As in the "type-of-item-I'm-always-looking-for-and-never-find" category, I spotted in one of our better vintage stores a men's fedora with the full "Lock & Co." logo inside. It was just with many American-made hats and priced similarly - $20. I haven't purchased it yet so - no photo. But I can say it is a fairly simple fedora - doesn't seem as complexly made as my Borsalino fedora, for example - with a dark gray, lightweight-velour fabric, and minimal brim. Reminds me of late '60s - '70s, maybe? Fairly thin black band. Looks totally authentic, anyway - just like the florid branding I always see with Lock hats, with the Jermyn Street addess and curlicues. Actually, are they on both St. James's and Jermyn? As I sometimes do, I'm so stunned to see something I actually pointed out to the owner how low the price is for a hat from such an illustrious establishment.
Now, a few questions: Condition seems excellent, without my studying every detail (yet). There was a (cardboard?) label inside the interior rim that had numbers, including a "4/81"; could that be the date of manufacture? Second - hat had "57" size as well as "7." Normally I wear at least a 7 1/8, and used to have a Borsalino flat cap labeled 57 that was plenty roomy. Is the "7" a mislabel and it's larger? I'm wondering if the hat was made to be sold in the U.S. The lady showed me several other hats that came from the same house - they were American and at least one had a local store name in it. I certainly wouldn't call the hat "roomy" but I think it probably fits well enough.
Since the hat has such a shallow brim, not exactly "classic" though a lot like the hats many young guys seem to be buying today, if I get it I might wear it as sort of a funky thing - not as a "serious" fedora (sort of like a baseball cap). Can't say yet. Maybe some of you guys are in the UK and see these hats a lot but for me, in my Midwestern cityl, its a very special thing to come across one fo these. Anyway, the usual big question: what do think of the price? Isn't this a steal? Thanks!
Edited by Lafont - 6/4/12 at 7:03am
Now, a few questions: Condition seems excellent, without my studying every detail (yet). There was a (cardboard?) label inside the interior rim that had numbers, including a "4/81"; could that be the date of manufacture? Second - hat had "57" size as well as "7." Normally I wear at least a 7 1/8, and used to have a Borsalino flat cap labeled 57 that was plenty roomy. Is the "7" a mislabel and it's larger? I'm wondering if the hat was made to be sold in the U.S. The lady showed me several other hats that came from the same house - they were American and at least one had a local store name in it. I certainly wouldn't call the hat "roomy" but I think it probably fits well enough.
Since the hat has such a shallow brim, not exactly "classic" though a lot like the hats many young guys seem to be buying today, if I get it I might wear it as sort of a funky thing - not as a "serious" fedora (sort of like a baseball cap). Can't say yet. Maybe some of you guys are in the UK and see these hats a lot but for me, in my Midwestern cityl, its a very special thing to come across one fo these. Anyway, the usual big question: what do think of the price? Isn't this a steal? Thanks!
Edited by Lafont - 6/4/12 at 7:03am
![icon_gu_b_slayer[1].gif](http://files.styleforum.net/images/smilies/icon_gu_b_slayer%5B1%5D.gif){kind=icon}
![shog[1].gif](http://files.styleforum.net/images/smilies/shog%5B1%5D.gif)
![lol8[1].gif](http://files.styleforum.net/images/smilies/lol8%5B1%5D.gif)
) proxy it through Suddenlee or a couple dudes in SW&D B&S.
