Ratisbons has this upcoming at auction: "
A comprehensive address "treasure trove" of thousands of index cards with addresses or RZM makers. All kept in boxes. In addition, quite a few interesting documents and newspapers sent out to various makers."
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
ad Fallingbostel - (sal) · Hunters, shooters, farmers, students, soldiers, actors and everyone who is reluctant to leave the house “topless” - there are probably only a few people in this country who have not yet had a hat from Uwe Küsel's workshop in Bad Fallingbostel – be it in films like “Downfall” or “The Miracle of Bern”.
Eight employees and the boss are currently working on orange blindfolds at the company in the Bad Fallingbostel industrial area. 120 headgear of the Imperial Navy - up to the admiral - are almost finished. “For a film,” says Uwe Küsel. He doesn't know any more details.
16 sewing machines, including special machines that are no longer manufactured today, are available. However, the most commonly used ones are the normal ones, which rattle almost non-stop.
The family business was founded in Hanover in 1919 by Uwe Küsel's grandfather Wilhelm and evacuated to Fallingbostel in 1943. Son Wolfgang took over management in 1973. Several moves within the city followed. The company premises have been located in the commercial area since 1987. At that time, Wolfgang Küsel also took over the Hanover wholesaler Drosten, which he still runs today. Uwe Küsel has been responsible for hat production since 2000. “And the way we do it, there is no other company in Germany.” There are still five to six family businesses that make hats. The 48-year-old says he is the youngest. He often supplies the others with accessories such as umbrellas, cords or welding leather.
In a hall opposite the workshop there are large rolls of fabric, a punch, a skinning table, other machines and materials. Pre-production takes place there, explains Küsel. Velvet and silk, leather and other materials in a wide variety of colors, including at least 20 shades of green, are stored there.
He doesn't want to expand his business. The space wouldn't be suitable for anything more. And: “I want to keep it manageable.”
Uwe Küsel even recognizes “his” headgear in photos. “I see it in the workmanship, the cut, the umbrellas and the cords,” says the 48-year-old, who learned the craft of hat and cap making from scratch. He was acquitted in 1982 and passed his master's examination in 1986.
But the boss himself not only takes care of the production, but also some of the bookkeeping and purchasing and sales. He often purchases machines or materials from company tasks at auction. He has now taken over around twelve companies.
The cap maker has experienced a lot, for example a slam-dunk campaign in which Michael Shoemaker World Champion caps were supposed to be given a different seam color within half a day. The ten examples arrived in Monza by courier in time for the press appearance.
Küsel photos or drawings, and sometimes cuts, serve as templates. Patterns are not thrown away. “I still have originals from my grandfather.” Küsel makes hats for 1,600 student associations. Even Bundeswehr officers have headgear made by him. If you have a special request, you've come to the right place - regardless of whether it's a cylindrical high shako, beret, police cap, mountain infantry cap or baseball cap. Umbrellas and cords are sewn on directly in the workshop. Küsel only has particularly elaborate hand embroidery, such as oak or vine leaves on certain student caps, made abroad. “Diversity is our strength.” He tries to fulfill all customer requests, says Küsel. After all, the most important advertising for him is word of mouth.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
"He often supplies the others with accessories such as umbrellas, cords or welding leather." --> (Mützen)Schirme & Schweißleder?
Glad to see that AI still has some difficulties! I would translate: "He often supplies the others with accessories such as visors/bills, cords or sweatbands.
Wilhelm Potthoff
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