Posted 10 years ago
jscott0363
(903 items)
I picked this Hillgate & Co. leather top hat case, complete with the original top hat, a few years back. I was just amazed at the remarkable condition that this set is in.
The top hat and case were both made in London, England. The set dates back to the late 1800's and, as you can see, there is still part a travel decal from Paris on the top of the case. I cleaned and conditioned the leather case and cleaned and polished the fur felt hat.
While cleaning the case, I found the original key to the case. Though very rusted, I carefully cleaned the key with steel wool and gave it a try. The key and lock work beautifully!!
Thanks for looking!!
Scott
Very nice!
Thanks Jewels!! You wouldn't happen to know anything about antique top hats would you?
I collect hats, but mostly women's hats, let me search around the web, brb :)
Hmmm, not much out there, I think you might have a little prize there. I found this site, maybe send your photos and they will be helpful :) http://www.vintage-toppers.com/page11.html
BEAUTIFUL!!
Thanks for the info Jewels!! I will definitely do that!!
Thank you Sean!! I usually look for trunks, but this really jumped out at me. I used to travel extensively and so anything travel related intrigues me greatly!!
Let us know!
Jewels, I sent them an email w/pics and hope to hear something back from them. I'll let you know what they say. Thanks again Jewels!!
Oh awesome, that gent in the top hat on the site looks enthusiastic to help :) and the British are so kind people, I will follow :)
Did they ever respond to your emails?
Notta!! Still waiting for a response.
Bah! Okay...well, I hope they do :)
As do I. I've always wanted know something about it and have never been able to.
Thanks for the loves everyone!!
Caperkid, Thank you for the love and for stopping by. Always appreciated my friend!!
As a southern gentleman do you get much use of the top hat . Bourbon tastings and wine mixers ware.lol
No Caperkid, I just keep them on display in their cases. I don't get to many bourbon tastings. Those are usually sponsored by someone like Makers Mark and they're usually the events that are by invite only. I guess I just don't qualify:(
Gotta wear the hat.
That's actually just one of my many. I have several antique top hats and cases. Men tended to be much smaller back in the day. So, finding one of these that will fit the average head today is kind of tough. I do have one that fits me perfect. But, it dates to the 1880's and I don't want to accidentally damage it.
Thanks again!!
Scott
Ho2cultcha, thank you for the love and for stopping by. Always appreciated!!
Fabulous find -- missed this somehow... a very well made piece indeed...
trunkman, Thanks so much for the kind comment. This one is very well made and the only hat in my collection that actually fits me perfectly.
Thanks
trunkman
officialfuel
and
Moonstonelover21
for the loves and for stopping by. Very much appreciated!!
I hope you don't mind but hat making does have its side effects! I believe this site to be educational It is a stunning hat kit you have!
This is from Wiki: Mad hatter disease, or mad hatter syndrome, is a commonly used name for occupational chronic mercury poisoning among hatmakers whose felting work involved prolonged exposure to mercury vapours. The neurotoxic effects included tremor and the pathological shyness and irritability characteristic of erethism.
Use of inorganic mercury in the form of mercuric nitrate to treat the fur of small animals for the manufacture of felt hats seems to have begun in 17th-century France and from there spread to England by the end of the century with the Huguenots. By the Victorian era the hatters' condition had become proverbial, as reflected in popular expressions like "mad as a hatter" and "hatters' shakes". Similar phenomena had been described in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1829. In France, the National Academy of Medicine described the health hazards in 1869, and in 1898 a law was passed to protect hatmakers from the risks of mercury exposure. In Britain, mercury poisoning among hatters had become a rarity by the turn of the 20th century. In the United States, where the occupational illness was thoroughly described in New Jersey in 1860, the practice continued until 1941; mercury poisoning in the hatmaking industries of Danbury, Connecticut gave rise to the expression "Danbury shakes". Hatmakers in Tuscany, Italy, were also affected and exposed workers received financial compensation.
Although Lewis Carroll's iconic Mad Hatter character in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has often been linked to the occupational hazards of hatmaking, it is thought that the character was directly inspired by the eccentric furniture dealer Theophilus Carter.
GeodeJem, Thank you for the comment and the incredible wealth of information here. Very amazing indeed! I always wondered where the term "Mad Hatter" originated from. Now I know.
Thanks for the love, the nice comment and for stopping by. Much appreciated!!!
love it!!
ho2cultcha,
Thanks so very much and happy holidays to you and your family!!!
Scott
Nicefice,
Thanks very much for the love. Happy Holidays to you and your family!!!
Scott
ho2cultcha
Recordmantime
Jlmam
dlpetersen
and
Jenni
Thank you all very much for the loves and for stopping in. Always appreciated!!