Ask a question, get an answer

[glxie63]

I have stretched a wool news boy a little, enough for a perfect fit for me. It was pretty tight, I could get it on but it was uncomfortable. I just used water and a hat stretcher. I wet it pretty good around the sweatband with a spray bottle twice.

Allright, you all have inspired a good stretching before butchering!

 

[Gobi]

Another problem ordering long oval. They sent a regular oval band block by mistake so they sent this "long oval". It looks like the same block but with LO stamped on the bottom. The long oval is 1mm longer and 1am thinner on the sides. 1mm?? Sorry but I do not consider that long oval. I'm not happy at this point. Thoughts?

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Hi Folks,

so, I got this beautiful Lock & Co top hat from 1924 recently. It's in pretty good shape considering it's almost 100 years old. There are a couple loose spots on the inner band of the hat and the ribbon on the brim. I want to fix these issues but I'm not really sure how to go about it. If anyone has any advice or knows someone who is good with antique hats in Los Angeles I'd appreciate it!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Another problem ordering long oval. They sent a regular oval band block by mistake so they sent this "long oval". It looks like the same block but with LO stamped on the bottom. The long oval is 1mm longer and 1am thinner on the sides. 1mm?? Sorry but I do not consider that long oval. I'm not happy at this point. Thoughts?
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Something doesn’t seem right there. I know that there is more of a difference between standard and long oval in the blocks from Hatters Supply House in Colorado.

 

[Miamibruno]

I bought a vintage Stetson on eBay. The color was described as “cinnamon”, and the pics showed a nice mid-brown:

Alas, the color just doesn't work for me. I'm a brown hat guy, and I'm too old to change.

The auction terms state no returns. Does eBay’s guarantee cover color discrepancies, or is color subjective, making the description technically correct? Would I be a jerk to ask for a return? Or should the seller deal with the consequences of not taking accurate pictures and using the word “cinnamon”, which implies brown? I feel like if I keep it then I can't honestly give positive feedback, because the pics were not accurate in this regard, and future customers should know that this seller isn't careful about that.

I sell some on eBay and I just had one returned because my pictures did not match the color of the hat (not quite as egregiously as yours). You may lose the return shipping, but they will take it back. You can begin the return process right on the eBay website. You don't even need to contact the seller (though you certainly may).

 

[Miamibruno]

Question: Has anyone ever seen a back-bow Stetson Whippet?

 

[jlee562]

Hi Folks,

so, I got this beautiful Lock & Co top hat from 1924 recently. It's in pretty good shape considering it's almost 100 years old. There are a couple loose spots on the inner band of the hat and the ribbon on the brim. I want to fix these issues but I'm not really sure how to go about it. If anyone has any advice or knows someone who is good with antique hats in Los Angeles I'd appreciate it!

Finding someone who can work on an un-reeded sweatband may be an issue. I am far from an expert on Top Hats, but if you're in the LA area, I would check with Baron Hats or Gunner Foxx. The latter has more of a modern take on hats to say the least, but he does do toppers.

 

[Steve1857]

That is one really nice catch. I'd leave it as it is. If you don't pick it, it won't itch.

Hi Folks,

so, I got this beautiful Lock & Co top hat from 1924 recently. It's in pretty good shape considering it's almost 100 years old. There are a couple loose spots on the inner band of the hat and the ribbon on the brim. I want to fix these issues but I'm not really sure how to go about it. If anyone has any advice or knows someone who is good with antique hats in Los Angeles I'd appreciate it!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Question: Has anyone every seen a back-bow Stetson Whippet?

Just on the Goodwill auction site.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

FYI -- USPS shipping rates went up Jan 1, at least Priority shipping did. They now have surcharges based on box size & also weight. Since a hat doesn't weight much in a box it gets a surcharge based on space/weight. There was only about $3 difference in the shipping class below Priority. Figure at lease double what you used to figure. Don't ask me how I know.

Maybe throw a brick in the box with the hat.

 

[Dotneck]

Question about Stetson. I’m sure this has been explained before but I couldn’t find any info so here it goes.

