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Toppers Unite

Messages
19,926
Location
Nederland
I posted several months ago about how I couldn't believe I was posting in this thread. Well, my next post is about a hat coming to me shortly with its case. From the Coebill Hat store of Hartford, CT. The owner selling it says it is beaver. My sister-in-law is bringing it in 10 days. We shall see.
View attachment 763659 View attachment 763660 View attachment 763661 View attachment 763662 View attachment 763663 View attachment 763664 View attachment 763665
Very nice find, Jeff. Has a good deal of age to it! The leather case is the icing on the cake.
 

jeffgarf

One Too Many
Messages
1,156
Location
Jerusalem, Israel
Very nice find, Jeff. Has a good deal of age to it! The leather case is the icing on the cake.
Now it has been received.
PXL_20260129_133449178.jpg PXL_20260129_144721570.jpg PXL_20260129_144713764.jpg PXL_20260129_144709307.jpg PXL_20260129_144731566.jpg
 
Messages
15,265
Location
Buffalo, NY
Wonderful find, Jeff. And a very interesting metal vent on the top. I've never seen one like that before on a Topper.

I am glad someone noticed. I was not familiar enough with Toppers to know if it was unique or not.

Very unique, I'd say, Jeff. I've never come across one before.
I find this opening (ventilation sounds like a good explanation) on most Dunlap top hats from the late 19th/early 20th century. I only own one to share but Dunlaps must have been a major brand for top hats. They seem to be well represented in antique stores and flea markets in the U.S. Perhaps it was a trademarked feature unique to them?


dunlap_ventilation1.jpg



dunlap_ventilation2.jpg
 
Messages
18,238
Location
Maryland
P. & C. Habig Wien - Berlin, Seidenzylinder / Silk Top Hat, 57 cm, possibly late 1920s. Came with a P. & C. Habig Wien Hutfabrikanten Berlin Carton and a Bernhard Feiler Berlin Velvet Polishing Pad. Very good overall condition.

55099814738_8dbca318f5_h.jpg


55099819233_198a3fbec3_h.jpg


55098742052_9c0c037a11_h.jpg


55098747267_1158423494_h.jpg


55099996805_40974fbbf8_h.jpg


Bernhard Feiler Berlin, Velvet Polishing Pad, Possibly Late 1920s.

55099999990_7ed0997aa7_h.jpg


55100008255_bd3adffdfd_h.jpg


P. & C. Habig Wien Hutfabrikanten, Berlin Friedrichstr. 82a - Hat Carton - possibly late 1920s.

55098757382_bfb40860ca_h.jpg
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,378
Location
Denmark
P. & C. Habig Wien - Berlin, Seidenzylinder / Silk Top Hat, 57 cm, possibly late 1920s. Came with a P. & C. Habig Wien Hutfabrikanten Berlin Carton and a Bernhard Feiler Berlin Velvet Polishing Pad. Very good overall condition.

55099814738_8dbca318f5_h.jpg


55099819233_198a3fbec3_h.jpg


55098742052_9c0c037a11_h.jpg


55098747267_1158423494_h.jpg


55099996805_40974fbbf8_h.jpg


Bernhard Feiler Berlin, Velvet Polishing Pad, Possibly Late 1920s.

55099999990_7ed0997aa7_h.jpg


55100008255_bd3adffdfd_h.jpg


P. & C. Habig Wien Hutfabrikanten, Berlin Friedrichstr. 82a - Hat Carton - possibly late 1920s.

55098757382_bfb40860ca_h.jpg
An absolutely wonderful find, Steve!

Congrats.
 
Messages
19,926
Location
Nederland
P. & C. Habig Wien - Berlin, Seidenzylinder / Silk Top Hat, 57 cm, possibly late 1920s. Came with a P. & C. Habig Wien Hutfabrikanten Berlin Carton and a Bernhard Feiler Berlin Velvet Polishing Pad. Very good overall condition.

55099814738_8dbca318f5_h.jpg


55099819233_198a3fbec3_h.jpg


55098742052_9c0c037a11_h.jpg


55098747267_1158423494_h.jpg


55099996805_40974fbbf8_h.jpg


Bernhard Feiler Berlin, Velvet Polishing Pad, Possibly Late 1920s.

55099999990_7ed0997aa7_h.jpg


55100008255_bd3adffdfd_h.jpg


P. & C. Habig Wien Hutfabrikanten, Berlin Friedrichstr. 82a - Hat Carton - possibly late 1920s.

55098757382_bfb40860ca_h.jpg
That is a beauty, Steve, Cool find.
 
Messages
18,238
Location
Maryland
P. & C. Habig Wien, Hutmacher 1862, Seidenzylinder / Silk Top Hat, 58 cm, Crown 6 inches / 15 cm, Width 9 1/2 inches / 24 cm, Length 12 inches / 30,5 cm, possibly early to Mid 1920s. This is a really fantastic Seidenzylinder and in excellent condition. Superb overall (components & workmanship) quality. It has the Paper Label and other interesting markings be behind the Sweatband. There is a P. & C. Habig Wien "Patent Ventilator" at the Front of Sweatband but not mentioned. Also came with a restored + modified Blue Carton with an interesting interior design.

