Need help identifying top hat label

Perhaps concentrating on the exact height is not going to be any more helpful at this point. While the height can be important in dating a top hat, it is not the only factor. Your hat is 6" tall, so we can pretty safely rule out that it is not earlier than mid 19th century. And from all the other looks of the hat, especially the interior and markings, it is late 19th century. Possibly very early 20th century (but I doubt it) and if so, not very much into that era. There are more clues to consider, but I cannot evaluate without handling it in person.

After a while of handling, not just seeing photos of, many antique top hats you will get an idea of the dating just by a glance or two. And then a closer inspection reveals more. Like all collecting, experience and time are the best tools.
 
Rue_de_la_Paix said:
Perhaps concentrating on the exact height is not going to be any more helpful at this point. While the height can be important in dating a top hat, it is not the only factor. Your hat is 6" tall, so we can pretty safely rule out that it is not earlier than mid 19th century. And from all the other looks of the hat, especially the interior and markings, it is late 19th century. Possibly very early 20th century (but I doubt it) and if so, not very much into that era. There are more clues to consider, but I cannot evaluate without handling it in person.

After a while of handling, not just seeing photos of, many antique top hats you will get an idea of the dating just by a glance or two. And then a closer inspection reveals more. Like all collecting, experience and time are the best tools.
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The info from the top hats site would date it between 1837 and 1920 roughly with that height, which is pretty much in line with your dating, although of course, yours is more specific. I understand that its not a reliable source but am glad to hear that it is not all nonsense. :)
 
GemGem said:
If you place the ‘royal’ crown in anything, the crown can sue you for misuse. If an emblem has a royal crown it most certainly has been permitted by the crown.
If you look at the link I posted it explains a great deal about top hats history, a great resource! it is also possible to narrow down the date by the height of the hat, it would be super helpful if we could have that information. It is very unlikely to be any later than the 1910’s. It does look as though the crown is a Prince of Wales crown emblem. That ship on the left usually signifies Manchester. So quite likely the Hatters were based in Manchester in the UK. Quite a lot of decoding can be required but if the research is done the information does seem to be available
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Rue_de_la_Paix said:
That is not the case. Using a crown emblem in a hat or garment does not require the permission of the Royal Family (The Crown as you refer to i). A crown is a very common thing to find on top hats of all makers. It is only is one were to use the actual Royal Emblem of The Crown with the lion and other Royal symbols, that you would need permission. It would also be accompanied by wording indicating the maker was appointed or warranted by the Royal Family.

There were hundreds of hat makers who used a crown symbol, so finding out yours will take a lot of research and even then maybe come up empty handed. But keep trying!

The hat has all the correct bells and whistles to be Victorian, maybe early Edwardian. It is not from the 1930s or 1940s.

That website mentioned by GemGem has a couple of errors and misleading statements. It is not a great resource in my educated opinion. But I will not get into that here.
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GemGem said:
Apologies, I have edited my post to be clear, I meant one of the ‘royal’ crowns. This one looks to be the prince of Wales crown.
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Interesting, though contemporary, info: GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF ROYAL ARMS, NAMES AND IMAGES
 
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