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

[drmaxtejeda]

Still seems sacrilegious to downsize vintage hats of that size when they’re so rare, and smaller hats are so relatively plentiful.

Please consider the plight of the large dome dudes, Doc! It would take us many years to amass what you have


BLASPHEMY!!!

Max, with all due respect, there is an abundance of smaller size vintage lids available, and a dearth of anything above 7-5/8, and even greater scarcity of 7-3/4 hats. You could be desecrating some very rare pieces. It would take me or Brent several years to amass the collection you have in a few months, because it is not practical to upsize to that extent.

Please, I'm begging you to discontinue the practice, re-sell the 7-3/4 hats you may still have, (not even to me, but to preserve them) and the good karma will help you find hats that won't need to be bastardized!!

Charlie

Sorry, Charlie! I have only downsized a few, mainly because they are less numerous than the smaller sized hats.
I don't consider them bastardized, because they have the same sweatband, ribbon, liner, and shape as they did before they were downsized.
The smaller sized hats are altered more when I upsize them, because Ignacio has to add a bit of sweatband to them, in most cases less than half an inch.
My collection is almost complete anyway... I cannot promise that if I find a hat I really, really want in a larger size than mine I won't downsize it, but I will keep it to a minimum, and pad them when possible.

Oh! And I don't know if you will believe this, and I am pretty sure you won't agree with me, but in my experience with about thirty upsized hats, it is possible and practical to upsize them quite a bit.
For example, a 7 1/4 sized hat has a head opening lenght of 8 inches, and a 7 1/2 sized hat has a head opening lenght of 8 1/4 inches. There is only a difference of 6.35 millimeters between both sizes, which means that if you upsize the hat there is only a difference of less than 3.2 mm in the brim width on the front part of the hat, and 3.2 mm on the back, even if you don't stretch the felt a little bit while reblocking, like Ignacio does.
I haven't noticed any loss of brim width, crown height, or shape after Ignacio is done reblocking and upsizing my hats, and I have looked closely at them when they are finished.

Again, I think you won't believe it until you try it, but if you ever do, you will be able to increase the number of hats in your collection.
The cost of having them altered would be offset substantially because smaller sized hats cost less than larger ones, even if the upsizing is done in the US, where hatters charge more than what Ignacio does.
Really, Charlie, try it. You will be pleasantly surprised.

P.S. I have seen that @bond, of finevintagefedoras on Etsy, charges about 80 dollars for renovating a hat. Maybe he could help you, if you ever decide to try it.

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[M Hatman]

Ha ha ha.....
My Karma must SUCK then. I gift em and they end up in the classifieds. Lol

M

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

M

Lol

 

[M Hatman]

Sorry, Charlie! I have only downsized a few, mainly because they are less numerous than the smaller sized hats.
I don't consider them bastardized, because they have the same sweatband, ribbon, liner, and shape as they did before they were downsized.
The smaller sized hats are altered more when I upsize them, because Ignacio has to add a bit of sweatband to them, in most cases less than half an inch.
My collection is almost complete anyway... I cannot promise that if I find a hat I really, really want in a larger size than mine I won't downsize it, but I will keep it to a minimum, and pad them when possible.

Oh! And I don't know if you will believe this, and I am pretty sure you won't agree with me, but in my experience with about thirty upsized hats, it is possible and practical to upsize them quite a bit.
For example, a 7 1/4 sized hat has a head opening lenght of 8 inches, and a 7 1/2 sized hat has a head opening lenght of 8 1/4 inches. There is only a difference of 6.35 millimeters between both sizes, which means that if you upsize the hat there is only a difference of less than 3.2 mm in the brim width on the front part of the hat, and 3.2 mm on the back, even if you don't stretch the felt a little bit while reblocking, like Ignacio does.
I haven't noticed any loss of brim width, crown height, or shape after Ignacio is done reblocking and upsizing my hats, and I have looked closely at them when they are finished.

Again, I think you won't believe it until you try it, but if you ever do, you will be able to increase the number of hats in your collection.
The cost of having them altered would be offset substantially because smaller sized hats cost less than larger ones, even if the upsizing is done in the US, where hatters charge more than what Ignacio does.
Really, Charlie, try it. You will be pleasantly surprised.

P.S. I have seen that @bond, of finevintagefedoras on Etsy, charges about 80 dollars for renovating a hat. Maybe he could help you, if you ever decide to try it.

