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[Rmccamey]

Anyone know of a source for such a flat braid adjustment cord?

Thanks! I am not sure I have encounter any of that type that could actually function. The type that goes around the entire circumference of the sweatband can be adjusted. I have a good number of pre WWII German and Austrian Hats with this type but most haven't been adjusted. Here is Nagy Hut Wien that might have actually been adjusted. Also a fantastic hat!

 

[belfastboy]

Anyone know of a source for such a flat braid adjustment cord?

The one in my hat looks to be 3/8" Grosgrain ribbon

 

[georgie girl]

In my collection of hats, contemporary stock, custom and vintage 2" on either side of the bow keeper seems to be the norm. It is seemingly a moveable scale, some are a bit shorter some longer and this is on ribbons from 3/4" up to 2" wide. To me it would be a matter of taste....what works for you? I just made a light grey hat with a black 1" ribbon and it seemed to me that the bow 2" in length each side of the keeper seemed to be aesthetically about right.

Thank you, that helps. I only have an actual bow on one of my vintage hats, but it is from the 60's. Just your average run of the mill bow and I believe it was 1 1/2" on each side of the center downward ribbon. I see all the lovely and really cool bows on all the hats posted on this site, so it's nice to get input on what the rest in the era have. Cheers

 

[georgie girl]

I have read about you guys doing a naphtha bath and how that helped with the odd smell that seems to come with some of the vintage hats. I read somewhere that misting unflavoured vodka on vintage clothes totally removes that odd smell, has anyone on this site ever done that on vintage hats? If so, how well did it work? I thought it would an easy do to find a regular vodka mini and pour it in a spray bottle, but wanted to wait at least to find if anyone had ever attempted this. Cheers

 

[hodgeko]

Hi, guys this is my first post! I have a very specific hat question, is this the right place? I am looking at a hat on eBay. I'm about a 7 and it's a 7 1/4. Will hat tape or something similar under the sweatband be enough to bring it down that much to where it will fit me? Or should I let this one go?

I know there are lots of threads on reducing size, and I'm reading those now, but when I saw the ask a question thread, I thought I might as well give it a whirl. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Joseph Evans]

Hey folks, This is my first post as well. I've got a Borsalino Alessandria that I just inherited from my grandfather. A beautiful hat with lovely felt. But it has a weird shape somewhere between a cattlemen and a teardrop that I'd love to change to a teardrop or center crease. I've never done that before. Should I return it to full crown first? Then, should I let it dry before shaping it to something else?

 

[belfastboy]

I have read about you guys doing a naphtha bath and how that helped with the odd smell that seems to come with some of the vintage hats. I read somewhere that misting unflavoured vodka on vintage clothes totally removes that odd smell, has anyone on this site ever done that? If so, how well did it work? I thought it would an easy do to find a regular vodka mini and pour it in a spray bottle, but wanted to wait at least to find if anyone had ever attempted this. Cheers

The vodka spray is a theatre costumer's trick. Theatre costumes often have a stale odour, sweat or even mildew as they are stored in less than ideal circumstance or a build up of body odours from the heat of stage lighting.

Most costumers have a few bottles of really cheap vodka on hand as part of their equipment. Cheap vodka, mixed 50/50 with distilled water in a spray bottle is all you need. I have used cleaning strength vinegar about 3 or 4 to one to rid an article of woolen clothing from really really bad odours but never tried on a hat. I recently used the vodka on a homburg from the 1940's with a mild storage/mildew odour. It helped a great deal but did not rid it entirely but made it at least wearable.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hey folks, This is my first post as well. I've got a Borsalino Alessandria that I just inherited from my grandfather. A beautiful hat with lovely felt. But it has a weird shape somewhere between a cattlemen and a teardrop that I'd love to change to a teardrop or center crease. I've never done that before. Should I return it to full crown first? Then, should I let it dry before shaping it to something else?

I almost always take it to open crown and work out as much of the old crease before I give it a new crease.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hi, guys this is my first post! I have a very specific hat question, is this the right place? I am looking at a hat on eBay. I'm about a 7 and it's a 7 1/4. Will hat tape or something similar under the sweatband be enough to bring it down that much to where it will fit me? Or should I let this one go?

I know there are lots of threads on reducing size, and I'm reading those now, but when I saw the ask a question thread, I thought I might as well give it a whirl. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Honestly, if I was a size 7 I’d pass on the 7 1/4 and just wait for something in my size. You’re blessed with a vintage size head so there are, and will be, a lot of hats that will fit you without any modifications.

I think sizing a hat down two sizes is a lot. Even if it fits I’d be surprised if it didn’t look wonky.

 

[belfastboy]

Hi, guys this is my first post! I have a very specific hat question, is this the right place? I am looking at a hat on eBay. I'm about a 7 and it's a 7 1/4. Will hat tape or something similar under the sweatband be enough to bring it down that much to where it will fit me? Or should I let this one go?

I know there are lots of threads on reducing size, and I'm reading those now, but when I saw the ask a question thread, I thought I might as well give it a whirl. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Well, the good news is that it is far easier to fit in sweat band shims than it is too stretch a hat. Before buying the shims trying folding paper towelling and inserting it in under the sweat. Try it out...if it feels and looks okay you have scored a nice hat. If not let it go but for zero dollars give it a try.

