Boater sweatband

[Orgetorix]

I got this vintage Cavanagh boater on Ebay a few months ago. It has an interesting sweatband treatment I haven't seen before--but then, it may be the only boater I've ever really seen up close. The sweatband doesn't directly contact the hat body at all. Rather, it's suspended, like the mat of a trampoline, on a series of stitches that run all the way around. I suppose it's meant to provide greater air circulation and cooling, or something. Is this common for boater sweatbands?

Problem is, the sweatband is old, dried out, and cracked, and it needs to be replaced. Is this something that could be duplicated by a good hatter? Would it be tremendously labor-intensive?

 

[Samsa]

This is standard for boater sweatbands; my modern production boater has one. The main reason, I think, is that boaters are very stiff, and they would not fit on anyone's head unless there was some way for the sweat band to conform to the head.

 

[feltfan]

I thought it was for air flow? Top hats, bowlers, and other
stiff hats don't have that feature.

Always sad to hear that a great old Cavanagh sweatband
has died... Didn't someone here mention that Baron's Hats
sells boaters? Maybe they fix them, too?

 

[Dinerman]

One of my baters has this, the other just has a section of cloth, but the idea is the same.

 

[Orgetorix]

This is standard for boater sweatbands; my modern production boater has one. The main reason, I think, is that boaters are very stiff, and they would not fit on anyone's head unless there was some way for the sweat band to conform to the head.

Good to know. Anybody have an idea if this would be difficult to replace?

 

[Samsa]

I thought it was for air flow? Top hats, bowlers, and other
stiff hats don't have that feature.

Always sad to hear that a great old Cavanagh sweatband
has died... Didn't someone here mention that Baron's Hats
sells boaters? Maybe they fix them, too?

You could be right, but I believe bowlers and top hats would likely have been conformed to the head at the shop, back when every well dressed gentleman owned one of each. My perception has always been that boaters were a very common, dimestore hat, and perhaps the sweat band was sewn in that way because it was not easy (or even possible?) to conform a boater in the same way it would have been with a bowler or a top hat.

This is all conjecture, though; I'm sure plenty of other people here know better than I do.

 

[TraderRic]

All of my boaters have this same type sweatband. On one of them, the stitching has completelt deteriorated! I would love to know where I could get it fixed. The actual sweatband is still fine.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Optimo Hat Co. Give them a call...

http://www.optimohats.com/thecompany.htm

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Speaking of boaters, I see some of our Lounge vendors carry modern Italian made ones. They seem to be of decent quality, at least in the pictures, and I'm tempted.

Given the stiffness of the hat body, should I order a larger size? I normally wear a 7-3/8 but I have some 7-1/2 fedoras that fit OK if a bit loosely. Should I go with a 7-1/2 boater?

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Speaking of boaters, I see some of our Lounge vendors carry modern Italian made ones. They seem to be of decent quality, at least in the pictures, and I'm tempted.

Given the stiffness of the hat body, should I order a larger size? I normally wear a 7-3/8 but I have some 7-1/2 fedoras that fit OK if a bit loosely. Should I go with a 7-1/2 boater?

I wear the same size as you and I was told to order one size larger and mine fits fine...

 

[jamespowers]

I wear the same size as you and I was told to order one size larger and mine fits fine...

Good advice. I would do the same if it were me. A boater certainly will not conform to your head but your head might conform to it.

Regards,

J