James Lock & Co. - the UK Summit tour

In-depth discussion of the Fedora of Indiana Jones and all other hats appearing in the Indiana Jones movies

Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs

Post Reply
Scandinavia Jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:54 pm
Location: East of Swindiana

James Lock & Co. - the UK Summit tour

Post by Scandinavia Jones »

During the UK Summit in London, the bunch of us visited St. James Street to check out what's left of Herbert Johnson (Swaine Adeney Brigg) and, while we were at it, take a peek at what's probably the world's most famous hatter - James Lock & Co.

In drizzling rain, we glanced at the formal-looking doorman inside the store - in military dress uniform, he seemed a bit apprehensive when a fedora-sporting, Wested-wearing motley crew entered the shop. Nevertheless, he let us in. The shop attendants pretty soon figured us out for Indiana Jones enthusiasts (yes, we carry all our bullwhips in this plastic bag), and we spread out in the shop, marveling at corduroy smoking hats, fine Panamas and some quite expensive-looking fur felts.

I made some inquiries about their reblocking services, and asked if it was possible to see the workshop. I was the only one let in there (apparently, insurance would not cover lumbering gearheads in the event of an accident) and soon I stood in what felt like the inner sanctum of this venerable hat shop.

Image
Passing shelves of bowlers, or cokes, as Lock prefers to call them...

Image
...and other various felt hats...

Image
... a work bench with some head measuring devices (in the rack). When buying a hat at Lock's, the customer's head is carefully measured with said contraptions, in order to register all bumps and lumps... this ensures a snug, yet comfortable fit.

Image
A genuine 'coke', on the head of our very friendly 'tour guide' - unfortunately, I totally forgot to ask his name... he graciously permitted these pics to be posted at COW.

Image
Now we are at the innermost part of the workshop. On the bench, to the left, a brim flange for a fedora... wouldn't mind to have that one to go with my block... more flanges underneath. To the right, the steam machine - a modern piece of equipment for the milliner. The more traditional water kettles were kept on a shelf underneath the bench... yes , they too are still used when steaming the hats.

Image
An assortment of hat blocks. No Indy block to be seen... as the brim flanges, some of these are over a century old.

Image
Surrounded by history... the back door of the shop situated in 21st century London lead to a backyard from the Elizabethan age! On the other side of this small, enclosed yard the 16th century home of the family Lock could be seen. The lady in the tympanum is probably a Lock family member. The front door even hat a 16th century catflap...

Image
Gas mains are still present in many of the buildings in London, even though electrical heating is used. This gas tap is still live... or so it's believed... anyway, the feather stuck in the faucet is a safety precaution - it blows off if gas is lead through the pipes.

Image
Two hats belonging to Lock Hatters' famous clients from the early 19th century: to the left, Lord Horatio Nelson's bicorne, worn in the battle at Trafalgar. To the left - the hat of Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington - the guy who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. The ledger below contains written documentation of the purchases.

In conclusion, the visit to Lock was a very pleasant one, most recommended, should you visit London. It's one of those truly classy places - that one still can find in Britain occasionally - that maintain a well-deserved air of exclusivity without being posh and unfriendly. If Herbert Johnson Hatters still existed in their true form, the experience would probably be similar...

Oh right, the Lock&Co/ROTLA connection - there isn't one. Harrison Ford did purchase a fedora from Lock for privat use, not for the film.

Image
Our own proud hat display - Akubras, Kepplers, HJs and an Optimo on display in ob1al's hotel room...
User avatar
ShanghaiJack
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:39 am
Location: Bourbon Country

Post by ShanghaiJack »

Wow, great post SJ! Very informative, gives a glimpse of what it was like to be there, and lets the excitement of the trip come through. Well done. Next time I'm in London I'll definitely be taking a tour.
User avatar
cliffhanger
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 283
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2002 9:01 am
Location: Middle Tennessee

Post by cliffhanger »

Wow, thanks for posting Scandy! So much history in the Lock shop. And they let you into the "inner sanctum"?! I am truly envious. I agree with Shanghai, that is certainly on my list when I visit the Uk.