 

[belfastboy]

Hey folks, This is my first post as well. I've got a Borsalino Alessandria that I just inherited from my grandfather. A beautiful hat with lovely felt. But it has a weird shape somewhere between a cattlemen and a teardrop that I'd love to change to a teardrop or center crease. I've never done that before. Should I return it to full crown first? Then, should I let it dry before shaping it to something else?

When reshaping a hat steam is your best friend. Don't be shy give it lots of steam....then take it back to open crown and have a look. Hat whisperers tell me that if you stare at a hat long enough it will tell you what shape it wants to in. When you are ready...more steam.....the most sacred rule to follow is to have fun or you are missing out on the process.

 

[belfastboy]

I have read about you guys doing a naphtha bath and how that helped with the odd smell that seems to come with some of the vintage hats. I read somewhere that misting unflavoured vodka on vintage clothes totally removes that odd smell, has anyone on this site ever done that? If so, how well did it work? I thought it would an easy do to find a regular vodka mini and pour it in a spray bottle, but wanted to wait at least to find if anyone had ever attempted this. Cheers

I missed telling you the entire story.....mix vodka 50/50 with water in a spray bottle. Then 50/50 in a glass with orange juice. Spray the hat, drink the glass. Make sure you get the order correct. I use cheap cheap vodka but really good orange juice.

 

[Frunobulax]

I have read about you guys doing a naphtha bath and how that helped with the odd smell that seems to come with some of the vintage hats. I read somewhere that misting unflavoured vodka on vintage clothes totally removes that odd smell, has anyone on this site ever done that? If so, how well did it work? I thought it would an easy do to find a regular vodka mini and pour it in a spray bottle, but wanted to wait at least to find if anyone had ever attempted this. Cheers

Just drink the vodka and you won't notice the smell.

I've had good luck with storing a hat in a box with an open container of baking soda or fresh ground coffee. They absorb the odors.

 

[georgie girl]

The vodka spray is a theatre costumer's trick. Theatre costumes often have a stale odour, sweat or even mildew as they are stored in less than ideal circumstance or a build up of body odours from the heat of stage lighting.

Most costumers have a few bottles of really cheap vodka on hand as part of their equipment. Cheap vodka, mixed 50/50 with distilled water in a spray bottle is all you need. I have used cleaning strength vinegar about 3 or 4 to one to rid an article of woolen clothing from really really bad odours but never tried on a hat. I recently used the vodka on a homburg from the 1940's with a mild storage/mildew odour. It helped a great deal but did not rid it entirely but made it at least wearable.

Great, sounds good to me. Hopefully filtered water works as well as distilled, but luckily the smells aren't terribly overpowering nor mildewy, just a bit more than a hint of that hideous smell you find in thrift stores.

 

[georgie girl]

Hey folks, This is my first post as well. I've got a Borsalino Alessandria that I just inherited from my grandfather. A beautiful hat with lovely felt. But it has a weird shape somewhere between a cattlemen and a teardrop that I'd love to change to a teardrop or center crease. I've never done that before. Should I return it to full crown first? Then, should I let it dry before shaping it to something else?

My limited experience with a 60's wormser hat with a center crease was it took an okay teardrop with some steaming. I got caught a week later in a light sprinkling of rain/mist and reworked the teardrop afterwards and now it's really solid now.

 

[georgie girl]

I missed telling you the entire story.....mix vodka 50/50 with water in a spray bottle. Then 50/50 in a glass with orange juice. Spray the hat, drink the glass. Make sure you get the order correct. I use cheap cheap vodka but really good orange juice.

Ha Ha, if only I wasn't an Irish whiskey girl...

 

[belfastboy]

Ha Ha, if only I wasn't an Irish whiskey girl...

I prefer Whisky but you know....any port in a storm!

 

[humanshoes]

Hey folks, This is my first post as well. I've got a Borsalino Alessandria that I just inherited from my grandfather. A beautiful hat with lovely felt. But it has a weird shape somewhere between a cattlemen and a teardrop that I'd love to change to a teardrop or center crease. I've never done that before. Should I return it to full crown first? Then, should I let it dry before shaping it to something else?

Returning to open crown on an appropriate hat block and ironing out the previous crease lines is preferable, especially on newer, factory blocked hats, however, vintages felts can usually be reshaped just fine without re-blocking with perhaps only a bit of steam and patience.
BE SURE to at least give the hat a thorough brushing with a soft hat brush before you start working with it. We all know what dirt and moisture turn into.

 

[Blare]

Thanks! I am not sure I have encounter any of that type that could actually function. The type that goes around the entire circumference of the sweatband can be adjusted. I have a good number of pre WWII German and Austrian Hats with this type but most haven't been adjusted. Here is Nagy Hut Wien that might have actually been adjusted. Also a fantastic hat!

this is similar to how this equestrian bowler was done. I assumed it allowed the wearer to conform it to their head for better fit/protection

 

[belfastboy]

Great, sounds good to me. Hopefully filtered water works as well as distilled, but luckily the smells aren't terribly overpowering nor mildewy, just a bit more than a hint of that hideous smell you find in thrift stores.

I live in the Northwest part of the continent and our water is from a watershed and is very soft...no scale or crud. I use it straight from the tap...even in irons and steamers.....no scale build up. So depending on your water quality tap may be okay too. But if is 'hard' water it could leave stains on the felt. In some parts of Canada folks say the water is so hard they come out of the shower with bruising.