Post by Drum on Jun 27, 2024 1:08:06 GMT
The Tilley T1 was the direct and immediate evolution of the very first hats made by Alex Tilley in the early 1980’s.
This model was the test bed for nearly all of the signature innovations and characteristics that define the Tilley brand (from 1981-2017). From the pre-shrunk cotton duck, the British brass, the wind cords to flotation and secret pockets, everything that makes a Tilley began on a T1. The T1 is the prototypical Tilley hat.
So… when, and why, did Tilley decide to remove the T1 from their catalog? From the first Tilley catalog in 1986 until…(?) the T1 was on page one. The earliest Tilley catalog that we have here on this forum is 2008 and this was perhaps the year that marked the beginning of the “new” T1 in the form of the LT1B, which is a complete buckety redesign of the original Tilley and, to my eye at least, an abomination of a hat.
The latest T1 I’ve seen during my secondary market survey has a MMIII crown label, which would seem to place it in the 2003 timespan. I will keep checking T1’s I see for sale and update this part as necessary.
Post up a photo of your T1 if you’ve got one and keep your eyes peeled for any examples of the original T1 and check the labels.
In my next post in this thread, I will post some tips on how to spot original T1’s and how to date the T1’s you find.
D
This model was the test bed for nearly all of the signature innovations and characteristics that define the Tilley brand (from 1981-2017). From the pre-shrunk cotton duck, the British brass, the wind cords to flotation and secret pockets, everything that makes a Tilley began on a T1. The T1 is the prototypical Tilley hat.
So… when, and why, did Tilley decide to remove the T1 from their catalog? From the first Tilley catalog in 1986 until…(?) the T1 was on page one. The earliest Tilley catalog that we have here on this forum is 2008 and this was perhaps the year that marked the beginning of the “new” T1 in the form of the LT1B, which is a complete buckety redesign of the original Tilley and, to my eye at least, an abomination of a hat.
The latest T1 I’ve seen during my secondary market survey has a MMIII crown label, which would seem to place it in the 2003 timespan. I will keep checking T1’s I see for sale and update this part as necessary.
Post up a photo of your T1 if you’ve got one and keep your eyes peeled for any examples of the original T1 and check the labels.
In my next post in this thread, I will post some tips on how to spot original T1’s and how to date the T1’s you find.
D
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