them in your hands and most of all, on your head. Great catches.
Happy hat New Year to you!

 

Very glad they found a home with you Matt! Can't wait to see more pics when they arrive

 

I can highly recommend this little book about the hatmakers of Denton, Manchester. While covering the various companies of the area, in particular J. Moores & Sons, it also takes into account the other centres of British hat maufacturing.
Richly illustrated with fascinating photos, prints, factory plans, and maps, it's a book full of the history of a bygone industry.
The factory on the front cover is J. Wilson & Sons, not Moores as it states on the back cover.
A little Christmas present to myself, it finally arrived the other day.

 

+1. It's good little book on hatting to have on your shelf.

 

The Henry Heath, which I ordered earlier, has not yet arrived,
but I have the brown G. A. Dunn meanwhile received by mail:

The velour felt is relatively short, but really great and super malleable
(though not as outstanding as pre-war JHS). The processing of the interior
(sweat and lining) as well as the ribbon work is as high quality as the "English Velour".
The hat was sold as 40's - the lettering on lining AND sweat is "G. A. Dunn & Co."
which would classify the dating as pre-war by the old commentary.
In my opinion, however, that doesn't match the shape - I think early/mid 50s fits better.
Comments on this!?

1st is seller's foto: best colour - Sorry, my pictures are very dark!






open crown


interiour






label

 

As an addition to the post above: The new G. A. Dunn in action.
(Maybe pictures will follow in daylight, if there is any again after the dull days).

 

Looking forward to seeing the G.A.Dunn in the daylight, Matt. It's looking good so far. Love that tie btw!

 

Thank you Steve: This was my first US Bold Look tie ever...

 

Moores Standard Quality in Flannel Grey with 1/2" ribbon, 2 1/4" brim and 4" crown. The felt is stiff but it melts beautifully with vapor.

 

GA DUNN The Harringay with 2" brim, tight curl, 4 1/4" crown and 1 1/2" ribbon. It has clear plastic? tip and no label sticker. The felt is a bit heavier and stiffer than the Moores.

 

Both are really nice and interesting too.
Do you have any guess about the age?

 

Two excellent finds. These Moores fedora hats are tough to find actually. The British market seems to have been geared more towards the more formal hats like homburgs and bowlers. Or maybe they just didn't survive.
Not much to go on to determine their age since tags and labels didn't change much. The elaborate liner on the Dunn suggests late forties or early fifties.

 

The interesting thing is that it has plastic and is labeled GA Dunn rather than just Dunn.

 

Some local pick ups, a lady was selling her father's in law hats.

First a Glyn & Co. London, super quality, navy blue Homburg, made in Norway under licence Sold by the Carlings magasin, I guess in the 60s Here is a pic of the store in the 30s-40s

 

Second a Curzon (I think it used to be a British brand back in the days?), primus inter pares (First among equal), grey Homburg. Stamped 22DEC1962
The same label can be found in now Steve's Monark, though they were sold by different stores (same Norwegian distributor?). This one was sold by the Kristiania Hattemagasin, opened in 1901.
Here are some pics from the 50 year anniversary in 1951