habigman

All I could find is they were bought in 1968 by Valentin Mehler AG and combined with Fraenkel and Böhm.

Awesome Steve! Did you take some more pictures?

 

What else did you see in Europe?

I went to Switzerland and Austria. I visted Geneva, Bern and Zurich in Switzerland. I went to Innsbruck and took the train through the Italian Alps to Sillian which was awesome. I also visited a town named Lienz where I picked up this new old stock Alpen long hair. Had a super time!

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/47-josef-mauerer-hutfabrik-wien/

I picked up this new old stock Josef Mauerer Hutfabrik Wien long hair Alpen at hat store in Lienz, Austria. I am not aware of Josef Mauerer and couldn't find anything online. The hat is very well made and has some very nice long hair felt. I am thinking early to mid 1960s.

Some photos of the Gottfried Kiniger's shop.

This one is by Gottfried Kiniger of Sillian, Austria (near the Italian Alpine boarder). He makes he is own felt (see video clip above) so a bit out of the ordinary. I visited his shop on a recent trip through Austria and I picked up this natural velour hat. It has some Seal Velour qualities and came with as nice open crown block. The sweat, ribbon and liner quality aren't the best but they are functional. My guess is Gottfried and his wife are over 80 years old.

This appears to be the original packing paper.

G.M. (could be Georg Miech, Dresden) Hutfabrik, possibly late 1800s.

I was sent this photo from Radek Polach who is in charge of the hat collection at the Nový Jičín Museum and is the author of the Hückel exhibition catalog. This photo is from the opening of the Hückel exhibition. The ladies to the right and left are Hückel family members. They were both born in Nový Jičín but ended up in Germany shortly after WWII.

I received this Hückel Exhibition catalog from the Nový Jičín Museum. It is in Czech (Czech posters can read) but the photos are interesting. The exhibition runs until the end of February. Hückel was nationalized as TONAK after WWII. The Hückel family ended up in Weilheim Germany where they started a hat factory. They owned the Hückel name rights for Germany and closed business in 1975. TONAK owned the Hückel name rights outside of Germany starting in the mid 1950s.

Here is a Nový Jičín Museum booklet (the first part is ladies hat companies) with info (in Czech) and photos of Hückel, Peschel and Brüder Böhm operations. I have never seen (although some of the hats above could be) a Peschel or Brüder Böhm that was made in Nový Jičín. They are beyond rare.

I also received this "Hats Off" Exhibition Catalog from Radek Polach of the Nový Jičín Museum. This exhibition features hats made by Hückel, Peschel and Brüder Böhm (most pre WWII). It is in Czech but has some nice photos. All three hat factories were located in Nový Jičín and where nationalized as TONAK after WWII. The Hückel and Peschel famalies ended up in Germany where they opened factories while the Böhm family opened a factory in Austria.

Probably late 50s black Mayser Homburg, size 58cm. This one has a really nice overall look and is in great condition.

I also received this "Hats Off" Exhibition Catalog from Radek Polach of the Nový Jičín Museum. This exhibition features hats made by Hückel, Peschel and Brüder Böhm (most pre WWII). It is in Czech but has some nice photos. All three hat factories were located in Nový Jičín and where nationalized as TONAK after WWII. The Hückel and Peschel famalies ended up in Germany where they opened factories while the Böhm family opened a factory in Austria.

I was sent this photo from Radek Polach who is in charge of the hat collection at the Nový Jičín Museum and is the author of the Hückel exhibition catalog. This photo is from the opening of the Hückel exhibition. The ladies to the right and left are Hückel family members. They were both born in Nový Jičín but ended up in Germany shortly after WWII.

I received this Hückel Exhibition catalog from the Nový Jičín Museum. It is in Czech (Czech posters can read) but the photos are interesting. The exhibition runs until the end of February. Hückel was nationalized as TONAK after WWII. The Hückel family ended up in Weilheim Germany where they started a hat factory. They owned the Hückel name rights for Germany and closed business in 1975. TONAK owned the Hückel name rights outside of Germany starting in the mid 1950s.

This is a rare vintage Mayser Hutfabrik Hat display that I received as a gift from a friend.

Wegener Colonel, size 59cm. This one has a Homburg like look if not snapped. I am thinking late 50s early 60s. This was a mystery hat that turned out to be a nice find.

Wegener Echt Panama, size 58cm. Haven't come across a Wegener straw before. Probably 1960s and a lower grade Cuenca (any ideas?). I like the blocking and brown ribbon treatment. Also nice comfortable sweatband plus light and airy.

Hückel Mercur Homburg size 58cm. This one is probably early 1960s and made in Weilheim.

This is a current Mayser City Finale, size 59cm (I have one from the 70s) that was given to me as a gift. This hat is actually very well made. What is interesting is they are still stitching the upper part of the ribbon. Not sure if anyone else is doing this today. I can't find any flaws in the workmanship (IMO above current Stetson, Akubra and Borsalino) regardless of the modern style.