John Steed And His Bowler Hat

[unclefester]

I wonder if anyone else has noticed the following...

I've seen a couple of episodes in the last week or two in which the lining of Steeds bowler hat is clearly visible. I've tried to post a couple of photos here but didn't have any luck in doing so. The lining clearly shows a large black arrow indicating the front of the hat drawn on the white lining. Assume the crew did this to ensure that Steed always had his hat the right way round to place on his melon.

Makes sense since the hat is very similar front to back. And a backwards hat would require a retake. Time is money. The arrow appears to be drawn in what looks like black magic marker. I've seen it on three different occasions clearly in scenes from seasons 4 and 5. I assume it was SOP for the entire series.

[Purrr]

I think your arrow is the emblem of the hatter Herbert Johnson.
Herbert Johnson website: https://herbertjohnson.co.uk/pages/history
Steed's grey bowler: https://ukm.propstoreauction.com/lot-de ... /lot/80229

[unclefester]

Well thank you for that!!

I did check a number of bowler hat images online and couldn't find one with the "arrow" I talked about. Thought it was something the crew added but not so!

Thanks again. (My) Mystery Solved!!

[mariocki]

The crew on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) should have had an arrow on the underside of Kenneth Cope’s wig - that way they could have prevented him from wearing it the wrong way around for the first few episodes.

[Frankymole]

I think your arrow is the emblem of the hatter Herbert Johnson.
Herbert Johnson website: https://herbertjohnson.co.uk/pages/history
Steed's grey bowler: https://ukm.propstoreauction.com/lot-de ... /lot/80229

Still quite useful as a visual guide to the wearer swiftly picking up and donning his hat in a hurry! All emblems should be so directional.

[unclefester]

I think your arrow is the emblem of the hatter Herbert Johnson.
Herbert Johnson website: https://herbertjohnson.co.uk/pages/history
Steed's grey bowler: https://ukm.propstoreauction.com/lot-de ... /lot/80229

Still quite useful as a visual guide to the wearer swiftly picking up and donning his hat in a hurry! All emblems should be so directional.

Agreed on all counts!

Nice bit of advertising - the arrow emblem for the Herbert Johnson firm. Although I don't believe the producers went out of their way to highlight the brand makers emblem (or did they)? it was certainly visible in quick glances.

Wonder if the producers worked a deal with the firm to get Steeds hats complimentary?

[Frankymole]

Yes maybe, but they missed a trick with "product placement" by not naming the supplier when they could've. Instead I think they mention a ficitional one, but I can't remember in which episode.

In the Who's Who??? Trivia section on Piers's site, it indeed says that Steed’s bowlers "always have the white silk of Herbert Johnson & Son". But I don't think they mention that in the episode. Can anyone remember - it might be a New Avengers - where Steed says he gets his hats from? Or maybe one of his partners identifies it.

[J.Mac3]

Yes maybe, but they missed a trick with "product placement" by not naming the supplier when they could've. Instead I think they mention a ficitional one, but I can't remember in which episode.

In the Who's Who??? Trivia section on Piers's site, it indeed says that Steed’s bowlers "always have the white silk of Herbert Johnson & Son". But I don't think they mention that in the episode. Can anyone remember - it might be a New Avengers - where Steed says he gets his hats from? Or maybe one of his partners identifies it.

In "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station," Mrs. Peel jumps the agent, who introduces himself as George Warren and adds, "I'm a friend of Steed's." She asks him, "Where does he get his trilbies?" and he replies, "He wears bowlers and he gets them from St. James."

[dissolute]

Yes maybe, but they missed a trick with "product placement" by not naming the supplier when they could've. Instead I think they mention a ficitional one, but I can't remember in which episode.

In the Who's Who??? Trivia section on Piers's site, it indeed says that Steed’s bowlers "always have the white silk of Herbert Johnson & Son". But I don't think they mention that in the episode. Can anyone remember - it might be a New Avengers - where Steed says he gets his hats from? Or maybe one of his partners identifies it.

In "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station," Mrs. Peel jumps the agent, who introduces himself as George Warren and adds, "I'm a friend of Steed's." She asks him, "Where does he get his trilbies?" and he replies, "He wears bowlers and he gets them from St. James."

True, but they weren't about to give free advertising to Herbert Johnson. It's definitely a Herbert Johnson from 1964 onwards.

My fashion guide (https://dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-t ... -4-01.html) notes:
The bowler hats were exclusively made by Herbert Johnson & Sons ... The umbrellas (when they weren’t prop substitutes to ensure a neat line) were James Smith & Sons whangee cane handle city umbrellas.

Similar to "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station", in "The £50,000 Breakfast" Glover asks him if his bowler is from Benson's and he says it is, but it's actually a Herbert Johnson & Sons. I think they made up trade names all the time as they didn't have an agreement with Herbert Johnson to name them, although that might have changed as there are a few product placement style shots here and there, just as there is in "Murdersville" for that Breitling Navitime watch.

Steed was already wearing Herbert Johnson in series 3, but not exclusively. In "The Medicine Men" he wears a Barnaby & Son bowler.

He's still wearing Herbert Johnson & Sons in The New Avengers, as seen in "Hostage".
https://dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-t ... rs-12.html

[dissolute]

By the way, it's not an arrow. According to Wikipedia, it's

An antelope sejant with the motto: Latin: "Numquam non paratus" (Never unprepared). The antelope sejant may represent a visual pun, for it is in the crest of the Capps family of Norfolk and Kent.

The shield below the antelope has the name and address of Herbert Johnson, at the time it was 38 New Bond St.