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[Hat and Rehat]

I think I'll head over there in the morning. ARC thrift stores are slow on Friday because on Saturday four of the five colors of price tag are 50% off. The Bandera was the color tag they were stocking today, so I'll pay $20, but that's fine. It's the color. I haven't had a clean one since I left an Open Road in a motel room closet years ago. That was when I admired hats, but felt self conscious wearing one. The Bandera looks like it had that kind of owner.
After I got to the parking lot I was looking for an excuse to go back in, so searched the web. An article with an old Bandera Hat ad image was about cowboy hats in general, but one cowboy interviewed, who sometimes puts on his hat before his boots, said his Dad worked for Bandera Hat Company, which was a subsidiary of Baily. I didn't scroll very far, but nothing gave me the excuse, partly because I just acquired a Dobbs West that scratched my cowboy itch. Tonight I looked further and financial news said Bandera was founded in '46, and is now defunct. When I clicked for more info, I saw that Bandera Hat Co also traded as Bailey, George S (I guess he finally got out of Bedford Falls) Hat company.
I do have a silver Stetson, but it's a bit of a beater. It was a US Forrest Service issue hat, and looked it. It has holes that resemble moth damage, but I think they might be from fire sparks. Some were also in the lining. I replaced the sweat a few months ago, then cleaned it up and reshaped it. I wore it open crown for a little while and suspect Dan Blocker was looking for his hat.

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[DanO]

Joking aside,anyone
Looking at a Stetson Stratoliner Hemp my felt modern strats and Playboy are 60/7.5 and fit fine are the hemp strats the same?
Are the brims as curled as the milan strats (which I have one and do not wear) and can they be shaped with distilled water as other straws?

 

[scottyrocks]

If it’s in good condition, it’s hard to go wrong at that price.

Check out post 40348. Good looking hat to my eye:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/post-new-hats-here.28145/page-2018

I don't see a hat in that post (?)

 

[Frunobulax]

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I don't see a hat in that post (?)

40349. Sorry.


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[deadlyhandsome]

Joking aside,anyone
Looking at a Stetson Stratoliner Hemp my felt modern strats and Playboy are 60/7.5 and fit fine are the hemp strats the same?
Are the brims as curled as the milan strats (which I have one and do not wear) and can they be shaped with distilled water as other straws?

I have two of the modern hemp Stratoliners. They are easy to reshape with some steam; I didn’t try using distilled water. The brims came with a deeper flange than I care for, but that was an easy fix. I also used a steam iron and press cloth to get the front of the brim into the shape I wanted.

I’ve never owned a Milan Stetson, but if it’s the same as the plastic “Florentine Milan” that Dobbs uses then I know why you don’t like it.


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[JessieJames]

I made a new thread for this (I don't know how to delete it) but figured I'd get more response posting here.

I'm getting some hats soon and want to be able to reshape them.
I'm a 55cm head size approx.

I'm wondering if anyone has used a wig hat (it's styrofoam or polyurethane base with a canvas top) and if that would work. I assume I'd get 1 size down like a 21 inch (53.34cm) so that I could use it with the sweatband and liner in.

Just to get the creases out and shape it and use the head to do a teardrop. I don't think the seams in the canvas of the wig stand would cause interference or any mishape? Wanted to know if anyone has used this or if it's advised not to.

This one I was looking at is polyurethane which is stronger than the styrofoam, and it comes with a clamp so I can secure it to a table.

Thoughts?

https://www.amazon.ca/Professional-...qid=1557075869&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&th=1

 

[JessieJames]

That particular eBay seller is well known around here and sometimes the butt of jokes. He often does carry nice hats, but most here would agree that his asking prices are grossly overinflated. To be fair, members have purchased hats from this seller at a lower price than what is listed, but you have to be prepared to haggle for a reduced amount.

Regarding @AbbaDatDeHat's recommendation, he's another well respected member of the forum with quite the collection of drool inducing hats. He's also one of the kindest people I know, and has provided guidance to me for both hats and leather jackets. I have made several purchases after soliciting his advice. If I had to choose between the two, I'd go with the hat he recommended. But as I mentioned in the other thread, you have go with what suits your style.

I got lucky my first few days to have stumbled upon well respected fedora lounge members like Alan and Abbadatdehat giving me recommendations I kind impulse bought 2 in 2 days so I'm glad I had the guidance of some of the pros.

Also I did look at that ebay seller's hat offerings, definitely did have a lot of good stuff but ya were all a bit pricey. So that's good to know the prices are overinflated. How did other members manage to haggle down the prices off ebay? Contacted the seller and asked?

 

[Hat and Rehat]

I bought this hat for $10 because it isn't a style in high demand (I had a Daniel Boone hat in 4th grade that might have been as hairy.) It is supposed to be a 7 1/8, but fits like a 6 3/4. I removed one strip of white size adjusting felt from the back, but found something else in the front, behind the embossed word, VENTINO. is that fancy size adjusting, or some kind of ventilation?
It looks sewn (basted anyway) in. Will the hat be 7 1/8 without it?

