Ask a question, get an answer

[Hat and Rehat]

Can a straw hat be re-blocked? My straws, like my felts, live in a hat box with wads of tissue paper stuffed inside them. All keep their shape with the exception of one hat. It's got a pregnant bulge around the hat band, like someone has sat on it. My missus made a polystyrene block that she fitted into the hat, left it for a month, took the block out and back came the bulge. Is there anything on the market that could treat the straw in order to make it less flexible? Or is this an excuse to buy a new hat?

Yes, to the actual question. You can stiffen a straw hat, though paper straw is difficult.
Like everybody says, pictures would help.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[GHT]

Yes.

Yes? Look I know that being from Alabama yes is a three syllable word, but could you expand yes a little more...........please.

Who needs an excuse?

Who indeed?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yes, my understanding is Churchill Hats was bought by Byer-Rolnick in the 1950's. They later added the "Ecuadorean" label to the line by the early 60's ......so that busines card would predate that acquisition. Image is from a 60's stock certificate image online......
M
PS did they not aquire Bradford Hats sometime around then?
View attachment 174155

So did Churchill exist as it’s own company before Byer-Rolnick? I can’t recall seeing any of them that looked to predate the 1950s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[GHT]

Yes, to the actual question. You can stiffen a straw hat, though paper straw is difficult.

Grandson was helping his granddad in the garden. A worm protruded from a hole, the grandson pulled the worm out. Granddad said to the boy: "I bet you five pounds that can't put the worm back in it's hole." The boy ran indoors and came out with a can of spray starch. He sprayed the worm and as it stiffened up he put it back in the hole. Granddad paid up. But he took the starch from the boy and went indoors. Half an hour later he returned and gave the boy five pounds. "But you've already give me five pounds,Granddad," said the surprised boy. "I know son," said granddad, "that five pounds is from your grandma."

Thing is, I've never heard of hat starch, so what exactly can I treat it with?

 

[Bamaboots]

Look I know that being from Alabama yes is a three syllable word, but could you expand yes a little more...........please.

So, you asked a yes or no question, no two without requesting a definitive answer and your response to my answer is to make a disparaging remark about my home state and my Southern E. Well, to say I expected more goes without saying.

In response to your question about re-blocking a straw hat: It is my understanding that if the hat is of quality straw to begin with, has not been abused and shows no visible breaks, cracks or separation it will likely be a reasonable candidate for re-blocking. Straw, when wet, can be manipulated and shaped much the same way felt can, though care must be given.

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Grandson was helping his granddad in the garden. A worm protruded from a hole, the grandson pulled the worm out. Granddad said to the boy: "I bet you five pounds that can't put the worm back in it's hole." The boy ran indoors and came out with a can of spray starch. He sprayed the worm and as it stiffened up he put it back in the hole. Granddad paid up. But he took the starch from the boy and went indoors. Half an hour later he returned and gave the boy five pounds. "But you've already give me five pounds,Granddad," said the surprised boy. "I know son," said granddad, "that five pounds is from your grandma."

Thing is, I've never heard of hat starch, so what exactly can I treat it with?

Shellac would be one choice. Zinzer males an aerosol. It will tend to make a semi gloss sheen.
It used to be done with glue. Ermatinger suggested French glue in 1910, but I'm not sure what that meant. It came in solid pieces that had to be melted, then sponged on hot for hats that didn't need much stiffening. Really soft ones got dipped for ten seconds, then hung to dry. After it no longer drips you put the hat on clean paper with the brim turned down.
You might want to investigate what kind of glue the used. If you're brave you could just try it with thinned white glue. Whatever they used could be washed out with water if it was overdone.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Grandson was helping his granddad in the garden. A worm protruded from a hole, the grandson pulled the worm out. Granddad said to the boy: "I bet you five pounds that can't put the worm back in it's hole." The boy ran indoors and came out with a can of spray starch. He sprayed the worm and as it stiffened up he put it back in the hole. Granddad paid up. But he took the starch from the boy and went indoors. Half an hour later he returned and gave the boy five pounds. "But you've already give me five pounds,Granddad," said the surprised boy. "I know son," said granddad, "that five pounds is from your grandma."

