Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - December 17 1849: Thomas and William Bowler, felt hat makers, sold their first 'bowler' to William Coke, which he purchased at James Lock & Co.
![A tall, slim security guard with a bowler hat walks around on duty at the Tom Gate entrance to Christ Church college, university of Oxford, England Stock Photo - Alamy A tall, slim security guard with a bowler hat walks around on duty at the Tom Gate entrance to Christ Church college, university of Oxford, England Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/zooms/6/bb88e0a4404c4b3596b3a7f4c3bf87d0/p1cdnk.jpg)
A tall, slim security guard with a bowler hat walks around on duty at the Tom Gate entrance to Christ Church college, university of Oxford, England Stock Photo - Alamy
![Bulldog security man at Oxford university wearing traditional bowler hat he acts as security Christ Church College 1995 1990s UK HOMER SYKES Stock Photo - Alamy Bulldog security man at Oxford university wearing traditional bowler hat he acts as security Christ Church College 1995 1990s UK HOMER SYKES Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/AFTG06/bulldog-security-man-at-oxford-university-wearing-traditional-bowler-AFTG06.jpg)