habigman

C. W. Borchert Hat Box, early 1900s.  This belongs to Steve on the FL. "It has the company's original address at Friedrich Strasse pre WWII. After WWII, Borchert moved to Kurfüstendamm. The G.m.b.H initials (the German equivalent of a limited liability company) are also missing on this hat box, which lead me to believe this is very early 1900s."

Anton Peschel Neutitschein, 56 cm possibly late 1930s early 1940s.  There is a "P" on the paper label but it's very similar in construction to the Anton Peschel Neutitschein, Peschel "Kristall" from the same find.  The darker Brown Close Cropped Velour is really fantastic easily dry creases and is in very good condition.  

Open Crown

Natural Light

P. & C. Habig Wien "Grand Prix Paris", 57 cm, 110 grams, late 1890s - 1900. The Felt is very thin and light weight with a great smooth finish.  The black liner with gold embossing is striking.  The textured sweatband is also very light weight with the "Patent Ventilator" holes.  There was a newspaper (from September 4, 1903) spacer behind the rear of the sweatband. I am thinking this was made for the Paris 1900 World Exposition or was made the year after P. & C. Habig Wien winning the "Grand Prix" at the Paris 1900 World Exposition.  I was told by the seller that this Melone belonged to a banker from Greiz which is just south of Graz where the Melone was sold (Carl Singewald).  This is one of my best Stiff Felt finds. 

Patent Ventilator

Paper Label with Handwritten Entries, Stitched in Liner

Newspaper Spacer, Berliner Börsen-Zeitung, Friday, the 4th. September 1903. (The seller told me that the Melone belonged to a Banker in Greiz, Germany so that explains the use of the Berliner Börsen-Zeitung Financial Newspaper as a spacer.)

P. & C. Habig Wien - Berlin Catalog, possibly mid 1890s to early 1900s.

Similar Stiff Felt Forms,  Also P. & C. Habig Wien Crest with "Patent Ventilator" 

Natural Light  (Very Similar Hat to No. 16 above)

Aurel Huber "Chamois". 57 cm, 100 grams, possibly 1950s.  This hat belongs to Stefan on the FL.  According to Stefan the hat originally had a liner and that the Chamois is remarkable. 

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Lutra", 56 cm, possibly late 1930s. This is the 7th hat from my recent 9 hat find. This is my first JHS "Lutra" which means European Otter so possibly similar marketing to "Seal Velour".  The Felt is really fantastic (color, finish, hand) and very pliable. It's a Trachten style Soft Felt which is also the case for my early Tonak Plant Hückel  "Lutra".  The Folkish Band is really interesting / unique.  This hat was sold by Julius Reiter Eger / Cheb Czechoslovakia (prior to WWI Austria Hungary).

Open Crown

P. & C. Habig Wien "Special Qualität", 56 cm, Production year 1959.  This hat belongs to Stefan on the FL.

Bronnold "Edel - Echt Velour, Sekunda" possibly mid 1950s.  The Velour easily dry creases and is of medium weight.  The bow is slightly offset so that adds a bit of uniqueness. Also a wide Brim with a lower Crown profile.

Open Crown

Natural Light

Nobleza "Silka". 56cm possibly late 1950s early 1960s.  Nobleza is a W. & G. Schuchard trademark.

Echter Nobleza Velour, 58 cm, possibly mid to later 1950s.  No paper label but W. & G. Schuchard trademark.  The Velour is really fantastic (color + hand) and is similar to Seal Velour finish wise.  I had a very hard time trying to photograph this hat.

Open Crown

Natural Light

W. & G. Schuchard, Giessen, Lahn  

Wholesaler, Distributor, Importer 

Resolut Homburger Hutfabrik "Savoy", 56cm possibly later 1950s.

Weston, 56cm possibly mid to later 1950s. No company mark but probably made for a distributor. I couldn't find anything on the "Weston" trademark which is a play on Stetson. The felt is light in weight and pliable.

P. & C. Habig Wien "Export Qualität", 59cm, production year 1953.  The felt is heavy in weight but still easily hand creases.  The sweatband is really fantastic with very nice P. & C. Habig Wien stamping.  As usually the overall quality and form are of the highest order.  This hat was made for the famous A. Breiter München hat store (still in business today).

Open Crown

Natural Light

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Jota" "Seal Velour", 56 cm, possibly late 1930s. This is the 6th hat (and 2nd "Jota" "Seal Velour") from my recent 9 hat find. The Velour is really fantastic (color, finish, hand) and very pliable. The sweatband is textured and is very soft. The tip patch is in mint condition and the hat appears to have been seldom worn. Luckily this hat fits me even though it's marked 56 cm.  This hat was sold by Julius Reiter Eger / Cheb Czechoslovakia (prior to WWI Austria Hungary).

