Club Obi Wan

Just won an seemingly new open crowned vintage fedora with the original hatbox for a crazy good price, but I've never heard of the brand Emerson. The seller didn't seem to know much about it and estimated it was from the 50's or 60's, however the shape and brim length doesn't seem to suggest that at all. According to the box they've been around since 1888 but I can't seem to find any info on the company.

Here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0203585801

Any opinions as regards to the hat (more pictures to come when I get it, and the company?

The shape of the crown immediately stuck out to me.

You know, come to think of it, I think my grandpa has a few of these Emerson fedoras. I'll have to check the next time I am over there to visit.

James

That's a nice looking Homborg! It also looks like it could be older than the 1950s, by the workmanship in the lining. My guess would be no sooner than the '40s, if not earlier. From what I can tell of the sweatband pic, it looks hand stitched, which makes me believe Emerson likely provided hats in the old tradition by doing most of the work by hand. (That makes me think that it could be from the '30s, definitely pre-War.) I do hope you plan to crease it and wear it as is. Pencil rolled brims like that were never meant to be snapped down or shaped like a fedora brim. Be nice to it by wearing it, but please don't think of altering the hat! It's getting harder to find such pristine vintage hats anymore! If you want to alter it, send it to me and I'll... uh... do the work for you.

I had a slight suspicion it was a homburg, but it may not necessarily be one because of the pencil roll. I might have to fedoraize it a bit, because I don't think I don't think a proper homburg would look right on a 21 year old. I don't think it's too out of line to snap down the front of a homburg, some folks have documented this at the fedora lounge.

What I'm really surprised at is how little of a fight I got this hat for considering its qualities.

Sometimes diamonds slip by, and folks fight over scraps at eBay. I haven't figured that one out myself.

NICE acquisition, but I agree with bink. You might want to just put that one back until you do feel comfortable wearing it as is. They don't make them anymore, and once you change it, it can never be reversed to it's original state.

JMO, though. It's your hat.

Regards! Michaelson

Here's an idea... I have a grey open road style fedora in 7 1/8 I'll trade you for the homborg.

Ooh, an open road, haha, now we're talking. You've got my attention, but I'll have to wait and see when the homburg comes. Who knows, it might just be that amazing. It would be a good trade though, but that depends on the open road as well. Any other details, pics?

You two might want to take this offline now.

Regards! Michaelson

Marcus, I'll PM you after work tonight.