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

[tommyK]

Size i found in most the hats isn't always as marked or the same as you think. They may list one at 6 7/8th but it fits like 7 1/8th.
I will guess that a well used hat even in pristine condition hat stretch some over time. so seeing a small size on hat isn't always the right size of True vintage hat as far as i seen with the 6 hats I gotten in the last month.[/QUOTE]

My experience has mostly been the opposite. Most vintage hats I come across or buy seem a little small or have shrunk in size a little. I think a few decades in the attic will do this. Others have been perfect right off. All depends on how they were stored. A light stretching is sometimes necessary to make them just right for me. Could be my noggin is bigger than I think, too.

 

[tommyK]

I have to agree with this, too. I have only spent big hundreds two or three times on vintage. usually I am well below $200 on any vintage hat.

One type of vintage can get high dollars, though. Genuine Stetson westerns from before 1930. With those hats you are also ushering in western memorabilia collectors into the mix and not just hat collectors, so the prices go up on them. Not to mention how few are left out there, especially ones made before 1900.

+1 heck a few of my vintage hats are below $100. Just got a Penney's for $55, it's rough, I'm putting in a new sweatband and intending it to be a beater. Most I ever payed was $350 and I'm a big head! the 7 1/2 long ovals tempt me too much!

 

[fedoracentric]

I've seen it go both ways. It seems to me a lot of it has to do with what the leather sweatband does over time. Cloth sweatband hats are easier to stretch with constant use, but leather can really shrink over time taking the hat with it. On the other hand, sometimes a lot of use will make leather stretch. I have bought vintage 6-7/8 hats that fit my 7-1/8 head right out of the box. I have bought vintage size 7s that feel like a 6-7/8. I have had 7-1/8 vintage that feel like a cooking pot on my head and 7-1/8 that feel like a tight size 7. No matter what, if you are buying a hat that is older than 30 years, you are rolling the dice on size.

 

[alanfgag]

Do you think so, Alan? It seems that any time there are hundreds of hats on eBay, and they can't all be going to Lounge members. I would agree that people end up here looking for information; I'm not sure, though, that the prices are being driven mostly by Lounge members.

You know, only one of the hats I've acquired hit this level--and it was worth it.

Active users on the Lounge at a given moment in time are often 6 to 8 times the number of members. What I meant to say, though, is that the swings in price are modest, with the upper end constrained by the cost of buying new.

I agree on that highball hat of yours. It is a beauty.

 

[fedoracentric]

Someone got lucky. I hope it was one of you.

This looks like a special Knox for $140.00.






http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kno...Om3x6k8%2FxDWx2y9Ep0U%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[John Galt]

Great deal on some Langenberg sculpted crown blocks, rubber:

 

[Joao Encarnado]

There's a mule kick there!
Nice find John!

 

[ccorsair]

Some of the hats i been watch are selling low but I was watching a top hat just to see what it would sell at http://www.ebay.com/itm/301284758612 it started low I came across it at $14.00 and change. It shot of few days before to $61 then to $75 and end at $325.50.
I think I done well with the 4 I got last year for Steampunk and the 6 I just got in the last month or so. I look for a style i like and then size but I have to ask question of the sell on that and I do get them check the size with what know of mine own head size.
I didn't check as much before as I thought I new my right size(never judge it on hat that list Medium).
I been lucky so far on that. The Derby, The collapsible top hat and the two Scully by Hersche leather top hats l were ones that fit me. If they hadn't it would not have been hard to sell them at an Steampunk event. you be surprised at what a hat they go for at those events.

 

[fedoracentric]

That topper went for a bit more than I expected, but it is a 30s era Stetson in nearly perfect condition and with a rather uncommon Stetson box also in great condition. Plus a large size. So, yeah, I guess I can see $325.

 

[ccorsair]

That topper went for a bit more than I expected, but it is a 30s ear Stetson in nearly perfect condition and with a rather uncommon Stetson box also in great condition. Plus a large size. So, yeah, I guess I can see $325.

