Breaking out the Straws

[spiridon]

As noted in a few other threads recently, it is getting to be that time of year when the weather dictates bringing out the straw hats. I hated putting some of my felts up for the Summer, but at the same time I am having a good time "rediscovering" some old friends I haven't seen during the winter months. I hope y'all will post pictures of your warm weather offerings, I know I've seen some GREAT straws from various members here already!! Here are some pictures of the ones I recently placed into my daily rotation. The pics don't really do most of these any justice.A mixture of Montecristis, Milan, Shauntung, etc......

 

[MaximOfSurrey]

Very nice hats, I must say I especially like the classic Panama in the top picture on the right.

 

[Dinerman]

My favorites are the two on the left in the top picture.

 

[TaxMan1]

Nice showing, Jon! I, too, like the more "tradional" look.......for now!

 

[jimmy the lid]

Wow -- that is quite the nice collection of straws!!!

 

[johnnycanuck]

Great collection. Could you please tell us what three hats are in the top photo? As well as where you got them? That’s the exact style I am looking for.
Johnny

 

[DOUGLAS]

Wow!! Jon that is quite a collection!!

 

[vivaciousvivo]

Wow!

Yes, Jon, could you please, for educational purposes, describe those gorgeous straws! How about the history, material made from, and date of origination.
I, the newbie at these hats, want to know more!
VV

 

[Duck]

Oh WOW!!!!! I love the three in the second photo. If you don't mind, what are they?
Oh, and the 2 on the left in the third photo.

 

[vonwotan]

Down to my last straw

This is the last of my straws. I sold one to a collector while in JJ Hat Center a couple years ago - the price was just too good to resist. I've recently learned why - a similar quality hat these days has to be specially commissioned by one of the few remaining weaving families (or so I'm told). I used a fraction of the money to buy this "Super Fino" and the rest went to my shirtmaker up the street from JJ - for six new shirts in fabrics I would not otherwise have considered and several pairs of boxer shorts...

 

[Razzman]

Great collection of straws Jon. I particularly like all three in the second photo.
Thanks for showing them.:eusa_clap

 

[vivaciousvivo]

I like the one in the 3rd photo in the middle! It is the closest to the one I have here.
VV

 

[RBH]

My humble offering...

My favorite summer hat:
Ecuadorian Supernatural and a recent classic style panama from PanamaBob

a inexpensive classic panama from the bay
and another favorite my Miller Brothers Logan with a thin ribbon.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/9827/hpim1145np3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[Panamabob]

a similar quality hat these days has to be specially commissioned by one of the few remaining weaving families (or so I'm told).

I can't tell for sure from the photo, but I'm 99% sure I could walk up to any of several dozen people within 70 miles of Montecristi and pick one up like this for less than $600.00.

Anyone agree? Disagree?

 

[spiridon]

Thanks guys. I DO like my straws, especially since I probably wear them for the better part of the year due to our sub-tropical climate here on the Gulf Coast.
I'll try to give some info.....
1st photo, (all Montecristis)left to right:Biltmore, e-bay find, VS from Art F.
2nd photo, left to right: "Supernatural" Cuenco, VS by Art F., Custom made.
3rd photo, L-R... "Monterrey" Panama, Stetson Shantung, Biltmore "Flattop" Milan weave.
4th photo L-R: PanamaBob Montecristi, Dobbs Shantung, Dobbs Milan weave
5th photo L-R: "Imperial" Milan, "Empire States" Milan, Biltmore "Flattop" milan.

....I guess the only one with any "history" would be the Montecristi in the middle of the 1st photo. This is one I won off of ebay last year towards the end of "straw season".....so I never really got to take a GOOD look at it. When I was taking it out of the box last weekend, I took the time to study it a little bit and began to truly appreciate it's quality. It was a little beat up, and I still haven't finished "shaping" it......but I've gotten to like some of the "dents", seems to give it a little character IMO. The weave is very fine, and is VERY thin. When I figure out how to properly use the "macro" feature on my camera, I'll take a comparison shot of that particular hat with a comparison of one of my other Montecristis.....perhaps someone here can give me an idea of the weave count? I'm curious. Another thing I like about it is the sweatband is wider than most, and of course light as a feather.

 

[spiridon]

This is the last of my straws. I sold one to a collector while in JJ Hat Center a couple years ago - the price was just too good to resist. I've recently learned why - a similar quality hat these days has to be specially commissioned by one of the few remaining weaving families (or so I'm told). I used a fraction of the money to buy this "Super Fino" and the rest went to my shirtmaker up the street from JJ - for six new shirts in fabrics I would not otherwise have considered and several pairs of boxer shorts...

I love the classic lines of that hat!:eusa_clap

 

[spiridon]

My favorite summer hat:
Ecuadorian Supernatural and a recent classic style panama from PanamaBob

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/590/hpim1142gw5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
a inexpensive classic panama from the bay
and another favorite my Miller Brothers Logan with a thin ribbon.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/9827/hpim1145np3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

RBH, the two in your top photo are my favorites. PB's is great, and there's just something about that "Supernatural" that really does it for me! My Supernatural is one of my favorites....even though it is a "lower grade" hat than my Montecristis......there's just something about the way it fits and looks that I really like.

 

[vonwotan]

You are absolutely correct. The one in the photo is the inexpensive (less than $500) replacement for the hat that I sold. This one, while nice enough, looked quite coarse beside the other. I don't have any photos of the old hat which was brought back from Montecristi in the late 1950's - early 1960's by a friend of the family.

I can't tell for sure from the photo, but I'm 99% sure I could walk up to any of several dozen people within 70 miles of Montecristi and pick one up like this for less than $600.00.

Anyone agree? Disagree?

 

[RBH]

that "Supernatural" .....there's just something about the way it fits and looks that I really like.

You are so right spiridon, the Supernatural of mine is so light and I know what you mean about the fit. I also think there is something .. more generous about the top of the crown block. Compared to my Logan, it just seems ,I dont know, but it seems a little wider.
I think I have seen what I think looks like a simular block on one of PB's hats, but I dont remember now what hat it was.

 

[Panamabob]

You are absolutely correct. The one in the photo is the inexpensive (less than $500) replacement for the hat that I sold. This one, while nice enough, looked quite coarse beside the other. I don't have any photos of the old hat which was brought back from Montecristi in the late 1950's - early 1960's by a friend of the family.

PM sent. $500.00 is quite a price.