Reichsbahn RED-TOP Visor!

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Gents:

As you all know, I have a weakness for obscure civil visors (and thats an understatement!) The first hat book I ever got was "Les Coiffures Militaires du Troisieme Reich" back in 1981--this book came out before the Shutt book (and I wish I still had mine--it basically fell apart after about 10 years of over-use). Out of all the hats in that book, 2 stick out in my mind--the first being a WSS General's Visor, and the 2nd a Reichsbahn (RB) Supervisor's cap. The reason that this hat stuck out to me was the richness of the red wool top, and that it was also the only hat in the book to have a red-top--you almost needed sunglasses to look at the picture of it, it was so bright .

Well, after 26 years, I finally scored one--and it was more that worth the wait. So, let's go on another one of my tours.....

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Front downward view (get those shades on!):

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Although Shutt's book describes them as having chinstraps, the ones I have seen do not (and mine never had any):

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The wool on this is described as red in the books, but it is actually more of an orange-red. The wool is a rich, pre-war doeskin--but that was the only "extra" on this cap:

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Eye-level frontal view. These hats were red in order to increase the visibility of the supervisor in those congested Third Reich Bahnhofs:

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We've all heard of "white-tops"--this is a bona-fide "red-top"--note the standard Reichsbahn blue-wool trim below the bottom row of piping:

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This hat, insignia-wise, is the first style w/o the winged wreath used after 1941. (My wife, who could give the proverbial "rat's behind" about this stuff, commented "isn't that the cutest little eagle"?!):

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Now, to the inside--it has the standard "wasserdicht" lining:

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Close up of the label. It is marked "Reichsbahn Kleiderkasse, Bezirk Nurnberg, 55 W", and is named to Hans Zeller.

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This cap, on the inside, is heavily worn, and defeats that myth that the wear on the inside should match the wear on the outside (the exterior is basically mint, with no damage or mothing, with the exception of 1 thing which I will show you later).

This interior is as spartan as they come--there is no silk or cotton lining to the side panels, and there never was one. (BTW, does cork count as being stirndruckfrei?!)

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The orange doeskin wool on the front 2 panels does have a backing--but the wool on the rear 2 panels is completely unlined:

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Now, for the markings--here is an ORIGINAL "Deutsches Leder" stamping (which dear Mr. Janke loves to put on his hats):

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Her date of birth--October 29th, 1937. Also note the lack of lining over the pasteboard.

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The seller stated the only thing that marred the hat was that it was dusty--its not dust--can you guess what it is?

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It's SOOT! I looked at it closely, and it is black residue from working in the Bahnhof--I was going to use a lint-roller and get it out, but it gives it too much character.
Anyway, here is a contrast of the overhang wool, which was not exposed to the soot from the locomotives: