Bowler hat

A melon is a stiff, rounded hat, which was first made ​​around 1860 in Southwark / London by the hatters Thomas and William Bowler and in the English-speaking world after its inventors mostly bowler is, sometimes after his first winner Thomas William Coke, the Second Earl of Leicester, also referred to as coke. In German, he was also called bell or coke (among journeymen ). He was also named Derby in the United States. The original melon is made of black felt and has a stiff brim. Outside of England, he is only very rarely worn, except on horse racing ( from the audience ) and dressage riders. Instead, the Homburg is preferred.

Bibi is the name of a melon that is primarily worn in the Cologne Carnival.

Especially by Bolivian indigenous women ( Cholitas ) a kind of bowler is still worn.

The melon is considered typical English headdress of the late 19th and early 20th century. Famous melon (or bowler ) are or were makers such as Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Billy Bevan, Pan Tau, John Steed, Pete Doherty. Also by the fictional characters Egon Olsen, Alexander DeLarge and Cornelius Fudge guard was called for a long time after his fashion to a younger generation back into memory. Also accompanying the debtor "Black Shadow " was melon, clowns and artists use them as juggling subject.