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[makitright]

FedoraSeeker

The lighter

Thanks for the photos- I like them both!
A few questions I have;
1. Are they both 7 5/8?
2. What is the brim measurement? As I am seeking a trilby style fedora, I would like to ensure that the brims of both measure under 2 inches.
3. Do you have any idea as to when they were manufactured?

Thank you. Hope to hear from you soon!

I will answer your questions in a direct message to you - I don't want to clutter this thread.

 

[hatsRme]

A couple of months ago, I was searching for a 40's vintage San Francisco Standard thin ribbon fedora. I found a shop that was making replicas. But, I can't find my bookmark and can't find the site now.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Hal

I'll bet you were checking out Paul's Hatworks... Good luck!

 

[the soupman]

Sounds like one that member mayserwegener would know about. He is the most knowledgeable on German, Austrian, and Czech hats. Post this in the German and Austrian Hat thread, and I am sure he will chime in. Cheers!

Thank you

 

[LuvMyMan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-195...DgWRSJUYidconVeTKC7E8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

What in the world? I've never seen a Stetson box shaped like this! Anyone have one?

 

[Redfokker]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950s-Stetson-Hexagon-Shaped-Hatbox-/232090750255?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=baIyNrDgWRSJUYidconVeTKC7E8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

What in the world? I've never seen a Stetson box shaped like this! Anyone have one?

Is it a women's hat box? Did Stetson make any?

 

[stephena310]

Two questions:
1. From what I have gathered from this site, in the early hats/fedoras the sweatbands were predominately "brown " in color...At what point in time did they predominately become black in color ?
And
2. Does anyone know about or possess any hats made by "Valentino - The Hatter", which was both a retail store and custom hat maker in Los Angeles during the 40's thru possibly the 60's ?

 

[LuvMyMan]

Is it a women's hat box? Did Stetson make any?

Yes Stetson did make Women's hats...but not sure of this box was from the Women's line of hats or not? Dobbs hatboxes have this type of a shape...but I 've not seen it in a Stetson.

 

[LuvMyMan]

Two questions:
1. From what I have gathered from this site, in the early hats/fedoras the sweatbands were predominately "brown " in color...At what point in time did they predominately become black in color ?
And
2. Does anyone know about or possess any hats made by "Valentino - The Hatter", which was both a retail store and custom hat maker in Los Angeles during the 40's thru possibly the 60's ?

Not sure that even in the Modern Fedora hats that a black color sweatband is considered a standard color. Some have black and many still are a brown or tan color.

Someone may have heard of Valentino the Hatter, but not me! You may find something by doing some searches on the internet some websites may have some past history of Los Angeles Stores that have closed down.

Do you own a hat made from Valentino the Hatter?

 

[Redfokker]

Not sure that even in the Modern Fedora hats that a black color sweatband is considered a standard color. Some have black and many still are a brown or tan color.

Someone may have heard of Valentino the Hatter, but not me! You may find something by doing some searches on the internet some websites may have some past history of Los Angeles Stores that have closed down.

Do you own a hat made from Valentino the Hatter?

A lot of the city business directories are digitized online, LA Historical Society may have old phone books. This will give you an idea of the time frame for sure. As to the individual hat, dating may be a crap shoot with a custom hatter. They could have been making a "vintage" hat for a customer. I'm searching for information about a company called the "San Francisco Hatter" , same kind of deal.

 

[Frunobulax]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950s-Stetson-Hexagon-Shaped-Hatbox-/232090750255?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=baIyNrDgWRSJUYidconVeTKC7E8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

What in the world? I've never seen a Stetson box shaped like this! Anyone have one?

From the top, I assume it contained a hat actually purchased at the Chestnut St. location. Perhaps particular to that? I've not seen one like that, as well.

 

[Frunobulax]

Two questions:
1. From what I have gathered from this site, in the early hats/fedoras the sweatbands were predominately "brown " in color...At what point in time did they predominately become black in color ?
And
2. Does anyone know about or possess any hats made by "Valentino - The Hatter", which was both a retail store and custom hat maker in Los Angeles during the 40's thru possibly the 60's ?

It seems they went black, at least here Stateside, in or around 1960. Some Stetsons I have from ~2010 have black, but my newer ones are brown (Royal Deluxe quality). When I was in Batsakes a couple of years ago to talk w/ Mr. Miller about re-blocking an old Dalton, he showed me a drawer full of black sweats, but when I received my custom from him in June, it had a brown one.

Borsalino, it seems, has done black, brown, tan, white, and a number of other colors.

 

[SilverWeaver]

Has anyone heard of Parkshire hats?

