What hat are you waiting for today?

[deadlyhandsome]

A bit of hat roulette. No sizes, no interior photos.

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Fortune favors….
Good luck, and if the light one is too big for you….

 

[BobHufford]

Fortune favors….
Good luck, and if the light one is too big for you….

You know that light one will be a 6-7/8.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

You know that light one will be a 6-7/8.

A man can dream.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

 

[Mighty44]

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THAT is a good looking hat!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

THAT is a good looking hat!

Thanks, David. It’s as close to a ******* I’ll probably have in my size.

 

[BobHufford]

 

[BobHufford]

Bradford "The Morris Calf Roper". Made for Morris' White Front Store in Fort Worth, Texas. The store has been around since 1905 or so, but from what little I'm finding it was owned by the Morris family from 1961 to 1967.

I did find an ad from 1961 for the model from Morris, but it was a raw brim edge with a single-cord ribbon (similar to the same model that Bradford made when it was Seymour's White Front Store), so I'm thinking this Open Road clone is later.

1954:

1961:

 

[deadlyhandsome]

The seller had lousy photos, but the price made up for it.

 

[BobHufford]

Derby double ...

 

[Rmccamey]

Derby double ...

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Wow, what a pair! First dibs on the tan bowler if it is 1/8!!!

 

[BobHufford]

Wow, what a pair! First dibs on the tan bowler if it is 1/8!!!

Thanks Randy. They are both supposed to be 7-5/8. We'll see...

 

[Blare]

Thanks Randy. They are both supposed to be 7-5/8. We'll see...

Fingers crossed! Would seem an oddly specific size for the seller to just guess on…. But stranger things have happened.

 

[BobHufford]

Fingers crossed! Would seem an oddly specific size for the seller to just guess on…. But stranger things have happened.

Thanks Joe. I could see a size tag in one, but could not read it well enough to confirm. The seller didn't respond to my questions (or my request for a shipping quote -- although they stated they would in the auction text). Someone will be happy with the hat even if it's not me.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thanks Randy. They are both supposed to be 7-5/8. We'll see...

That would be a real coup! I hope it turns out to be true.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Dobbs West:

I’m guessing urban cowboy era, but it’s still a clean looking hat.

 

[BobHufford]

That would be a real coup! I hope it turns out to be true.

Thanks Brent!

 

[BobHufford]

Looks like it might be a decent Amish fur felt hat and a La Salle derby. The straw Amish hat and the bonnet will come along for the ride.

The only auction photo:

I asked for some innard pics of the black Amish hat and the derby.

I can find ads back to 1950.

1955: Calling out the "plain" clothes specifically.

Also from that area in 1955 (at a horse auction):

The La Salle from John W. Gray in Reading, PA. The sweat band debossing on the right looks like it might read "Gray-Tex".

I find ads for his store from 1925 to 1934 and then ads for his son's store (?) Tommie Gray at the same address in 1947 and 1958.

1925:

This could be the reason the ads are hard to locate (from 1931):

1934: At the address next door after the move?

1946:

More details on the hats when they arrive.

 

[Snowman]

I know that “because the liner…” is a dumb reason to buy a hat, but here you have it. I couldn’t resist.

 

[Edward]

I know that “because the liner…” is a dumb reason to buy a hat, but here you have it. I couldn’t resist.
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I think it's a very acceptable answer! I just wish all hats came with a darker liner like this - they never end up looking yellowed and grubby the way a white liner can (as a head-shaver, this significantly affects me). I love the red liner. Here in England, Christys have long used a red liner in their hats. Including this Homburg which arrived at my office across town on Friday, and I will be able to collect tomorrow:

These are the seller's images from eBay; I'm hoping the real thing is as nice, and a good fit...


I've been wanting a brown Homburg for quite some time. This one won't be especially vintage, but Christys didn't change their designs much (if at all) for decades. They still make the black one, but (as with their bowlers), they stopped doing any colour other than black as a production run a few years ago. I imagine this reflects the homburg being viewed now as a more formal hat, but I do love them. Eventually I will have a custon one made with midnight blue body and a copper ribbon and brim binding.... For now, very pleased to fin this on the Bay.