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[Hat and Rehat]

Another question. I figure I need two "hat mantainance blocks, one for larger and one for smaller finished hats. My large hat one is 54cm. Do I want to do a full dome on top, or a low dome, maybe breaking 2" below the top?

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[drmaxtejeda]

I got lucky my first few days to have stumbled upon well respected fedora lounge members like Alan and Abbadatdehat giving me recommendations I kind impulse bought 2 in 2 days so I'm glad I had the guidance of some of the pros.

Also I did look at that ebay seller's hat offerings, definitely did have a lot of good stuff but ya were all a bit pricey. So that's good to know the prices are overinflated. How did other members manage to haggle down the prices off ebay? Contacted the seller and asked?

Most times he sets an automatic "least ammount" price. Sometimes he doesn't, and then he can be reasonable.
One time he contacted me to tell me he would accept an offer he had rejected months before.
When I have bought hats from him, the delivery has gone smoothly.

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[TheOldFashioned]

How did other members manage to haggle down the prices off ebay? Contacted the seller and asked?

Well, I can't speak for others but if there's an option to make an offer then just go ahead and try your hand at it. Don't be afraid to throw out a low offer either. Worse case it gets rejected, but at least the seller knows there's interest and it opens the line of communication. In most of my experiences the seller has come back with a counteroffer. Sometimes not, but I try to keep the mindset that it's nothing personal. For all you know the seller may have purposely set a high anchor to start, with the full intention of settling in the middle but still getting more than (s)he wanted. (I personally think this is the case with that particular ebay seller. I would even venture to suspect he's received full list price because people don't try to haggle. Considering how many listings he has and transactions completed he's vetted out his business model and has set his prices accordingly. Obviously I can't prove any of this.)

Another thing is to not become so attached that you have to have it. Be prepared to walk away or lose. If you can be patient you might see the same item listed, relisted, relisted, etc. This can then work in your favor because the seller may now be more inclined to make a deal. I followed one leather jacket listing over several months that ranged anywhere from X to 2.5X starting price, and it didn't decrease each time. It was all over the map, one week up the next week down, only to jump up significantly the next time. (I ended up buying a different jacket from a different seller.)

Another tool I've used to my advantage is drawing upon the vast information here. Often times the seller knows little to nothing about hats. If you dig around here you'll probably know more about the hat than the seller does. I purchased a Cavanagh homburg on Etsy that had a frayed ribbon. The seller even went out of her way to point out this "flaw" in the description. (One of the characteristics of Cavanagh was a frayed ribbon, even long after it fell out of fashion decades earlier for many hats.) She also called it a derby which by definition should comprise of a stiff felt. I pointed out that the top of this derby was creased and reminded her of the other flaw she already identified. As such, I was able to haggle another 20-25% discount.

Anyway, these are just some of my experiences. I'd be lying if I said I followed my own advice all the time, especially the part about staying detached. I've shared a gripe or two about auctions lost, but losing sometimes helps to keep things in perspective. As much as we love them here, they are just hats (or jackets) after all. Again, I only speak for myself.

 

[JessieJames]

Well, I can't speak for others but if there's an option to make an offer then just go ahead and try your hand at it. Don't be afraid to throw out a low offer either. Worse case it gets rejected, but at least the seller knows there's interest and it opens the line of communication. In most of my experiences the seller has come back with a counteroffer. Sometimes not, but I try to keep the mindset that it's nothing personal. For all you know the seller may have purposely set a high anchor to start, with the full intention of settling in the middle but still getting more than (s)he wanted. (I personally think this is the case with that particular ebay seller. I would even venture to suspect he's received full list price because people don't try to haggle. Considering how many listings he has and transactions completed he's vetted out his business model and has set his prices accordingly. Obviously I can't prove any of this.)

Another thing is to not become so attached that you have to have it. Be prepared to walk away or lose. If you can be patient you might see the same item listed, relisted, relisted, etc. This can then work in your favor because the seller may now be more inclined to make a deal. I followed one leather jacket listing over several months that ranged anywhere from X to 2.5X starting price, and it didn't decrease each time. It was all over the map, one week up the next week down, only to jump up significantly the next time. (I ended up buying a different jacket from a different seller.)

Another tool I've used to my advantage is drawing upon the vast information here. Often times the seller knows little to nothing about hats. If you dig around here you'll probably know more about the hat than the seller does. I purchased a Cavanagh homburg on Etsy that had a frayed ribbon. The seller even went out of her way to point out this "flaw" in the description. (One of the characteristics of Cavanagh was a frayed ribbon, even long after it fell out of fashion decades earlier for many hats.) She also called it a derby which by definition should comprise of a stiff felt. I pointed out that the top of this derby was creased and reminded her of the other flaw she already identified. As such, I was able to haggle another 20-25% discount.

Anyway, these are just some of my experiences. I'd be lying if I said I followed my own advice all the time, especially the part about staying detached. I've shared a gripe or two about auctions lost, but losing sometimes helps to keep things in perspective. As much as we love them here, they are just hats (or jackets) after all. Again, I only speak for myself.

