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

[coble]

I will definately discuss privately on questions for sure. I agree with the 100 wool. I do have a question for you guys dealing with buying hats on ebay. Say for instance because it happens my first stetson i ever bought when i recieved it the sweatband was flaking. Lets put an exampe, if you find say a stratoliner with the plastic liner and the crest inside in excellent condition but the sweatband flaking, the seller offering a low cost for the hat. Would you buy it an replace the sweatband and would you still cherish it being in excellent condition? I was just curious on how you guys who collect hats feel, would you buy a hat like that. Because like i said my first stetson had this problem that i'm stating.

 

[coble]

main reason why i'm asking is because i'm trying to learn how to collect hats, what to look for in what the age is, what condition is the minimum in collecting hats. So just wanted some loungers opinions on what makes a hat collectable.

 

[Iyor]

Borsalinos are in high demand!http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250888190329

 

[Garrett]

Congrats to the winner of this Capone-ish Borsalino (Robert, I'm guessing):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250888190329?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT

 

[HatsEnough]

Coble,

If you get a nice vintage Stetson (anything previous to 1965 as far as I am concerned) at a price under $50 and the only thing wrong is a flaky sweat, it would be worth buying it and replacing the sweat if there isn't anything else wrong with the hat.

Depends on the hat, though. If it is a rare model, I am for leaving the whole thing as is for collector sake. Don't want to despoil a rare hat by tearing it apart in my opinion. If it is a common model, then I am not averse to changing the sweat out. Especially if everything else remains. A common Whippet, or Strat or Open Road... yeah, I'd change out the sweat if it needed it.

I 've done it a few times, myself. Am doing it with a 50s era Whippet right now, as a matter of fact. The hat came in and the sweat was cracked and dry and the crack did not show up in the auction photos. So, since a Whippet is a Whippet because of the style and the liner (in this hat) I felt replacing the sweat was not the end of the world.

So, to sum up, it depends on the hat, but it isn't then worst thing to do.

One last thing. I keep the old sweat stored with the hat just so that I know what it was originally. Sometimes I cut the segment that shows the model out and stick it behind the new sweatband.

 

[Lefty]

Congrats to the winner of this Capone-ish Borsalino (Robert, I'm guessing):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250888190329?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT

I'm going with CV or, if he's still buying, JtL.

Here's another one of those topper-styled hats for the ladies.

 

[rlk]

Congrats to the winner of this Capone-ish Borsalino (Robert, I'm guessing):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250888190329?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT

 

[coble]

Coble,

If you get a nice vintage Stetson (anything previous to 1965 as far as I am concerned) at a price under $50 and the only thing wrong is a flaky sweat, it would be worth buying it and replacing the sweat if there isn't anything else wrong with the hat.

Depends on the hat, though. If it is a rare model, I am for leaving the whole thing as is for collector sake. Don't want to despoil a rare hat by tearing it apart in my opinion. If it is a common model, then I am not averse to changing the sweat out. Especially if everything else remains. A common Whippet, or Strat or Open Road... yeah, I'd change out the sweat if it needed it.

I 've done it a few times, myself. Am doing it with a 50s era Whippet right now, as a matter of fact. The hat came in and the sweat was cracked and dry and the crack did not show up in the auction photos. So, since a Whippet is a Whippet because of the style and the liner (in this hat) I felt replacing the sweat was not the end of the world.

So, to sum up, it depends on the hat, but it isn't then worst thing to do.

One last thing. I keep the old sweat stored with the hat just so that I know what it was originally. Sometimes I cut the segment that shows the model out and stick it behind the new sweatband.

thank you for your opinion, Because i'm in talks with a lady willing to sell me a 1950's open road stetson for 15-20 dollars, just sweatband finish is flaking, the stitching is still holding up strong. So i know these hats go for a lot more. I'm just hoping for a really good deal, since i'm using my birthday money.

 

[coble]

i took a look at that hat at one point, the bidding went wild, i saw it when it was below 200. Who ever got this borsalino got a nice looking hat. I really like the ribbon work.

 

[HatsEnough]

I'm going with CV or, if he's still buying, JtL.

Here's another one of those topper-styled hats for the ladies.

Congrats to that seller for getting it ID'd correct, though.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Congrats, Robert -- and greetings from its "muflone" cousin...

 

[coble]

what a beautiful hat Jimmy, wow i love that one.

Robert, thats a great hat to your broad collection. Congrats.

 

[Lefty]

That's why I thought it was you. Bookends was my thought.

 

[jimmy the lid]

That's why I thought it was you. Bookends was my thought.

Not a bad thought...

 

[Rabbit]

Stetson Vogue

2 3/4" brim. Color: light green w/cream. Ribbon: dark mocha, not the original one.
The model Vogue is a Royal Deluxe felt; fairly thin yet dense felt.

I'll leave the dating to the experienced loungers.

- Stetson logo with stars
- Size Tag: cardboard without gold
- Liner fold at the right side of the sweatband (not at the height of the back seam)
- Model name "VOGUE" imprinted at the front side of the sweatband
- Embossment is warm golden
- Sweatband 1 3/4" wide

Bound brim stitching top side:

 

[alanfgag]

Congratulations RLK... Looks like a beauty.

 

[jimmy the lid]

2 3/4" brim. Color: light green w/cream. Ribbon: dark mocha, not the original one.
The model Vogue is a Royal Deluxe felt; fairly thin yet dense felt.

Congrats, Rabbit. Stetson Vogues are far and few between, and you have found one in nice condition and in a fabulous color. Fantastic snag! :eusa_clap

 

[hatophile]

Excellent finds, rlk and rabbit. Those are both primo hats!

 

[HatsEnough]

Beautiful. Now I want one.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Congrats. The seller was smart not to take the 100 bucks I offered!