Ask a question, get an answer

[TomS]

I often refer to Ebay as " the bay". No reason for it, just a habit. Certainly no ill intention towards the site. I happen to use Ebay and PayPal regularly, and never had any troubles.

 

[Rabbit]

I often refer to Ebay as " the bay". No reason for it, just a habit. Certainly no ill intention towards the site. I happen to use Ebay and PayPal regularly, and never had any troubles.

How true. "Fishing in the bay" is a common expresion in these parts, isn't?

 

[RBH]

Just curious, why is this thread not in "ask a question, get an answer". RBH would have done it if someone else had posted this thread first.

Happy now?

 

[BR Gordon]

Personally I don't see "the bay" or "fishing in the bay" as denigrating, while many of the other expressions do appear to be.

 

[Chief000731]

I agree I use eBay a lot not PayPal so... Chief

Is it just me or does anyone elsed get tired of the E-PREY or PREY-PAL and
the numerous varations of E-Bay and Pay-Pal.
While I do know both are not perfect.....back when I joined the Lounge, we called it OFAS.
Our Favorite Auction Site.
And the 'tenders [I was not one then] did not like OFAS, and it was not derogatory.
So I ask please .... refer to each of these sites by their name, or not at all.
If the site is not good to deal with.
It will soon be known.
E-Bay and Pay-Pal both are fine in my dealings.

 

[Chief000731]

+1... Chief

Yeah I've noticed it too. Without ebay, where would one find such great vintage hats?

 

[Chief000731]

+1 Thats for sure... Chief

I've had 148 transactions and zero problems with eBay.You have to know what you are buying though,just be careful and ask questions.Don't get caught up in a bidding war.There will always be another one of whatever it is you think you must have.

 

[Chief000731]

Hee Hee...

Happy now?

 

[Oldsarge]

So far my favorite source of reasonably priced, high quality fedoras is Akubra. Unfortunately, they don't make a 'town' hat is fawn, at least not from the pictures on Hats Direct's website. Who does? I was really taken with the hat that Michael A(something) the jazz band leader was wearing in his '38-ish Buick and want one like it to wear with my blue blazer and stone slacks. I really, really want a 'fawn' or 'camel' fedora!

 

[Landman]

So far my favorite source of reasonably priced, high quality fedoras is Akubra. Unfortunately, they don't make a 'town' hat is fawn, at least not from the pictures on Hats Direct's website. Who does? I was really taken with the hat that Michael A(something) the jazz band leader was wearing in his '38-ish Buick and want one like it to wear with my blue blazer and stone slacks. I really, really want a 'fawn' or 'camel' fedora!

Take a look at the Akubra Stylemaster on David Morgan's site. He has it in Acorn which I think is very close to what you are looking for. Below is a link.

http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1382

 

[Oldsarge]

Acorn looks, on my monitor, to be a true 'stone' color. I'm looking for a purer tan, tending toward peach. I can find the color shown on the Optimo website but was hoping not to have to lay out $450 for a hat.

 

[Dan Allen]

Dose anyone know what is going on at Miller Hats? They have changed their web page and apparently have forsaken us fedora types.

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

Dose anyone know what is going on at Miller Hats? They have changed their web page and apparently have forsaken us fedora types.

I noticed that, too. I was looking for their site yesterday. Couldn't find any link that goes to the dress hats or fedora pages.

 

[tealseal]

Looks like they've gone strictly Military

 

[CONELRAD]

Okay, I've got a couple more questions about the ADAM hat I was asking about several questions back. First of all, I purchased the two way drop in hat stretcher from eBay, have not received it yet, but that'll relate to my questions. As you'll recall, I was having trouble getting the hat to fit, after two stretches I have it fitting, albeit barely.

It was suggested that I use Pecard leather conditioner on the sweatband to help it keep its shape, I looked at their website and they have multiple products: lotions, dressings, silicone liquid dressings, etc. Which one would work best on a sweatband, and would it permanently leave it greasy? Which side or sides of the band should I condition? I think that might work, because the band is in really good shape but it does seem like it could use a good conditioning.

