Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,
I just treated myself to a Bowler hat (I've always fancied one), once so common in Great Britain -- are we still 'allowed' to call our country that, I heard we'd been 'rebranded' to plain old UK, at least until Sturgeon gets her way, something a bit fishy about her..............
I digress......
The Bowler is made by 'Major Wear', which I thought was so appropriate for so many of our cars these days..........
Best wishes,
Mike.

Very nice Mike. I've had a Bowler for a long time but have recently changed to a Homburg.

I’ll look out for you both, at the next national. Should be able to pick you out from those back to front baseball cap types.

Thanks for that Mike
I've now got a picture of the Thompson Twins stuck in my head.... https://www.tintin.com/en/characters/th ... d-thompson

I'm more of a Trilby or Fedora man myself....

When on my bike, I’m a crash hat type of guy.

When on my bike, I’m a crash hat type of guy.

The Bowler was the original 'safety' hat for the common man, back in Victorian times.
Later adopted as part of the dress code of a gentleman of course.

I've now got a picture of the Thompson Twins stuck in my head....

We're not that dissimilar.............
A bit more 'Spitfire' wax on my moustache maybe.............
Now where did I put my pistol, I have some villains that Tin Tin wants me to chase after...............
Best wishes,
Mike.

Nice hat Mike.

It's my understanding that the 'Bowler' originally received that particular name because the head gear was manufactured by 'Thomas & William Bowler, who had their premises in Southwark Bridge Road London. Hence a Bowler hat.

It's correct name is a 'Coke'. This was explained to me by a gentleman who was about to enter Lock's hatters in St James Street, many years ago.

I was on the London knowledge at the time, and trying to absorb all the street names and places of interest. As for purchasing a 'Town Coke' from 'Locks'. A snip at nearly 500 quid. Phew.


https://www.lockhatters.com/products/town-coke

I was on the London knowledge at the time, and trying to absorb all the street names and places of interest. As for purchasing a 'Town Coke' from 'Locks'. A snip at nearly 500 quid. Phew.

Blimey!!
Nice bit of history but I'm glad to say mine didn't cost anything like that:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162210021736 ... 1184597868
I bet these chaps didn't pay that much either.......... Best wishes,
Mike.

Flywheel wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 1:15 pm As for purchasing a 'Town Coke' from 'Locks'. A snip at nearly 500 quid. Phew.

But it does have a 'Complimentary White Hat Box'

A true story regarding a Bowler!
Years ago my wife's grandfather was installing an electric generating turbine in Saddler's Mill in Romsey Hampshire which was to provide electricity to Broadlands House.
Grandfather being the supervisor of course wore a bowler. Along came a strong gust of wind whipped the bowler from his head and it landed in the River Test. He was not going to loose his bowler - so dived in fully clothed and retrieved his bowler. Thankfully grandfather was a champion swimmer, the River Test is quite deep before and after Saddler's Mill and its flow is rapid.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, please forget your bowlers and homburgs and check out one of these bad boys.......as my son is apt to say:-

Just in case you can't read the blurb that comes with this on-trend headgear, here is what you are missing if you don't stump up your 23 bob now:

''The Motorway Cap is specially designed to give motorists protection from head injuries and incorporates the special ‘’No. 11 anti-shock felt’’ developed by The British Hat and Allied Feltmakers Research Association. The cap is made in a smart and fashionable shape and in a variety of colours.''

.........Just what you need if someone loses control and slams into you at 70 mph on the M1, is to be wearing some 'anti-shock felt'

I think the guy in the add would probably get more protection from that fine moustache!!

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hans ... feltmakers

There were questions asked in Parliament about the felt safety hat.

Phil, I greatly respect your knowledge and expertise on all things mechanical but I would never have guessed it extended to felt safety hats.
Respect to you, sir!

I was relieved to read that parliamentarians assured us that the felt cap was no substitute for a crash helmet!! Phew - I wonder how did they came to that ground breaking conclusion?

But it does have a 'Complimentary White Hat Box'
[/quote]

It certainly was an experience, looking through the windows of 'Lock & Co Hatters St James's Street all those years ago.

I couldn't see any hat prices much to my surprise. Perhaps I'll stick with my old flat caps. Many of those i've owned for over thirty years. I wouldn't want a 'complimentary white hat box' anyway. I'd only get grease on it down the garage..!!!!

Mike, you'll have to get one of your family to take your photo.

Post on here, to show us how a 'Real Gent' is suitably attired for the occasion. Cheers Jonnie.

Some of the early Bowler hats were made of steamed mole skin at Christies hat works in Stockport a famous hat manufacturer

jagnut66 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 1:34 pm

I was on the London knowledge at the time, and trying to absorb all the street names and places of interest. As for purchasing a 'Town Coke' from 'Locks'. A snip at nearly 500 quid. Phew.

Blimey!!
Nice bit of history but I'm glad to say mine didn't cost anything like that:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162210021736 ... 1184597868
I bet these chaps didn't pay that much either..........
Victorian navvy in bowler 1890's.jpg
Victorian navvys.jpg
Best wishes,
Mike.

Old pictures tell a story, this is a really cool thread.