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[Frunobulax]

If it's a Playboy, even the 60s stingy variety you have, it's fur.

 

[FreddieM]

If it's a Playboy, even the 60s stingy variety you have, it's fur.

Thanks!
I thought it might be rabbit, based on the texture, but there aren't any markings on the band stating such, so I wasn't sure.

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks!
I thought it might be rabbit, based on the texture, but there aren't any markings on the band stating such, so I wasn't sure.

Likely rabbit. Welcome to the Lounge, BTW.

You'll find as you go through the FL over time, hat quality deteriorated in the 60s (or earlier) as hat wearing became less and less popular. Not to take away from your hat, but it's the general consensus around here that this is the case (and my experience bears it out). However, for the most part, even newer higher end hats produced by Stetson, Borsalino, or others are fur felt.

 

[HuangCheng]

The captions reference Sears catalogs (although they also mention specific cities -- I was unaware that Sears had regional catalogs back then). There would only be a few pages of hats in each. If you have an Ancestry.com membership you can see the full archive of those catalogs on-line.

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1670/

You can probably find copies of the actual catalogs on eBay or at used book websites.

Thx for the help, I will go take a look!

 

[FreddieM]

Likely rabbit. Welcome to the Lounge, BTW.

You'll find as you go through the FL over time, hat quality deteriorated in the 60s (or earlier) as hat wearing became less and less popular. Not to take away from your hat, but it's the general consensus around here that this is the case (and my experience bears it out). However, for the most part, even newer higher end hats produced by Stetson, Borsalino, or others are fur felt.

Thank you for the welcome and the education!
I'm learning so much from this forum and its members.
Cheers!

 

[K5MOW]

Good afternoon

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. How many of you take the feather out of a fedora hat. Is it more traditional to not have a feather.

Thank you Roger

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Good afternoon

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. How many of you take the feather out of a fedora hat. Is it more traditional to not have a feather.

Thank you Roger

I’ve plucked all but maybe three hats. Sometimes the perfect small feather just looks right to me, but most of the time they are immediately removed.

Brent

 

[K5MOW]

Thanks. This is what I thought also.

Roger

I’ve plucked all but maybe three hats. Sometimes the perfect small feather just looks right to me, but most of the time they are immediately removed.

Brent

 

[Bill Hughes]

Good afternoon

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. How many of you take the feather out of a fedora hat. Is it more traditional to not have a feather.

Thank you Roger

I have a feather in one hat.

 

[Rmccamey]

Mostly no feathers but I have one hat with a lot of earth tones that seems to be at home with a bold color.

 

[Snowman]

Good afternoon

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. How many of you take the feather out of a fedora hat. Is it more traditional to not have a feather.

Thank you Roger

Pulled the feather out of a Strat clone (I have no idea why it was ever there to begin with), but left one in my Western. It’s mostly a “no.”

 

[Blare]

Good afternoon

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. How many of you take the feather out of a fedora hat. Is it more traditional to not have a feather.

Thank you Roger

I tend to leave em as I find em unless they are real ratty or just don’t work at all. For me a feather that’s been there more than half a century probably gets to stay

 

[MagicMan]

Shellac ratio question: I purchased some shellac flakes in order to make up some stiffener for one of my Lite-Felt hats. How much of those little flakes do I throw in a spray bottle of denatured alcohol?

 

[belfastboy]

Shellac ratio question: I purchased some shellac flakes in order to make up some stiffener for one of my Lite-Felt hats. How much of those little flakes do I throw in a spray bottle of denatured alcohol?

My science is very very approximate. I throw in about two teaspoons worth of flakes & 50 or 60ml of denatured alcohol to cover. Give it a swirl and leave it for a while to dissolve. Usually I do it at the end of the day and let it sit overnight so I don't know how long it takes to dissolve but I know overnight is good. Then I dilute it until it is a pale yellow....white wine....sauvignon blanc (ish). I prefer a light shellac and put on two or even three coats as needed to get the stiffness I want.....I think safer this way rather than risk a thick coat up front. I use a brush rather than spritz. The mixed shellac has a shelf life of about 6 months. One of my concerns would be the spray bottle nozzle clogging up unless it was cleaned thoroughly after spritzing.

 

[MagicMan]

My science is very very approximate. I throw in about two teaspoons worth of flakes & 50 or 60ml of denatured alcohol to cover. Give it a swirl and leave it for a while to dissolve. Usually I do it at the end of the day and let it sit overnight so I don't know how long it takes to dissolve but I know overnight is good. Then I dilute it until it is a pale yellow....white wine....sauvignon blanc (ish). I prefer a light shellac and put on two or even three coats as needed to get the stiffness I want.....I think safer this way rather than risk a thick coat up front. I use a brush rather than spritz. The mixed shellac has a shelf life of about 6 months. One of my concerns would be the spray bottle nozzle clogging up unless it was cleaned thoroughly after spritzing.

Thank you, sir!
Another related question: there's an area of the crown that keeps popping out of place and I believe I need to hit it with some steam to reshape it a bit. Should I steam and reshape before or after I apply the stiffener?

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you, sir!
Another related question: there's an area of the crown that keeps popping out of place and I believe I need to hit it with some steam to reshape it a bit. Should I steam and reshape before or after I apply the stiffener?

A word of caution.....I am largely self taught at this hat making so not sure if my point of view is correct historically BUT that has never stopped me from an opinion! My approach would be to try with just the steam first....no shellac and see what result you get. In terms of shellac I don't think it matters. A good felt is so forgiving and the shellac gets into the fibres and when given a goodly shot of steam softens the shellac as well.

So you can steam, bash, shellac or shellac then bash. Should not matter but my approach would be to apply a light coat of shellac first being cautious with a light touch........otherwise if you go tooo heavy you end up with a fedora come safety hard hat. I am making an Indy replica hat right now with very soft rabbit felt. I gave the brim a light coat, the crown none. Will bash it today and see how it takes.......if not I will go another round of shellac to the brim and maybe the crown in order to hold the tight pinches for the Indy.

 

[FedoraRedHat]

Does anyone know where you can buy boater-width (2") grosgrain hat bands with bow in solid colors (preferably brown)? The best I can find is 1 3/8" width. Thanks.

 

[Emilis]

Hello members,

I'm seeking all the information I can get on this type of hat steaming. Will upload images for reference.

Thank you in advance!

 

[carouselvic]

"that's hot" said Paris

 

[MagicMan]

Does anyone know where I can purchase a feather like this? This is a picture that was posted here on the forum. I just love that fluorescent blue feather and think it would look great on my gray Bailey hat.