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

[Salty O'Rourke]

Noob's first post

Around Thanksgiving, my fiancee took me into a shop in Manhattan and bought me my first fedora , a new Borsalino Como. Paid too much but she insisted, and thereby created a monster.

I've gone a little nuts lately on eBay but I think I've made out pretty well after a false start or two.

This was my first acquisiton:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...12405&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

I thought I could stretch it from 7 1/8 to 7 /14 - turns out it had drawn up tighter'n, well, Dick's hatband, and the best I could do was get it back to 7 1/8. Nice hat after I brushed a sackfull of dust off of it. It made a nice Christmas present for my neice.

Next was this Knox Westlite:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...0&_trksid=m38&_nkw=120505705942&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

I rebashed it to a c-crown/teardrop shape and have received a lot of nice comments on it. Good thing I paid close attention to the guy who bashed my Como in the store!

I also won this one, which I understand was delivered to my office earlier this week - looking forward to trying my hand at repairing the moth nibbles:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...0&_trksid=m38&_nkw=290379924097&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

This one is also waiting at the office - I'm sure I'll go in this weekend and pick these up. I stumbled on this one as a b-i-n and pulled the trigger. I'm going to hold my breath and give it the Coleman fuel treatment in hopes that it cleans up:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...0&_trksid=m38&_nkw=120509531523&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

This one should be there too - Dobbs Guild Edge in charcoal grey:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...0&_trksid=m38&_nkw=260526440807&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

THIS is the one I'm really looking forward to - Portis Tissue Weight in what looks to be great shape:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...0&_trksid=m38&_nkw=230415951374&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

I think I'll have to take a breather in the new year as I learn to clean these hats up and get them in shape to wear. Of course I may have to perk up my wardrobe a bit...couple of suits...maybe some new shoes... Like I said, she created a monster.

 

[Tango Yankee]

I've gone a little nuts lately on eBay but I think I've made out pretty well after a false start or two.

I think I'll have to take a breather in the new year as I learn to clean these hats up and get them in shape to wear. Of course I may have to perk up my wardrobe a bit...couple of suits...maybe some new shoes... Like I said, she created a monster.

Whoa! For someone just getting into it you scored a couple of very nice hats at great prices! Congratulations!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Heck a start, and heck of a first post. Welcome to the Lounge!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

Whoa! For someone just getting into it you scored a couple of very nice hats at great prices! Congratulations!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Heck a start, and heck of a first post. Welcome to the Lounge!

Cheers,
Tom

Thanks, Tom - I'll be eating canned beans over the sink for the next month to pay for all this....but I'll be wearing some sharp-looking hats while I'm scarfing them down!

 

[fluteplayer07]

Just "won" this via B.I.N. today. It's an early Stetson refurbished by Art Fawcett.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stetson-Imperial-Light-Tan_W0QQitemZ290385657370QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Men_s_Women_s_Accessories?hash=item439c557e1a#ht_720wt_1167

I haven't gone as crazy as you, Salty (yet), but I've bought 3 since Christmas, and am going for a fourth on Ebay as I speak. Someone needs to lock Ebay on my computer, for my own good.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Welcome aboard, Salty and flute'.

Grrrreat hats!!

 

[ScottF]

Just "won" this via B.I.N. today. It's an early Stetson refurbished by Art Fawcett.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stetson-Imperial-Light-Tan_W0QQitemZ290385657370QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Men_s_Women_s_Accessories?hash=item439c557e1a#ht_720wt_1167

I haven't gone as crazy as you, Salty (yet), but I've bought 3 since Christmas, and am going for a fourth on Ebay as I speak. Someone needs to lock Ebay on my computer, for my own good.

You bought a very nice hat from a very nice guy - I've bought/sold several hats from him. I'm very surprised that beauty lasted as long as it did.

