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

[Rodkins]

Victory!

In case any of you happened to see those Allen Edmonds I had listed in the classified for $55...

I was able to sell them on eBay for $81!! Very excellent! Best sale I've ever completed on eBay.

Congrats!

 

[DanielJones]

Congratulations Alan! Looks like it has some nifty little air vents in the top too.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Alex]

My odd Stetson 7X clear beaver homburg arrived today, much better looking than in the ebay pictures... more detail on the new hat thread.

Looks great Alan, a victory indeed!

 

[Lefty]

sort of a Casual look to this Stetson, but it's not bona fide (brim is narrow, too)

 

[rlk]

Better Quality Whippet(3X) sells for less w/out name

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123&autorefresh=true
not mine

 

[Bourne ID]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123&autorefresh=true
not mine

At those prices I can't compete, so...unless I stumble across a Whippet at the local Goodwill/thrift shop, I might never own one.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

At those prices I can't compete, so...unless I stumble across a Whippet at the local Goodwill/thrift shop, I might never own one.

I know what you mean. I am lucky I got one at a lower price when I did.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Today's fishing from The Bay…

A hat stretcher made by "Made-Rite Hat Stretchers."

Other than the writing on it and missing one of the four rubber feet bumps on the bottom, in great shape. Works perfectly. It arrived today.

Annoyingly enough, these things are getting to the $50 and higher price tag these days on The Bay. For months I kept telling myself that I'd get one later. But every week that went by and I told myself that the prices have been climbing. I decided I better get one now before these dang things are selling for $100! I picked this one up for $40.

EVERYTHING having to do with fedoras is climbing in price wildly on The Bay the last 5 months or so.

Tomorrow, Aureliano's Playboy I bought from him according to tracking info.

 

[mayserwegener]

sort of a Casual look to this Stetson, but it's not bona fide (brim is narrow, too)

I like it!

 

[Bourne ID]

I've got my eye on a hat stretcher like that, thinking that I'll be able to buy even smaller hats and make them fit my already small head, then I wouldn't have to compete with all you big heads!!!

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

I've got my eye on a hat stretcher like that, thinking that I'll be able to buy even smaller hats and make them fit my already small head, then I wouldn't have to compete with all you big heads!!!

I think a stretcher only works to up a hat one size and then you have to be very, very careful with the condition of the sweatband. The reason I finally got it now is because I have a hat being refurbed at Optimo, but it will still be about 1/8 too small when I get it back, so I hope the stretcher will work for me.

 

[fmw]

I've got my eye on a hat stretcher like that, thinking that I'll be able to buy even smaller hats and make them fit my already small head, then I wouldn't have to compete with all you big heads!!!

I recommend against that. Buy hats that fit you. It's the only way to go. I have a hat at the hatter at the moment that was a little small. I stretched it one size. The sweatband split in two places. Also the ended up with additional taper to it. Hopefully, they can fix it. Buy what fits you.

 

[fmw]

The Borsalino Alessandria has similar proportions to an Open Road but has a different feel, both to the felt and to the fit. I would describe it as "softer." Mine is a later vintage than this one I - seventies, probably. This one appears to be well watched and headed up there pricewise. They do appear fairly often - rarely selling (in very good condition) under $160 and often over $200. You might consider asking the seller for better photos of the inside and to confirm that the sweatband stitching is intact and tight... I've found this to be a problem area on non-reeded Borsos. They are wonderful hats... good luck with the auction!

There is little doubt about that. Somebody wants it more than I do. I bid $175 and somebody trumped me within an hour. It might go for more than $200. My consolation prize is a gray Biltmore Designer series fedora that was on sale at Hats Plus. Should be here Monday. I may not be cut out for the vintage thing.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Also the ended up with additional taper to it.

This is also an important thing to remember. Unless you have a hat torn down and professionally resized, it is likely to get a taper because you are bulging the body at the sweatband but not all the way up the crown evenly. You should expect a taper to develop. Me, I like tapers, so it doesn't bother me.

 

[gtdean48]

I've got my eye on a hat stretcher like that, thinking that I'll be able to buy even smaller hats and make them fit my already small head, then I wouldn't have to compete with all you big heads!!!

A hat stretcher is a useful tool to have. I've got 4, 2 hat jack types, 2 vintage ones. They are always in use. Buying vintage, even getting your size, you'll get hats that have shrunken due to drawing of leather sweatbands that can be up to a size smaller. Regular wear & perspiration will cause other hats to need some stretching. Due to hats not being done Long Oval anymore, I need a stretcher for modern Stetsons to be adjusted. I also keep my eye on hats a size smaller to broaden my vintage pool for buying.
The older ones are a good investment because of how they go well above the sweatband area except for those vintage ones with wide sweatbands.

 

[rlk]

I like it!

I liked it too

 

[alanfgag]

I liked it too

OK, whatisit or whatwasit? All I found was a disappearing URL?

 

[rlk]

OK, whatisit or whatwasit? All I found was a disappearing URL?

Happens to me too--I have to stop the page in mid-loading at the right time...

 

[hatophile]

I like the hat color and size, not sure about the felted ribbon, though.

 

[Lefty]

Congrats rlk. That's a looker. It reminded me of JtL's casual.

I didn't even realize that the seller had posted the large photos until I noticed that I could scroll to the right. Even then, I had to move left and right, up and down to find them.