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There is a great deal more.....the size is the circumference NOT the measurement front to back. And you will loose brim and/or crown when going up any more than one size.
I am VERY sorry to hear you are shrinking larger hats... ESPECIALLY if as you say it is so easy to stretch out the much smaller hats (which are also a GREAT DEAL more plentiful) as I find this poor stewardship of these vintage hats and very inconsiderate of us larger headed fellows. WE have a heck of a time finding decent hats with out many being ruined....PLEASE PLEASE stop doing that. Trade them off for others in your size or just sell them to us pumpkin heads....
Personally I have many smaller sizes and even a couple of 7 1/4 you are looking for (like an early 50's wide brim Dobbs Gamebird with the wide felted band) I would GLADLY trade for one in my size...................
JUST PLEASE take care of them.........
M

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

^^^I think this is a win win suggestion
M Hatman!!
One might solicit desired hats from those large sized folks then communicate when unique larger size hats are found and trade.
Everybody wins and as stewards we do all of us a good service. They are only original once.
Just a thought.
Bowen

 

[Tukwila]

I know of a Size 7 Open Road 3X hat in silverbelly if anyone is interested. It's very nice but doesn't fit me.... 1950's vintage.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

There is a great deal more.....the size is the circumference NOT the measurement front to back. And you will loose brim and/or crown when going up any more than one size.
I am VERY sorry to hear you are shrinking larger hats... ESPECIALLY if as you say it is so easy to stretch out the much smaller hats (which are also a GREAT DEAL more plentiful) as I find this poor stewardship of these vintage hats and very inconsiderate of us larger headed fellows. WE have a heck of a time finding decent hats with out many being ruined....PLEASE PLEASE stop doing that. Trade them off for others in your size or just sell them to us pumpkin heads....
Personally I have many smaller sizes and even a couple of 7 1/4 you are looking for (like an early 50's wide brim Dobbs Gamebird with the wide felted band) I would GLADLY trade for one in my size...................
JUST PLEASE take care of them.........
M

And they all must be worked on the same block, they all end up looking the same.

 

[M Hatman]

And they all must be worked on the same block, they all end up looking the same.

That is a great point, if the hats are all re-blocked on the same block as each other or even a different block than they were originally. They WILL NOT be the same hat.
Even MORE of a travesty as the person doing the conversion will not be getting what they wanted ( unless they don't care about the hats origin and just want a hat, any hat, that has just has a particular name on it) they will be getting a different hat altogether......
You can sew a sweat that has "Stetson Open Road" on it, in ANY hat. That does not make THAT hat an "Open Road". And even if it started out an "Open Road" unless it is re-blocked on the SAME crown and flange block, and retains the original factory dimensions, it is not an OR any more....
M
PS I forgot to mention if re-felting and shrinking is going on you will not have the same hat body either.......

 

[drmaxtejeda]

There is a great deal more.....the size is the circumference NOT the measurement front to back. And you will loose brim and/or crown when going up any more than one size.
I am VERY sorry to hear you are shrinking larger hats... ESPECIALLY if as you say it is so easy to stretch out the much smaller hats (which are also a GREAT DEAL more plentiful) as I find this poor stewardship of these vintage hats and very inconsiderate of us larger headed fellows. WE have a heck of a time finding decent hats with out many being ruined....PLEASE PLEASE stop doing that. Trade them off for others in your size or just sell them to us pumpkin heads....
Personally I have many smaller sizes and even a couple of 7 1/4 you are looking for (like an early 50's wide brim Dobbs Gamebird with the wide felted band) I would GLADLY trade for one in my size...................
JUST PLEASE take care of them.........
M

OK, OK, I surrender! Gee whiz! Will only do it again if I find a Knox One Hundred, or a Shore Club.
Now, about that Game Bird... How much? [emoji2]

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[drmaxtejeda]

And they all must be worked on the same block, they all end up looking the same.

He uses different blocks all the time. He has about 120 of them, all left over from when his Dad died. He looks at a hat, goes to the back room of his store, and returns with a different one. He can tell which one is needed at a glance. He was practically born in that store.

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[M Hatman]

OK, OK, I surrender! Gee whiz! Will only do it again if I find a Knox One Hundred, or a Shore Club.
Now, about that Game Bird... How much? [emoji2]

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Well......PM me and we can discuss it. I really am not good about selling......though for the right trade.......

 

[hatsRme]

OK, OK, I surrender! Gee whiz! Will only do it again if I find a Knox One Hundred, or a Shore Club.
Now, about that Game Bird... How much? [emoji2]

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Please, PLEASE, PLEASE Max, no "only if...!!" You don't yet seem to fully understand the plight of the large dome. As stated in @Mocheman 's haiku from eleven years ago:

large headed hat man
no vintage for you tonight
cry alone in shame

So, SO TRUE!! Check HERE for more...
PLEASE stop thinking this way.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

He uses different blocks all the time. He has about 120 of them, all left over from when his Dad died. He looks at a hat, goes to the back room of his store, and returns with a different one. He can tell which one is needed at a glance. He was practically born in that store.

