An unexpected flea market find!

[Tango Yankee]

Yesterday my wife and I decided to stop in at a local flea market as we were going by. As we were wandering through this caught my eye:

I took a quick look at it, and found it was an Akubra Jackaroo in my size! What an Akubra was doing in a southern Ohio flea market I have no idea, but when my wife saw the look on my face she knew we were buying it. There was a $25 tag on the hat box; Rhonda called to the dealer "Would you take $20 for the hat?" He said yes, I pulled out a $20, and that was that. The price included the hat box!

I've looked on the Akubra web site and it's not listed there. It is shown on a couple of vendor sites but the ones shown are slightly different. For example, the ones currently for sale have a bound brim; this one has a raw edge. The hat band is different as well. And last, this one is vented!

The brim is 3 3/8" on the front and back, 3 1/2" on the sides.
Crown 4 /14"
Crease/bash: teardrop

The photos:

The pin is from the Australian College for Seniors. What I have found out about it is that it was a school that focused on providing travel opportunities for people who had the money and the interest to go places to learn various things. In 1995 it became Odyssey Travel. They did/do cater somewhat to American travellers. My guess is that this hat was purchased during such a trip to Australia.

And, of course, one with it on. A different look for a guy who normally wears fedoras!

Not an incredible vintage hat find such as Dinerman is famous for (D-man, you're a legend in your own time!:eusa_clap ) but still I found it rather amazing.

My wife was amazed that I knew I wore a size 58.
Cheers,
Tom

 

[Dinerman]

Hey- I think that's an amazing find. Even if it were just the box, it'd be a pretty cool find.
Love the vents.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Wow, what a find! Beautiful hat and a hat box to boot.

This gives me hope: if you can find something like that in Southern Ohio, maybe I can peruse flea markets here in Des Moines.

Congratulations, that is some hat find. Looks good on you.

karol

 

[AlanC]

Excellent find. Right now I'd be just as excited about the box as I've been wanting to get one.

 

[surely]

congrats ty, finding gems like that for so little is what we all seek. the brim is very tasty. :eusa_clap

 

[RBH]

Very nice!
i believe you have a first, finding an Akubra in a fleamarket!
You did good, very good.

 

[hatflick1]

Great score!
What I find interesting is the decorative perforations (air holes) on the sides of the hat. The Stetson fedora I found literally on the street has similar perforations, circular, about the circumfrence of an old half dollar. Few hats I have seen feature this design. Has it got a name?

 

[bolthead]

Coolbeans....

Great find Tom......

Geeze, that box alone is worth more than $20.oo.

 

[ScionPI2005]

$20 for a hat like that...I don't think you could find a better deal more easily! Curious how it ended up there...

 

[Lancealot]

Great find.

 

[Duck]

Great looking Akubra, Tom!! You got a heck of a find :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[deanglen]

WoW! You've got a nice one there! Ever thought about a ribbon switch? A nice 5/8" grosgrain with military bow would set that apart, and I know a guy who would get one ready and send it to you...free! All you'd have to do it is pick a color. I'd mention bash modifications, but that would be overreaching a bit.

dean

 

[Razzman]

Nice find Tom. You can't beat the price. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[John in Covina]

The hat box alone was worth the $20!

And if it doesn't suit you, you can always try a cowboy to fedora conversion!

 

[imoldfashioned]

The hat gods indeed smiled upon you! I covet that hat box--it's fabulous.

 

[RokkerMan]

very nice indeed.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Thanks, one and all!

Dean, I'd not yet given making changes any thoughts, but you present a tempting idea with the ribbon switch. I'll give it some thought! I think it would look great with a ribbon like that. The band around it now is a bit unusual, I think. I'll get a better photo of it up tomorrow. I do like the bash the way it is, though.

Hatflick, I don't know if the holes have a name other than ventilation holes.

John, I've got a light blue Eddy Brothers cowboy hat that I'm planning to do such a conversion with. Should be interesting.

In the meantime I've decided that this will be the perfect hat to wear on my annual Rogue River fishing trip with my godson in October. It'll be in it's intended element, I think!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Leading Edge]

You go TY!

The hat box alone would be awesome for such a paltry sum, but to get it with a might as well call it new Akubra and a neat pin THAT'S JUST EXCEPTIONAL! :eusa_clap


BTW: if the hat feels too snug or that box gets in your way, I will be happy to help you out with either or both.
Friend in need and all that.
PM me, ok