Peace,
Cliffhanger
User avatar
Ken
Staff Member
Staff Member
Posts: 2366
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2002 7:24 am
Location: Back from the field
Contact:

Post by Ken »

The atmosphere in Lock and Co was wonderful too - they seemed to genuinly enjoy the fact we were there and were happy to not just accomodate us but go out of there way for us like giving the tour shown above.

It is easy to see why people such as Harrison Ford and Jonny Depp chose this place to go - not only were we greeted warmly, we were treated no differently than any other customer. I imagine their customer service here is impeccable.

Scandanavia - thanks for putting the pictures online for us!

Ken :)
User avatar
Trevelyan
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2003 1:00 am
Location: Tampa, FL
Contact:

Post by Trevelyan »

Thanks for the recap and pictures SJ. That was some interesting stuff, and it made me realize for about the millionth time that I need to travel to Europe.
Hatman
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 60
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2003 8:48 am
Location: Show Me State

Post by Hatman »

great pics, thanks for posting them.
Looks like a good time had by all.

Hatman
User avatar
Swindiana
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:05 am
Location: West of Scandinavia Jones, making meed for Holt
Contact:

Post by Swindiana »

Great story and summary, bro'. ;)
They also had a framed chart of famous people's head shapes from the measuring devices that I liked. They were really small in scale and later enlarged for the final hat shape as I understood it. Amazing how different heads will look if you draw a map of them so to speak. Among about 20 of them I'd say only one of them was rounded and the rest would look like anything from a peanut to a potatoe. :D

Regards,
Swindiana
User avatar
Marc
Vendor
Posts: 1646
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:29 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Post by Marc »

Let's see if I can recognize some lids in that picture...

Top right: Ob1Al's London grey Optimo
Top middle: Ken's Keppler
Number two on the bottom from the left: Ob1Al's HJ
Somewhere inbetween: Redbeards's an Canyon's Fed. deluxe

Am I getting close??? :)

The steamer in the one picture is a Jiffy J-4000 and can be bought for 215$ from Jiffy Steamers (plus shipping).

Cool pics, thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Marc
ob1al
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:41 am
Location: The Yookay
Contact:

Post by ob1al »

Good eyes Marc - you got my lids right! :)
User avatar
Ken
Staff Member
Staff Member
Posts: 2366
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2002 7:24 am
Location: Back from the field
Contact:

Post by Ken »

Got mine right too.. though I think it being the least cleaned and well cared for of the hats makes it fairly easy to indetify.

Ken
User avatar
Canyon
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 6138
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:16 pm
Location: Swooning over my husband (and Indy!!!)
Contact:

Post by Canyon »

Scandy, great pics! :D

Indeed, I thought that the service in Locke and Co was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. :wink:
Whipcrack
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2002 10:59 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Post by Whipcrack »

Great shots of James Lock Swindiana. Here in the U.S. Lock sends a man around to the east coast horse shows. They sell tons of Jeff caps. I have had two for years, they are great, timeless and never wear out.

IMO James Lock is everything Herbert Johnson is not. At Lock things are the same as they were 100 years ago. On the other hand Herbert Johnson is not the same this month as they were last month and no one ever know what was going on even a short time ago. A Lock hat can be the same as it was when Nelson wore one. A Johnson is never the same as the last one, even when they want them to be. Maybe that’s why they are Swaine Adeney Brigg now…………..


I have two Indy Fedoras a Peters Brothers and an Optimo and I love them both. Thanks again for your review Swindiana.
Bill Walton
Bill Walton
User avatar
Marc
Vendor
Posts: 1646
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:29 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Post by Marc »

...though I think it being the least cleaned and well cared for of the hats makes it fairly easy to indetify
Honestly I thought that would be Jan's hat when I first saw the picture :wink:

Regards,

Marc
User avatar
Swindiana
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:05 am
Location: West of Scandinavia Jones, making meed for Holt
Contact:

Post by Swindiana »

:lol:
This is all Scandinavia Jones' post. ;)

You're not the first one to mix us up though when it comes to making posts on COW, Bill. Maybe our signatures look too alike? Still, I'm honored to be mistaken for such a fine gentleman. 8)

Regards,
Swindiana :key:
Whipcrack
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2002 10:59 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Post by Whipcrack »

I stand corrected, sorry I mixed this up.