 

[stephena310]

Not sure that even in the Modern Fedora hats that a black color sweatband is considered a standard color. Some have black and many still are a brown or tan color.

Someone may have heard of Valentino the Hatter, but not me! You may find something by doing some searches on the internet some websites may have some past history of Los Angeles Stores that have closed down.

Do you own a hat made from Valentino the Hatter?

No, just asking because he was a "go to" custom shop to old Hollywood and the studios !

 

[Bigger Don]

OK...another question, or few, to which I think the answer is obvious, but being a newbie I'm going to ask anyway.

I've seen a number of posts around the interweb about stretching/shaping hats by using steam and a hat jack. Every time someone has asked about a wool hat the answer has been "No", then I notice the hat in question is woven or knitted.
?
I have my eye on a less expensive hat (Hey! I'm expecting a bespoke from Gus Miller @ Batsakes within the next week-10 days so this is to give me 2 "winter" hats without paying for a divorce lawyer, too!). It's made of wool felt and comes in XL, described as 7½-7⅝. I'm a 7 5/8 XLO.

Should I move forward shaping/sizing, with a decent level of confidence, with this wool felt hat?

Is there something special regarding wool versus fur felt that makes stretching/shaping different?

Assuming trying to stretch/shape wool felt isn't feasible, why not? What makes felt from sheep different from felt made with rabbit or nutria or beaver or any other short-legged animal different?

...and not for the biggie, why is wool felt inferior from the smaller animal felt?

 

[safetyfast]

Just picked up this vintage Borsalino today. How would I get this stain out along the brim where it meets the ribbon in the front? Given the location, I figured it was a sweat stain. I've tried brushing with distilled water and some naphtha. It's a bit shiny too, which seems strange for sweat.
Secondly, the sweat band is in nice shape, but is loose in several spots where the thread has probably dry rotted. Where should I send it to get the sweatband sewn back.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LuvMyMan]

No, just asking because he was a "go to" custom shop to old Hollywood and the studios !

That is nice information. I wish I knew something about it...but there have been many hatters and clothing sources in California that are gone now...shame...as California really had been a fantastic source for classy attire for both men and women and now things are heading to be wally world and k marts just about coast to coast!

 

[LuvMyMan]

Just picked up this vintage Borsalino today. How would I get this stain out along the brim where it meets the ribbon in the front? Given the location, I figured it was a sweat stain. I've tried brushing with distilled water and some naphtha. It's a bit shiny too, which seems strange for sweat.
Secondly, the sweat band is in nice shape, but is loose in several spots where the thread has probably dry rotted. Where should I send it to get the sweatband sewn back.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Get a few very clean white cotton wash clothes to DAB not scrub this product and a new tooth brush (NOT for scrubbing but for "tapping")

NEXT buy some of this spot remover. DYO Spot Remover. It comes in a 4 ounce bottle. It cost about $6.00 or so a bottle, white bottle with green logo and print.

POUR some of the cleaning in a small shallow container like a lid from a jar. Wet your toothbrush in the spot remover and TAP the felt with the brush bristles....TAP straight in and do not scrub.....do that a few times and leave it walk away and let it alone. About 30 minutes later do the same thing wet the brush and tap it into the felt....but now....you take one wet wash clothe, "twist out" all the extra water and DAB the area you just tapped and cleaned....you do not scrub the felt.....just tap and dab....if you keep doing this you will have NO stain...this is great stuff and it does work, let it do it's job and do not scrub. DO NOT use this without proper ventilation. It is some very powerful stuff. When you are all done, check the leather sweat band...if any got on it, damp clothe wipe the leather and then light coat of leather conditioner. Use this product very lightly...and be careful to not over do it...I have used it on silver belly hats....never on a darker hat....just be careful.

 

[LuvMyMan]

From the top, I assume it contained a hat actually purchased at the Chestnut St. location. Perhaps particular to that? I've not seen one like that, as well.

Yes I was thinking the same thing...very rare no matter what as we have not seen one....and it sure will work on a fedora!

 

[Bigger Don]

Life is awesome.

IMO, that is an awesome answer! The world of hats is mighty daunting to some of us. This, I believe, is because things we should have learned from our parents have been all but lost.

 

[Hal Work]

I'll bet you were checking out Paul's Hatworks... Good luck!

Thanks for the tip about Paul's. Not the site I had been looking at. The make and style of hat is https://vintagehaberdashers.com/2016/03/05/standard-san-francisco-thin-ribbon-fedora/. The reason I'm interested in getting a replica is that this is the hat my Father wore to work.
Thanks again, Hal