Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[Jesse John]

Here’s one that broke my heart. I won an auction on eBay for this Stetson neon sign. The guy who shipped it to me completely under-packaged it (I’ve had hats sent to me with more bubble wrap than this neon sign had) and also didn’t bother protecting the back of the sign. He only put a bit of bubble wrap on the front ... oh, and he also used heavy duty grey duck tape and taped whatever bubble wrap he used directly to the item itself. When I got the HOMEMADE box And heard the bits of glass inside, my heart sunk. A piece of history I would’ve taken care of & passed down turned trash. RIP

 

[Blare]

View attachment 283046 View attachment 283048 Here’s one that broke my heart. I won an auction on eBay for this Stetson neon sign. The guy who shipped it to me completely under-packaged it (I’ve had hats sent to me with more bubble wrap than this neon sign had) and also didn’t bother protecting the back of the sign. He only put a bit of bubble wrap on the front ... oh, and he also used heavy duty grey duck tape and taped whatever bubble wrap he used directly to the item itself. When I got the HOMEMADE box And heard the bits of glass inside, my heart sunk. A piece of history I would’ve taken care of & passed down turned trash. RIP

Oh no. How disappointing

 

[Just Daniel]

Boy, another post-I-have-too-many-hats-already purchase. This one came up and I made a rather low offer, considering there is low demand for size 7s. I about fell over when the seller accepted. It’s on the way...

This will make a nice comparison for the super sweet 20s French hat I picked up from Daniele a while back.

If there are scratches across the top I’ll have Ignacio flip it inside out.

Woohoo!

 

[BobHufford]

A piece of history I would’ve taken care of & passed down turned trash. RIP

Well that completely sucks. Sorry man ...

 

[deadlyhandsome]

View attachment 283046 View attachment 283048 Here’s one that broke my heart. I won an auction on eBay for this Stetson neon sign. The guy who shipped it to me completely under-packaged it (I’ve had hats sent to me with more bubble wrap than this neon sign had) and also didn’t bother protecting the back of the sign. He only put a bit of bubble wrap on the front ... oh, and he also used heavy duty grey duck tape and taped whatever bubble wrap he used directly to the item itself. When I got the HOMEMADE box And heard the bits of glass inside, my heart sunk. A piece of history I would’ve taken care of & passed down turned trash. RIP

That’s a heartbreaker. What are these sellers thinking? Condolences.

 

[Blare]

Boy, another post-I-have-too-many-hats-already purchase. This one came up and I made a rather low offer, considering there is low demand for size 7s. I about fell over when the seller accepted. It’s on the way...

This will make a nice comparison for the super sweet 20s French hat I picked up from Daniele a while back.

If there are scratches across the top I’ll have Ignacio flip it inside out.

Woohoo!

View attachment 283060

View attachment 283056 View attachment 283057 View attachment 283058 View attachment 283059

Excellent

 

[Rumad]

View attachment 283046 View attachment 283048 Here’s one that broke my heart. I won an auction on eBay for this Stetson neon sign. The guy who shipped it to me completely under-packaged it (I’ve had hats sent to me with more bubble wrap than this neon sign had) and also didn’t bother protecting the back of the sign. He only put a bit of bubble wrap on the front ... oh, and he also used heavy duty grey duck tape and taped whatever bubble wrap he used directly to the item itself. When I got the HOMEMADE box And heard the bits of glass inside, my heart sunk. A piece of history I would’ve taken care of & passed down turned trash. RIP

Terrible story man

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Well. Sorry about the sign, @Jesse John . Sad.

But here’s some eBay good news to brighten up the place.

A 40s 3X Stetson Suede Finish Gay Prince clone for $10!
Don’t know what they sold for in the late 40s/early 50s but I’m sure I got it for around the same money—Excluding the $10 shipping charge.
This one got a very careful re-block without taking out the reedless sweatband. Very hard to do without causing damage to the sweat or a permanent ridged ring around the crown felt, but doable if one knows how...and is also lucky.

This hat is my size, 7 1/4, but arrived with measurements of a size 7! Crown and sweatband was shrunk so much that the seller listed it as a child’s hat. Maybe that’s what kept folks from bidding? I was the only bidder. Maybe no one saw it?
It now fits perfectly and looks great, to boot.

I was one of those who thought he’d never wear a Gay Prince, but the durn thang grew on me. It’ll stay in my permanent collection.
Kinda hate when that happens. Would’ve made serious profit on this happy Royal’s fedora.

Here’s the eBay link to the auction

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/333781718478

 

[Blare]

Well. Sorry about the sign, @Jesse John . Sad.