Great advice thanks

BTW where is it that you can see they are willing to accept lower offers (but it doesn't list what that lowest acceptable offer is, obviously)

Sometimes losing out on one thing opens up the door for something better down the road! Hindsight is 20/20. You know, that whole expression about when one door closes another opens..? I mean it's been the reality for many parts of my life like getting a crap job only to later down the road need some skillsets from crap job and make more valuable to the next company and then negotiate for more.

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Great advice thanks

BTW where is it that you can see they are willing to accept lower offers (but it doesn't list what that lowest acceptable offer is, obviously)

Sometimes losing out on one thing opens up the door for something better down the road! Hindsight is 20/20. You know, that whole expression about when one door closes another opens..? I mean it's been the reality for many parts of my life like getting a crap job only to later down the road need some skillsets from crap job and make more valuable to the next company and then negotiate for more.

When the seller creates a listing on eBay (s)he can choose the format, which may consist of a straight up auction, Buy It Now, Make Offer, etc. Usually there is a button or link below where you would submit a bid for an auction:

(eBay web site via Safari on iPad)

If the option doesn't exist you could even try to contact the seller and see if they'd entertain the idea of accepting an offer. They can prematurely end an auction and relist it with different settings. Might have more success with this tactic if it's an auction that you've been following for a while and/or been relisted multiple times.

 

[M Hatman]

Has anyone heard from RJR for a while? Seems he last posted in March. I hope all is OK and they are simply on vacation or something..........

 

[Desert dog]

Are any of the Western hat loungers familiar with Bandera hats out of Fort Worth?
I have a line on a silverbelly in beautiful condition. The sweat band says 4X quality, but one needs to know the company to interpret that.

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I have one that was a gift from @deadlyhandsome. Here are some before and after photos. I estimate this hat from the sixties, and of decent quality.

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[jonesy86]

Straw Hat Stiffener

A few of my hemp straws are getting pretty soft and floppy due to humidity and rain. Anyone have any luck with a stiffener to bring back some snap? Amazon has Bickmore Kahl Hat Stiffener, which says it is for felt or fabric hats, and I think someone mentioned using regular spray starch, but not sure about the specific application to straw.

Peace

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Straw Hat Stiffener

A few of my hemp straws are getting pretty soft and floppy due to humidity and rain. Anyone have any luck with a stiffener to bring back some snap? Amazon has Bickmore Kahl Hat Stiffener, which says it is for felt or fabric hats, and I think someone mentioned using regular spray starch, but not sure about the specific application to straw.

Peace

I think spray starch would rapidly dissolve in moisture. I’ve used hairspray (Bowen’s recommendation) and it worked pretty good. Adding the desired stiffness without compromising the hats ability to breath is the trick. I have a can of aerosol waterproof glue that would definitely firm it up, but I’d be concerned that hat wouldn’t breath afterwards.


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[Bamaboots]

Straw Hat Stiffener

A few of my hemp straws are getting pretty soft and floppy due to humidity and rain. Anyone have any luck with a stiffener to bring back some snap? Amazon has Bickmore Kahl Hat Stiffener, which says it is for felt or fabric hats, and I think someone mentioned using regular spray starch, but not sure about the specific application to straw.

Peace

Jonesy, I've got a couple of montecristi westerns that I freshened up this spring. AL humidity is like wearing them in the shower. One is a 50's Stetson OR type and the other is 70-80's Wrangler by Miller Bros. I gave the Stetson a sponge bath as well.

The Stetson was floppy all around the brim and about to lose any evidence of a flange. The Wrangler had a wire supported brim. I removed the wire and the brim had no evidence of ever having any stiffener applied. Using a cheap paintbrush I applied several coats of Bullseye shellac, mix ratio:10-1, alcohol to shellac. I've done this with some less expensive felts w/o any ill results. An alcohol bath will remove excess shellac if need be. I was finally able to shape the brim on the Wrangler and the Stetson got it's personality back.

Kinda Roy Rodgersed the Wrangler.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Jonesy, I've got a couple of montecristi westerns that I freshened up this spring. AL humidity is like wearing them in the shower. One is a 50's Stetson OR type and the other is 70-80's Wrangler by Miller Bros. I gave the Stetson a sponge bath as well.

The Stetson was floppy all around the brim and about to lose any evidence of a flange. The Wrangler had a wire supported brim. I removed the wire and the brim had no evidence of ever having any stiffener applied. Using a cheap paintbrush I applied several coats of Bullseye shellac, mix ratio:10-1, alcohol to shellac. I've done this with some less expensive felts w/o any ill results. An alcohol bath will remove excess shellac if need be. I was finally able to shape the brim on the Wrangler and the Stetson got it's personality back.
View attachment 167728 View attachment 167729 View attachment 167730
Kinda Roy Rodgersed the Wrangler.
View attachment 167731

^^^^excellent Bama!