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" The Great British Hat Makers "

Pellie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,639
Location
Enschede, Netherlands
English mystery brand hat that came to me thanks to Marcel @Pellie .
Vroom&Dreesmann fedora in a warm grey colour called "cement". Size 56 with the overwelt brim at 6cm and the crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. The hat has a pronounced shape to it that I like for it (can't seem to change its mind anyway). Don't know the colour the ribbon used to be but I'm keeping it despite its discolouring. I'm guessing this might be pre-war. I have two hats with the same label, both older bowlers. As for the manufacturer I'm leaning towards Moores as they did hats for retailers and under other brand names. And the decoration on the label looks like a row of m's (I'm stretching here). Vroom&Dreesmann were a Dutch retailer from 1887 until 2015.
And 17000x: now that's some beaver content!


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Very nice. Like this color combination! A shame it didn't fit me, but i'm glad it fits you! :)
 
Messages
19,978
Location
Nederland
London Finish bowler in a grey colour called flint/grey. Size 56 with the brim at 4,5cm and the crown at 11cm. Must have had a liner at some point, but it's missing now, which is strange since the hat is in pristine condition otherwise. When I find older bowlers in a different colour I try and buy them, since they don't show up often. I'm guessing the original maker of this one may have been Moores.

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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,395
Location
Denmark
London Finish bowler in a grey colour called flint/grey. Size 56 with the brim at 4,5cm and the crown at 11cm. Must have had a liner at some point, but it's missing now, which is strange since the hat is in pristine condition otherwise. When I find older bowlers in a different colour I try and buy them, since they don't show up often. I'm guessing the original maker of this one may have been Moores.

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That is one nice, tight dimensioned Bowler, Stefan.

It has a John Steed of The Avengers look about it. Could well be a Manchester maker, but the label, sweatband logo and size label don't really point to any one particular manufacturer.

Shame the liner has gone.

You did well to buy it though. It's a beauty.
 
Messages
19,978
Location
Nederland
That is one nice, tight dimensioned Bowler, Stefan.

It has a John Steed of The Avengers look about it. Could well be a Manchester maker, but the label, sweatband logo and size label don't really point to any one particular manufacturer.

Shame the liner has gone.

You did well to buy it though. It's a beauty.
Thanks, Steve. I think it's Moores, because the label doesn't say "style" (T&W Lees) or "shape" (Battersby and Joseph Ward), but it's true; it could have been one of the plenty of other manufacturers. Had to bake it to get it to fit more properly (still a bit tight though).
 

jeffgarf

One Too Many
Messages
1,267
Location
Jerusalem, Israel
Long before Steven Spielberg was making films, Herbert Johnson was making hats. Before Raiders (over twenty years), they were reputed to make great hats. I think I have one from the late 1960's. Rabbit in a napped velour finish, the red label that reads "Made in Gr. Britain" seems to date from this time period. It has a 6cm brim and is easily shaped. It was shipped to me in a small box with a couple of sheets of paper towel and nothing more. It snapped bank quite well.
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