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garenb

New in Town
Messages
42
Location
Tampa, FL
I've searched and searched, so forgive me if this question exists elsewhere. Is it possible to buy hat ribbon without having to buy mass quantity? I want to replace the ribbon on one panama hat.
 

Kirk H.

One Too Many
Messages
1,196
Location
Charlotte NC
In speaking of Panama hats and straw fedoras. I have been looking to buy one, and the thing I keep seeing when looking, is the hats are described as garades such as this one is a grade 3, or that one is a grade 8, and so on. I know that this may be a simple question, but what is the grade. does it refer to the type of straw, or the tightness of the weave, or something else. Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Kirk H.
 

Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
Grades aren't consistent across the board. Everyone has their own.
You'll see WPSI, weaves per square inch, tossed around a lot as the factor in determining quality of a panama but, for me, evenness of weave is of greater importance.
 

zetwal

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Texas
In speaking of Panama hats and straw fedoras. I have been looking to buy one, and the thing I keep seeing when looking, is the hats are described as garades such as this one is a grade 3, or that one is a grade 8, and so on. I know that this may be a simple question, but what is the grade. does it refer to the type of straw, or the tightness of the weave, or something else. Any insight would be much appreciated.

Here's a useful site http://www.brentblack.com
 

azhiker

One of the Regulars
Messages
218
Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Hey everyone. I just bought a Stetson Safari, the one that was in the classified last week. I havent received it yet, but I was wondering..can anyone give me any info, it has 'Royal stetson' on the sweat, no liner, and 3 eyelets on each side. kind of a time period, quality, etc? thanks!
 

Felt and Straw

Familiar Face
Messages
57
Location
NW
I recently picked up a nice old Borsalino Castoro, which lead to a search to see if the beaver content was ever determined. I came up empty. Has anyone been able to determine how much beaver went into a 1940s Castoro XX?
Thanks

So, I decided to ask Borsalino. I emailed Borsalino America in NYC and asked about the castoro and x's relating to a hat from the 40's. They emailed back that the castoro hats were 100% beaver and that the number of x's was an indicator of the quality of the felt. I emailed back to make sure that the use of the word "quality" really meant quality and not quantity and was told that the hats were 100% beaver with more x's indicating a higher quality of beaver felt.
 

zetwal

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Texas
So, I decided to ask Borsalino. I emailed Borsalino America in NYC and asked about the castoro and x's relating to a hat from the 40's. They emailed back that the castoro hats were 100% beaver and that the number of x's was an indicator of the quality of the felt. I emailed back to make sure that the use of the word "quality" really meant quality and not quantity and was told that the hats were 100% beaver with more x's indicating a higher quality of beaver felt.


Interesting ... thanks for sharing that ... :cool:
 

ejbhats

A-List Customer
Messages
308
Location
Iowa
Hey everyone. I just bought a Stetson Safari, the one that was in the classified last week. I havent received it yet, but I was wondering..can anyone give me any info, it has 'Royal stetson' on the sweat, no liner, and 3 eyelets on each side. kind of a time period, quality, etc? thanks!

The hat you are referring to is from the late 60's to mid 70's. It would be a standard quality Stetson, designed to be comfortable in warmer weather. I asked the previous owner. ;)
 
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danofarlington

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,122
Location
Arlington, Virginia
So, I decided to ask Borsalino. I emailed Borsalino America in NYC and asked about the castoro and x's relating to a hat from the 40's. They emailed back that the castoro hats were 100% beaver and that the number of x's was an indicator of the quality of the felt. I emailed back to make sure that the use of the word "quality" really meant quality and not quantity and was told that the hats were 100% beaver with more x's indicating a higher quality of beaver felt.

I wonder what the highest X was, or did it change over time like Stetson's, so they ended up with 10x or 15x or 100x, to expunge forever any remaining shred meaning of their categories.
 

rlk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
Most Borsalino X hats don't say Castoro and some Castoro hats have no X's so I am highly skeptical that they have accurate historical knowledge. I have also only seen Italian Market sold hats. You would need to have someone with a link to that period of production or distribution. The Borsalino Museum in Alessandria would be more likely for historical info.
 
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