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[Boomerang]

Not a lot of new open crown hats. The Premiere Stratoliner is nice and more or less similar to a CD/OR (slightly different flange, smaller brim).

JJ recently added this new Biltmore open crown hat...I think they're still offering $35 off with code "fall" : https://www.jjhatcenter.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/the-fulton

Customs will most likely be better quality.

Thank you very much! Two more options to consider before contacting Gannon.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

View attachment 188870 View attachment 188871
Borsalino Punti Size Question.
Good afternoon, I have attached two size labels from a Borsalino size 7, would the 7 be Punti or American 7/12?

Hey Dave:
Here’s a quick tip just looking at Borsa sweatbands that will tell you if the hat is Punti or American sized without having to turn out the sweat.
Pic 1 sweat crest has “Reg.U.S.PAT.OFF.” under the “Grand Prix-Paris 1900”.
These are marketed for the US and US sized.
Pic 2 sweat crest does not have that, thus European marketed and Punti sized.
I believe this to be consistent.
Hope this helps.
Be well. Bowen

 

[DaveProc]

View attachment 188878 View attachment 188879
Hey Dave:
Here’s a quick tip just looking at Borsa sweatbands that will tell you if the hat is Punti or American sized without having to turn out the sweat.
Pic 1 sweat crest has “Reg.U.S.PAT.OFF.” under the “Grand Prix-Paris 1900”.
These are marketed for the US and US sized.
Pic 2 sweat crest does not have that, thus European marketed and Punti sized.
I believe this to be consistent.
Hope this helps.
Be well. Bowen

Got it! Thanks Bowen, it is a US size. I love the knowledge on this site.
Thank you again!
Dave

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Got it! Thanks Bowen, it is a US size. I love the knowledge on this site.
Thank you again!
Dave

You’re very welcome Dave.
I’ve found this tidbit helps quickly resolve a lot of eBay pics and questions.
B

 

[J Williams]

Thank you very much! Two more options to consider before contacting Gannon.

You won’t be disappointed with a Gannon. It’s far superior to my campdraft and any hat I own that isn’t vintage and in some cases to those as well. My Gannon is dress weight beaver and is in the OR dimensions. I had the exact same desire as you wishing I could purchase a black CD. I ordered a black Agnoulita rabbit as I wanted to try another maker and the price is right. 3” bound brim with a pencil curl and a 5 1/2 open crown thin ribbon hat. I’ll be posting my thoughts on it when it arrives in what I expect to be about a week. That being said another Gannon will be happening soon.

 

[Boomerang]

You won’t be disappointed with a Gannon...

Slowly comes the dawn, but I see that Gannon will be my next step. Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[DanO]

Anybody use the cans of compressed air to dust off their hats? Any reason not to?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Anybody use the cans of compressed air to dust off their hats? Any reason not to?

You probably know there really is no compressed air in those cans. It's fluorocarbons that turn to liquid under pressure while in the can. If you turn the can on its side or upside down while in use you spray liquid. Why would you not just use a brush?

 

[dkstott]

I see that California has passed the law banning the sale of fur products.

I wonder what effect it's going to have on Village hat shop and eBay seller's of hats.

 

[jlee562]

I see that California has passed the law banning the sale of fur products.

I wonder what effect it's going to have on Village hat shop and eBay seller's of hats.

We talked about this a few weeks back. Fur felt seems to be exempt from said ban as the fibers have been removed from the pelt. The real target of the ban is things like mink and fox tails and the like. I contacted one of our city supervisors when SF passed a city wide ban and she confirmed fur felt hats are not included in the city ban.

 

[Steinbockhase]

We talked about this a few weeks back. Fur felt seems to be exempt from said ban as the fibers have been removed from the pelt. The real target of the ban is things like mink and fox tails and the like. I contacted one of our city supervisors when SF passed a city wide ban and she confirmed fur felt hats are not included in the city ban.

So, no more "davy crockett" hats

 

[Hat and Rehat]

You probably know there really is no compressed air in those cans. It's fluorocarbons that turn to liquid under pressure while in the can. If you turn the can on its side or upside down while in use you spray liquid. Why would you not just use a brush?

And tape?

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk

 

[Hat and Rehat]

I see that California has passed the law banning the sale of fur products.

I wonder what effect it's going to have on Village hat shop and eBay seller's of hats.

It will drive up prices. That's what bans do. They never stop anything.
Think of prohibition.

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk

 

[Hurricane Jack]

And tape?

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk

I personally wouldn't want any sticky tape residue left for dirt to stick to on my hat either. A brush works just fine.

 

[CaptainFach]

Thank you guys so much for your help. Will post my first hat soon. But i do have one more question. So I'm impatient so I want to stiffen my hat as easy as I can. So can i use spray shellac or fabric stiffener to stiffen my hat? Just spray and steam?

 

[Hat and Rehat]

I personally wouldn't want any sticky tape residue left for dirt to stick to on my hat either. A brush works just fine.

I use tape first, then brush. But I see your point.

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Thank you guys so much for your help. Will post my first hat soon. But i do have one more question. So I'm impatient so I want to stiffen my hat as easy as I can. So can i use spray shellac or fabric stiffener to stiffen my hat? Just spray and steam?

I saw a lot of things about shellac as a stiffener. Reading Scientific Hat Finishing and Renovating, Ermatinger reserves shellac for traditional stiff hats, like Bowlers and top hats, or for a "board brim" like on a campaign hat.
He used gum tragacanth on dress weight hats. After having difficulty applying shellac evenly, I purchased pre prepared tragacanth at Tandy leather. Leather workers use it on the cut edges of belts, etc.
I like the moderate stiffening I got from it.

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk

 

[CaptainFach]

I saw a lot of things about shellac as a stiffener. Reading Scientific Hat Finishing and Renovating, Ermatinger reserves shellac for traditional stiff hats, like Bowlers and top hats, or for a "board brim" like on a campaign hat.
He used gum tragacanth on dress weight hats. After having difficulty applying shellac evenly, I purchased pre prepared tragacanth at Tandy leather. Leather workers use it on the cut edges of belts, etc.
I like the moderate stiffening I got from it.

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using Tapatalk

See the problem there is i live in the suburbs in missouri and we dont really have any leather shops or hat shops. Its a travesty really.

 

[dkstott]

Between this forum & YouTube there's a wealth of knowledge.

Check our Kevin at JJ hat company YouTube channel. He'll teach you how to stiffen a brim and shape a hat on your own in no time.

See the problem there is i live in the suburbs in missouri and we dont really have any leather shops or hat shops. Its a travesty really.

 

[nvilletele]

Slowly comes the dawn, but I see that Gannon will be my next step. Thanks for the encouragement.

In case you are still looking at retail, there are a number of open crown fur felt hats that appear available at hatWRKS:
https://www.hatwrks.com/collections/open-crown/fur-felt

Del Monico has the Biltmore Budapest left in a couple of sizes:
https://www.delmonicohatter.com/product/BF5584.htm

Village Hat Shop has some others beyond the Borsa you earlier referenced, eg:
https://www.villagehatshop.com/product/all/451139-190/bushman-fur-felt-open-crown-hat.html
https://www.villagehatshop.com/prod...h-buffalo-fur-felt-open-crown-fedora-hat.html

Regarding your evolution, my first (and still only) custom is a Gannon.