The School of Hard Knox

[ManofKent]

Winter Joe - nice purchase. I was very tempted myself.

 

[singlechange]

Knox Forty Custom Edge White


Recently acquired Knox Forty Custom Edge in off white color, not exactly chalk white but very close. Brim is 3 inches and crown about 5 1/4 inches. I thought I'd post it for reference purposes. I'm toying with the idea of having it shaped for formal occasion wearing and also changing to a very wide black or navy blue ribbon. The fur felt is very very soft, light weight too.

 

[ManofKent]

Nice find - great for summer.

 

[splintercellsz]

Very nice, Single!

 

[alanfgag]

That hat was a tremendous bargain... congratulations. Personally, I would leave the thin ribbon. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[alanfgag]

Knox One-Hundred

Will let the pictures do the talking on this one.

 

[alanfgag]

 

[DJH]

Yep!

 

[alanfgag]

If there was a finer convergence of materials and American craftsmanship during the second half of the 20th century, I've yet to see it. Late 1940s - 1950...99% of original condition. Tempted to keep it as an example, but I will try to find a 7 1/4 wearer who might like to own it and wear it.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Pardon me while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard...

What an incredible color combination! And you can really SEE the quality of the felt in photos. Wow. Stunning, Alan, simply stunning!

What's sad is that someone purchased this nearly 70 years ago, and it looks like he rarely wore it. Too afraid to, perhaps?

Brad

 

[Garrett]

Beautiful, Alan :eusa_clap The color combo is fantastic

 

[seabass]

Alan
a Knockout of a Knox !
pure hat lust here........................

 

[alanfgag]

Many thanks for the appreciation!

What's sad is that someone purchased this nearly 70 years ago, and it looks like he rarely wore it. Too afraid to, perhaps?

Brad

Thanks Brad... used rarely and then taken good care of by the heirs too. It's always a treat to find one that has survived in this condition. I expect the purchaser didn't spend his last C-note and probably had a large wardrobe with other choices. I am guilty of saving stuff for special occasions and then forgetting I have it.

 

[Jedwbpm]

Why oh why did my parents not bind my head so that I could fit into that wonderful hat?

Jeff

 

[DesertDan]

I love Knox hats and that is one of the most beautiful examples I have ever seen, congrats!

 

[howardeye]

I agree!!!!! It is fabulous!!! My Knox Hats surpass anything Stetson ever made and I have a lot of Stetsons!

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks again for the notes... I've listed it here for a bit until I change my mind.

 

[mmbarnes]

Does anyone know when Knox stopped selling exclusively through agents? Thanks.

 

[mmbarnes]

Here is my Knox Extra Quality bowler sold by sole agent The Harvey Clothing Company in Tiffin, OH. I won it in a non-Ebay online auction for less than $70. I think that it was a steal.

From my research on the form, construction, seller, and Knox history I estimate the age to be from the 1910's. Can the more knowledgeable offer an opinion?

Aside from the curl, my favorite part of this hat is that it has the original price tag with the hand written stock number. Wearing it feels like wearing a time machine.

When I bought it, it was dented and filthy. In the auction photos it looked pretty darned sorry. Some steaming to clean it and repair the dents, and then brushing had great results. I considered a naphtha bath but refrained out of concern that it would damage the price tag.

The photos wash out the black color a bit. The truest color is shown in the photo of me wearing it.

Matt Barnes


Matt Barnes

 

[howardeye]

Very Nice Knox! Black Sheep Hatworks is installing a new ostrich skin sweatband on mine just like that one. It is on page 43. It seems the only way to get a decent black hat is to buy a bowler or a homburg!