Thing is, I've never heard of hat starch, so what exactly can I treat it with?

I've seen women use spray starch on YouTube. On their hats.
I dont think I'd do it though.
I have used shellac on lower grade straws. It works.
If you're talking about a nice panama, I suggest looking further into the glue.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Grandson was helping his granddad in the garden. A worm protruded from a hole, the grandson pulled the worm out. Granddad said to the boy: "I bet you five pounds that can't put the worm back in it's hole." The boy ran indoors and came out with a can of spray starch. He sprayed the worm and as it stiffened up he put it back in the hole. Granddad paid up. But he took the starch from the boy and went indoors. Half an hour later he returned and gave the boy five pounds. "But you've already give me five pounds,Granddad," said the surprised boy. "I know son," said granddad, "that five pounds is from your grandma."

Thing is, I've never heard of hat starch, so what exactly can I treat it with?

I never heard of grandpa starch either. Could you please elaborate?

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[M Hatman]

So did Churchill exist as it’s own company before Byer-Rolnick? I can’t recall seeing any of them that looked to predate the 1950s. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I have seen some that look late 40' early 50's......MAY have started out with Neiman Marcus private as a label earlier, as I have seen some hats like that (one is in the Churchill Thread). I have seen Churchill boxes with a New York address and terms like ""Unmistakenly, the Finest".....so they may have been more of a regional label when they originated.
As an aside here is a photo of a 1961 ad.....(not mine).
Ads are almost non existent....
M

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Yes, my understanding is Churchill Hats was bought by Byer-Rolnick in the 1950's.

I don't believe Churchill was ever an independent company bought out by Byer-Rolnick. It may have been some jobber name used for Neiman Marcus or something like that but the product was designed by Harry Rolnick & manufactured by same.

E.R. Byer was the moneyman & Rolnick was the hatter. They formed the Byer-Rolnick Hat Corp. in Dallas in 1927 & obtained a patent for the "Resistol" sweatband which held the hat body away from the head & therefore away from hair oil. They added a Western hat line in 1935, & moved the company from Dallas to Garland in 1938.

The above referenced business card was found in the box with the (presumed 1959) Governor's Special hat for Egan. Therefore it can safely be said the use of that style of business card was sometime between 1938 (the move to Garland) & 1959 (Alaska becomes a state).

If Churchill had a New York address was it 350 Fifth Ave? It might be interesting to do a patent search to see if any patents were ever issued to Churchill, & if so who the owner was.

 

[jonesy86]

Hat Rack

Does anyone have any suggestions for a hat rack, either free standing or wall mount, that stores the hat upside down, or possibly right side up on top of some sort of block like dome?


Thanks

 

[GHT]

So, you asked a yes or no question, no two without requesting a definitive answer and your response to my answer is to make a disparaging remark about my home state and my Southern E. Well, to say I expected more goes without saying.

Very clumsy of me, and rather childish too. So glad that you have more maturity than me. My apologies, I will seach for a milliner who might be able to re-block the hat.

 

[BobHufford]

I never heard of grandpa starch either. Could you please elaborate?

Please don't!

 

[M Hatman]

I don't believe Churchill was ever an independent company bought out by Byer-Rolnick. It may have been some jobber name used for Neiman Marcus or something like that but the product was designed by Harry Rolnick & manufactured by same.

E.R. Byer was the moneyman & Rolnick was the hatter. They formed the Byer-Rolnick Hat Corp. in Dallas in 1927 & obtained a patent for the "Resistol" sweatband which held the hat body away from the head & therefore away from hair oil. They added a Western hat line in 1935, & moved the company from Dallas to Garland in 1938.

The above referenced business card was found in the box with the (presumed 1959) Governor's Special hat for Egan. Therefore it can safely be said the use of that style of business card was sometime between 1938 (the move to Garland) & 1959 (Alaska becomes a state).

If Churchill had a New York address was it 350 Fifth Ave? It might be interesting to do a patent search to see if any patents were ever issued to Churchill, & if so who the owner was.

