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

[Louis Mountbatten]

I’ll never understand the Whippet thing.

I do understand it based on the style. The Whippet really is the quintessential fedora style. However, the prices don't match the quality level. The Whippet was one of Stetson's cheapest hats! For a Whippet to sell for the same (or more) than a Stetson 100 is just nutty on that level. But, the hart wants what it wants and collectibles are often guided by the heart.

 

[Bamaboots]

I do understand it based on the style. The Whippet really is the quintessential fedora style. However, the prices don't match the quality level. The Whippet was one of Stetson's cheapest hats! For a Whippet to sell for the same (or more) than a Stetson 100 is just nutty on that level. But, the hart wants what it wants and collectibles are often guided by the heart.

Thank you, Louie but no need in overstating the obvious as I’m well aware of all the above. The two vintage Whippets I owned and wore were both nice hats for 50’s Royal Stetsons and I agree they’re the quintessential fedora style. They’re are others that also fit that bill quite well and often of a better quality that can be had for much less than a Whippet. For whatever reason the Whippet mystique has self perpetuated. Sold both of mine and made money. I’d much rather have a RD Stetsonian from the same era If I was looking for something of that style.

 

[Louis Mountbatten]

Overstating? I do agree with you that many of Stetson's higher end hats are far more desirable once you learn about hats. I like the Stetsonians. I like the 1950s era 40s, too.

 

[Frunobulax]

I think the simple fact is it has a name, coupled with the desirability of the profile. "Whippet" carries some sort of cache because you can put a name to it. When looking for it, you can search for a Whippet. When somebody asks, you can say, "It's a Whippet." The non-named hats are just hats, but a Whippet is a Whippet.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I’ll never understand the Whippet thing.

Yup
I saw a brindle whippet being walked by my house the other day....
I thought of the hat, for a moment, then concentrated on the walker.
Was the quintessential walker.
That’s about it for me.
B

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I think the simple fact is it has a name, coupled with the desirability of the profile. "Whippet" carries some sort of cache because you can put a name to it. When looking for it, you can search for a Whippet. When somebody asks, you can say, "It's a Whippet." The non-named hats are just hats, but a Whippet is a Whippet.

And this is a good thing. Let all the deep pockets focus on the Whippet and Playboys. I’ll gladly take the leftover Royal De Luxe and better hats for a fraction of what the “named” hats sell for. Let’s keep the hordes focused on the Whippet.

 

[Frunobulax]

Yup
I saw a brindle whippet being walked by my house the other day....
I thought of the hat, for a moment, then concentrated on the walker.
Was the quintessential walker.
That’s about it for me.
B

I dated Kim Walker when I was younger. Her parents owned a sod farm.

She always got the best grass...

And this is a good thing. Let all the deep pockets focus on the Whippet and Playboys. I’ll gladly take the leftover Royal De Luxe and better hats for a fraction of what the “named” hats sell for. Let’s keep the hordes focused on the Whippet.

Well, at least Playboys have a tendency to follow me home.

 

[dkstott]

my new royal deluxe Whippet purchased from JJ Hats for under $150 was a bargain compared to those vintage prices... LOL

 

[Blare]

A fun clean up project for me. If I can’t revive it... nothing lost either.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/164341043135

Is it time to start selling off many of our Stetson homburgs, or am I missing something here? This hat sold for serious coin. Why?
Other than its 3/8 size it looks like just another grey/blue late 50s fairly short brimmed homburg, right?
The seller was really good with the description, is that all it takes? If so, I’m going to have to step up my sales game.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/164341043135

Is it time to start selling off many of our Stetson homburgs, or am I missing something here? This hat sold for serious coin. Why?
Other than its 3/8 size it looks like just another grey/blue late 50s fairly short brimmed homburg, right?
The seller was really good with the description, is that all it takes? If so, I’m going to have to step up my sales game.

That’s not one of the really desirable homburgs. I would have guessed it would have sold for less than half of what it did. Probably just an outlier. It only takes two competitive bidders or people with more money than time to drive prices up.

 

[FlyFishing]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/164341043135

Is it time to start selling off many of our Stetson homburgs, or am I missing something here? This hat sold for serious coin. Why?
Other than its 3/8 size it looks like just another grey/blue late 50s fairly short brimmed homburg, right?
The seller was really good with the description, is that all it takes? If so, I’m going to have to step up my sales game.

I was watching that one, it had over 20 bids with over a day to go if I remember correctly. I think bidding before the end of the time drove the price up.

 

[Just Daniel]

Interesting. That’s the first late 50s RD I’ve seen sell for more than $200, much less $300. Size is a factor, but if another sells high maybe you’ve got a point!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/164341043135

Is it time to start selling off many of our Stetson homburgs, or am I missing something here? This hat sold for serious coin. Why?
Other than its 3/8 size it looks like just another grey/blue late 50s fairly short brimmed homburg, right?
The seller was really good with the description, is that all it takes? If so, I’m going to have to step up my sales game.

 

[steur]

A fun clean up project for me. If I can’t revive it... nothing lost either.

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Will be interesting to see if you can revive that one, Joe. They are resilient though and you will probably get close to full recovery.

 

[Blare]

Will be interesting to see if you can revive that one, Joe. They are resilient though and you will probably get close to full recovery.

It is here and cleaning up nicely. Very vey soft crown. The pinkish stains I believe may be red wine. Luckily they are in a good location if they won’t clean up.

 

[belfastboy]

A fun clean up project for me. If I can’t revive it... nothing lost either.

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These are always fun projects to take on....more fun if they turn out well but to me fun nonetheless.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/164341043135

Is it time to start selling off many of our Stetson homburgs, or am I missing something here? This hat sold for serious coin. Why?
Other than its 3/8 size it looks like just another grey/blue late 50s fairly short brimmed homburg, right?
The seller was really good with the description, is that all it takes? If so, I’m going to have to step up my sales game.

I think it's that on the first picture the color looks greenish. Few people realized that the true color was that of the underbrim, which is just plain gray

 

[drmaxtejeda]

I just won this Oviatt's straw on Ebay. Interesting weave.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

I am a little distraught that I missed out on an auction that ended today for what I think is an Optimo hat block that was 5 inches in height and 7 1/8 size. The strange thing is the block was labelled BOHM where I expected to see Optimo, maybe it is the name of the maker? Anyway, someone got a hell of a deal at $25. Seems the block was made by M.A. Cumming Co. of New York

 

[Blare]

Straight outta the pages of the old Miller Stockman catalogs... Thanks to a tip off from @BobHufford i had this one on my radar... but managed to blank out and forget to bid even though I was staring straight at it and it went unsold. I immediately messaged the Seller offering to buy it. He had relisted the item but accepted my offer.. he just needed to figure out how to do it... but Then cut off communication. So the hat continued to haunt me for another nine days of its second auction. So in the end... my brain fart cost me an extra six bucks and 9 days... but it’s finally on its way.

I’ve actually been on the lookout for something similar to this one for a while now.. so I’m kinda excited to get it in hand.