Going Atomic With Dalton

[Frunobulax]

Dalton #2, recently fished out of the Bay, along with it's brother (to follow). This hat came to me as a 7 1/8, but I worked with it (and it's 7 1/8 brother) on one of my blocks over a weekend. Lots of steam cleaned it up and got it to fit my noggin. The color, for wont of a better name, is Sage. It's kind of a grey-green, maybe brown. Open crown at 5 1/2", brim at 2 1/4".

Open crown shots during/after blocking and steaming.



Final shots after putting a crease in it.

 

[RJR]

Interesting and a nice save.

 

[Frunobulax]

Dalton #3, part of the same purchase as the above, Sage fedora. This one's the standard blue-grey color you see on so many of the older hats, though a shade or two greyer than the OR clone. Same specs as above, 5 1/2" open crown, 2 1/4" bound brim.

Open crown shots on the block:



After the crease (a center dent with gentle side creases and a "soft" nose)






I'm currently awaiting delivery on a fourth Dalton, which will also need a good cleaning and re-blocking. I hope to post pics in a week or so.

 

[Frunobulax]

Interesting and a nice save.

Thanks RJR. my apologies to those who saw my previous posts on the refurb work, but I just wanted to get these into the Dalton thread.

 

[40Cal]

Great looking hats Fruno! I really like the lesser known brands.

 

[hatsRme]

What a collection, Fruno!! Super-looking quality, and terrific dusting/cleaning job. You are leading the parade on the Dalton Highway!!

 

[besdor]

I'd say Dalton hats are as hard to find as MacLachlan , Emerson and Bailey of California hats. They are out there , but you need patience.

 

[Frunobulax]

Patience and persistence paid off in this find, another Dalton purchased on eBay at 7 1/8, and I've worked with it to get my 7 1/4 head into it comfortably. I have a name for this one, courtesy of the store price tag. This is a Waverly, in blue.



First, a photo from the listing, then a couple I took right before the bath. The hat was, of course, crushed a bit and pretty dirty, with some staining on the top and front of the hat. Also some light moth grazing on the crown and spot staining on the bound brim.



I worked to steam out the spots and clean it up a bit, but that was only moderately successful, so I got out the naphtha and a bucket and threw it in. Note that, even though experience is that the sweat bands survive the bath, I always spend a day or two treating the sweat with Lexol, front and back, just to be sure. I left it in the soup last weekend for about 10 hours, and fished it out to dry in the cool evening air. The bath really cleaned this one up, and made the color pop (and made my wife say, "Wow!"). This weekend, after some Lexol prep on the sweat, it went on the block for some steaming and ironing. Open crown, on the block:



After steaming and ironing on the block (I left it there for ~48 hrs), it was finally ready to play with. Open crown, brim up, on the noggin:



Yesterday I finally worked the crease into it, and today it's accompanying me to the office and points elsewhere:



The sordid details:

Crown: 5 1/2" open
Brim: 2 1/2"
Color: Blue with black ribbon and burgundy brim binding.
Factory sized at 7 1/8, resized to 7 1/4.
Originally purchased from Mattei Brothers in Petaluma, CA.
I think this one may be bit older than the OR clone upthread, or at least made to higher quality standards. This one has no oilskin over the liner tip and the logo is embroidered. Any help with dating would be appreciated. I know this isn't a sought-after or well-researched brand, but perhaps the Union tag may give some clue? Thanks in advance!



I now need one more so I can declare Dalton Week and wear one to work every day! Maybe some day I'll actually find one in my size!

 

[Frunobulax]

The Dalton Gang

 

[hatsRme]

OMG!! Fantastic, Fruno. Lucky find; amazing clean up job: STUNNING end product!!! Congrats!

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks, my friend! It's a joy to get these kind of results and rescue a piece of fine workmanship.

 

[rogerstg]

Wow. Nice job on the rehab. That hat went from nice to eye popping beautiful.

