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

[BobHufford]

Paging Bob H. (et al)
What'd I just buy and what can I expect ?

I can't recall owning a Beaver Brand 10X level specifically. Others here have so hopefully they will chime in. Congrats on the new hat!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I can't recall owning a Beaver Brand 10X level specifically. Others here have so hopefully they will chime in. Congrats on the new hat!

I’ve owned/own a couple. They’re decent hats, but not exceptional. The felt on mine were quite stiff, but the build quality was solid. I’ve also had good luck reshaping them. I believe Terry @T Jones has said good things about them when he’s used them for conversions.

 

[T Jones]

I’ve owned/own a couple. They’re decent hats, but not exceptional. The felt on mine were quite stiff, but the build quality was solid. I’ve also had good luck reshaping them. I believe Terry @T Jones has said good things about them when he’s used them for conversions.

Stiff as a board, (like other brands of the time), but I'm happy with it. I'd say the quality is every bit as good as a Stetson or a Resistol from the same era. I'd sure get another one if the opportunity ever came up.
This is the Beaver Brand that I refurbished and restyled. I put a new ribbon on it with a double pointed bow, put on a new brim binding, new sweat, and reused the original red liner and sweat bow...

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

Thank you Fellas.

T Jones, really love what you've been doing with hats, one you just posted is no exception.
That bow vs crease and brim seem like styles we don't often see together but should as it works really nice here!

 

[T Jones]

Thank you Fellas.

T Jones, really love what you've been doing with hats, one you just posted is no exception.
That bow vs crease and brim seem like styles we don't often see together but should as it works really nice here!

Thank you buddy! I appreciate that.

 

[Blare]

Stiff as a board, (like other brands of the time), but I'm happy with it. I'd say the quality is every bit as good as a Stetson or a Resistol from the same era. I'd sure get another one if the opportunity ever came up.
This is the Beaver Brand that I refurbished and restyled. I put a new ribbon on it with a double pointed bow, put on a new brim binding, new sweat, and reused the original red liner and sweat bow...

That looks fantastic Terry

 

[T Jones]

That looks fantastic Terry

Thank Blare!

 

[Lefty W.]

Someone got a good deal on an antique hat stretcher. Was it anybody here?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224310457170?ul_noapp=true

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Someone got a good deal on an antique hat stretcher. Was it anybody here?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224310457170?ul_noapp=true

Wasn’t me, but I have two that I need to move on if you’re interested (not as old or “artistic” as the one that just sold).

 

[Lefty W.]

Wasn’t me, but I have two that I need to move on if you’re interested (not as old or “artistic” as the one that just sold).

DH - I might be interested; message sent.

 

[Just Daniel]

The Japan hat market looks on fire this week. Very interesting.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

The Japan hat market looks on fire this week. Very interesting.

I’ve noticed that too. Some crazy prices and a lot of inaccuracies in the listings.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This hat went cheap. I think most didn’t see through the odd pinned brim.

 

[new2hats]

Never heard of this, rare Youngs bowler size 7 1/9. Anyone have one like it in your stash??

 

[Snowman]

This hat went cheap. I think most didn’t see through the odd pinned brim.

View attachment 302126 View attachment 302127 View attachment 302128 View attachment 302129 View attachment 302130 View attachment 302131 View attachment 302132

I saw that hat. I knew a lounger would end up with it.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

A very special eBay victory.
Snagged this mid 30s black Dobbs Homburg called the, “Pilgrim”.
Link below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254809885383