 

[Maguire]

I just won this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280442000892. I have no gripes about what i got, its a great hat, but for one thing- its a 7 and 1/8th size and i'm a 7. 3/8ths. IT simply will not go all the way down on my head. I've always been iffy about head sizes (some 7 3/8s dont fit right, too big etc) so i thought it wouldn't be a significant difference. I know its unlikely but does anyone know how to deal with hats that are too small aside from mashing them on your head.

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Welcome aboard, Salty and flute'.

Grrrreat hats!!

Yes sirs, nice to have both of you in the mix.

 

[rlk]

I just won this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280442000892. I have no gripes about what i got, its a great hat, but for one thing- its a 7 and 1/8th size and i'm a 7. 3/8ths. IT simply will not go all the way down on my head. I've always been iffy about head sizes (some 7 3/8s dont fit right, too big etc) so i thought it wouldn't be a significant difference. I know its unlikely but does anyone know how to deal with hats that are too small aside from mashing them on your head.

With a fairly modern,relatively inexpensive sting-ish that is 2+ sizes too small probably best to sell it to someone else. It can be resized professionally but that will cost more than you paid for the hat and the extra size will necessitate some loss of dimension in the brim/crown which are already on the small side especially in proportion to one with a larger head.

 

[fluteplayer07]

I just won this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280442000892. I have no gripes about what i got, its a great hat, but for one thing- its a 7 and 1/8th size and i'm a 7. 3/8ths. IT simply will not go all the way down on my head. I've always been iffy about head sizes (some 7 3/8s dont fit right, too big etc) so i thought it wouldn't be a significant difference. I know its unlikely but does anyone know how to deal with hats that are too small aside from mashing them on your head.

The only way I know is to sell it to me at a low price!lol But really, I suppose you could use one of those hat stretchers to squeeze a little more room out of it.
https://www.henrythehatterdetroit.com/index.php/Accessories/Hat-Jack-Stretcher/Detailed-product-flyer.html

As rlk said, it might mess up the proportions a bit...

 

[gtdean48]

I just won this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280442000892. I have no gripes about what i got, its a great hat, but for one thing- its a 7 and 1/8th size and i'm a 7. 3/8ths. IT simply will not go all the way down on my head. I've always been iffy about head sizes (some 7 3/8s dont fit right, too big etc) so i thought it wouldn't be a significant difference. I know its unlikely but does anyone know how to deal with hats that are too small aside from mashing them on your head.

You can get a hat stretcher to expand out about a size maybe a size & a half. You are looking at going 2 sizes which would take a professional hatter to take out the sweatband, resize & put in another sweatband. I have 2 hats that are 7 1/2 that I have made into 7 5/8 but never tried to that to a 7 3/8.

 

[fluteplayer07]

You can get a hat stretcher to expand out about a size maybe a size & a half. You are looking at going 2 sizes which would take a professional hatter to take out the sweatband, resize & put in another sweatband. I have 2 hats that are 7 1/2 that I have made into 7 5/8 but never tried to that to a 7 3/8.

Those stretchers can expand it that much? Didn't know that.

 

[jeffconnors]

Picked up this guy today. A little small and a little above budget but... i'm hooked on hats...., and I could not resist the Adam Hats "eva-shape process" lol , looks from the 40's with the brown sweat band,crown protector and general style...It looks a little soft and i may rebash it sometime down the road....all and all I really enjoy the look.

 

[fluteplayer07]

That's beautiful, jeffconners!:eusa_clap Love that ribbon! Off of Ebay, or what?

 

[jeffconnors]

That's beautiful, jeffconners!:eusa_clap Love that ribbon! Off of Ebay, or what?

Yep of the bay...here

 

[fluteplayer07]

Yep of the bay...here

"Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest" Duh!-Sorry.

 

[ScottF]

Old Stetson Select

Stetson Select, 7 3/4 (24")

 

[Lefty]

That's fantastic. :eusa_clap

 

[ScottF]

That's fantastic. :eusa_clap

Thanks Lefty. I also posted in the pre-40s Stetson dress thread, hoping to generate some discussion.

 

[fluteplayer07]

It's great! Anything more specific than pre-1940's? I don't think I've seen a sweat quite like it before.