55117894699_7ad3f730cb_h.jpg


55118028075_85b9a8c770_h.jpg


55116766542_bd3cea8b94_h.jpg


Post WWI Austrian Coat Of Arms With Hammer And Sickle.

55117890888_cc5d9bdbaa_h.jpg


55118050425_2fa999f491_h.jpg


55117853663_df7e8c505e_h.jpg


55117925179_e050ec107f_h.jpg


"58" CM Size And "A/3" Form, Right Side Front to Back

55117693736_1be50be068_h.jpg


"A W M" ?, at the Rear

55117899178_cf7d9045dd_h.jpg


"D" ? at Front

55117701596_fa7f1f8f87_h.jpg


"H??", "Patent Ventilator", Front Sweatband

55117970534_a2af7fdb5a_h.jpg


Carton, restored + modified

55116799922_8ddf5a420c_h.jpg


55116804857_6928dde3bd_h.jpg


55117945399_2ce3071e0a_h.jpg
 
Last edited:

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,378
Location
Denmark
P. & C. Habig Wien, Hutmacher 1862, Seidenzylinder / Silk Top Hat, 58 cm, Crown 6 inches / 15 cm, Width 9 1/2 inches / 24 cm, Length 12 inches / 30,5 cm, possibly early to Mid 1920s. This is a really fantastic Seidenzylinder and in excellent condition. Superb overall (components & workmanship) quality. It has the Paper Label and other interesting markings be behind the Sweatband. There is a P. & C. Habig Wien "Patent Ventilator" at the Front of Sweatband but not mentioned. Also came with a restored + modified Blue Carton with an interesting interior design.

55117894699_7ad3f730cb_h.jpg


55118028075_85b9a8c770_h.jpg


55116766542_bd3cea8b94_h.jpg


Post WWI Austrian Coat Of Arms With Hammer And Sickle.

55117890888_cc5d9bdbaa_h.jpg


55118050425_2fa999f491_h.jpg


55117853663_df7e8c505e_h.jpg


55117925179_e050ec107f_h.jpg


"58" CM Size And "A/3" Form, Right Side Front to Back

55117693736_1be50be068_h.jpg


"A W M" ?, at the Rear

55117899178_cf7d9045dd_h.jpg


"D" ? at Front

55117701596_fa7f1f8f87_h.jpg


"H??", "Patent Ventilator", Front Sweatband

55117970534_a2af7fdb5a_h.jpg


Carton, restored + modified

55116799922_8ddf5a420c_h.jpg


55116804857_6928dde3bd_h.jpg


55117945399_2ce3071e0a_h.jpg
Wow, Steve! That is a beautiful and one quite rare catch. Congrats!
 
Messages
18,238
Location
Maryland
Václav Čekan Praha, 58 cm, Crown Height 14 cm, Brim Length 31 cm, Brim Width 25 cm, possibly late 1920s. Václav Čekan Praha goes back to Austria Hungary and there might be a connection with P. & C. Habig Wien Berlin. I was made aware of this New Old Stock Silk Top Hat from a seller I know in the Czech Republic.

55184635621_881d72fb2a_h.jpg


55184679936_f6c323275b_h.jpg


55184050524_80d3bf19cb_h.jpg


55183788846_3553d6e462_h.jpg


55184053909_b76385adc6_h.jpg


55182917192_4520fc38ea_h.jpg


Center Rear.

55184687256_57591af37e_h.jpg


Center Front.

55183832321_8984082c3a_h.jpg


Left Center Back to Front.

55184229270_6c8e7e51ab_h.jpg


Right Center Back to Front.

55184850688_6bc5ce7121_h.jpg


Liner Stitching.

55184197130_cc1c84f850_h.jpg


Side View of Hat Box with Václav Čekan Praha Silk Top Hat.

55184863643_0d907a9767_h.jpg


Side View of Hat Box.

55184069529_cb6cd8c9c0_h.jpg


Top View of Hat Box.

55183973653_37f5b0e982_h.jpg


Inside of Hat Box Lid.

55184075899_a03ad7a043_h.jpg


Inside of Hat Box.

55184218520_71fe2db4f7_h.jpg


The Inside Style Type and Location (Center Rear, Center Front, Right Center Back to Front, Left Center Back to Front) are similar to P. & C. Habig Wien Berlin.