Open Crown (Better Photos of the Velour)

Brüder Böhm "Böhm Cromwell", 59 cm, possibly mid to latter 1930s.  This hat belongs to Wayne on the FL.

Wayne wearing the hat.

Echter Borsalino "Qualità Superiore" "Caffè" "--" "Dragosti", FP 5, possibly late 1930s. This is the 5th hat of a 9 hat find and the 2nd "Dragosti" in "Caffè". The smooth coffee colored Felt is of a medium weight and easily dry creases. Medium width Ribbon with a sporty Bow design.  This hat was most likely sold in Eger / Cheb Czechoslovakia (prior to WWI Austria Hungary).

Second Paper Label from the first Echter Borsalino "Qualità Superiore" "Caffè" "--" "Dragosti".

Paper Labels are exactly the same.

Open Crown

Anton Peschel Neutitschein, Peschel "Kristall", 57 cm possibly late 1930s early 1940s.  This is the 4th hat from a 9 hat find.  I believe this is the only Smooth Finish APN Hat I have encountered.  It fits more like a 58 cm so happy about that.  The Medium Gray Felt is of a lighter weight and easy dry creases. The Form and Dimensions are similar to Echter Borsalinos.  Mid Ribbon with an interesting Bow design.

Open Crown

Natural Light

Echter Borsalino "Qualità Superiore" "Caffè" "--" "Dragosti", FP 5, possibly late 1930s.  The smooth coffee colored Felt is of a medium weight and easily dry creases.  Medium width Ribbon with a sporty Bow design.  The condition is excellent and it still has the Eulan paper tag.  This hat was most likely sold in Eger / Cheb Czechoslovakia (prior to WWI Austria Hungary).

Eulan Tag

Open Crown

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Jota" "Seal Velour", 56 cm, possibly late 1930s. This is the 2nd hat from my recent 9 hat find.  The Velour is really fantastic (color, finish, hand) and very pliable.  The sweatband is textured and is very soft.  The tip patch is in mint condition and the hat appears to have been seldom worn.  This hat was sold by Julius Reiter Eger / Cheb Czechoslovakia (prior to WWI Austria Hungary). 

Open Crown

Echter Borsalino "Qualità Superiore" "Amiata" "C. Nero" "Gorasti", Size Tag Missing / measures 58cm, possibly late 1930s.  This is the first hat of a 9 hat find that took 2 1/2 months to arrive from Germany.  The Smooth Finish Felt is of a lighter weight and easily dry creases.  There is non elastic Wind Cord which is the type you find in this time period and prior.  The gray sweatband has a specialty finish I do not believe I have encountered before.  This hat was most likely sold in Eger / Cheb Czechoslovakia (prior to WWI Austria Hungary). 

Open Crown

Natural Light

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Sigma" "Seal Velour", 57 cm possibly early to mid 1930s and made for the Japanese market.  A thank you to Wayne of the FL saving the auction photos.

Echter Borsilino "Qualità Superiore", French Point 5 1/2, possibly late 1930s early 1940s.  Unfortunately the Borsalino Paper Label is missing but the separate Size Stamp is present.  The Felt Finish is similar to Velour Soleil so shows a high amount of gloss and is very pliable so easily dry creases.  There is a mix of colors (you can see better in the Open Crown photos) that from a distance looks Stone Gray like. The Form and Dimensions fit the time period and place.  This is a great start to 2021. 

Paper Label missing but it has the separate Size stamp.

Specialhaus Globus Stamp

Open Crown

Natural Light

Wegener "Seal", 55 cm possibly later 1950s.  This belongs to Stefan on the FL. 

Borchert Berlin W., 58 cm, Date Stamped 1. Dez. 1951.  The Smooth Finish Black Felt easily dry creases and has fine hand.  Great Form with mid width Band, Brim Binding plus Wind Cord. In my opinion  the Borchert Berlin W. logo is definitely a standout.  There is no other company mark but I certain the hat was sourced by Borchert Berlin W..  I have two other Borchert Berlin W. Soft Felts from the same time period and appear to be made by the same source.

Open Crown

Natural Light

P. & C. Habig Wien "Export Qualität", production year 1953.  Not mine but a great Homburg + high quality (although not a large format) auction photos so decided to post. Date Stamped Oktober 27, 1953.