Antique Silk Plush Top Hat With UK Union Label

GemGem

GemGem

Registered Guest
Hello all, I would love to share with you one of my new treasures (found in a small town at a bric a brac store in north Wales, UK- which used to be a drapers pre 1920)

I believe this Hat dates to at least 1910 as is written inside. There is also a union label underneath the leather lining, I was quite amazed to find it!

It refers to the 'Felt Hatters and Trimmers Unions of great Britain', which was founded in 1872/78 and dissolved in 1982. The height of the hat also fits into the date period, it is 13cm tall.
I think it could be a good bit of info for the dating by label section on this site, and for the label resource.

I would also love to know more if anyone has further info??
(I also have two silk plush top hats from around the same period, possibly a little earlier).

I have only, so far, been able to find one such top hat in my early research online, which related to a grey felt top hat dating to the 1950's. I think this may be a rare find but would like to confirm that. Would be great if anyone has any sites to recommend so I can continue my search.

Also the inside rim is quite dirty, I have not used anything on it as did not want to damage it or remove the writing. Does anyone know if this could be cleaned?

felt hat union label 1.jpg

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Pictures below
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TO clean the inner band, try starting with a q-tip and some water or spit. That's the mildest method and its always best to start with the mildest before working your way up.
 
I think I can help you a bit here. If you look again at your Union label, you'll see two arms shaking hands with abbreviations on them - A.J.F.H on the left-hand arm and F.H.T.&W.F. on the right-hand arm. If you look carefully at the right-hand arm the sleeve has four buttons on it. It is a female coat, not a man's (as on the left). Back in those days, early 20th century, unions were segregated by gender.

The left-hand arm represents the men's union - A.J.F.H. or, more specifically the Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters.
The right-hand arm represents the women's union - F.H.T.&W.F. or Amalgamated Felt Hat Trimmers and Wool Formers' Association.

The union labels were printed in black ink on pink paper and usually placed under the leather and, indeed, your label pic does still have a pinkish tinge.

Both unions had around 4000 members in the first decade of the 20th C and, if I remember, the industry was centred (or at least had a cluster) in and around the Manchester area. Both unions later merged into the unified Felt Hatters Union.

Still a bit of the fashion historian left in me, lol!

I hope this helps a little :)

Emma
 
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