OUTSTANDING True Vintage 1948- 1952 (OPS tag, same as the OPC Tag) KNOX SilverBelly - Bowler - Homburg (read below) - Size is a Perfect 7-1/4. With the Beautiful with that Silk (not satin!) headliner! This is so much like the Dobbs Twenty, we were amazed! We say it's a Beaver but when we compared the KNOX “SUPERFINE” (printed on the leather sweatband and the liner)” it's actually feels much more like the early Stetson Beaver TwentyFive! Read below.
If you look at the underside picture you will see that 1948 to 1952 Tax Tag, we have seen this before in the DOBBS 1948- 1952 hats! That tag was used to help control inflation between those years only!
The tag states,”OPS 43.CPR 7 Price $20”. It's bent but still readable.
We just can't find a thing wrong with this OUTSTANDING Hat! It's appears to have been very rarely worn! We'd say less than a handful of times! Please look at all the pictures, they say so much more than we can say about this Hat! There are NO MOTH BITES or NO loose or broken threads on the Grosgrain Ribbon or the Bound Brim Edge.
This is Knox's “SUPERFINE” model, from the start we knew this was a HIGH GRADE BEAVER MATERIAL! And when we started steaming in a touch-up we could NOT help but notice how Buttery soft it was getting as we were steaming it! We knew immediately that that this was a Beaver TwentyFive! We took out one of Dad's early 1950s Stetson TwentyFive and it's a perfect match! There is NO mistaking the “Hand Bashing being so easily done and the way it holds the shape, there is NO mistaking it for anything else!
This has a WIDE Brim - Width 2.4 inches, and then the bound curled brim edge, that's about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch wider than you will ever find for a Bowler or Homburg hat!
EXCELLENT just doesn't Describe this hat. We just believe this is one of KNOX Most OUTSTANDING Hats!
Note: we took a video and tried to add it but it just wouldn't work so We used a video of another Black Dobbs Beaver Twenty hat and were able to add that Video showing how very soft and pliable that Beaver Material is. You can see how quickly and accurately “Hand Bashing” this OUTSTANDING DOBBS TWENTY really is! 5-8 seconds at the most will easily shape this Great Hat!
We chose to call this a Bower and Homburg hat because this was the original shape out of the hat box was that Bowler shape. And once Dad and Grandson touched this up with a bit steamed shaping into a Perfect Open Crown we saw a perfect bowler shape was Perfect! Because this is made From Beaver TwentyFive and Not the traditional Bowler made from Felted Wool it takes seconds to Hand Bash this into different shapes. And it is so easily “Hand Bashed” by adding just a Center Dent which made this a Perfect Homburg Hat and by Hand Bashing a Pinched Crown into it, that made this a Pinched Crown Homburg Hat.
Now if you'd like to have the Homburg Shape or the Pinched Crown Homburg shape steamed into the hat lease write to us and we will get that done for you and we will send you pictures before it is shipped for your approval.
We also measured this and it's actually a perfect 7-1/4. Back in the day when this was manufactured there was NO hat size standardization. So even though the tag states “7-1/8” this actually measures to a perfect 7-1/4.
We filled the picture gallery so you can see every detail! Nothing to hide on this great Vintage Hat!
The Liner is made from SILK and it is NOT a Satin hat liner! At this time period DOBBS made their hat liner from SILK. Just another feature you don't find in hats today! A true piece or Hat Art! Borsalino manufactured real hat art! It's a skill not found in today's hats, a lost art!
The super thin plastic liner cover is still intact with no breaks or cracks. This is most likely from 1951 or 1952 since it has that thin plastic liner cover. These are just the next stage of plastic liner covers after the “Onion Skin” liner covers.
The color is SilverBelly. Some folks are writing to say it's “Light Gray” but that's what SilverBelly looks it. We don't know why it doesn't come out consistently in all the pictures? It's all the same color throughout! Picture of the looking down from the top of the whole hat is the closest and best reflects the actual color.
NOTE: currently the 8 sided Knox hat box is included. Another's it's just the extra shipping and NO charge for this box. That hat box has its original hat holding insert set and is well worthy of shipping, storing the hat inside and displaying. Very minor paper wear.
