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

[Mobile Vulgus]

Well, my Whippet box came in today...

Coincidentally, inside the hat box was some vintage (meaning old! LOL) segments of white felt that was used for someone's hat as a sweatband spacer. Oddly enough, my own Whippet is a size too big for me and these pieces of old felt came in mighty handy!!

 

[fmw]

This arrived today. The hat is a little dirty but the felt is flawless. I will send it to Optimo tomorrow. If they can't clean up the the yellow stains in the liner, I'll have them replace it. That and a cleaning and blocking should make it a very wearable hat. Since it cost less than $17 there is room for some restoration work. It fits just fine.

 

[Joshbru3]

Well, my Whippet box came in today...

That Whippet looks very "at home" in that box. Im sure having the box/hat combo will most definitely boost the value of the hat. Well Done.:eusa_clap

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Ya know, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe it does make the whole shootin' match a little sweeter? Good thought.

So, $137.00 for the hat and $61 for the box.

Did I get my $$ worth?

 

[billyspew]

Ya know, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe it does make the whole shootin' match a little sweeter? Good thought.

So, $137.00 for the hat and $61 for the box.

Did I get my $$ worth?

It's about what I paid for my whippet (without box), so yes, I'd say so!

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Good. Thanks.

 

[monbla256]

This arrived today. The hat is a little dirty but the felt is flawless. I will send it to Optimo tomorrow. If they can't clean up the the yellow stains in the liner, I'll have them replace it. That and a cleaning and blocking should make it a very wearable hat. Since it cost less than $17 there is room for some restoration work. It fits just fine.

GREAT vintage Akubra !!! Think your'e gonna like it ALOT !!

 

[fmw]

Thanks. I think so too. When I won it on Ebay, I thought it might be a throw-away. But thanks to the flawless felt, some restoration will made it a dandy hat, I think.

 

[monbla256]

Does it have a bound edge brim or is a self-welt edge? And what is the brim size? Why would it need restoration? It looks in almost mint condition the spots inside on the liner won't be seen by anybody when you have it on your head

Onward thru the Fog

 

[fmw]

The brim is over-welted, if that is the term. The edge of the brim is folded upward and sewn. Most welted brims are the other way, I think. The brim is a hair over 2" so we'll call it a stingy brim. Perhaps 2 1/8. I'm not totally comfortable with wearing used apparel or apparel that looks shabby. I did buy a like new Borsalino that I cleaned, reshaped and stretched myself. It is now in a state that I can wear comfortably. The liner in this one bothers me so I'm going to let the pros deal with it. I think with the small brim and short center dent crease, this hat should be right in style. It fits better than the old Borsalino which was about a size smaller than stated on the label. This hat is a true 7 1/8 - just great for me.

 

[fmw]

I gave it a shot. I found some Naphtha in the basement and cleaned the lining with it. It isn't pristine and perfect but the yellow is gone. I rubbed down the sweatband with leather cleaner. I gave the felt an aggressive brushing. I wet the whole hat down and rubbed the felt down with paper towel. Some soil did come out of the felt. Finally, I corrected a few issues with the crease and crown shape and set it up to dry. We'll see how it looks in the morning. Maybe I can take your advice and simply wear it.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Yes, and some of the prices are out-of-sight!

You ain't kidding! This not-all-that-vintage OR went for $500! :eeek:

Maybe it was the pin...

Cheers,
Tom

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

I scored three 1920s/1930s hats for 25 bucks. They are in need of some repair but I'm sure I can wing it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...JKEqYms%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT

 

[SteveAS]

:eeek:

Indeed!

 

[zetwal]

[OR] went for $500! :eeek:

I was rather surprised when I saw it go that high. As you rightly observe, the hat isn't even prime vintage. That's an excellent case study in what can happen if two stubborn bidders (with resources) really duke it out.

:boxing:

 

[fmw]

Here's the Akubra Titan after some home brew cleaning. Looks wearable, no?

 

[monbla256]

I'd wear it for sure !! I like that ribbon alot !! Not many of us Akubra wearers on this side of the Big Pond have a Vintage Akubra !! Wear it with pride

 

[alanfgag]

I was rather surprised when I saw it go that high. As you rightly observe, the hat isn't even prime vintage. That's an excellent case study in what can happen if two stubborn bidders (with resources) really duke it out.

:boxing:

I am relatively new to ebay, but that seemed like a very strange bidding war.

 

[alanfgag]

Did anyone watch this auction? I thought this was a beautiful top hat.

 

[Chinaski]

I took an interest in this auction. And it really went through the roof.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...witem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_4074wt_973

That is interesting Zet. I don't know anything about that one so the price seems extraordinary. I think I understand the psychology behind that $500 OR more than I understand what happened with this hat...