Steampuck people will pay a lot for vintage. some of them will buy thing at prices i would never even think of paying for items if they took the time they could get cheaper. But they all seem to be in frenzy of buy now at any price. At events you find great deals at the same time you see even higher prices. This why you are seeing Steampunk listing in ads on ebay.
This was good one to watch as all the big bids came last part if time was a bit longer i would have believe it to go higher.
The hat box was big part as was the hat being in great shape.

 

[mayserwegener]

Collapsible Top Hats are plentiful in all sizes and generally do not demand high prices. Larger size Silk Plush Top Hats that are in very good to excellent condition (not plentiful) will draw top dollar.

 

[ccorsair]

Collapsible Top Hats are plentiful in all sizes and generally do not demand high prices. Larger size Silk Plush Top Hats that are in very good to excellent condition (not plentiful) will draw top dollar.

True but many of the Costumers who do Steampuck seem to think paying $180 to $400 is the norm. I seen one that were shredded inside sell at $150 to $200 not just on ebay.

I got one from a newbie to estate sales on ebay this is what got for $14.29 plus shipping . It was about $20 or less I think. For very pristine top hat.
I Don't like to pay a high price for something I can't use everyday.. If paid $100 for hat my wife would tell me to go live in it. I know that the norm for high quality But hats for me are some to cove my head and look good ..and yes sometime intimating(I did say did Cyber Crime investigation work? ) Dark glasses and killer hat make for good effect in throwing off those you are questing on a case lol. As for steampunk it always fun to look the part of what you doing and have some class to it . A dressed out hat look great .
A vintage top hat look's even cooler.

 

[1mach1]

Nice score!

 

[ccorsair]

Nice score!

Thanks. Now if I only could tell who the hat maker was and how old.. The seller didn't even know it was a Collapsible top hat. This was one My best scores on hats last year.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Are we in a slump?

When a forty year old (conservatively) unworn, NOS, vintage Shudde Bros 7 1/2 L0 OR can't fetch the cost of a woolie, ya' gotta wonder.
Bad time of the month to sell too, I guess might have worked against it as well. An anomaly perhaps, but from here it looks like a buyer's market. [huh]

 

[1mach1]

Nice one, Rick! I have yet to find a "buyers market" deal. [huh]

 

[fedoracentric]

I have to say, I have seen hats doing less well lately. And the goof balls thinking that every hat is worth $500 are not helping any.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Nice one, Rick! I have yet to find a "buyers market" deal. [huh]

...just means another from the shelf will have to hit the auction block, make some $$$ f/ ePay, but that's copacetic, no worries.

I have to say, I have seen hats doing less well lately. And the goof balls thinking that every hat is worth $500 are not helping any.

True, that.
Such thing are worth only what we decide, the worth we ascribe to them.

 

[mayserwegener]

True but many of the Costumers who do Steampuck seem to think paying $180 to $400 is the norm. I seen one that were shredded inside sell at $150 to $200 not just on ebay.

Yes good marketing by the Seller. I come by 100s of these Collapsible Toppers in all sizes and larger sizes at low prices. German companies were major players.

 

[ccorsair]

Yes good marketing by the Seller. I come by 100s of these Collapsible Troppers in all sizes and larger sizes at low prices. German companies were major players.

I feel the factors on pricing Demand by niche group and Ebay seller who want top $$ on a small buy. There are far better and cheaper ways to get good hats but too many seem to thing they have to pay the high price. I sucker my self by buying a stander felt top hat at the State fair from a well know long time hat vender there .. $65 or more I think for some Chinese made hat I Thought it was US made at first I felt dumb for that. It will get the Steampunk treatment later and well get it sold for good mark up or I'll just keep it once I get it dressed up. Not sure yet.
The Scala hats are the one every one like and they pay the full price for them. Mark up on those is 20% or more at events.

The Collapsible I have seen going for high prices were mainly from France or at best said to be.
Even before Steampunk i sold 3 leather top hats I made. Each time fore more than what the leather cost one was really high all 3 were cash deal on the spot. (was young and in college so any $$$ offer you take ) I was shocked at people wanting the hats as they were made mostly of Scrap leather hand sewn. Have the leather to do some more but need to make a good pattern before I start. thinking abut that was back in the mid 80's I did that .. So it has been a wile.