Rmccamey
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,666
- Location
- Central Texas
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The School of Hard Knox
- Thread starter Tony in Tarzana
- Start date
- Messages
- 14,545
Thanks gents! I couldn't tell a whole lot from the auction (see what I did there?). I was very happy to receive it and look behind the curtain.
- Messages
- 15,015
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Wow... that's a stunner.
- Messages
- 15,015
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
The Knox 100 I found ten years ago is the finest post-WWII hat I've handled... a combination of relentless attention to detail, and its era, which is slightly ahead in time from the run of hundred dollar hats sold by Stetson circa 1960. I've found over time that a Stetson 7X clear beaver is every bit as good a hat as a Stetson 100 and because its heritage is earlier, often better. The Knox 40 I pulled on this morning is perhaps 80% of that lovely Knox 100. Alas that 100 was too large for me to wear - it has visited a couple of homes since it came to mine in 2013.
MikeinRome
Practically Family
- Messages
- 779
Love those top shelf Knox fedoras. Love my later Knox Fifty but I think your earlier Forty beats it. That One Hundred you had is just stupid beautiful!
- Messages
- 14,545
Thanks Alan! I lives with another Lounger now -- someone who can wear it.
- Messages
- 14,545
For those that want to accessorize their Tom & Jerry hats. Not mine ...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1573065216375923/
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1573065216375923/
- Messages
- 10,953
Probably the most complete set I’ve seen.
- Messages
- 14,545
Knox Milan.
- Messages
- 18,941
- Location
- Central California
Knox Premier.
- Messages
- 18,941
- Location
- Central California
Knox Tom ‘n Jerry:
Rmccamey
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,666
- Location
- Central Texas
- Messages
- 18,941
- Location
- Central California
Thanks. I’ve wanted one for a while, but this isn’t going to be the “one.” It’s too new and too flawed for me to keep…it’s already on eBay as is the grey Premier.
Art Hat1
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 186
- Location
- Winter Garden, Fl
Just got this off eBay….probably shouldn’t have but it was too nice looking to pass up. According to the seller it’s a 5in crown and 2 in brim which works great for my proportions and apparently beaver. We’ll see when it gets here. No idea the model though I’m thinking late ‘50s as to the era.
Bill Hughes
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,126
- Location
- North Texas
I doubt it's beaver. Most likely rabbit or wild hare. I would think 70s or maybe late 60s.
Art Hat1
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 186
- Location
- Winter Garden, Fl
Yeah, I doubt it’s beaver as well, but a hare/rabbit mix seems very possible. I was thinking late 50s-60s mostly due to reasonably tall square crown, by the 70s wouldn’t that be uncommon?
- Messages
- 18,941
- Location
- Central California
Looks 1960s to me too, but 1970s isn’t out of the question. Beaver fedoras are rare in any decade. Sellers claim hats are beaver all the time without any supporting proof.
I rolled the dice on this hat that seemed to be from the 40s and I think it is. I feel like I overpaid compared to some of the steals I see posted here ($125 plus shipping, but it did come with a box), but it looked like what I was looking for (pre-1950s black homburg with a tall crown and decent sized brim) My guess is early 40s, based on the lack of a plastic or oilskin over the top of the liner, the tall crown, the reorder tag, and the price but would love it if anyone has a better idea of its age.
The seller mis-identified the hat (there are a lot of homburgs listed as bowlers) and the color (midnight, or maybe navy, but very dark blue, not black as listed) and didn't specify the condition. However, it arrived today and is in mint condition. No stains, no moth bites, the sweatband is supple, and the crown seems to have been in an open position so long it doesn't have a crease to remember. According to the tag it is blocked to 5 5/8" and the brim measures 2 1/4" (probably 2 1/2" if flattened).
The only defect, if you can call it such, is is a small ripple in the ribbon from it folding over on itself a little that I think will come out with a little steam. It's kind of amazing actually that something this old can seem so brand new! It's not black as I was hoping, but I think it's close enough that I can wear it with my tuxedo, which is why I was looking for one.
I don't have enough experience with quality felt to accurately describe it, but it's very lightweight and soft, almost floppy. The crown is extremely pliable, almost too much so. It seems as nice as the 100% beaver I have from Northwest Hats, but slightly less stiff.
It is just ever so slightly too small at the moment (depending on the hat I'm a 7 1/4 or 7 3/8), but I'm hopeful that a little time in a hat jack or on my friend's hat stretcher will give it the nudge to fit perfectly.
The last picture shows it (on the left) next to a black Dobbs homburg from the 50s (I assume, considering it still has the blocking info on it) that wasn't quite big enough in proportions for me... it has a 1 7/8" brim and a 4 1/8" blocking height, and also the felt was rather stiff feeling.
The seller mis-identified the hat (there are a lot of homburgs listed as bowlers) and the color (midnight, or maybe navy, but very dark blue, not black as listed) and didn't specify the condition. However, it arrived today and is in mint condition. No stains, no moth bites, the sweatband is supple, and the crown seems to have been in an open position so long it doesn't have a crease to remember. According to the tag it is blocked to 5 5/8" and the brim measures 2 1/4" (probably 2 1/2" if flattened).
The only defect, if you can call it such, is is a small ripple in the ribbon from it folding over on itself a little that I think will come out with a little steam. It's kind of amazing actually that something this old can seem so brand new! It's not black as I was hoping, but I think it's close enough that I can wear it with my tuxedo, which is why I was looking for one.
I don't have enough experience with quality felt to accurately describe it, but it's very lightweight and soft, almost floppy. The crown is extremely pliable, almost too much so. It seems as nice as the 100% beaver I have from Northwest Hats, but slightly less stiff.
It is just ever so slightly too small at the moment (depending on the hat I'm a 7 1/4 or 7 3/8), but I'm hopeful that a little time in a hat jack or on my friend's hat stretcher will give it the nudge to fit perfectly.
The last picture shows it (on the left) next to a black Dobbs homburg from the 50s (I assume, considering it still has the blocking info on it) that wasn't quite big enough in proportions for me... it has a 1 7/8" brim and a 4 1/8" blocking height, and also the felt was rather stiff feeling.
Rmccamey
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,666
- Location
- Central Texas
Looks like you picked up a very nice hat. A little brushing and cleanup and it will be a real showstopper! Wear it in good health. Homburgs are a lot more versatile than the old stereotype suggests. (And, yes, many Ebay sellers confuse open crown hats and homburgs with bowlers.)
Mcox47
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 60
- Location
- Carrollton, Texas
Nice hat. Congrats.
I understand why you would want to straighten out the ribbon but it does add a little panache to the look. Makes it unique at least.
I understand why you would want to straighten out the ribbon but it does add a little panache to the look. Makes it unique at least.