Roger

 

[Knotten]

+1 That hat is fantastic. Fabulous job restoring it.

 

[RJR]

Nice save and restoration.

 

[Frunobulax]

Scored another Dalton off Etsy this week. I've been eyeing it since June, but didn't pull the trigger due to some concerns about the condition, as mothing was noticeable in the shop's photos. This week I said what the heck, and made an offer on it. Got it for $25 + shipping, so I figured, even if it was bad, it could be a yard work hat - which I've been in the market for anyway.

The critter nibbles are unfortunate, but not bad enough to keep me from enjoying this thing. It's Open Road-ish, except for the lack of a bound brim. Instead, it has a stitched brim. It is unlined, and tissue lite. 3.5 oz on the postal scale at the office. The ribbon is felt, to match the hat.

It hails from Black's, in San Bernardino (home of Potato-headed Bobby). I have been unable to pull up any information on this store.

Edit: Forgot the specs
5 1/2" open crown
2 7/8" stitched brim
3.5 oz weight

 

[Frunobulax]

I took a little time to steam it up last night and give it a good brushing. Here are noggin shots from today:

On the hunt for more Daltons...

 

[hatophile]

Jim you are the Dalton King!

 

[Frunobulax]

Jim you are the Dalton King!

Thanks! It's nice to find a niche. I almost bought a stingy that's not my size that's on the bay right now, but I'm not gonna. If somebody else that's a 7 1/8 is into that, they'll buy a nice hat.

And Dinerman has one up, too, but the critters seem to have gotten to it. Tho it has a stitched brim. I'd like to see that.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Patience and persistence paid off in this find, another Dalton purchased on eBay at 7 1/8, and I've worked with it to get my 7 1/4 head into it comfortably. I have a name for this one, courtesy of the store price tag. This is a Waverly, in blue.

View attachment 35195

First, a photo from the listing, then a couple I took right before the bath. The hat was, of course, crushed a bit and pretty dirty, with some staining on the top and front of the hat. Also some light moth grazing on the crown and spot staining on the bound brim.

View attachment 35196 View attachment 35199 View attachment 35197 View attachment 35198

I worked to steam out the spots and clean it up a bit, but that was only moderately successful, so I got out the naphtha and a bucket and threw it in. Note that, even though experience is that the sweat bands survive the bath, I always spend a day or two treating the sweat with Lexol, front and back, just to be sure. I left it in the soup last weekend for about 10 hours, and fished it out to dry in the cool evening air. The bath really cleaned this one up, and made the color pop (and made my wife say, "Wow!"). This weekend, after some Lexol prep on the sweat, it went on the block for some steaming and ironing. Open crown, on the block:

View attachment 35215 View attachment 35215

After steaming and ironing on the block (I left it there for ~48 hrs), it was finally ready to play with. Open crown, brim up, on the noggin:

View attachment 35200 View attachment 35201

Yesterday I finally worked the crease into it, and today it's accompanying me to the office and points elsewhere:

View attachment 35202 View attachment 35203 View attachment 35204 View attachment 35205

The sordid details:

Crown: 5 1/2" open
Brim: 2 1/2"
Color: Blue with black ribbon and burgundy brim binding.
Factory sized at 7 1/8, resized to 7 1/4.
Originally purchased from Mattei Brothers in Petaluma, CA.
I think this one may be bit older than the OR clone upthread, or at least made to higher quality standards. This one has no oilskin over the liner tip and the logo is embroidered. Any help with dating would be appreciated. I know this isn't a sought-after or well-researched brand, but perhaps the Union tag may give some clue? Thanks in advance!

View attachment 35207 View attachment 35208 View attachment 35209 View attachment 35210

I now need one more so I can declare Dalton Week and wear one to work every day! Maybe some day I'll actually find one in my size!

It's nice when the wife sez "Wow!" I'm gonna say WOW too! Is it my size now?

 

[Bob Roberts]

Where have I been. I just noticed this thread. Talk abt late to the party...