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[Lefty]

Not all brims are meant to snap. Borsalino sells relaxed brim, as well as snap brim, hats. The relaxed brim can be nice if you want to change your style, from having the brim dip in the center, to having it dip just slightly to one side. You pay for this flexibility of style with a brim that can is easily bumped out of position. While snap brims are generally more popular, relaxed brims have been around as long as soft hats.

 

[Ralphin Ormond]

Thanks for your replies, gentlemen. I guess I had rigid expectations. Maybe my tastes will change over time.

 

[alanfgag]

I have a modern day Borsalino Como... it is a very soft, almost mushy hat. I have tried to enforce the side dents with steam which helps just a little. I like the lines of this hat and plan to use it for travel. The refinement and felt character of vintage Borsalino hats is, from my limited experience, on a different plane that what you see in this example.

 

[Mr. Garrulus]

I am asking the help of you FL, the ones who seems to know everything necessarily and unnecessarily about hats.

What is this type of hat called? Trilby? Homburg?
From what period is this? I would guess 50's or before because of the "Exclusively made for NK" printing.

The brim is 6-7cm(~2,35-2,75inch) and the ribbon is 4,5cm(~1,75inch) if that helps anything...

If the 60cm(7 1/2) is the size it is incredible how much it has shrunk over the years to fit me who is a 58cm(7 1/4).

 

[vinnypolston]

Thanks jlee, I appreciate the information. I gave them a call - very nice people!

 

[DRB]

Sir, I would say it is a homburg, if I see the picture correctly. The sides curl up.

 

[hatophile]

Agreed, DRB, looks like a small brimmed homburg with a tight front pinch.

 

[Mr. Garrulus]

Aha, thank you. I was not sure because of the pinch. I though a homburg never had them but I guess I had wrong.

 

[mayserwegener]

Side dents are fine just get rid of the tight pinch.

 

[DRB]

Is there any place to buy hat making equipment for such things as pouncing, and other items required? Have they all gone out of business? I see hat block makers but pouncers?

 

[mayserwegener]

Is there any place to buy hat making equipment for such things as pouncing, and other items required? Have they all gone out of business? I see hat block makers but pouncers?

This addresses "Have they all gone out of business? ". I believe this the only company left making / restoring factory felt & hat making machines.

http://www.hatmachines.com/default.asp?lg=gb

 

[DRB]

Thank you very much Steve.

 

[furfeltfettish]

I recently purchased a royal stetson, stamped "custom V" on the sweat. appears to be a 40's hat, almost identical to the stratoliner I have on my profile pic. ultra light weight and nice curled 2 1/2 snap brim. bound edge.I have never heard of this model before. Does anyone know of it, and something of its general value?

 

[Lefty]

You're not going to get an estimate of its value. It's worth what someone will pay for it.
The Custom V is an early 50s hat. While many hats were once offered open crowned (unshaped), the selling point of the Custom V was the factory blocked-in shape that would stay in the hat. Do a google image and ebay search for
stetson "custom v"
I believe there are only 2 or 3 ads for that hat, which appears to have been a short lived model.

Have a look at this thread.

 

[scottyrocks]

Side dents are fine just get rid of the tight pinch.

Yep, as much as I love tight front pinches, they dont belong in a homburg.

 

[ph33nyx]

Has anyone ever used spray starch to stiffen a floppy felt hat?

 

[gtdean48]

Has anyone ever used spray starch to stiffen a floppy felt hat?

I'd steam it first to reactivate the shellac in the felt if the hat has become floppy over time instead of starting out that way. Otherwise, I'd use spray stiffener for felt hats = http://www.baronhats.com/Felt_Hat_stiffener.htm
It may be the same chemical as spray starch but felt is a lot different than woven fibers of cloth that starch is used for...JMHO

 

[rlk]

Has anyone ever used spray starch to stiffen a floppy felt hat?

Its water soluble so won't stand up to rain well. Plant starch based(corn,rice or wheat)

 

[ph33nyx]

Thanks!

I'd steam it first to reactivate the shellac in the felt if the hat has become floppy over time instead of starting out that way. Otherwise, I'd use spray stiffener for felt hats = http://www.baronhats.com/Felt_Hat_stiffener.htm
It may be the same chemical as spray starch but felt is a lot different than woven fibers of cloth that starch is used for...JMHO

 

[Neophyte]

Has Dobbs always offered suede and velour finish on their felt hats, or is this some kind of new collection.

Here's the link to the collection as offered by TheFedoraStore: http://www.thefedorastore.com/Dobbs-Felt-Hats-s/215.htm