Bill
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

I did that a lot, too...after a while they start looking different, and often their writing style is similar, although SJ tends to more prose and Swindiana is the master of bag reference. It was a LITTLE easier for me when SJ looked more like Tom Selleck... ;) ...but after a while these other traits present themselves stronger.

Anymore I find I remember folks by their personality/humor and knowledge areas. Haven't figured out HOW to categorize Bink and Jess yet, though. :wink:

SJ - This is a wonderful virtual tour - thanks a lot! Got one weird question for you...how did it SMELL? Seriously, that's the one experience you can't get w/o walking in, but a pretty powerful descriptor. Did you smell the felt in the back rooms, or wood/dust from the old blocks, or steam heat...? (Yes, you now know how to categorize me, as well. I am often a total FRUITCAKE! :wink: )
ob1al
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:41 am
Location: The Yookay
Contact:

Post by ob1al »

Haven't figured out HOW to categorize Bink and Jess yet, though
That's an easy one - Scoundrels.

In fact Jerry, I see you as a Scoundrel-in-the-works. I forsee you will become the greatest of all Scoundrels, even more powerful than Master Jess. :wink:

A few more dastardly, dirty, rotten tricks - just follow Bink's lead on that one - and I'm certain Professor Michaelson will confer upon you the rank of official Scoundrel.

Never give up my friend - one day, you too could be a recognised bounder and cad! :tup: :wink:
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

ob1al wrote:A few more dastardly, dirty, rotten tricks - just follow Bink's lead on that one - and I'm certain Professor Michaelson will confer upon you the rank of official Scoundrel.
Hehehe...I fear that is what kept Michaelson away...the fear of being the target of too many practical jokes by those in quest for the scoundrel ranking!

(Kidding, Michaelson, kidding...and STILL wish you, Jess, and Bink could make QM this wknd. Plan to drink some coffee for you three (but smoke the cigars for ME). Even got my COW mug the other day so it will be official. ;))
ob1al
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:41 am
Location: The Yookay
Contact:

Post by ob1al »

BTW SJ, I never did say - great post! :tup:

It was a real pleasure to visit Lock and co - much more so than the 'Swaine Adney Briggs' shop. :tdown:

Hope your doing well T., you've been very quiet lately!

Highest regards,

Al
Scandinavia Jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:54 pm
Location: East of Swindiana

Post by Scandinavia Jones »

Indiana Jerry wrote:Got one weird question for you...how did it SMELL? Seriously, that's the one experience you can't get w/o walking in, but a pretty powerful descriptor. Did you smell the felt in the back rooms, or wood/dust from the old blocks, or steam heat...? (Yes, you now know how to categorize me, as well. I am often a total FRUITCAKE! :wink: )
Well...

Image

nothing special, really. I guess it smelled like... it was supposed to... :?:

Scent of a hat shop. Nothing poignant at all. Felt...? What an extraordinary question, Jerry. I am quite sensitive for smells, so I guess I would have noticed any whiffs out of the ordinary...

My hotel room, on the other hand, was a different experience, funk-wise... eew.
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

Hahahaha...thanks, SJ, I have the utmost respect for a man of sensitive probiscus, so I take that to truly mean it was utterly unremarkable in the whiffy sense.

Now you have me curious...what did the rooms smell like? :-& =;

(Hmm...this is like Scratch'N'Sniff UK Indy Summit... :wink: )
Scandinavia Jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:54 pm
Location: East of Swindiana

Post by Scandinavia Jones »

Actually, the other summitgoers' rooms sniffed out OK... I was given a the room with a most disgusting rug. The best description of the smell? Let's just say CSI might have encountered it in their line of duty... :? :-&
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

Scandinavia Jones wrote:Actually, the other summitgoers' rooms sniffed out OK... I was given a the room with a most disgusting rug. The best description of the smell? Let's just say CSI might have encountered it in their line of duty... :? :-&
Ew...don't need the luminol, it's taken on an eerie glow all by itself... :shock:
User avatar
Swindiana
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:05 am
Location: West of Scandinavia Jones, making meed for Holt
Contact:

Post by Swindiana »

Whipcrack wrote:I stand corrected, sorry I mixed this up.

