The Bowler or Derby Hat

[bowlerman]

Josh, man those are fantastic. That Howard especially. Does it seem dyed or natural to you?

 

[Joshbru3]

Josh, great comparison and stunning collection of Derbys!

Josh, man those are fantastic. That Howard especially. Does it seem dyed or natural to you?

Thanks, Manfred & Jeff!!

The Howard seems natural to me because there is no color variations in the felt, but its probably dyed.

 

[newturnofphrase]

For anyone interested in getting the oddjob bowker, Lock & Co will make one custom:

http://www.007magazine.co.uk/events.htm

 

[newturnofphrase]

Oh, and Bowlers on parade:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-members-In-Out-Club-celebrate-150-years.html

 

[Brad Bowers]

I'm disappointed there's no Bowler on the Prince's head!

Brad

 

[Dreispitz]

I'm disappointed there's no Bowler on the Prince's head!

Brad

Hm, some members might have sold their Bowlers on the bay ..... well, I wore mine today.

 

[newturnofphrase]

Pretty typical Dunn & Co, got for cheap. The hat itself is in perfect condition, 7 5/8 (British). Cleaned off the lining, which is in fairly good shape. From the mid 70s, I think. Smooth, lightweight fur felt. This is the brand and style of bowler worn by Malcolm McDowell as Alex in A Clockwork Orange. Despite the large production volume of Dunn bowlers, they are a very well-made hat, with excellent felt and one of the only ones that kept something resembling a classic brim curl well into the 90s. Dunn & Co bowlers are very common on eBay, but this is the first **L size I've seen.

 

[moomer]

Found some pictures looking for high Bowler/Derby hats. I prefer the non-conical ones.

Amsterdam 1892

 

[moomer]

Party in coach 1860's

 

[moomer]

Belgium, Baptism of a gasballoon in 1911.

 

[moomer]

Photo taken in the studio of John Wesley Thomas 1872 Hastings

 

[bowlerman]

Moomer-- great photos! I like them more square/straight as well, but some of those real high ones look nice with the taper. I like that last one, tall, tapered crown, and wider brim than most. Very cool!

 

[moomer]

I'm quite fond of that one as well. Seems very rare.

 

[moomer]

Drivers/labourers 1860's.

 

[newturnofphrase]

Photo taken in the studio of John Wesley Thomas 1872 Hastings

Great shots! I'm wondering, from our resident historians: the above hat has strange enough proportions that I question its categorization as a bowler hat at all. It has no visible brim curl, and the shape is more bucket-like than the other bowlers posted. The ribbon is also strange. Looks more like an early form of an un-creased homburg. When does a bowler cease to be a bowler?

 

[Joshbru3]

Moomer, OUTSTANDING photos!! I love seeing all the high crowned derbies/bowlers. Some of those crowns look like 6 or 6 1/4 inches. I have a couple old derbies that have 5 3/4 inch crowns and let me tell you, they make you seem so much taller. I wonder how tall the guys in the photos really are without their hats on.

 

[bowlerman]

There are so many variations on bowler block and dimensions, many of which were regional. I think this still fits the bill, especially if the crown is stiff. I see a definite pencil curl on there, even if it's small and not entirely closed.

Here's a variation that has a sharper angle at the top: http://benderhats.com/dometoparabia.html

Josh-- that's the reason I originally wanted a higher crown bowler-- to add a little height to this small-statured guy! I think there's a point, however, where they can start to dwarf whoever is beneath!

 

[rlk]

Looks like an open crown soft felt with a pencil curl, making it have little in common with a Bowler from its original definition and purpose (stiff, lower dome, English, different brim curl). People will call things whatever they like though.

 

[region4]

Check out this one -- recovered from the wreck of the Titanic.

 

[newturnofphrase]

Check out this one -- recovered from the wreck of the Titanic.

Speaking of which, the 100th anniversary of the sinking is in two weeks on the 15th.

Bored on a Saturday morning, so I spent a few minutes improving the brim curl of my modern Christys fur felt bowler. It's a fairly easy process. Smoother curl, and turns in more at the sides now.