Dad wants that hat box to go along with this Great Hat! It will be so much better to have a hat box to store that hat inside so that it will last another 90 or more years!
NOTE: that original KNOX oval hat box is really something special! Already 2 of Dads hat collectors are asking to buy just the Older Knox oval hat boxes. That oval hat box had 2 fedora inside of it and there are NO hat holding insert set and no hat holding insert set.
But Dad had a hat holding insert set that fits inside perfectly and still in very good condition.
1. This is an EXTREMELY RARE KNOX HAT BOX! Read what on the underside of that hat box top, please take a minute to look at the picture of the underside of the top of the hat box and READ IT PLEASE!
It's just something you never see anymore! It actually matches up with what's printed on the very bottom edge of the size tag, “SIXTEENTHS”, this matches what's stated on the underside of the top of the hat box.
OPTION 2: if you think you'd like to buy the Knox Oval Hat box Dad is taking bids or offers, NOTHING LESS THAN $74 Plus Shipping! If you are wanting to buy this Knox Hat and this Knox Oval Hat Box there will be NO extra shipping charge.
YOU MUST WRITE TO US IF YOU WANT THE KNOX OVAL HAT BOX, BEFORE BUYING THIS HAT! NO EXCEPTIONS!
1. This concerns the 8 sided Knox hat box. The Big Hat Box is long, nearly 16 inches long, so it will require a large shipping box. So it's going to cost a bit more than other hats with hat boxes that we ship.
NOTE: there is NO CERTAINTY here? It's all up to Dad! If you do NOT want the hat box to reduce shipping you MUST write to us and we will ASK DAD AGAIN if he will agree to separate them? It's only a small difference of about $12 that you'd be saving? And we just don't think it is worth the extra savings to buy it without the hat box! This includes shipping outside the Continental USA too.
Note: Shipping outside the Continental USA is WITH the hat box. It's a bit more expensive but it's If you do NOT want the hat box you MUST a write to us BEFORE buying the hat and ask Dad is he's willing to do that? So PLEASE WRITE TO US FIRST and We will edit the size and weight in the listing, IF DAD WILL AGREE?
There is a size tag stating “7-1/8” but back then there was NO hat sizing standardization.
We actually measure each 3 times using different methods.
This actually measures to a size perfect 7-1/4
NOTE: this was just edited to now to add a Gray coat trolley string. It from Dad's 1960s Dead Stock, it's still very elastic but has minor color flaws, nothing serious but we did notice on close inspection. It's FREE. This one is NOT sewn onto the hat but could be by any decent tailor or the end can be trimmed off and used just as anadornment. It's pretty easily done.
Dad has a few different color newer 1960s Coat Trolley strings that are listed here on eBay. They make great additions to any hat for that extra bit of styling.
Color is SILVERBELLY
This is a size 7-1/4 Or -22-3/4 inches or 58
Length 13.2 inches
Width 11.5 inches
Height 5.4 inches, at the tallest point, in the Bowler style
Matching Black Grosgrain Ribbon 2 inches
WIDE Brim - Width 2.4 inches, and then the bound curled brim edge, that's about 1/4 inch wider than you will ever find for a Bowler or Homburg hat!
The feather set is still in good condition, not perfect.
Take a look at dads other great vintage hat he has listed, we try and list couple each week. If you have any additional information or corrections, please write us.
This is just a really great hat!
Local pickup is always free.
Ship with Fedex or USPS priority mail, whichever arrives quickest. Both costs a couple dollars more but they are very reliable and they do not crush or damage boxes, also much faster shipping. I
Please see our 100% Ratings and very excellent feedback.
Dad has collected hats for a lifetime and there are 100s of them, on shelves, stacked in closets and spare bedrooms.
We are slowly listing these special hats weekly.
We stand behind the eBay garentee and have NEVER had and issue with returns. We ask you to verify your hat size before you buy and we supply the maximum amount of pictures but if you need anything please write and ask. No Smoking - No Pets
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