Champ needs advice.

[shortbow]

Got my NOS Champ in the mail today. 12 days from Miss. to B.C. ain't bad, and it came through perfectly.

Would like some input. First, it's marked a 7, but fits more like a 71/8. In the past, I've used a thread hidden under the band, with the knots I use to tension a tent, to come down a bit, but if there's any ideas on how to shrink this one size or a little less in a more professional manner, I would be most gratified to hear them.

Also, this hat is so NOS that it has the old $9.95 price tag still in it, and has never been bashed. All my other fedoras have the pinch/"c" crown bash, but I'm thinking I'd like to try something different with this hat and am at a loss as I can't really think of what else to use. Any input here? Any pics?

JFYI, the sweat band is marked CHAMP, "Feel the felt", Kasmir Finish, and Miller's Dept. Store, Holly Springs, Miss. The thickness of the felt as well as the "hand" feels somewhere between my vintage OR's and Borsalino Allesandrias. I read in Carter's compilation of hat brands that the Champ was a budget to mid-quality chapeau, but this seems like a pretty nice rag to me.

Thanks eh?

 

[shortbow]

Ps. Forgot to mention, it's basically a OR clone with a 5" crown and 21/2" brim.

 

[Lefty]

Weather stripping works. Check out my "new" vintage Borso and the stripping that's never coming out of it.

As to bashes, search for Jimmy the Lid's postings. He's one of the master bashers around here.

 

[Dinerman]

you could try:
felt hat sizing strips
strips of tissue paper (this was popular back in the day from what I've seen, probably because it's thin and can provide pretty precise changes)

 

[MattJH]

you could try:
felt hat sizing strips
strips of tissue paper (this was popular back in the day from what I've seen, probably because it's thin and can provide pretty precise changes)

Worst thing I've ever found under a vintage hat's sweatband: a used band-aid.

 

[shortbow]

Thank you, Gentlemen.

 

[bolthead]

try here

 

[shortbow]

Hey bolthead, thanks a million, that's just the Rx I needed. I had done a search but didn't manage to turn up that thread. Should be a sticky!:eusa_clap

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I recently bought a hat, on ebay, that had several one dollar bills under the sweatband!

 

[shortbow]

Well, geeze, if the guy was gonna use bills, least he coulda done was use hundred's.

 

[Mark G]

I'm always a sucker for a diamond crease. If you're used to a "C" crown the diamond looks similar from profile but I think adds some pizazz. Plus you don't see it on modern hats too often.

 

[shortbow]

Actually Mark, that's just what I've ended up using. Like it a lot.

As to sizing down, what I've done so far is use a strip of 3 oz. leather under about 4" of sweatband. Works a charm, but I would still like to learn some day how to actually shrink the hat. I've got stretching down pat thanks to this forum, just need the shrinking thing, if it exists, to feel competent as a hat owner.

 

[shortbow]

Ya know, I really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a computer. That icon's supposed to be thumbs UP. First time I try something fancy, and what do I get...