This Locke & Co bowler was my father's' and has his initials are inside the hat, H.P on the inner band. I want to find out what year it was made.
- Thread starter lrpisme
- Start date
Jonathan
VFG Member
Bowler styles don't change a lot over a very long period of time, so the best way to date it is according to your dad's age. If he was born c. 1930, it probably dates from the 1950s. They weren't being worn much after the early 1960s except by John Steed of the Avengers, although there was an ironic way of wearing them afterwards, but those were usually vintage finds. I wore one occasionally in the early 80s, and mine was a vintage find.
Thanks for the info! He was born in 1927 so that makes sense what you are saying that it must be from the 50s.
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
As Jonathan has mentioned, the bowler style hat did not change much over the years. The interior can often give some clues. Is the tip of the inside liner covered in thin plastic or thin paper type material? You really will not find that in older hats, I think it started in the late 1950s.
Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure what you mean about " Is the tip of the inside liner covered in thin plastic or thin paper type material?" If you mean the circle of the gold-like color at the top of the inside of the hat where it says Locke & Co it does have something over the silky feeling, material for the rest of the liner. That is super thin if it is plastic. It reminds me of a much thinner version of a clear rain cover for a peaked military hat.
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
Yes, that part of the hat is called the "tip" of the hat.
Did you check under the leather sweatband for either a Union label or a maker's label. You may be able to date more precisely using those
Thanks for the clarification.
Too bad as there may have been more info for you there.
I don’t know what side. I have never had to use a product to soften the leather.
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
Locke is a very very old maker and considered one of the best. I don't think its worth it to try to see what is under the sweatband and risk damaging the hat. I actually have not ever found anything on the underside of a leather hat band. There might be a tiny inventory tag but that won;t give you any useful info. I think you have a good amount of info, the maker, the approximate year. Its a great hat.
You are right, I do not want to damage it. I already messed around with another hat my mom gave me from dad, a USAF officer's white peaked hat 1950s, and ripped the leather band. I am not selling any of the hats, so I guess it doesn't matter if I know how old they are.