Blocking vintage hats: absolutely necessary?

[Marc Chevalier]

Here is a quote from a post in the classifieds section:

IF you are successful in bidding for a Whippet or most any other vintage hat the purchasing cost is just beginning. Even if the hat has been taken care of you still need to have it cleaned and blocked.

Is it really ALWAYS necessary to re-block a vintage, used hat? If yes, does the re-blocking have to be done professionally? What exactly does blocking involve? If not, then when do you know that a hat needs re-blocking?

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[fedoralover]

NO

Most of the vintage hats I've bought did need to be cleaned and reshaped but I've always done it myself with either a felt cleaning foam which works great if it's just dirty or if it needs more serious cleaning I use naptha. Either case the hat becomes wet and I always push out the crown to an open state and just let it dry in that neutral position and then reshape it when it's dry. I've always been able to get at least 95 to 98% of the old creases out with steam and by working the felt. (Many times they all come out.)
If that doesn't work because it has really serious creases that show up really bad then it would probably require a professional reblock in which case they put it over a wood block and steam and press it which most of the time takes out the creases. In reblocking the hatter will take out the liner and sweatband so it will fit over the wood block correctly. They will usually use naptha to clean it or maybe laquer thinner. If you look at Mthatters pics you can see a spinner which they use to help get rid of the excess cleaner.

fedoralover

 

[MattC]

No

I don't have Fedoralover's talent, but I've picked up several vintage hats that had either never or rarely been worn. I just dusted 'em off and started wearning them.

 

[Pilgrim]

I've bought two Whippets on Ebay - neither had been blocked. But if you have a good hat shop nearby, it's only a few minutes' work for them to do the crown.

Last time, I took my grey Whippet in along with a western hat to be cleaned and blocked. They gent running the shop blocked the Whippet's crown while I sat and chatted - no charge.

Of course, they KNOW they'll keep my business.

 

[tonyb]

You're lucky to have a hat cleaner nearby, Pilgrim. I haven't seen a "Hats Cleaned and Blocked" sign on a storefront in so long I can't remember when it was.

 

[Andykev]

This post has a lot of tangents

Let me state quite clearly NO. I have also opened a buy from Ebay when the UPS guy dumped it on the porch and almost cried in joy! Some of the hats I have gotten, quite literally, I said "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS GUY SOLD THIS".

My Silver Beaver , two of 'em, McLaughlan's. True 1940 shape, and colors to die for (gray, and a rusty, coffee brown).

Then, on occasion, I have opened a box and went, PU. Those hats were given away (Art, remember the 10 or so hats I gave ya, the long hair Biltmores with the price tags inside?) and Art redid them. Heck, gotta keep my buddy happy, he's done gratis for me over who bought the lunch! Boy I miss you for our weekly lunch.

Anyway, just judge the hat, and even some people have some thing against wearing "used" hats. If that is the case, a $35 clean and block will remove the Howard Hughes phobia.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Pilgrim, I used to live in Benett Co. east of Denver. There was a small western wear store called Lancasters in Aurora. A friendly little place where one could count on a friendly atmosphere and customer service. I bought many a hat there and took them in at season change for a good steaming and cleaning, at no charge. I have not been fortunate enough to find such a place here in Central Texas. Ahh for the good old days.