The bowler hat first made its appearance as the hard hat designed by James Lock and Co. of 6 St James’s Street, London, in 1850 for Sir William Coke, to give his game wardens to wear when patrolling their employer’s estate on horseback.
The Locks’ design was made up by hatters Bowler Brothers, whose family name was adopted for the new style.
The story goes that when Coke was first presented with the hat at the Locks’ premises, he threw it to the floor and stamped on it to test its hardiness, before ramming it down on his head and leaving the shop, evidently satisfied. It had cost him 12 shillings.
From http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/bowler-hat/biography/bowler-hat-finished
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