Bill
No need to be sorry my friend. You never know when you need a second identity. ;)
Latest conspiracy: SJ and Swindy the same person? We have the proof, or do we? Or don't we? Read all about it, or don't? Or will you? 8)

I felt a felt smell in the shop. ;)

Regards,
Swindiana
ob1al
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:41 am
Location: The Yookay
Contact:

Post by ob1al »

The shcenturies of shervice that shop hash sheen shertainly shurrounded shaid shwanky shtore with a persheptable hishtoric schent Shwindy. :wink:
User avatar
Swindiana
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:05 am
Location: West of Scandinavia Jones, making meed for Holt
Contact:

Post by Swindiana »

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I think you need to wipe off your screen after that, Al. Why not ushe, shay and old T-shirt? 8)

Regards,
Swindiana
Scandinavia Jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:54 pm
Location: East of Swindiana

Post by Scandinavia Jones »

Swindiana wrote:No need to be sorry my friend. You never know when you need a second identity. ;)
Ah, I see... I was just beginning to wonder where those bills came from...

"Invoice for (1) truckload of Box Gas Mask Bags, Mk VII"
"Thank you for shopping at Mad Mike's Military Miscellania. 14 crates of British military surplus equipment (Mk VII bags, striped and unissued mix). Payment due tomorrow."

And so forth...

We need to talk, "Scandy"!
ob1al wrote:The shcenturies of shervice that shop hash sheen shertainly shurrounded shaid shwanky shtore with a persheptable hishtoric schent
Ah... indeed, yee hev a #### proboshcish, Alan. Tha is, yer nashal shenshes are exhtremely well shorted, Ah musht syah .
User avatar
Swindiana
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:05 am
Location: West of Scandinavia Jones, making meed for Holt
Contact:

Post by Swindiana »

"Invoice for (1) truckload of Box Gas Mask Bags, Mk VII"
"Thank you for shopping at Mad Mike's Military Miscellania. 14 crates of British military surplus equipment (Mk VII bags, striped and unissued mix). Payment due tomorrow."
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Needless to say, I'm now on to finding reproduction Newey snaps. ;)

Money is in the bag... Well... A bag never gets cheaper than a free one. :D

Regards,
Swindy, aka "Scandy"
Scandinavia Jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:54 pm
Location: East of Swindiana

Post by Scandinavia Jones »

ob1al wrote:BTW SJ, I never did say - great post! :tup:
Thanks, mate! :D
ob1al wrote:It was a real pleasure to visit Lock and co - much more so than the 'Swaine Adney Briggs' shop. :tdown:
Actually, I thought the posh old guy was calling the coppers when we entered... :roll:
ob1al wrote:Hope your doing well T., you've been very quiet lately!
I'm OK... lots of work, long days and no time for COW makes Tom a dull boy. I wish there was another UK Summit in a couple o' weeks...

Image
Had to post this cheerful little pic... one of the unarguably best pics from the summit... it kind of sums it up, don't you think? :wink:
(Picture courtesy of Swindiana... or maybe not... after all, one of us is Swindiana and the other is Scandinavia Jones... right?)
User avatar
Swindiana
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:05 am
Location: West of Scandinavia Jones, making meed for Holt
Contact:

Post by Swindiana »

:) A nice shot indeed. You also get a glimpse of the hat steamer behind Al that was included with every room. 8)

Regards,
Swindiana
ob1al
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 2332
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:41 am
Location: The Yookay
Contact:

Post by ob1al »

Ha ha - I'm glad to say I chose...wisely! :wink:

Regards,

Swindinavia Al
User avatar
Kris
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 438
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2004 8:05 pm
Contact:

Post by Kris »

Oh no .. He holds the cup of Eternal Drunkness ! :o
Post Reply