I have a found a hat manufactured by LANDGRAF BAMBERGERER
MUTZEN-INDUSTRIE that has an enscription "Clean Iron 85", as well as
four signatures.   I have no idea what "clean iron" could possibly
mean on this sailor type hat; and, I haven't found anything indicating
about this company.

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 07 Jan 2005 10:00 PST

"Landgraf" is the name of the family owning the German hat-making
company Bamberger Mützen-Industrie. According to the regional Chamber
of Industry & Trade, this is their address:

Bamberger Mützen-Industrie
B. Landgraf
Kleberstr. 26
96047 Bamberg
--
Phone: +49(0)951-98134-0
Fax: +49(0)951-98134-56

Contact persons: Mrs. Landgraf, Mrs. Beuchler
Languages of correspondence: deutsch, englisch

Maybe they can help you.

Source:
IHK Bayreuth: Oberfränkische Außenhandelsunternehmen (PDF file)
http://www.bayreuth.ihk.de/upload/8800475638_2664.pdf

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Clarification of Question by txbluebonnet-ga on 07 Jan 2005 10:37 PST

That is interesting about the company.  Will try contacting them, but
wish that there was an email address to help expedite the
response?????   Any ideas about what the enscription "Clean Iron 85"
might refer to???  I have put the 4 names through the google search
and didn't come up with anything on them either through their names
directly, but was hoping that if I could get clarification on the term
"Clean Iron" I might be able to learn more about the hat.

I am thinking it may have been a souvenier of sorts / retirement
gesture / etc... however, the leather is crackling from its age.  I am
not sure about the cannabis smoke theory in the comments, but will
keep it under advisement.

TxBluebonnet

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Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 14 Jan 2005 15:39 PST

txbluebonnet --

Would you post the names that are written on the hat?  Also, am I
correct in assuming that the inscription is on the outside of the hat?

markj-ga

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Clarification of Question by txbluebonnet-ga on 15 Jan 2005 12:25 PST

No, Mark... the enscriptions are on the inside of the hat....

Erich Weberstetter
Poter Burkhart
Bernhard Kramer
Aeihard Scheifele

I think... Their handwriting is fairly clearly written; however, I am
just not familiar with these German type of names.  Most letters are
very distinct; there are just a few that I am not quite certain of.

It may be a nothing hat; but, the signatures certainly peaked my
curiousity when I found the hat.  It certainly had to have meant
something to someone at some point in time.  From what I am
understanding from some research through a maritime type of company,
it may be a souvenier hat from a NATO exercise -- and the exercise
happend to have been called "Clean Iron 85".

Any ideas, let me know.  Thanks.

Kat

LandGraf in German means something like 'Lord of the Manor' in UK speak

Bamberg is charming town on the old Ost/West border and was (when I
visited it) host to a rather large number of US troops.

Mutzen - I am not sure about - but I strongly suspect that it means
something like 'cookie'

"Clean Iron 85" is self evidently English - indicative of the language
of the potential purchasers

The four signatures are probably those of four GI's 
- you will be able to detect that better than I

I strongly suspect that you have a 'tourist souvenir' not unlike a sombrero

However, the guy that bought it probably developed a taste for the
local Schinkenbier or Rauchbier ( dark beer that has been treated with
smoke, so it tastes like bacon ) and the superb Frankische Trockenwein
which comes in 'Mateus Rose (vomit)' style bottles and is great for a
post prandial libation.
Best consumed cold from Hock glasses - even better in interesting company.

You have, I think, a memento of a rather spectacular day out by four
rather intoxicated GIs. It might be an idea to get it dry cleaned, as
it is almost certain to contain traces of cannabis smoke.

You could ask the company "Bamberger Mützenindustrie GmbH":

http://www1.kompass.com/kinl/cgi-bin/KINL_SOCaction.cgi?_Action=42_SOCmenu&_Page=menu&_Retour=SOCFICHE_HEAD&_Version=004298601105114902&_Ncrt=1&_Prod=&_TypePub=&_Secteur=SOC&_Logo=&x=001226791105114926&_Print=PRN

I hope this link will work.

There are two results when searching for
://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bamberg+m%C3%BCtzenindustrie

However, the company may have moved recently as the addresses given
are not identical (phone numbers are identical).

Frde-ga is having some fun at your expense. "Muetze" (I can't get an
umlaut on my machine) simply means "cap." The plural is Muetzen.

I took a lot of what frde-ga said with a grain of salt; it certainly
was fun to read though.  Thank you for clarifying the term
Mutze/Mutzen.   I am afraid I never learned German, but your
explanation makes perfect sense. :)

So far, LANDGRAF happens to be the family name of the hat maker
company MUTZEN INDUSTRIE in BAMBERGER. :)

Thank you.

Kat