EBAY ALERT FOR YOU BIG-HEADED GUYS!

[jamespowers]

Re: Here it is

Originally posted by Andykev
Never dealt with him, here is the link. BTW I have about 100 links to hat sellers, makers, or distributors....

Meyer the Hatter

100 links! Ok, list them all.
No, I was just kidding. If you could Pm me the list that would be fine. Wow, that is a lot of sellers. How many of them are in California? Will these be in your upcoming book on hats? Remember my signed copy.
You really are a fountain of knowledge. How many are what we would consider master hatters? Hatters capable of creating a topknotch beaver hat.
I was also wondering if there was some sort of magazine that specializes in hats. They have them for cars, boats and planes. We need one for hats if there is not one available yet. Vintage hats would be even better for me but hats in general would be good. I see from the internet that there is a The Hat Magazine but it is froim the UK but I want a domestic magazine that would extoll the virtues of our homegrown millners. There must be a need for something like that because new manufacturers have to advertise somewhere. :cool2:

Regards to all,

J

 

[Paladin]

Yep, I'm between 7 5/8 and 7 3/4. I can go either way on the size depending on how it's sized by the hatter. Jamespowers--how do I get ahold of PanamaBob? I'll rummage around here and look for his email or web site among the members.

As for what hats I own, I've posted a new link just now asking about a source for a Montecristi and listed a good bit of my collection. It's pretty diverse. I'm not looking for Borsalinos, since I have about six of them in various colors, all but one purchased from Hollywood Hatters. I'm in Austin, Texas so hats are a natural down here. But I'm from NYC originally, so I have a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde taste in hats. My Yankee side wears Borsalino fedoras, my Herbert Johnson custom Indiana Jones and my British military berets in the winter up north to see the family (and the one time it snowed in Austin). But my Texas side wears my favorite Charley One-Horse cavalry straw, my Charley One-Horse black cavalry felt, my custom O'Farrell and the other various Stetsons I have around the house. I also own two Akubras and an Italian straw boater. Talk about variety.

My favorite Borsalino is one that I stumbled on up in Dallas, of all places. It was in the shop for years and they never could find anyone with a large enough hat size to be interested in the poor thing. Until me. It's a gray narrow-banded felt fedora, but I don't know what style and I can't find another one on the internet. I love the style--it's got 2 1/2 inch brim (I normally go for wider brims) and a 4 3/4 inch crown. It's a casual beauty, a very soft, supple felt. But for the life of me, I can't tell what the style is and the hatter didn't know either. Anyone have any suggestions?

So I'm the guy in my family who always wore hats. As for having a large head, I was always a little embarassed by it...until I went down to South Africa a few years ago on safari. Out in the bush, we found a full-grown male lion. King of the Jungle. There he sat, royal in his bearing, intimidating to every animal in the kingdom. No one messed with this beauty. And boy did he have a hat-size....so fellows, just remember when anyone gives you a hard time about your hat-size, envision that King of the Jungle sitting there, master of all he surveys.....now THAT'S a noggin!

 

[Andykev]

members

Originally posted by Paladin
-how do I get ahold of PanamaBob?

Just go to the members section, or click a post, or PM him from one of his many posts. Hope that helps. Welcome aboard.

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Paladin
Yep, I'm between 7 5/8 and 7 3/4. I can go either way on the size depending on how it's sized by the hatter. Jamespowers--how do I get ahold of PanamaBob? I'll rummage around here and look for his email or web site among the members.

As for what hats I own, I've posted a new link just now asking about a source for a Montecristi and listed a good bit of my collection. It's pretty diverse. I'm not looking for Borsalinos, since I have about six of them in various colors, all but one purchased from Hollywood Hatters. I'm in Austin, Texas so hats are a natural down here. But I'm from NYC originally, so I have a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde taste in hats. My Yankee side wears Borsalino fedoras, my Howard Johnson custom Indiana Jones and my British military berets in the winter up north to see the family (and the one time it snowed in Austin). But my Texas side wears my favorite Charley One-Horse cavalry straw, my Charley One-Horse black cavalry felt, my custom O'Farrell and the other various Stetsons I have around the house. I also own two Akubras and an Italian straw boater. Talk about variety.

My favorite Borsalino is one that I stumbled on up in Dallas, of all places. It was in the shop for years and they never could find anyone with a large enough hat size to be interested in the poor thing. Until me. It's a gray narrow-banded felt fedora, but I don't know what style and I can't find another one on the internet. I love the style--it's got 2 1/2 inch brim (I normally go for wider brims) and a 4 3/4 inch crown. It's a casual beauty, a very soft, supple felt. But for the life of me, I can't tell what the style is and the hatter didn't know either. Anyone have any suggestions?

So I'm the guy in my family who always wore hats. As for having a large head, I was always a little embarassed by it...until I went down to South Africa a few years ago on safari. Out in the bush, we found a full-grown male lion. King of the Jungle. There he sat, royal in his bearing, intimidating to every animal in the kingdom. No one messed with this beauty. And boy did he have a hat-size....so fellows, just remember when anyone gives you a hard time about your hat-size, envision that King of the Jungle sitting there, master of all he surveys.....now THAT'S a noggin!