P. & C. Habig Wien Inside Style Type.

55117693736_1be50be068_h.jpg


Václav Čekan Praha

55184850688_6bc5ce7121_h.jpg


"The Most Beautiful Shapes!" "Václav Čekan" "Large Factory of Fashionable Hats" "Smooth Hats Factory" "Václavské nám PRAGUE-Vodičkova ul" (1908)

55183824512_8463e78c12_o.jpg


Václav Čekan, Revnice, Date of birth: 1879, Place of birth: Prague, Date of death: 1956, Place of death: Řevnice

He was the owner of a hat factory in Prague, which was founded in 1846 by his grandfather Václav Čekan (1811–1895) and continued to be run by his father Václav (1839–1896). The Čekans had several shops in Prague, the first one was in Vodičkova Street and the second, the most famous, down on Wenceslas Square. Čekan's factory successfully exported hats abroad, and the export of top hats to the USA was significant.

https://www.amaterskedivadlo.cz/main.php/pic/www.twitter.com/index.php?data=osobnost&id=8057

Václav Čekan's daughter Anna Čekanová was a well known dancer and her husband Otakar Kukula Jr., studied agricultural and forestry engineering in Prague and then became an employee of his father-in-law, Václav Čekan, in the family business Klobouky Čekan. He later became the director of the entire company. Anna Kukulová is listed as a co-owner of fashion factories, together with her husband, father and brother. One of them was called "Koruna", which was located right in the Koruna Palace on Wenceslas Square. In the 1930s, they made foreign business trips, including to the USA in 1935.

https://www.facebook.com/janackovon...-výročí-úmrtí-anny-anky-čeka/380820451703373/
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,378
Location
Denmark
Václav Čekan Praha, 58 cm, Crown Height 14 cm, Brim Length 31 cm, Brim Width 25 cm, possibly late 1920s. Václav Čekan Praha goes back to Austria Hungary and there might be a connection with P. & C. Habig Wien Berlin. I was made aware of this New Old Stock Silk Top Hat from a seller I know in the Czech Republic.

55184635621_881d72fb2a_h.jpg


55184679936_f6c323275b_h.jpg


55184050524_80d3bf19cb_h.jpg


55183788846_3553d6e462_h.jpg


55184053909_b76385adc6_h.jpg


55182917192_4520fc38ea_h.jpg


Center Rear.

55184687256_57591af37e_h.jpg


Center Front.

55183832321_8984082c3a_h.jpg


Left Center Back to Front.

55184229270_6c8e7e51ab_h.jpg


Right Center Back to Front.

55184850688_6bc5ce7121_h.jpg


Liner Stitching.

55184197130_cc1c84f850_h.jpg


Side View of Hat Box with Václav Čekan Praha Silk Top Hat.

55184863643_0d907a9767_h.jpg


Side View of Hat Box.

55184069529_cb6cd8c9c0_h.jpg


Top View of Hat Box.

55183973653_37f5b0e982_h.jpg


Inside of Hat Box Lid.

55184075899_a03ad7a043_h.jpg


Inside of Hat Box.

55184218520_71fe2db4f7_h.jpg


The Inside Style Type and Location (Center Rear, Center Front, Right Center Back to Front, Left Center Back to Front) are similar to P. & C. Habig Wien Berlin.

P. & C. Habig Wien Inside Style Type.

55117693736_1be50be068_h.jpg


Václav Čekan Praha

55184850688_6bc5ce7121_h.jpg


"The Most Beautiful Shapes!" "Václav Čekan" "Large Factory of Fashionable Hats" "Smooth Hats Factory" "Václavské nám PRAGUE-Vodičkova ul" (1908)

55183824512_8463e78c12_o.jpg


Václav Čekan, Revnice, Date of birth: 1879, Place of birth: Prague, Date of death: 1956, Place of death: Řevnice

He was the owner of a hat factory in Prague, which was founded in 1846 by his grandfather Václav Čekan (1811–1895) and continued to be run by his father Václav (1839–1896). The Čekans had several shops in Prague, the first one was in Vodičkova Street and the second, the most famous, down on Wenceslas Square. Čekan's factory successfully exported hats abroad, and the export of top hats to the USA was significant.

https://www.amaterskedivadlo.cz/main.php/pic/www.twitter.com/index.php?data=osobnost&id=8057

Václav Čekan's daughter Anna Čekanová was a well known dancer and her husband Otakar Kukula Jr., studied agricultural and forestry engineering in Prague and then became an employee of his father-in-law, Václav Čekan, in the family business Klobouky Čekan. He later became the director of the entire company. Anna Kukulová is listed as a co-owner of fashion factories, together with her husband, father and brother. One of them was called "Koruna", which was located right in the Koruna Palace on Wenceslas Square. In the 1930s, they made foreign business trips, including to the USA in 1935.

https://www.facebook.com/janackovonabrezi/posts/té-jež-se-odmlčela-na-dnešek-připadá-padesáté-deváté-výročí-úmrtí-anny-anky-čeka/380820451703373/
Oh, my goodness me, Steve. What an absolutely wonderful find.

Truly rare in many ways.

The unique art deco liner logo is the icing on the cake for me.

The hat itself looks in pristine condition.

Congrats!
 
Messages
18,238
Location
Maryland
Oh, my goodness me, Steve. What an absolutely wonderful find.

Truly rare in many ways.

The unique art deco liner logo is the icing on the cake for me.

The hat itself looks in pristine condition.

Congrats!
Steve, Thank you! I am fairly certain it wasn't worn because the Sweatband discolored slightly when the skin of forehead made contact with it. There are some slight issues with the silk plush but fixable with some attention.
 

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