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jimmy the lid

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,647
Location
USA
I have performed a couple of searches and come up empty. My query is: what is the little bow usually seen at the rear of the sweatband for?

I could understand if there was a cord that wound around the inside of the sweatband that would be used to tighten a sweatband, but that's not the case. I can't see the usefulness, other than perhaps looks.

Cliff

The 1953 Hat Life Yearbook notes that the bow in the back of the hat serves two primary functions: First, to provide a quick way to identify the back of the hat (so that the hat is put on correctly), and second, to identify the center of the hat to provide a reference point for creasing.
 

rlk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
It is a traditional vestige of when sweatbands had lacing for adjustment and tied in a bow. Jimmy highlights how it remains functional as well as traditional/symbolic.
 

Mr E Train

One Too Many
Messages
1,050
Location
Terminus
I'm sure this is the effect you're talking about, Bernie.

brim.jpg


The Winner's a fairly stiff, heavy Milan braid and there's a good amount of curl to the brim, so when you turn the brim down, the curl reflects itself in what you refer to as a "bubble" (I call it the "beak" because it looks like a bird's beak when viewed from the side). I've come to expect this of hats of this type, and it doesn't bother me. Lighter, softer weaves are of course less likely to have the "bubble." You could always try to flatten it out by applying water or steam. I'm anxious to see pics of what the hat looks like now. I'll probably think it looks fine the way it is.
 

scooter

Practically Family
Messages
905
Location
Arizona
All right, I'll venture a question. I've often seen the word "taper' used here, as in the "dreaded taper", but I'm not sure I understand what it means. In my mind, it could be one of a few things. It could mean the crown of a hat tapers from bottom to top (narrower at the top than the bottom), or that a hat crown tapers from front to back as seen from front or back, or that a hat crown tapers from front to back as seen from the side (higher in front than back). I assume it to be the first example. Can someone clear this up for me?
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,178
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Sure.

Same hat, most taper:
0122112200.jpg


Less taper:
0122112159.jpg


Less taper, still:
0122112158b.jpg


I altered the amount of taper, in the bottom picture, by changing the top crease, and in the first picture, by lengthening the side dents. I wear this hat as it appears in the middle picture.
 
Last edited:

scooter

Practically Family
Messages
905
Location
Arizona
Ahhhhhhhhh! Now I get it, so my second assumption was correct. Interesting that one would need to reblock a hat to correct this problem. My campdraft suffers from the same syndrome (or worse) as your last picture. My OR is much more sleek looking, front to back, whereas my campdraft has a much blockier almost stovepipe appearance. I have tried redoing the top crease and the side dents, but they don't want to hold beyond a certain point. Thanks for the response, I appreciate the input.
 

Chinaski

One Too Many
Messages
1,045
Location
Orange County, CA
Ahhhhhhhhh! Now I get it, so my second assumption was correct. Interesting that one would need to reblock a hat to correct this problem. My campdraft suffers from the same syndrome (or worse) as your last picture. My OR is much more sleek looking, front to back, whereas my campdraft has a much blockier almost stovepipe appearance. I have tried redoing the top crease and the side dents, but they don't want to hold beyond a certain point. Thanks for the response, I appreciate the input.

Taper isn't really a "problem" per se. Many here prefer hats with less taper, i.e., more straight up and down like a stovepipe, as you mentioned. But with that said, it really is a preference, and some prefer more taper. Also, different amounts of taper look better or worse depending on the shape of your head and face. You will sort of start to see what looks right on you and on others. A few people can get away with about any look, but not many.
 

scooter

Practically Family
Messages
905
Location
Arizona
Okay, the last question worked well, so I'll pose another. At only a dozen or so hats, my wife is tired of hatboxes taking up space. How do you gents store your hats, in order to keep them clean and orderly?
 

Bernie Zack

One of the Regulars
Messages
214
Location
Sin City
I'm sure this is the effect you're talking about, Bernie.

brim.jpg


The Winner's a fairly stiff, heavy Milan braid and there's a good amount of curl to the brim, so when you turn the brim down, the curl reflects itself in what you refer to as a "bubble" (I call it the "beak" because it looks like a bird's beak when viewed from the side). I've come to expect this of hats of this type, and it doesn't bother me. Lighter, softer weaves are of course less likely to have the "bubble." You could always try to flatten it out by applying water or steam. I'm anxious to see pics of what the hat looks like now. I'll probably think it looks fine the way it is.

Yes, exactly. Since I'm not real bothered by it, I'll live with it. I love the hat; Can't wait for my new pugs. I received an e-mail that they were shipped today. Thanks again.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,178
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Blockier hats can be made to shrink into a shape with more taper by wearing in precipitation a few times. This is quite variable, though, based on the quality and age of the hat. The typical equation is something like age+quality=least tapering. It has to to do with the initial felting, the material used (beaver, hare or rabbit, wool), the way the hat was originally shaped, and, re age, the time the hat has had for the felt to 'die' and stabilize.
 
Messages
10,524
Location
DnD Ranch, Cherokee County, GA
Okay, the last question worked well, so I'll pose another. At only a dozen or so hats, my wife is tired of hatboxes taking up space. How do you gents store your hats, in order to keep them clean and orderly?

Current rotation on 2 hat/coat racks, 1 in bedroom & 1 in den, rest in boxes on shelves in closet. Keepsakes from gifts or travels on hall tree in foyer. Beater & culls in the attic...
 

job

One Too Many
Messages
1,325
Location
Sanford N.C.
posting pics

Can someone please explain what you do to convert jpeg photos so I can post photos on this site. I am clueless.
 

Rodkins

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Orlando
Can someone please explain what you do to convert jpeg photos so I can post photos on this site. I am clueless.

I use photobucket. I upload the photos to photobucket and copy the image url link into my post. There are several photo hosting sites out there that work.
Mike
 

job

One Too Many
Messages
1,325
Location
Sanford N.C.
Thanks for the reply. I don"t think (through my wife) I am a member of any photo hosting site. I will have to look into it.
 

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