I hope you found PanamaBob by now but if you haven't, just go to the members tab and hit the P listings. You can Private Message (PM) him from there.
You have quite an eclectic collection of hats there. I sometimes think I might amass a collection like that but I try to stick to what got me started in the first place---felt fedoras. There is just nothing like the feel of a nice beaver felt. You get a pretty good idea from your modern Borsalinos but imagine that even softer and more maliable to whatever shape you might desire. :cool2:
Your hat size revelation in Africa makes sense. It is just good to know that I now know two people who have heads bigger than me. LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Paladin]

James--As it turns out, Panama Bob is the fellow I've emailed with through his eBay posting. I didn't put 2 and 2 together. Thanks for sending me back in his direction. Have you ever seen a hat by Brent Black? He seems very knowledgable as well. Pretty steep on the prices, but I'm in the dark how to compare prices between hatmakers on straws.

 

[jamespowers]

I should have known your Robert was our Bob. LOL

 

[jamespowers]

I Got It!

I just got the homberg. That was pretty fast shipping.
They kind of stuffed it in the box but it was supple enough to snap back into shape easily. I really like this homberg. It is not at all like most hombergs they produce today. The brim is not outrageously curled and the crown is just the right height--not buried in the hat or way too tall. It is also not stiff like the hombergs produced today. It is amazingly floppy yet holds its shape easily. I am pretty sure that this is beaver, probably not belly but beaver because it is building a dam in the livingroom as I write this. LOL LOL It is just slightly fuzzy if you hold it up to a strong light. Very interesting. Thanks again StHill! I really do owe you a Potcheen, Old Fashioned or Manhattan---I'll still have my Gibson.
Interesting how the old haberdashers could make something like this with less modern means than we have today. I suppose it is a tribute to the craft that very few today are rescuing from the ashheap of history. I wonder what will happen if hats suddenly have a resurgence and hatters are flooded with orders again. Will they be able to produce quality as they did in the old days as work a day? I know there are several on the Lounge that could but then they would be swamped and we would have to stand in long lines waiting for top quality hats and haberdasher services. I suppose I might just be better off being a "big-headed hat wearing nonconformist." It might not be the same if everyone wanted what we have. LOL LOL

Cheers to all,:beer:

J

 

[Canadave]

Congrats! Can you post a pic?

David

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Canadave
Congrats! Can you post a pic?

David

I will try as soon as I get all the dust off the old boy.
The cloud that came off could chocke a horse. LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Zane]

I would love to see it I just spent a day looking at pictures of a himburg from the past.

 

[STHill]

That is way cool, JP. Glad I could be of service. Why don't we both have a martini, stirred, not shaken?

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by STHill
That is way cool, JP. Glad I could be of service. Why don't we both have a martini, stirred, not shaken?

Ok, here it goes. Pour the Bombay Sapphire (2 1/4 ounces). Spritz lightly with three or four sprays of vermouth (not too much). Stir with the muddler lightly (do not bruise the gin). Add 3 cocktail onions on a cocktail skewer and muddle a little more. Rub the edge of the Martini glass with fresh cut lemon peel and we have the perfect Gibson. Cheers and thanks. AHHHHHH! :martini:

Regards to all,

J

 

[Paladin]

I'll just take two fingers of McAllen 18 yr old single malt, a spritz of club soda and a few ice cubes. To accompany, a Macanudo Vintage '93 #2--or an H. Uppmann Lonsdale. Whatever's handy. That is if you don't mind my sittin' a spell with you too.

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Paladin
I'll just take two fingers of McAllen 18 yr old single malt, a spritz of club soda and a few ice cubes. To accompany, a Macanudo Vintage '93 #2--or an H. Uppmann Lonsdale. Whatever's handy. That is if you don't mind my sittin' a spell with you too.

McCallan works for me too. You have to drink it neat though---we ran out of ice cubes making the Martinis.
I only have a couple La Gloria Cubanas left (double Corona of course). I might have a couple of Punch Corojos left though.
Go ahead and sit a spell among the billowing clouds of second hand smoke and aromas of fine spirits. We are talking about how the world would be a better place if more people knew what good whiskey tasted like. Some one just said "Old Crow?! Does your liver know you are an idiot?!" Feel free to jump into the conversation at any time. LOL LOL What a place this Fedora Lounge!

Regards to all,

J

 

[Paladin]

Neat is fine on the Macallan (we both had the spelling wrong--must be the contact high). Don't worry about the cigars, I'll bring my own and hand out whatever's needed. Ah, to be away from the world of money-earning, crass commercialism and reality TV. Crank up the Victrola and put on a few old Sinatras. We'll weave many tales and lament the women who got away.....

 

[jamespowers]

Yeah, I just looked at the bottle. We both got it wrong. Must have been the Gibson I really did pour and drink (no use writing the recipe if you don't try it to make sure it is right. LOL)
I think you also echo the sentiments of many people here who long for a simpler time when a majority of people had integrity morals and life was lived at a slower pace. That does not mean that all people now-a-days are immoral rats. It just means that many do not trust their fellow man. This is the forum for the former not the later.
I can listen to the Sinatra records and talk about the ones that got away for sure.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Paladin]

I agree on the slower, more honest and trusting times. I have a 14-yr old daughter, so I see what they're going through these days. And the tumult of information, images and emotions. They have some great things going on for them today, don't get me wrong. But I can remember President Kennedy, and growing up in the Fifties and early Sixties. And I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. I can also remember my grandparents, aunts and uncles and everything that gave me a flavor back then for what it was like growing up in the Forties. The impact of the war, the recovery of their lives. The feeling that, if they could get through a global war, now they could accomplish just about anything. Of course it had it's down side, like the fears of Joe McCarthy and anti-communism and racism. But it was a time when you could both enjoy the day at its end and know that tomorrow could be even better.

And sometimes the most complex decision of the day was which Yankee card you would clip in the spokes of your bike.