Vintage Herbert Johnson!!!

[Forrest For the Trees]

Okay, so about two weeks ago, I noticed a vintage Herbert Johnson brown fedora come up for auction on ebay from a seller in London. These don't show up that often, so I was a bit excited, especially when I saw that it was exactly my size. I don't have a lot of cash to throw around, so with a day left in the auction, I put in a maximum bid of about $96 and walked away, thinking, well it was worth a shot. Imagine my shock when I got an e-mail the next day that said I won the hat for $78!!

I received the hat this past Friday. It is the nicest hat I have ever handled. It is not a Poet, but instead the model is called Romany, listed inside the sweat band. The color is very dark brown, darker than the Indy hat. The crown height is 4 1/2 inches tall, brim is 2 1/4 inches all the way around. Having a smaller, thinner head than most, these dimensions are much better for me than the Poet. It is not lined, but instead has small cap inside the crown covering the Herbert Johnson logo, and it has a gorgeous tan-cream leather sweat band with the 38 New Bond St. address. The hat has a 1/2 inch light brown ribbon around the crown. I am toying with having it replaced.

When I received the hat, it had a loose teardrop shape, and a very low front pinch, so I got out the kettle, raised the front pinch and put in a simple center dent. It worked like a charm.

Here are the photos for your viewing pleasure. None on my noggin' yet... I will gladly entertain suggestions, comments and any guesses on a date. I'm thinking 60s, but can't be sure...

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... edora4.jpg

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... edora3.jpg

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... edora1.jpg

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... JLogo1.jpg

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... Sweat1.jpg

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... Sweat2.jpg

[DR Ulloa]

Very nice find and at a great price! I'd keep the ribbon. Vintage hats shouldn't be messed with unless they need it. this one doesn't. It looks great as is. Wear it in good health.

Dave

[Forrest For the Trees]

Yeah, I hear you about not wanting to mess with a vintage hat like this. Even exposing it the steam from the kettle felt a little funny for me, but worked out really well. The pictures on ebay didn't look so hot, so I was really expecting a "project hat" to be sent out for a re-block and a new ribbon, but when I opened the box, it was pretty clear that the hat didn't need much. Still, a wider ribbon would look pretty nice...

[Indiana Jeff]

Great pick-up! I can see what you mean about wanting a wider ribbon, but I have to agree with Dave, if the hat doesn't need any help, don't help it.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[binkmeisterRick]

It brings a tear to my eye to see others who believe in keeping vintage hats in good condition pretty much the way they found them.

[IndyBrit]

The narrow ribbon is in keeping with what is called a trilby... you have an English orginal there

[Forrest For the Trees]

Yes, no doubt, this qualifies as a trilby, seeing as it has a shorter crown, a 2 1/4 inch brim, and the thinner ribbon. But do Brits call all fedoras trilbies? Does anyone specifically know the difference between a trilby and a fedora?

Wikipedia has this to say:

"A trilby hat (or simply trilby) is a soft felt men's hat with a deeply indented crown, and a pinch at the front. The brim is narrow and often sharply upturned at the back. Traditionally it was made from rabbit hair felt, but is now sometimes made from other materials, including tweed and wool. Trilbies are softer than Homburgs, and have a flexible brim instead of a curved one. Trilbies are similar to fedoras, which can be seen as an American version with a wider brim. The hat's name derives from the stage adaptation of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby; a hat of this style was worn in the first London production of the play, and promptly came to be called 'a Trilby hat'."

[jones the whip]

This is a very nice find, difficult to tell but it might even be fifties.
Will you post pics wearing it?
I wondered if it was classed as a fedora rather than a trilby as it looks a slightly higher crown than a traditional trilby.
Super hat.
JTW.

[Mitch LaRue]

That's a gorgeous HJ, FFtT...
Clearly, it was VERY well looked after!

May you always wear it in good health.

[Forrest For the Trees]

Thanks guys. Yes, the felt is a total knock-out. I have never handled felt like this before. It is very fine and very thin, yet dense and strong, and super lightweight. The brim is razor sharp. I love it.

I don't like being on the business end of a camera much, but here goes...

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac20 ... ra/HJ1.jpg

[Mitch LaRue]

Well that's it, the votes are IN.
Camera-shy or not, that fedora looks SHARP on you, FFtT... REALLY suits you well.
Nice work!

[Forrest For the Trees]

Thanks, Mitch. I actually haven't worn the hat out and about much yet. I really wouldn't want anything to happen to it, but I'll get over that little hang-up with time. It is in such nice shape, I almost feel like it "belongs in a museum!" I've got an old grey Dobbs and a brown Knox that I usually wear out when the mood strikes. Both are vintage hats, early 60's probably, but the HJ felt is far superior. Cheers.

[jones the whip]

Bravo!!
Definitely trilby style more so than a fedora IMO.
It's a difficult decision, but I'd be tempted to go for a slightly wider band
it may give the hat a more solid look.
JTW.

[Forrest For the Trees]

Thanks, JtW. I've decided not to mess with the ribbon. It's pretty special to have a hat like this, 100% original in such nice shape.

I think we all have this notion of the quintessential hat in our minds, mostly due to the Indy fedora and how awesome it looked on Ford. Well, this ain't Ford's hat, it's mine, and my hat has a half-inch ribbon.

[binkmeisterRick]

Thanks, JtW. I've decided not to mess with the ribbon. It's pretty special to have a hat like this, 100% original in such nice shape.

[Forrest For the Trees]

Gosh, should I take a bow?

[Mitch LaRue]

Gosh, should I take a bow?

Just wear the hat proudly, FFtT.


I think you made the right decision.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course... but the hat is yours, so the only correct one is yours.
(As it should be.)

[binkmeisterRick]

FFT, some of us like hats outside of just the Indy realm, too. I'm always happy to see an original vintage hat kept as it was created.

[Indiana Croft]

I too want to throw my comment into the ring. That looks awsome on you, I know some don't like taking pics showing hat on head, but it really does help in showing how the hat looks.

In the imortal words of Billy Crystal. "Yuooo Look Mmavalus"

Croft

[Erri]

I love that thin soft sweatband. I have one myself not too different from yours, unfortunately it's 2 sizer smaller than my head

[LouisiannaJames26]

I love the reddish color

[stones]

Lovely hat! Just to add my thoughts, I think the hat band makes it a bit different in a good way and so it is not looking just like an indy hat. I recently got a vintage Knox Twenty which looks to be similar proportions but in a grey felt which has a wider 52 mm ribbon on it. Again it looks a bit different to my Indy hats which i like. Great find!

stones