The Ultimate Vintage Experience....
This ol' Derby
I've owned a wonderful gents old derby hat for several years. It came from a local estate and is nothing extraordinarily special. Everyone has seen "grandpa's derby", right? But since it's Halloween costume time and I am gleaning my collection, I decided to prep it for online selling. As I was going over the details and specs, I could just sense there was more behind the hat. Because it was a local region hatter, I researched him a bit. Well, 2 hrs later (time flies on the net) and lots of tidbits found, I wrote the hat description. I'll share the provenance part of it with you here:
Authentic antique early 1900s gents derby hat. ...
Interior has 3 labels. The wide leather band is embossed with a patriotic shield and flying eagle design - Henry J. Klee 198 East Main St Opposite Whitcomb House Rochester NY. Also sewn onto the body of the hat is a paper tag: The United Hatters of North America, Registered.
One more paper tag: Tyler Parmly & Co Danbury Conn. Dimensions 7.
I had fun researching this local area hatter. It appears the Klee family were well established business members of Rochester's history. This provenance tidbit comes from Democrat & Chronicle Mar 11, 1929 obituary regarding Mr. Klee's brother (parts omitted):
"George P. KLEE, well known Rochester jeweler, for 34 years a member of the firm of Klee & Groh, died yesterday morning at his home, 5 Burkard Place. Mr. Klee was 62 years old.
...
Mr. KLEE was born in Rochester on June 26, 1866. In 1895, with the late Albert GROH, he founded the jewelry business of Klee & Groh with a store at Clinton Avenue North and Gorham Street. In 1907 the firm moved to 214 Main Street East, and six years later went to the present location, with enlarged quarters, at 143 Main Street East. Mr. GROH died in 1925, since which time Mr. KLEE had carried on the business as sole proprietor. Mr. KLEE was a member of the Rochester Retail Jeweler's Association, B.P.O.E., Knights of Columbus, Chamber of Commerce, St. Herman's Society and the St. Boniface Club of St. Boniface Church.
He is survived by ... three brothers, Joseph, John and Henry J. KLEE; ....."
and one more tidbit:
From the Cornell Daily Sun of Feb 20 1903 under Notices:
"Taken by mistake from cloakroom of Delta Kappa Epsilon lodge Thursday evening, February 5, opera hat with name of Henry J. Klee in it. Holder kindly return it to this office."
*********
Mr. Klee obviously had a thriving hat business at the turn of the century!
The downtown business district in Rochester NY is now defunct like many small cities. Where once stood an endless abundance of small select shops and beautiful major department stores, now remains banks, hotels, offices, centers and barely a place to actually shop for something!
Shopping was a delightful event way back when. It's actually cool to touch a piece of history from that past. Feeling those connections is refreshing and somehow grounding.
Perhaps a derby is a derby is a derby, but this hat gave me some cool vibes for sure and turned out to be a rose.
Authentic antique early 1900s gents derby hat. ...
Interior has 3 labels. The wide leather band is embossed with a patriotic shield and flying eagle design - Henry J. Klee 198 East Main St Opposite Whitcomb House Rochester NY. Also sewn onto the body of the hat is a paper tag: The United Hatters of North America, Registered.
One more paper tag: Tyler Parmly & Co Danbury Conn. Dimensions 7.
I had fun researching this local area hatter. It appears the Klee family were well established business members of Rochester's history. This provenance tidbit comes from Democrat & Chronicle Mar 11, 1929 obituary regarding Mr. Klee's brother (parts omitted):
"George P. KLEE, well known Rochester jeweler, for 34 years a member of the firm of Klee & Groh, died yesterday morning at his home, 5 Burkard Place. Mr. Klee was 62 years old.
...
Mr. KLEE was born in Rochester on June 26, 1866. In 1895, with the late Albert GROH, he founded the jewelry business of Klee & Groh with a store at Clinton Avenue North and Gorham Street. In 1907 the firm moved to 214 Main Street East, and six years later went to the present location, with enlarged quarters, at 143 Main Street East. Mr. GROH died in 1925, since which time Mr. KLEE had carried on the business as sole proprietor. Mr. KLEE was a member of the Rochester Retail Jeweler's Association, B.P.O.E., Knights of Columbus, Chamber of Commerce, St. Herman's Society and the St. Boniface Club of St. Boniface Church.
He is survived by ... three brothers, Joseph, John and Henry J. KLEE; ....."
and one more tidbit:
From the Cornell Daily Sun of Feb 20 1903 under Notices:
"Taken by mistake from cloakroom of Delta Kappa Epsilon lodge Thursday evening, February 5, opera hat with name of Henry J. Klee in it. Holder kindly return it to this office."
*********
Mr. Klee obviously had a thriving hat business at the turn of the century!
The downtown business district in Rochester NY is now defunct like many small cities. Where once stood an endless abundance of small select shops and beautiful major department stores, now remains banks, hotels, offices, centers and barely a place to actually shop for something!
Shopping was a delightful event way back when. It's actually cool to touch a piece of history from that past. Feeling those connections is refreshing and somehow grounding.
Perhaps a derby is a derby is a derby, but this hat gave me some cool vibes for sure and turned out to be a rose.
Tags: antique, black, costume, derby, halloween, hat, hatter, klee, mens, rochester ny
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