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[Steve1857]

I suppose that is my point. I, like most users, don't care about the standards used to manufacture my Ring doorbell as long as it works. But for those in the industry, those standards make a difference in the materials and sub components they use to manufacture the doorbells. A standard to grade or rank the physical condition of hats would help those of us in the "hat collector industry" be more consistent in our description of hats and it would be easier to provide those descriptors to the general public to help educate them on how to judge the condition of hats. Such a standard would be far from perfect but it would be a start in helping us define and refine a common vocabulary and a common understanding to hopefully reduce those hats with torn sweatbands being described as "mint condition".

Good point, Randy.

Maybe some of the good folks on the FL could create a subcommittee and come up with some suggestions for definitions.

 

[M Hatman]

I suppose that is my point. I, like most users, don't care about the standards used to manufacture my Ring doorbell as long as it works. But for those in the industry, those standards make a difference in the materials and sub components they use to manufacture the doorbells. A standard to grade or rank the physical condition of hats would help those of us in the "hat collector industry" be more consistent in our description of hats and it would be easier to provide those descriptors to the general public to help educate them on how to judge the condition of hats. Such a standard would be far from perfect but it would be a start in helping us define and refine a common vocabulary and a common understanding to hopefully reduce those hats with torn sweatbands being described as "mint condition".

While I have sympathy for what you are saying all can be said for ANYTHING being sold anymore and especially anything antique or collectable.

Many, Many of the hats you describe are NOT going to be effected by what we say or do here. Too many are sold by people who don't know and in the case of the torn sweatband being described as "mint"...THOSE people do not care.

Like with the Ebay sellers that list hats from "Dads Collection" that are flipped from something they bought at Good Will or where a Stetson Royal Deluxe is suddenly described as the equal quality of a twenty or twenty-five of the same era.....well all I can say is the big retailers like Ebay ....neither those sellers nor Ebay is interested in accurate descriptions.....especially for or from from a niche group like ours.....the dollar is all they care about........sad but true.

There is just not enough money there (with our hats) to "do things right".....just enough to reward doing things anyway the seller wishes....."Buyer Beware". WE the buyer, need to look closely at those "Truman" hats if we want to come out even.....

 

[belfastboy]

While I have sympathy for what you are saying all can be said for ANYTHING being sold anymore and especially anything antique or collectable.

Many, Many of the hats you describe are NOT going to be effected by what we say or do here. Too many are sold by people who don't know and in the case of the torn sweatband being described as "mint"...THOSE people do not care.

Like with the Ebay sellers that list hats from "Dads Collection" that are flipped from something they bought at Good Will or where a Stetson Royal Deluxe is suddenly described as the equal quality of a twenty or twenty-five of the same era.....well all I can say is the big retailers like Ebay ....neither those sellers nor Ebay is interested in accurate descriptions.....especially for or from from a niche group like ours.....the dollar is all they care about........sad but true.

There is just not enough money there (with our hats) to "do things right".....just enough to reward doing things anyway the seller wishes....."Buyer Beware". WE the buyer, need to look closely at those "Truman" hats if we want to come out even.....

I gave up the 'hunt' for vintage after making too many mistakes. I do agree that many sellers do not care or are downright dishonest but there is another cohort that is just ignorant about hats. But whatever the reason it is still a crap hat when it reaches me. I now only pick up hats from 'known' hat people (mostly here in The Lounge). It is the only way I can be assured of accuracy in the description.

 

[Rmccamey]

Many standards exist that are not required to be used. Even though not required, they help establish a common vocabulary and common metrics among those who care to use the established standard. I think we of TFL could make that happen, whether the rest of the world followed our lead or not.

The standard I'm suggesting would be related to physical condition (more objective), not quality (more subjective). Any attempt to quantify the difference in quality between a '62 One Hundred and a '58 7XCB would be, IMO, an exercise in futility

While I have sympathy for what you are saying all can be said for ANYTHING being sold anymore and especially anything antique or collectable.

Many, Many of the hats you describe are NOT going to be effected by what we say or do here. Too many are sold by people who don't know and in the case of the torn sweatband being described as "mint"...THOSE people do not care.

Like with the Ebay sellers that list hats from "Dads Collection" that are flipped from something they bought at Good Will or where a Stetson Royal Deluxe is suddenly described as the equal quality of a twenty or twenty-five of the same era.....well all I can say is the big retailers like Ebay ....neither those sellers nor Ebay is interested in accurate descriptions.....especially for or from from a niche group like ours.....the dollar is all they care about........sad but true.

There is just not enough money there (with our hats) to "do things right".....just enough to reward doing things anyway the seller wishes....."Buyer Beware". WE the buyer, need to look closely at those "Truman" hats if we want to come out even.....

 

[crispyfresh]

I have a question about hat sizing for a fedora hat. I have a couple of "mall" quality fedoras that are both a small/medium sizing in the headband. They fit perfect. I want to move up to a higher quality fedora in which I have to have my head measurements. Whats throwing me off is the fact that when I measure my head circumference, I come up with 22 5/8 which is a large.