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Max, maybe you haven't developed the eye for it yet but regardless of the original hat model/block number the hats mostly all end up looking the same after they have been sized & conformed to your head. You just end up mostly with hats of many colors.

And regardless of the size you start with it is a travesty to start with an upper grade hat like a "100" and ruin it's originality forever (I might add you're not the first to do that to a "100"). That would also include rarer hats today like 7XCB's & Nutria's.

 

[hatsRme]

Max, maybe you haven't developed the eye for it yet but regardless of the original hat model/block number the hats mostly all end up looking the same after they have been sized & conformed to your head. You just end up mostly with hats of many colors.

And regardless of the size you start with it is a travesty to start with an upper grade hat like a "100" and ruin it's originality forever

We're all singing from the same music, aren't we, Jack!! We are also MUCH more of a cooperative community than a competitive group. We seem to prefer helping each other out, as opposed to trying to gather up all the marbles for ourselves. We're weird, I guess?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

We're all singing from the same music, aren't we, Jack!! We are also MUCH more of a cooperative community than a competitive group. We seem to prefer helping each other out, as opposed to trying to gather up all the marbles for ourselves. We're weird, I guess?

So much for the thrill of the hunt!

 

[hatsRme]

He uses different blocks all the time. He has about 120 of them, all left over from when his Dad died. He looks at a hat, goes to the back room of his store, and returns with a different one. He can tell which one is needed at a glance. He was practically born in that store.

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120 may seem like a lot of crown blocks, but it's really not, Max. I know one hatter who has 140 just for panamas, and over 100 for felt, and says that almost every day he wishes he had more. If Ignacio can accommodate a full size range of felt hats, say 6-5/8 to 7-3/4 (and many hatters go a size or two larger) that's 10-12 different sized blocks. Then within those there may be some variations for standard, long, or extra long oval heads. And THEN there's a whole host of others for straw hat blocking. Do the math or arithmetic, and you'll realize there may be much less variety than first thought.

A favorite expression: "You don't know what you don't know!"
I know I don't know what I don't know, (no one does - it's impossible) but I'm trying to learn something new every day, even at this stage of life!

 

[drmaxtejeda]

120 may seem like a lot of crown blocks, but it's really not, Max. I know one hatter who has 140 just for panamas, and over 100 for felt, and says that almost every day he wishes he had more. If Ignacio can accommodate a full size range of felt hats, say 6-5/8 to 7-3/4 (and many hatters go a size or two larger) that's 10-12 different sized blocks. Then within those there may be some variations for standard, long, or extra long oval heads. And THEN there's a whole host of others for straw hat blocking. Do the math or arithmetic, and you'll realize there may be much less variety than first thought.

A favorite expression: "You don't know what you don't know!"
I know I don't know what I don't know, (no one does - it's impossible) but I'm trying to learn something new every day, even at this stage of life!

"I know that I know nothing" is a saying derived from Plato's account of the Greekphilosopher Socrates. It is also called the Socratic paradox.

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[drmaxtejeda]

120 may seem like a lot of crown blocks, but it's really not, Max. I know one hatter who has 140 just for panamas, and over 100 for felt, and says that almost every day he wishes he had more. If Ignacio can accommodate a full size range of felt hats, say 6-5/8 to 7-3/4 (and many hatters go a size or two larger) that's 10-12 different sized blocks. Then within those there may be some variations for standard, long, or extra long oval heads. And THEN there's a whole host of others for straw hat blocking. Do the math or arithmetic, and you'll realize there may be much less variety than first thought.

A favorite expression: "You don't know what you don't know!"
I know I don't know what I don't know, (no one does - it's impossible) but I'm trying to learn something new every day, even at this stage of life!

My Dad taught me this when I was a kid, and he said it often enough that I never forgot:
"You don't have to know everything, Mijito. You just have to have friends that do".


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[TheOldFashioned]

My Dad taught me this when I was a kid, and he said it often enough that I never forgot:
"You don't have to know everything, Mijito. You just have to have friends that do".


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This is similar to something my old boss (now several years retired) used to tell me all the time when I was training to succeed him. He'd say, "You don't have to have all the answers, just know who to ask and how to find them."

Another favorite, "I treat everyone equally...like s***."

I think we're supposed to get a beer in a couple weeks. It'll be good to see him again.

 

[Bamaboots]

OK, OK, I surrender! Gee whiz! Will only do it again if I find a Knox One Hundred, or a Shore Club.
Now, about that Game Bird... How much? [emoji2]

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What, no Cavanagh 100 on your list?