But here’s some eBay good news to brighten up the place.
View attachment 283116
A 40s 3X Stetson Suede Finish Gay Prince clone for $10!
Don’t know what they sold for in the late 40s/early 50s but I’m sure I got it for around the same money—Excluding the $10 shipping charge.
This one got a very careful re-block without taking out the reedless sweatband. Very hard to do without causing damage to the sweat or a permanent ridged ring around the crown felt, but doable if one knows how...and is also lucky. View attachment 283112
This hat is my size, 7 1/4, but arrived with measurements of a size 7! Crown and sweatband was shrunk so much that the seller listed it as a child’s hat. Maybe that’s what kept folks from bidding? I was the only bidder. Maybe no one saw it?
It now fits perfectly and looks great, to boot. View attachment 283115
I was one of those who thought he’d never wear a Gay Prince, but the durn thang grew on me. It’ll stay in my permanent collection.
Kinda hate when that happens. Would’ve made serious profit on this happy Royal’s fedora.
View attachment 283118 View attachment 283119

Here’s the eBay link to the auction

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/333781718478

Wow Randall. How cool

 

[Just Daniel]

Awesome. 3Xs were $15, the Suede I picked up a few months back has an original tag priced at $16.50

Either way...

*edited

Well. Sorry about the sign, @Jesse John . Sad.

But here’s some eBay good news to brighten up the place.
View attachment 283116
A 40s 3X Stetson Suede Finish Gay Prince clone for $10!
Don’t know what they sold for in the late 40s/early 50s but I’m sure I got it for around the same money—Excluding the $10 shipping charge.
This one got a very careful re-block without taking out the reedless sweatband. Very hard to do without causing damage to the sweat or a permanent ridged ring around the crown felt, but doable if one knows how...and is also lucky. View attachment 283112
This hat is my size, 7 1/4, but arrived with measurements of a size 7! Crown and sweatband was shrunk so much that the seller listed it as a child’s hat. Maybe that’s what kept folks from bidding? I was the only bidder. Maybe no one saw it?
It now fits perfectly and looks great, to boot. View attachment 283115
I was one of those who thought he’d never wear a Gay Prince, but the durn thang grew on me. It’ll stay in my permanent collection.
Kinda hate when that happens. Would’ve made serious profit on this happy Royal’s fedora.
View attachment 283118 View attachment 283119

Here’s the eBay link to the auction

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/333781718478

 

[Midwest Wanderer]

This currently caught my eye: 40’s Adam? Does anyone happen to know the history of the brand? I think its a sharp looking hat!

 

[BobHufford]

A 40s 3X Stetson Suede Finish Gay Prince clone for $10!

Good get and great save! Congrats Randall.

 

[carouselvic]

Awesome. 3Xs were $15, I think the suede might have been priced at $20.

Either way...

a 3X of normal size was a $15.00 hat, larger westerns where more money. Imperial and suede finish were both a $15.00 dollar, as were the general run of 3X hats.

 

[Jesse John]

Thank you everyone for your condolences. It’s a real shame about the sign. I feel bad that no one can enjoy it now more than myself. Seems like no matter who would’ve won the auction, someone was heartbreak bound! Love the lids everyone’s been posting here. @Just Daniel nice steal!!! @Randall Renshaw dang that’s a sharp one!

 

[Just Daniel]

Yes, I dug out my 40s suede and it has an original price of $16.50

Some catalogs and prices I believe had slightly higher prices for some models, usually the big hats.

a 3X of normal size was a $15.00 hat, larger westerns where more money. Imperial and suede finish were both a $15.00 dollar, as were the general run of 3X hats.

 

[carouselvic]

Yes, I dug out my 40s suede and it has an original price of $16.50

Some catalogs and prices I believe had slightly higher prices for some models, usually the big hats.

Yes, I dug out my 40s suede and it has an original price of $16.50

Some catalogs and prices I believe had slightly higher prices for some models, usually the big hats.

Here is an suede ad from Mar of 1951. Yes for a time post war 3X’s were priced at $16.50. I see you backed away from the $20.00 price and that is what I was taking a issue with. I too have a 3X priced at $16.50(factory and not catalogue).

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Yes, I dug out my 40s suede and it has an original price of $16.50

Some catalogs and prices I believe had slightly higher prices for some models, usually the big hats.

Thanks, Daniel, and @carouselvic for the comments and 40s prices.
Guess I got it at a discounted price since—the hat was so old.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Good get and great save! Congrats Randall.

Thank you, Bob! And @Blare , @Jesse John .
Wasn’t sure I’d be one to ever wear a lid that featured whip stitching—Again.
My Mom has a photo somewhere of a 4 year old wearing a red whip stitched cowboy hat who also was strapped with a pair of six gun cap pistols.

 

[carouselvic]

It takes a special person to rock a whip-stitched hat.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

It takes a special person to rock a whiped-stitched hat.

Hahaha! That’s awesome!
Alas, I was a horseless young kowboy.
Now I won’t have to look through all of Mom’s many photo albums.