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

[BrianB]

Good evening gentlemen, I just spotted this Champ bowler listed on eBay in my size, and I’m wondering if it’s a good deal. It seems like an older hat with nice felt, but I’m not sure of the quality of Champ hats. They only included these two photos, and they’re asking for $36 total with shipping. I thought it would be a good question to ask you experienced members about the market value for a rather unique hat like this. Also, it would be quite interesting if anyone could pinpoint a general date for this hat. Thanks for your input.
Brian

 

[BrianB]

There isn’t anything “basic” about that hat. If it had been my size I would have gone higher. Hundreds of people spend over $1,000 on custom western hats every year. This is a special Stetson that I’d much rather have than a modern custom. As for scarcity, I’ve never seen one in my size and darn few in any size and most of those weren’t for sale.

Very interesting. Thanks for the information, Alan and Brent. For a collector I understand the steep price, especially since it’s in great condition for surviving nearly a hundred years in storage.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Good evening gentlemen, I just spotted this Champ bowler listed on eBay in my size, and I’m wondering if it’s a good deal. It seems like an older hat with nice felt, but I’m not sure of the quality of Champ hats. They only included these two photos, and they’re asking for $36 total with shipping. I thought it would be a good question to ask you experienced members about the market value for a rather unique hat like this. Also, it would be quite interesting if anyone could pinpoint a general date for this hat. Thanks for your input.
Brian

Are you sure it’s a derby and not a homburg? It looks like it could go either way.

It’s not an older one. I’d say 1950s at most and possibly newer. The older hats are almost always better. Champ was a bargain brand, but some of their hats are quite nice. I’d say it’s worth $36, but unless you have a large head you could probably get a nicer one with some patience.

Depending on size, you can usually pick up pristine bowlers/derbies very reasonably. Many here prefer the D’Orsay curled brim edges common in the older hats. What size are you?

 

[Rmccamey]

That is a nice hat and would be a great entry into wearing bowlers if it is your size...and you can probably get your money back if you decided to sell it later! The pleated liner is a nice addition, but it is not an old hat. As Brent mentioned, there are some bargains to be found if you have patience, particularly in smaller sizes. And, as also mentioned, a D'Orsay curled brim is one of the primary characteristics of vintage bowlers. Generally speaking, a D'Orsay curl is a curl that is very abbreviated on the front and back that rolls over to a wide and heavy curl on the sides. Wide bound brim curls, like on the hat you are considering, that are the same size around the circumference of the brim are more often associated with homburgs.

Check out the Bowler thread for a lot of great examples.


Welcome to the wonderful world of bowlers.

Good evening gentlemen, I just spotted this Champ bowler listed on eBay in my size, and I’m wondering if it’s a good deal. It seems like an older hat with nice felt, but I’m not sure of the quality of Champ hats. They only included these two photos, and they’re asking for $36 total with shipping. I thought it would be a good question to ask you experienced members about the market value for a rather unique hat like this. Also, it would be quite interesting if anyone could pinpoint a general date for this hat. Thanks for your input.
Brian

 

[BrianB]

Brent and Randy, thanks for your thoughts about this hat. I wasn’t particularly fond of the hat’s color and style, yet thought it was a steal so I thought it could be a good flip. I was not aware of the D’Orsay brim curl, so I‘m glad I know what to look for in a classic bowler style. I’m a solid size 7 1/4, and I’m particularly fond of classic fedoras and homburgs. Actually, right now I’m searching for a nice rabbit or beaver light brown fedora, so hopefully a nice one will turn up on eBay. Thanks again.
Brian

 

[Rmccamey]

Actually, right now I’m searching for a nice rabbit or beaver light brown fedora, so hopefully a nice one will turn up on eBay.

Lots of those out in the world, too. You might check with @Randall Renshaw as he keeps a lot of vintage 1/4 hats and he might have one for sale.

 

[Rmccamey]

Actually, right now I’m searching for a nice rabbit or beaver light brown fedora, so hopefully a nice one will turn up on eBay. Thanks again.

Of course, you can also check out Brent's @deadlyhandsome eBay listings. He usually has some excellent 1/4 size hats for sale.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

Tirard Ragondia. Thanks, Brent! It looks like it might need reblocking anyway, so I will ask Ignacio to make it into an Indy hat. Plenty of felt to work with, and the color looks perfect. A vintage Nutria Indy. Imagine that!

 

[drmaxtejeda]

 

[Bill Hughes]

Good evening gentlemen, I just spotted this Champ bowler listed on eBay in my size, and I’m wondering if it’s a good deal. It seems like an older hat with nice felt, but I’m not sure of the quality of Champ hats. They only included these two photos, and they’re asking for $36 total with shipping. I thought it would be a good question to ask you experienced members about the market value for a rather unique hat like this. Also, it would be quite interesting if anyone could pinpoint a general date for this hat. Thanks for your input.
Brian

I like Champ hats. I have one in my collection. I would place this hat in the 60S at the oldest. For American hats a black sweatband is almost always 60s or newer.

Below is a thread link about Champ hats. Most brands have dedicated threads. It's a good place to date hats by liners, sweatbands, and tags. Bowlers (derbies) and homburgs generally go for less than fedoras. Research is your best investment. Luckily it only requires time and no money.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/uncontested-the-champ.38296/

 

[deadlyhandsome]

So I just sold this hat on eBay to some character named Ritch Rand in Missoula, Mt,

 

[drmaxtejeda]

So I just sold this hat on eBay to some character named Ritch Rand in Missoula, Mt,

View attachment 515092

What was it, and what did you sell it for?

 

[drmaxtejeda]

So I just sold this hat on eBay to some character named Ritch Rand in Missoula, Mt,

View attachment 515092

It isn't the Stetson 100, correct?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It isn't the Stetson 100, correct?

No, it’s the Twenty OR. Now that I think about it, I might have mixed up the photos. He bought the 7 ⅝ Twenty.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

No, it’s the Twenty OR. Now that I think about it, I might have mixed up the photos. He bought the 7 ⅝ Twenty.

Ah!

 

[drmaxtejeda]

No, it’s the Twenty OR. Now that I think about it, I might have mixed up the photos. He bought the 7 ⅝ Twenty.

No, it's the right pic. I found it!

 

[Randall Renshaw]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4042881662...can0sdqtpg&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

A bowler with a straw liner?!!!? And…Why?
I wrote the seller and she confirmed that it is and sent me more pics.
I’ve never heard of, or seen this, have y’all?
I’d buy it if closer to my size just because it seems so unusual, to me.

 

[wsmontana]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4042881662...can0sdqtpg&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

A bowler with a straw liner?!!!? And…Why?
I wrote the seller and she confirmed that it is and sent me more pics.
I’ve never heard of, or seen this, have y’all?
I’d buy it if closer to my size just because it seems so unusual, to me. View attachment 517255

I wonder if this could be a riding hat/helmet and the straw provides some structure to hold some padding against the felt?

 

[Randall Renshaw]

I wonder if this could be a riding hat/helmet and the straw provides some structure to hold some padding against the felt?

I considered that possibility and it may be so, but doesn’t have the look of one of them heavy things. Seller says it’s light weight in the description. She has another P&C for sale that looks just like it, but has the typical silk liner.

 

[wsmontana]

I considered that possibility and it may be so, but doesn’t have the look of one of them heavy things. Seller says it’s light weight in the description. She has another P&C for sale that looks just like it, but has the typical silk liner.

It kind of reminds me of this cork lined hat:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...s-gripes-items-of-interest.54417/post-2950808

There was some speculation that it could be a riding hat.