I also said that one of the Peters at Peters Brothers steamed in my crease after stretching it, which I would have rather avoided, but he did it immediately after taking it off the block before I could stop him. Of course, now I don't have the freedom to reshape it my self, which I would like to do, since this was my first time shaping a hat, and now the crease is about one inch off center and one side of the pinch is deeper than the other.

After stretching, I've also noticed some minor warping of the brim that I can fix by hand, but will quickly revert if tampered with. I'm honestly not sure how much of a problem this is, but the snap seems to be closer to the front now than it was before. Also, the rear of the crown shows a slight taper, which doesn't bother me too much, but I 'd rather not have. Could these be easily fixed, or would it take a full reblocking? In fact, after stretching there seems to all sorts of warping and misshaping going on that I'd like to fix.

My current plan is to get whichever Pecards would be best and use it on the sweatband, then take the hat back to Peters Brothers, have them slightly stretch it again (1/4" or less), then have them steam it back to open crown and possibly steam the brim back to shape (if that's possible), then wear the hat for the rest of the day and place it on the stretcher when I go to bed. Is this a good plan or should I do something else instead? Would a complete reblocking be simpler?


Note the curve on the back of the brim...

And the slight warp on this side...

And the more noticeable warp on this side.

This is what it looked like before stretching.

You can also see the taper in these pictures, as well as its nonexistance before stretching. In fact the crown seems to almost tilt forward.

Oh, and thank you very much in advance.

 

[job]

What kind of condition is the sweatband in.

 

[Brad Bowers]

The problem with stretching a hat very much is that you are stretching the circumference of the crown, or lower part of the crown, to a larger size, while keeping the circumference (and surface area) of the entire brim the original smaller size. This warps the brim and is unavoidable. The solution is to have the brim reflanged, which effectively "stretches" the brim to the new larger size.If you have to do a complete reblock and flange, you might lose the sweatband, as they really don't stretch very much. The stitching is liable to give way, or crack the leather.

Brad

 

[CONELRAD]

The problem with stretching a hat very much is that you are stretching the circumference of the crown, or lower part of the crown, to a larger size, while keeping the circumference (and surface area) of the entire brim the original smaller size. This warps the brim and is unavoidable. The solution is to have the brim reflanged, which effectively "stretches" the brim to the new larger size.If you have to do a complete reblock and flange, you might lose the sweatband, as they really don't stretch very much. The stitching is liable to give way, or crack the leather.

Brad

The hat was originally in my size, in about 1953, but has since contracted over many years of disuse. Now I don't know, but it seems to me that it would be easier and more successful to stretch a hat back to its original size, than stretching a smaller hat above its original size, but I could very well be wrong.

Also, I was under the impression that in a reblock, the sweatband and liner would be removed, and put back in, as jlee562 indicated as a response to one of my earlier questions.

And the sweatband is in excellent condition, but it seems a bit on the dry side.

Also, could the brim be reflanged without reblocking the hat, and what effect would the bound edge have on that? Because I really don't want to hurt the original condition of the hat.

The brim isn't all that bad off, especially when it's snapped down (which is how I wear it)...


Here's a link to my Flickr album with all the pictures of the hat, if that can help answer any of my questions... ADAM Hats Executive Quality Fedora by CONELRAD6568

 

[gtdean48]

The hat was originally in my size, in about 1953, but has since contracted over many years of disuse. ...The brim isn't all that bad off, especially when it's snapped down (which is how I wear it)...

I had an old Stetson that was much smaller due to "years of disuse". I put some Lexol leather conditioner on the sweat & hat jacked right back to my size.
I wouldn't worry about a wonky brim when snapped up. Lots of my lids get stored that way but not worn that way.
Your sweat can get reused in a re-block if it can take the new style. Most hats shrink because the leather draws from drying out & losing natural oils, which conditioners can replace. The skin cells close up & lose elasticity to open back up over time, at least back to original size. Most renovators will want to replace the sweat with a new one. I wear hats so keeping the original is not that key of an issue.

 

[CONELRAD]

Yeah, I'm not worried about the brim too much, it only bothers me when I'm feeling down and every little thing gets to me, which is not often. I'm more worried about keeping the hat fitting. I think this Pecard looks good, but I'm not sure which one to get, I think the leather dressing looks good based on the description, but I don't know. I'm not really well versed in the world of leather care.