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Leather Hillgate & Co. Top Hat Case w/Orginal Hat

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Hats184 of 431Antique Collins & Fairbanks Leather Top Hat Case w/Original Top HatScala Outback solid daily wear hat
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    Posted 9 years ago

    jscott0363
    (875 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

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    Comments

    1. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      Very nice!
    2. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      Thanks Jewels!! You wouldn't happen to know anything about antique top hats would you?
    3. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      I collect hats, but mostly women's hats, let me search around the web, brb :)
    4. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      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
    5. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      BEAUTIFUL!!
    6. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      Thanks for the info Jewels!! I will definitely do that!!
    7. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      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!!
    8. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      Let us know!
    9. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      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!!
    10. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      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 :)
    11. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      Did they ever respond to your emails?
    12. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      Notta!! Still waiting for a response.
    13. Jewels Jewels, 9 years ago
      Bah! Okay...well, I hope they do :)
    14. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      As do I. I've always wanted know something about it and have never been able to.
    15. jscott0363 jscott0363, 9 years ago
      Thanks for the loves everyone!!
    16. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      Caperkid, Thank you for the love and for stopping by. Always appreciated my friend!!
    17. Caperkid, 8 years ago
      As a southern gentleman do you get much use of the top hat . Bourbon tastings and wine mixers ware.lol
    18. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      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:(
    19. Caperkid, 8 years ago
      Gotta wear the hat.
    20. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      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
    21. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      Ho2cultcha, thank you for the love and for stopping by. Always appreciated!!
    22. trunkman trunkman, 8 years ago
      Fabulous find -- missed this somehow... a very well made piece indeed...
    23. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      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.
    24. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      Thanks
      trunkman
      officialfuel
      and
      Moonstonelover21
      for the loves and for stopping by. Very much appreciated!!
    25. GeodeJem GeodeJem, 8 years ago
      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.
    26. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      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!!!
    27. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 8 years ago
      love it!!
    28. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      ho2cultcha,
      Thanks so very much and happy holidays to you and your family!!!
      Scott
    29. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      Nicefice,
      Thanks very much for the love. Happy Holidays to you and your family!!!
      Scott
    30. jscott0363 jscott0363, 6 years ago
      ho2cultcha
      Recordmantime
      Jlmam
      dlpetersen
      and
      Jenni
      Thank you all very much for the loves and for stopping in. Always appreciated!!

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