I’ve seen “Gun Club by Stetson” and “Toranado by Stetson”. These don’t seem to be models. Are they separate lines like a sub brand? If so, what is the distinction? I won an auction for a “Gun Club” but it’s designated as Royal Deluxe. Isn’t that a step up from Stetson’s basic line?

 

[jlee562]

Question about Stetson. I’m sure this has been explained before but I couldn’t find any info so here it goes.

I’ve seen “Gun Club by Stetson” and “Toranado by Stetson”. These don’t seem to be models. Are they separate lines like a sub brand? If so, what is the distinction? I won an auction for a “Gun Club” but it’s designated as Royal Deluxe. Isn’t that a step up from Stetson’s basic line?

Well, I can give you half an answer. During the 150th year, there was a Gun Club model, which was a heathered long hair pork pie (another Matt Deckard selection). Currently, there is a selection of 5x hats listed in the western catalog as the Gun Club collection. Historically, they have also used the name for outdoorsy kinda hats.

 

[Dotneck]

I just found a thread about the Gun Club line that answered some of my questions...looks like this was from 1959...

 

[belfastboy]

Another problem ordering long oval. They sent a regular oval band block by mistake so they sent this "long oval". It looks like the same block but with LO stamped on the bottom. The long oval is 1mm longer and 1am thinner on the sides. 1mm?? Sorry but I do not consider that long oval. I'm not happy at this point. Thoughts?
View attachment 310388
View attachment 310387

The big issue I suspect is the lack of any firm standard around what constitutes a long oval. I made a rough conformateur out of pipe cleaners and used that as a template for making my own band blocks. I am an exact 59cm with an ovoid shape. Make a template out of pipe cleaners and send a tracing of that to them or cut your own band blocks and save the agro.. 3 heavy duty pipe cleaners joined together (twisted) place on head where a hat would sit and twist together tightly the two open ends. Gently remove from head and voila a template. Either trace it and scan or just take the two measurements..north/south and east/west.

 

[Just Daniel]

To my memory, I have not seen a back bow Whippet. I can’t seem to recall ever seeing one.

Question: Has anyone ever seen a back-bow Stetson Whippet?

 

[james zeisel]

This seems to work on other sites, so I figure that it deserves a shot here.

If you've got a quick hat question and don't see a thread for it, just post it here. Whether the question is about cleaning, anatomy of a hat, brands, etc., this is the place.

Here's one to break the ice.

Hi lefty, i see you have many posy here. Maybe you can help me. I recently bought a 1930s stetson gus in nutria fur. I can't find any reference for a hat box because it is so big. Would you have any idea. thanks. Will post pic when i figure it out.

 

[hatsRme]

Hi lefty, i see you have many posy here. Maybe you can help me. I recently bought a 1930s stetson gus in nutria fur. I can't find any reference for a hat box because it is so big. Would you have any idea. thanks. Will post pic when i figure it out.

Hmmmm.... Lefty's post was left here over 11 years ago.
I'd like to help, but what is your question?

 

[BobHufford]

I recently bought a 1930s stetson gus in nutria fur. I can't find any reference for a hat box because it is so big. Would you have any idea. thanks. Will post pic when i figure it out.

Welcome to the Lounge James! Looking forward to a pic or two of that Stetson nutria.

You might check with a local western wear store. They might have a box or two laying around that could accommodate your big hat. I have a couple American Hat Co. boxes that are pretty big and well made. You might also think about a "hat can" (plastic clam-shell case) if you can find one big enough.

Chas (@hatsRme ) has big hats, but his are big on the inside.

 

[Rmccamey]

In the U.S., Hobby Lobby carries some hard cardboard 12-inch Christmas boxes for less than $20 that will hold most western hats. You might check.

Hi lefty, i see you have many posy here. Maybe you can help me. I recently bought a 1930s stetson gus in nutria fur. I can't find any reference for a hat box because it is so big. Would you have any idea. thanks. Will post pic when i figure it out.

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Finding someone who can work on an un-reeded sweatband may be an issue. I am far from an expert on Top Hats, but if you're in the LA area, I would check with Baron Hats or Gunner Foxx. The latter has more of a modern take on hats to say the least, but he does do toppers.

Thanks alot! I'm going to look into Baron Hats.