I have tried looking up both patents and copyrights of the name but to no avail, which is quite puzzleing as SOMEONE should have at least copyrighted the Churchill Hats Ltd. name...
I am quite familiar with the Byer-Rolnick history (which started as a regional brand) and can identify their use of the Churchill name only to the 50's. Several sites that carry or carried Churchill hats have short histories saying the name was bought by Resistol in the 50's (one such being here: https://bernardhats.com/hat-companies/churchill-hats/). But who knows where their information came from? Some of the same references are made in the Churchill thread on this site...They did indeed sport a New York address as I have seen it on Boxes and matchbooks.... In the Churchill Thread someone references a Newspaper ad from 1955 that states "introducing Churchill hats" by Neiman Marcus. Does not say if the hat Brand itself was new or just that it was newly carried by Neiman Marcus. I would say as I believe at least by then it would be a Byer-Rolnick product and as their stores (Neiman Marcus) either started or were headquartered in Dallas and Huston the connection makes sense that they would be a line from Byer-Rolnick.
I will try to see what the New York address was, I may even have something that says.....
It is really all quite the conundrum....
M

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I have tried looking up both patents and copyrights of the name but to no avail, which is quite puzzleing as SOMEONE should have at least copyrighted the Churchill Hats Ltd. name...
I am quite familiar with the Byer-Rolnick history (which started as a regional brand) and can identify their use of the Churchill name only to the 50's. Several sites that carry or carried Churchill hats have short histories saying the name was bought by Resistol in the 50's (one such being here: https://bernardhats.com/hat-companies/churchill-hats/). But who knows where their information came from? Some of the same references are made in the Churchill thread on this site...They did indeed sport a New York address as I have seen it on Boxes and matchbooks.... In the Churchill Thread someone references a Newspaper ad from 1955 that states "introducing Churchill hats" by Neiman Marcus. Does not say if the hat Brand itself was new or just that it was newly carried by Neiman Marcus. I would say as I believe at least by then it would be a Byer-Rolnick product and as their stores (Neiman Marcus) either started or were headquartered in Dallas and Huston the connection makes sense that they would be a line from Byer-Rolnick.
I will try to see what the New York address was, I may even have something that says.....
It is really all quite the conundrum....
M

Since E.R. Byer was already a millionaire I have wondered if the real answer lies in either his background or the history of Neiman Marcus. Perhaps he was an owner or heavy investor in N-M? It wouldn't be the first time a retailer owned his supplier.

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Please don't!

Is that emoji blushing?

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Hat Rack

Does anyone have any suggestions for a hat rack, either free standing or wall mount, that stores the hat upside down, or possibly right side up on top of some sort of block like dome?


Thanks

That question came up in this thread recently. I believe it was within three weeks, but you might want to start a little earlier. If you go back a couple pages (check dates) then read forward through the thread you should find it. Hat stands may have been the heading, or keyword.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[Hat and Rehat]

That question came up in this thread recently. I believe it was within three weeks, but you might want to start a little earlier. If you go back a couple pages (check dates) then read forward through the thread you should find it. Hat stands may have been the heading, or keyword.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

I should add; someone provided information at the time about plastic stands. I just can't recall the details.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[belfastboy]

So, you asked a yes or no question, no two without requesting a definitive answer and your response to my answer is to make a disparaging remark about my home state and my Southern E. Well, to say I expected more goes without saying.

In response to your question about re-blocking a straw hat: It is my understanding that if the hat is of quality straw to begin with, has not been abused and shows no visible breaks, cracks or separation it will likely be a reasonable candidate for re-blocking. Straw, when wet, can be manipulated and shaped much the same way felt can, though care must be given.

I agree with an emphasis on "care". I had a good quality but older Panama reblocked from a Gambler style to a conventional teardrop. The hat took the reblock really well but shortly thereafter the weave developed two cracks along the top of the crown by the pinch. The cracks were clean and sharp so was able to glue a small thin leather 'boot' inside and it does not show. But I think with straw there is always at least some risk involved.

 

[jonesy86]

Are you talking about these plastic hat stands?

https://www.thehatco.com/Professional_Retail_Hatstand_Display_Mult.html

These look great if you have a lot of surface area to place each hat on. Any idea if hats can be stacked using these? Also, any down side to just stacking one hat on another, provided the bottom one is not flat on a surface?