Object number
2010/166
Exhibition
Creator
Description
This brown felt trilby hat was made by the hatmakers Dunn & Co Ltd. It is the type of hat commonly worn by farmers during the 1950s and probably dates from that period.
This brown felt trilby hat was made by the hatmakers Dunn & Co Ltd. It is the type of hat commonly worn by farmers during the 1950s and probably dates from that period.
Physical description
Trilby hat of brown felt of a type worn by many farmers during the 1950s. Some discolouration to the lining and some minor marks to the underside of the rim. Leather band inside and cream coloured silk lining. Trim and bow on exterior of a different material. Markings on interior leather reads: 'G. A. Dunn & Co. Ltd'. Marking on hat lining reads: 'D & Co. // Dunn & Co. Ltd // Hat Makers, Piccadilly Circus, 373, Strand, London, & Provinces // British Manufacture'. Small loose paper label formerly attached to underside of leather band, possibly torn in transit. This loose label reads: '400 // 658'. Estimated UK hat size of 6 5/8.
Label Text
Trilby hat, circa 1950s. This type of felt-covered hat was worn by many farmers of the mid-twentieth century. This particular example was produced by Dunn and Company, a hat making firm founded by George Arthur Dunn in 1886. Dunn later diversified into farming and came to own a large acreage in England prior to his death in 1939. He is said to have been amongst the earliest British agriculturalists to own a combine harvester, of which there were only about a hundred prior to the Second World War. MERL 2010/166.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – ‘Description: Trilby hat of brown felt. Some discolouration to the lining and some minor marks to underside of rim. Made by Dunn & Co Ltd’ hat makers. Leather band inside and trim in another material. Probably 1950s and of a type worn by farmers during this period. Small size label reading ‘400 // 658’ torn off and is loose. Estimated UK hat size: 6 5/8 // Dimensions: Max length: 320mm // Max width: 250mm // Max height: 130mm // Associated information: The company Dunn & Co Ltd was founded by the prominent Quaker George Arthur Dunn in 1886. He died in 1939 but was a moderniser. He diversified into land ownership and farming. He was amongst the earliest people in the UK to own a combine harvester.’
Production date
1950 - 1959
Production period
1950s
Object name
Material
Dimensions
- Length 320 mm
- Width 250 mm
- Height 130 mm
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_01.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_02.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_03.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_04.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_05.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_06.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_07.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\2010_166_doc_08.tif - High resolution image
