What's the Banjo wearing?

[Ephraim Tutt]

Hi all,
I posted this photo of Banjo Paterson on an Akubra thread (dealing with their hat of the same name) recently.

This is something of a signature hat for Banjo and appears in many photos of him, including the one on the Aussie $10 note. What do you think it is?

Looks like a rebashed Homburg to me - and I like it!

And here's another:

And the Banjo as a senior Citizen - still a snappy dresser.

 

[Dinerman]

Wide brimmed homburg. High Crown. Deep, wide crease, pinches.

 

[Woodfluter]

I'll defer to Dinerman's expertise in any case, but...two very different hats here.

The hat sported by the younger Mr. P might pre-date homburgs per se - anyone know when they originated? Definitely has a narrower ribbon, and I don't think the upturn on the brim edge is as extreme or sharp all around. What might be achieved by the owner or a haberdasher with a bit of steam and skilled fingers. I've done similar. He's rolled the sides. The crown is definitely lower.

The older Mr. P wears a hat with a wider ribbon, taller crown and seemingly more brim edge upturn all around - more homburgerish. Flatter brim apart from the edge.

Some things are certain - the guy had good taste in hats and liked bound edges. Neither are terribly like the Akubra of that name, fine hat that it is.

Thanks for posting these pics Mr. Tutt!

Now, anyone hazard a guess on the make of his pipe?

- Bill

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

I was thinking that the younger Banjo was sporting a rebashed homburger, but you may be right Bill, the pic may predate the homburger. The earlier pics were probably taken around the 1890s (Paterson lived from 1864-1941).

If I remember rightly, the homburg became popular after King Edward VII returned from his visit to Homburg, Germany and brought the hat style with him. I'm guessing this was in the 1901-1910 period. Perhaps the Banjo was a trend setter in the colonies. I reckon this is a hat that Akubra needs to make. I'd buy one! Call it the "Young Banjo".

Gotta love the collar on the young Banjo too.

 

[Woodfluter]

If I remember rightly, the homburg became popular after King Edward VII returned from his visit to Homburg, Germany and brought the hat style with him. I'm guessing this was in the 1901-1910 period. Perhaps the Banjo was a trend setter in the colonies. I reckon this is a hat that Akubra needs to make. I'd buy one! Call it the "Young Banjo".

Gotta love the collar on the young Banjo too.

Great info Ephraim! Didn't know that. Now this has me thinking about the generally excellent Jeremy Brett personification of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, vs the woodcuts and engravings in the earliest stories, and thinking maybe they'd have been better off paying more attention to hats and anachronisms...not just the homburg, but also the narrow snap-brim straw and the Optimo Panama I saw recently in "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty" (story collection dated 1894). The latter might just possibly have conceivable if the fad began with the French attempt...

I'm with you on the "Young Banjo" concept. Keep the Heritage felt and I'm there. Re the collar, wingtips weren't just for formal then! Think it might have been one of those button-in things. Didn't have to wash shirts so often.

- Bill

 

[Flitcraft]

The younger Banjo pictures remind me of the hats in the HBO series Deadwood,

I wondered how accurate those were for the time...
When exactly did the Homburg originate?
Obviously before Edward VII's visit...

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Banjo's contemporary and 7th Prime Minister of Australia, Billy Hughes, was also a Homburg lover:

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Billy and Woodrow Wilson

Billy Hughes had a running battle with US President Woodrow Wilson who described the Aussie leader as "A pestiferous varmint."

I think Woodrow pinched Billy's hat:

Though he did also enjoy a stovepipe:

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Bump

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

The real Henry Lawson hat

Banjo Peterson's fellow Bush poet and stablemate at The Bulletin was Henry Lawson. Between them they created Aussie bush poetry and defined the Aussie psyche. Both have appeared on the Australian $10 note - Banjo replaced Henry when the current note was designed.

Anyway, all that is leading up to this photo. You all know the Akubra Henry Lawson hat - well here's the real one (Henry on the left):

And with J F Archibald (editor of The Bulletin) & hat:

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

And then there's that other famous Aussie lid:

Ask Hats Direct for an Akubra Ned Kelly

 

[Colby Jack]

That's some great info/history!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
Now I need to shoot a note to Hats Direct...

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Hell yeah, Jack.
That Ned Kelly lid keeps out the sun, flies, bullets.....all you'd ever need really!

 

[elvisroe]

Drover?

The upturned bound brim was exhibited in "Australia" recently so it looks like they hit the nail on the head with the style of the era!

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

And then there's that other famous Aussie lid:

Ask Hats Direct for an Akubra Ned Kelly

I saw this for the first time, along with Kelly's full suit of armour, a few weeks ago at the national Library of Victoria where it's on display. From his photos, and his death mask, Kelly looks to have an unusually small head.

And here's a bragging point - the very first feature length movie was made here in Oz and it was about Ned Kelly! Eat our Aussie iron shorts, Hollywood!

 

[CRH]

... "A pestiferous varmint."
...

Thanks, I'm going to get a lot of good use out of that one .

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Thanks, I'm going to get a lot of good use out of that one .

Truth is, CRH, most Aussies agreed with your President!

 

[Drew B]

lawson and his mate's hats are cerainly something huh?

Cheers,
Drew.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

lawson and his mate's hats are cerainly something huh?

Cheers,
Drew.

Yes indeed Drew. I wonder if they're Akubras? There would have been some Stetsons around the Aussie goldields and logging camps in those days too...and, I guess, the efforts of many small hatmakers, long since forgotten, would have adorned many an Aussie noggin back then too.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Red-faced moment

ok, I have a confession to make. I got it wrong. The Akubra Lawson isn't named after Bush poet Henry Lawson at all.

It's named after an explorer named William Lawson, who in 1813 along with 2 other blokes named Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth, found a way through the Blue Mountains and opened up the interior of New South Wales to settlement.

Here's William Lawson....and he's got NO HAT!

At least Henry the Poet wore a bloody hat, Akubra! What are you thinking?!

But all's not lost. Eventually Lawson the explorer had a town named after him - and they wore hats: