Comparison of felts--vintage and modern

[Andykev]

First if you are going to yank my chain I am going to yank yours. What are you assumimg here? When Matt spoke he did not name a specific brand that i can recall, for all i know he may have been speaking of some 3rd world no name hat he had found in Burlington Coat Factory. I wasn't pointing at any brands.

Taper - some taper worse than others that is a given the question is to what degree and as to the supposed quality of the hat.

Everyone here refers to what Winchester said and what they saw there, fine. But can you say that the same goes for all of the other felt manufacturers in the US the World?

I ask because when anyone states unequivicolly "it is as such" then I want to know: what are the limits to this statement, where does the facts derive from and are they being applied to all or just some or just one? That's all.

It's a matter of clarity not that I impune your honor.

It is akin to all beagles are dogs but not all dogs are beagles. (I have a dacshund, he sure ain't a beagle!)

John, your ignorance and assumptions are overwhelming. I stated that I CHALLENGE YOU TO TEAR A FELT HAT BY HAND. I don't care what manufacturer. I don't think it can be done, do you????

Also, why on earth did you say "yank your chain". As in to flush you down the toilet??!! How does anyone posting a reply "yank your chain"? REALLY!

Can I say anything about other hat manufactures in the world? NO! I didn't post that...are you seeing things?

John, where in my post did I say "it is as such"? Maybe you mixed me up with someone else.

I KNOW that one of my best early Optimo's TAPERED like a bad dog after a heavy rain. And it was not a beagle.

John, nothing you say will ever "impune" my honor. What has "honor" to do with a polite discussion of hats, felting, taper, and old vs. vintage?

Did you read my post sober?

 

[tonyb]

The direction this thread has taken reminds me why I so much prefer using higher quality bodies.

Yes, even the good bodies (and I can't take seriously anyone who doubts that Winchester's 100 percent beaver bodies don't qualify) may shrink when repeatedly exposed to precipitation and/or extreme heat. Indeed, there's a good chance they will, especially when they're relatively new.

But, get this -- that now-tapered hat body can be cleaned up and reblocked and made into an actually better than new hat, seeing how it's less likely to taper after it has a few miles on it and has gotten closer to tightening up as much as it's ever likely to.

My experience with this is admittedly anecdotal, but that certainly doesn't invalidate it. I take some comfort in knowing that a hat I wear with some regularity -- in the sort of weather we see quite a bit of up here, where moss grows on anything that doesn't move and a few things that do -- isn't really worse for the wear. (Within reasonable limits, off course. I'm not advocating using one's hat as a watering can.)

This is another reason why I'm constantly on the lookout for forlorn old hats. I actually prefer they be dirty and crumpled, provided the felt is of decent or better quality and isn't terribly moth-eaten or worn thin, because I can get 'em on the cheap, and because I take some satisfaction in turning what some might have thought fit for the trash pile into a hat indistinguishable from new.

 

[CRH]

I'm getting light headed.lol lol

I'm having some sort of anxiety attack.

Maybe I should just go soak my hat...

 

[tonyb]

I'm having some sort of anxiety attack.

Maybe I should just go soak my hat...

Wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but I've heard worse ideas. I've even tried a few.