Boater faction!

[David Conwill]

If I hadn't won the vintage boater I did, I was planning to head on over to Henry the Hatter in Detroit to try out the Tesis. I've handled them, and they compare favorably to the vintage ones. Perhaps it would be most economical for you to purchase a Tesi and have it re-ribboned?

-Dave

 

[jswindle2]

If I hadn't won the vintage boater I did, I was planning to head on over to Henry the Hatter in Detroit to try out the Tesis. I've handled them, and they compare favorably to the vintage ones. Perhaps it would be most economical for you to purchase a Tesi and have it re-ribboned?

-Dave

I have a Tesi,Scala and a Capas Panama version that I've all reribboned. I only ordered the Jaxon so I could have a light hat to wear when it's 100 +. I guess I'll have to do with the Capas.

 

[Big Man]

Well guys, I got my "Jaxon Black Band Skimmer" this morning ... Needless to say guys,I am disappointed ...

Thanks for the review. Sounds like the hat is about the same as the "budget skimmer" but with a cut down brim (and a higher price). I was ready to order one, but now I sure am glad I waited for your review.

 

[jswindle2]

I just ordered an Olney Black Band. I was going to wait for a vintage in my size to show up somewhere, but I noticed during my research that the Olney is more of the pre-WWI style with a shorter crown and a longer brim. All the current styles for sale and the vintage on offer on EBay seem to be a later style. I know there is no dead set style and there alot of options available. I may be wrong about the Olney, but from all the pictures I've seen it seems be different. Regardless, I guess I've become a Boater collector. I'll let ya'll know how it all works out. Until then, maybe Mr. Huang(sorry if I spelled that wrong)could give us the stats on his Olney.

 

[jbucklin]

Boaters?

My son wants one. Where should I look?

 

[Neophyte]

Great to see ya back, JBucklin. We have a thread here called "Boater Faction" that you may want to check out. Hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[kpreed]

I find the modern made boaters a bit bright white, but cheap (mine was $30) on-line. Vintage looks better I think, but plan to pay more maybe (mine is a mint '20s Knox and with box, $75) on ebay. Good Luck!
Ken

 

[jbucklin]

Thanks Neo. I'll check that out.

Btw, I forgot all about the Fedora Festival which was in my hood. I could have met you and some of the others. Next year.

 

[David Conwill]

Another inexpensive option showed up in my inbox this morning, courtesy of J. Peterman. Hard to tell from the illustration if this is an historically accurate thick-and-stiff model, or one of the thinner types illustrated in the last couple pages. The price makes me think the latter.

-Dave

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Nice hot the Cricket blazer is incorrectly linked to a pair of women's pants on the page.

 

[David Conwill]

Nice hot the Cricket blazer is incorrectly linked to a pair of women's pants on the page.

I noticed that. I managed to find it anyway, but it's a little rich for my blood.

-Dave

 

[jswindle2]

I finally received my Olney and I LOVE IT! Anyone looking for a boater should buy the Olney. I own almost every form of modern boater and the Olney beats them all hands down. The crown is about a half inch shorter than your Tesi's and Rialto's so they look more like the pre 1920's boaters. This does feel a bit strange if you have a pointed head like myself, but you get used to it. The brims are a bit wider too, so you get a little more shade. Probably the best deal these days is that even after the extra postage for ordering from England, the hats are still about 20 dollars cheaper than the Tesi's. Olney does give you the choice between the regular guards band and a solid black band. Finally, you don't have too risk screwing up your hat by changing to a better band. I recommend Tails and the Unexpected. They are very friendly and professional and sell alot of other interesting things. Right now you still have to order them from overseas, but it is very worth it.

 

[Edward]

I bought an Olney last month. A jump up in price from the cheaper options I have, but far superior as a hat. Leather sweatband, lined, stiff brim. Not a hat that would take being sat on - in that respect the pricier options are more fragile than the cheapoes - but worth it. It'll definitely be getting more wear over the Summer.

 

[David Conwill]

Looking very good, Edward. And I must say that even with international shipping, the Olney from Tails and the Unexpected does seem to be quite the bargain.

-Dave

 

[Edward]

It's worth looking around on eBay. I don't know what T&TE charge, but I found as much as GBP12.00 of a difference between sellers.

 

[jswindle2]

It's worth looking around on eBay. I don't know what T&TE charge, but I found as much as GBP12.00 of a difference between sellers.

I believe the whole price for shipping was $9.00 or $9.50. I think I also got a seperate $1.75 international fee,but I don't know if that will apply for everyone.

 

[tonyb]

Thanks to cardelo for digging up this source (see entry #203 in this thread, posted over a year ago now).

From that source:

"The straw boater had a different history. Straw hats had been widely worn by working-class men during the nineteenth century, but following the invention in 1870 of a machine for sewing straw, a new form of straw hat, the boater, became extremely popular with all social classes for about five decades (Wilcox 1945: 245; Berendt 1988: 24; Cunnington and Cunnington 1959: 341). Afterward the boater ceased to be worn except as a form of costume for musical entertainment."


I actually had occasion to wear my quite old (1920s vintage, maybe?) boater recently, and that prompted me to wondering just when a hat we all might agree (most of us, anyway) is a boater first appeared. While it's true that such boater-wearing occasions don't arise with much frequency for me, I haven't participated in any deliberate form of musical entertainment since my teen years. For this, all hearing persons can be grateful.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

I wore my 1902 boater this pass weekend for an engagement party for my neice. I try to wear it for various events during the season.

 

[mayserwegener]

Mallory Easy Fitting Softband Boater

Size 7 3/8.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I've got an Olney boater in mint condition for sale. $50/OBO plus delivery. An aunt bought it for me on vacation year before last and sent the wrong size. It's listed as 7-5/8 / 62 cm. Pix below.

Please PM if you have any questions, rather than add to this post.