When I measured the headband of one of the cheap fedoras I have now, the measurement came up to 22 inches. I'm stomped as to whether I should buy a metric 56 or 57 which is a medium or a 58 which is a large. The mall quality fedora isn't spreading larger or anything. Maybe when I'm measuring with the cloth tape, the cloth tape is in a different position than the hats sit when I'm wearing them?

Late Edit: I tried on a baker boy cap I have that is a size 58. I noticed it sits lower on my head than the fedoras I have. This is leading me to want to go with a size 57 which will sit higher than the 58 but a little bit lower than the fedoras. The fedoras sit pretty high but not enough to look noticeably high.

 

[Who?]

Get someone else to measure your head.

Do it three times and average.

 

[thomasfarley19]

I found a hat and wondered if you may be able to tell who made it. The closest example of the logo on the liner is from Resistol but I can't find an example of this exact logo from them. Thoughts?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I found a hat and wondered if you may be able to tell who made it. The closest example of the logo on the liner is from Resistol but I can't find an example of this exact logo from them. Thoughts?

Sure looks like a modern Resistol to me. Do you have photos of the rest of the sweatband?

 

[thomasfarley19]

Sure looks like a modern Resistol to me. Do you have photos of the rest of the sweatband?

Here it is. With the height of the crown, it feels like an 80's or 90's era hat. I'm just not sure.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Here it is. With the height of the crown, it feels like an 80's or 90's era hat. I'm just not sure.

Thanks. I’m less sure now as those markings don’t look familiar to me. Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in.

 

[Steve1857]

Here it is. With the height of the crown, it feels like an 80's or 90's era hat. I'm just not sure.

It looks like the Resistol Horseman trademark. However, if it doesn't say Resistol anywhere, I doubt that it is.

 

[thomasfarley19]

It looks like the Resistol Horseman trademark. However, if it doesn't say Resistol anywhere, I doubt that it is.

That's kind of what I'm thinking. It's about the finest fur felt that I have touched. So I find it hard to believe the manufacturer didn't take credit, but that's the boat I'm in.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

That's kind of what I'm thinking. It's about the finest fur felt that I have touched. So I find it hard to believe the manufacturer didn't take credit, but that's the boat I'm in.

Have you turned the sweatband down and looked behind it for clues?

 

[Blare]

It looks like the Resistol Horseman trademark. However, if it doesn't say Resistol anywhere, I doubt that it is.

That's kind of what I'm thinking. It's about the finest fur felt that I have touched. So I find it hard to believe the manufacturer didn't take credit, but that's the boat I'm in.

Resistol did at one point do private label work. I have one made for Beal Brothers dept stores. As Brent said maybe the tags under the sweat might give more insight.

 

[thomasfarley19]

Resistol did at one point do private label work. I have one made for Beal Brothers dept stores. As Brent said maybe the tags under the sweat might give more insight.

The only marking under the sweat is a hand written "8"

 

[Steve1857]

The only marking under the sweat is a hand written "8"

No paper labels?

 

[thomasfarley19]

No paper labels?

Just the union tag you can see in the picture I posted.

 

[New2vintage24]

Hello folks,
Just a young fella who got into vintage menswear recently and was looking to obtain my first fedora, preferably looking for something that goes with a navy pin striped suit I’m currently acquiring and would love some suggestions on colour and style of hat to compliment the ensemble?

 

[jlee562]

Navy pinstripe you say?



In all seriousness though, do you have a budget in mind? Is it important to you to have a vintage hat, or would you wear a more modern one?

If you're ok with an off the rack hat, the Akubra Federation IV is a solid choice. Famously resilient, pretty classic styling. Probably Moonstone for Navy blue.

You might also check out the Stetson whippet in Caribou.

If hunting for a vintage hat seems fun, a relatively easy get would be the Stetson St. Regis homburg style. It was a mainstay for many decades and because they were usually embossed with the St. Regis name, that's an easy thing for a seller to list. Here's a random eBay auction pic:

 

[New2vintage24]

Navy pinstripe you say?



In all seriousness though, do you have a budget in mind? Is it important to you to have a vintage hat, or would you wear a more modern one?

If you're ok with an off the rack hat, the Akubra Federation IV is a solid choice. Famous resilient, pretty classic styling. Probably Moonstone for Navy blue.

You might also check out the Stetson whippet in Caribou.

If hunting for a vintage hat seems fun, a relatively easy get would be the Stetson St. Regis homburg style. It was a mainstay for many decades and because they were usually embossed with the St. Regis name, that's an easy thing for a seller to list. Here's a random eBay auction pic:

Thanks for the suggestions sir,
Whether the hat is vintage or not doesn’t necessarily matter to me aslong as I like the look of the hat and I think it looks good on me. The Akurba is definetly on my radar never pictured a grey hat to go with the suit but you might be on to something.