brittle boater?

[budward]

Can the straw on old boaters have become brittle due to age, thereby making them more susceptible to breakage if worn and handled? I'd kinda like to know before plunking down some bucks on an oldie.

Bud

 

[jamespowers]

Straw can become brittle if it was stored wrong or if it is just way, way old. It is tough to determine from a picture though. It is a quality you have to put your hands on and feel. If it looks very dark (from dirt and age) or the shape is not what you really like then pass on it because getting it into the shape you want could damage it beyond repair.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Biltmore Bob]

What kind of straw is a Boater made from? The ones I've seen apear to be made from the same sort of straw cows and horses eat.

 

[jamespowers]

I am really not sure what kind of straw is used to make the boater. They are only mentioned as being made from "Plaited straw." It could well be the same straw that livestock has a hankering for. If that is the case, keep your hat away from Betsy the cow.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Wild Root]

If I recall, in some old movie I saw once a horse or a goat got a hold of a boater. Started to enjoy it's dinner!

Funny, I bet it is made of a straw that they feed to the cows and such.

Root.

 

[jamespowers]

I'll remember that when I find myself wearing a boater on a farm anytime soon. Goats will eat just about anything anyway.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Wild Root]

Yes they will JP, yes they will.

Root.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

There goes the boater....

http://www.agriquality.co.nz/resources/images/Cow_eating_straw.jpg

karol

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Steam bath.

I take my Panama's into the bath room and turn the shower on hot and let them soak up some moisture. I do this about once a month.

This will help old straw hat also!!

Here is some cleaning tips.

Straw

For cleaning straw hats:

Brush them frequently.

For light dirt use a piece of velvet that has been held in the steam for a few seconds. Rub in circles.

For very stubborn stains.. try some dry cleaners fluid.

For light straw try ½ teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and ½ teaspoon of warm water

For dark straw hats try ½ teaspoon of ammonia and ¼ cup of water.

For straw hats that have been slightly crushed or dented hold the hat over a constant stream of steam while constantly moving the hat. Shape and dry naturally.

Sharpey

 

[jamespowers]

There goes the boater....

http://www.agriquality.co.nz/resources/images/Cow_eating_straw.jpg

karol

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! NO! I am glad that was Sharpie's hat.

Regards to all,

J

 

[jamespowers]

I take my Panama's into the bath room and turn the shower on hot and let them soak up some moisture. I do this about once a month.

This will help old straw hat also!!

Here is some cleaning tips.

Straw

For cleaning straw hats:

Brush them frequently.

For light dirt use a piece of velvet that has been held in the steam for a few seconds. Rub in circles.

For very stubborn stains.. try some dry cleaners fluid.

For light straw try ½ teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and ½ teaspoon of warm water

For dark straw hats try ½ teaspoon of ammonia and ¼ cup of water.

For straw hats that have been slightly crushed or dented hold the hat over a constant stream of steam while constantly moving the hat. Shape and dry naturally.

Sharpey

All pretty good ideas. If they are too small do you add Miracle Gro to the steam?

Regards to all,

J

 

[K.D. Lightner]

On the other hand, here's what happens to my straw hats:

http://www.enchantedfantasies.com/blondegoat1.JPG


karol

 

[jamespowers]

On the other hand, here's what happens to my straw hats:

http://www.enchantedfantasies.com/blondegoat1.JPG

Hey! Tell that goat to give me my pipe back.

Regards to all,

J

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Question

How did the boater hat get associated with political campaigns? That is where I mostly see them in this day and age, at conventions and rally and the like.

Of course, they are a cheaper version than a straw boater, made I think, of plastic or that foam stuff.

karol

 

[Wild Root]

Yeah, good question there KD. I really hate those fake fome ones that look like they were made out of a fome cooler! Ich!

Give me the real deal brother!

Root.

 

[scotrace]

Zoarites

Boaters look like the Zoarite straw even I feel silly wearing. Sort of like an amish hat.
Zoarites

 

[Jay]

Can anyone tell me what the average price is for an original? I'm thinking about buying one>
Thanks

 

[Wild Root]

Boaters are such a swell hat! Men wore them all the way into the 40's and 50's. Even though most of us associate them with the 20's and 30's, the boater can look real sharp with the right outfit. But, it's hard to pull it off right.

The going cost of a vintage boater can be from $25. to $75. Just depends who's selling it and the condition. So, if you find one in your size and its real 20's -50's vintage I'd say pick it up! I wear them and people like seeing the real ones. I get stopped most of the time when I wear one and most people I talk to about it seem to really like it because it's different.

Any way, good luck and let us know what happens!

Root

 

[gdkenoyer]

the same sort of straw cows and horses eat.

...what a bunch of city slickers! cows and horses eat HAY; what they do to (or, rather, _in_) STRAW is sort of the other end of the process....

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I like the idea of the boater but am a little afraid of actually wearing one. I already constantly wear linen and bow-ties during the summer, wearing a boater might take the whole look over the top.

That said, they look really cool if you do pull it off.