Seller said it was a 40s/50s model, but I knew better. He also implied that the leather sweatband was loose in spots. Also wrong. It was completely unattached. If you look closely at the somewhat disguised photos you can see that it was detached.
Fine with me. That’s why I got her so cheap! $50 for a 30s Dobbs in perfect mint condition—except for the loose sweatband? Yes, please!
I wet and reblocked the crown to a size bigger, then hand stitched the completely supple 2 1/16” sweat back in.
Finally, a reedless sweatband that I could sew on that hadn’t suffered from dry rot!
Made it much easier, but what didn’t make it easier was the amount of sew holes that very early sweatbands had. One every 32nd inch!! Had to dye some yellow thread to a brown/orange color so it would blend in correctly with the color of the leather.
Sewing in this sweat is the hardest thing thing I’ve ever done on a hat. Anyone who’s ever tried this knows what I’m talking about. I had to sew directly to the felt. Some reedless sweats are hand sewn to pre-sewn machine stitching around the perimeter of the crown opening, as this one was, but that stitching had completely rotted.
Whew! Glad it’s over and now I can enjoy the 2nd mid 30s hat I’ve ever owned.

As you can see in this pic the basting stitches in the top side of the ribbon are still intact.

 

[Blare]

View attachment 302643 A very special eBay victory.
Snagged this mid 30s black Dobbs Homburg called the, “Pilgrim”.
Link below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254809885383

Seller said it was a 40s/50s model, but I knew better. He also implied that the leather sweatband was loose in spots. Also wrong. It was completely unattached. If you look closely at the somewhat disguised photos you can see that it was detached.
Fine with me. That’s why I got her so cheap! $50 for a 30s Dobbs in perfect mint condition—except for the loose sweatband? Yes, please!
I wet and reblocked the crown to a size bigger, then hand stitched the completely supple 2 1/16” sweat back in.
Finally, a reedless sweatband that I could sew on that hadn’t suffered from dry rot!
Made it much easier, but what didn’t make it easier was the amount of sew holes that very early sweatbands had. One every 32nd inch!! Had to dye some yellow thread to a brown/orange color so it would blend in correctly with the color of the leather.
Sewing in this sweat is the hardest thing thing I’ve ever done on a hat. Anyone who’s ever tried this knows what I’m talking about. I had to sew directly to the felt. Some reedless sweats are hand sewn to pre-sewn machine stitching around the perimeter of the crown opening, as this one was, but that stitching had completely rotted.
Whew! Glad it’s over and now I can enjoy the 2nd mid 30s hat I’ve ever owned. View attachment 302638
View attachment 302644 View attachment 302639 View attachment 302640 View attachment 302642 View attachment 302641 As you can see in this pic the basting stitches in the top side of the ribbon are still intact.

Damn Randall. Wonderful job.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Damn Randall. Wonderful job.

Thanks, Joe!

 

[Rmccamey]

Most excellent, Randall! Love that brim curl.

View attachment 302643 A very special eBay victory.
Snagged this mid 30s black Dobbs Homburg called the, “Pilgrim”.
Link below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254809885383

Seller said it was a 40s/50s model, but I knew better. He also implied that the leather sweatband was loose in spots. Also wrong. It was completely unattached. If you look closely at the somewhat disguised photos you can see that it was detached.
Fine with me. That’s why I got her so cheap! $50 for a 30s Dobbs in perfect mint condition—except for the loose sweatband? Yes, please!
I wet and reblocked the crown to a size bigger, then hand stitched the completely supple 2 1/16” sweat back in.
Finally, a reedless sweatband that I could sew on that hadn’t suffered from dry rot!
Made it much easier, but what didn’t make it easier was the amount of sew holes that very early sweatbands had. One every 32nd inch!! Had to dye some yellow thread to a brown/orange color so it would blend in correctly with the color of the leather.
Sewing in this sweat is the hardest thing thing I’ve ever done on a hat. Anyone who’s ever tried this knows what I’m talking about. I had to sew directly to the felt. Some reedless sweats are hand sewn to pre-sewn machine stitching around the perimeter of the crown opening, as this one was, but that stitching had completely rotted.
Whew! Glad it’s over and now I can enjoy the 2nd mid 30s hat I’ve ever owned. View attachment 302638
View attachment 302644 View attachment 302639 View attachment 302640 View attachment 302642 View attachment 302641 As you can see in this pic the basting stitches in the top side of the ribbon are still intact.

 

[BobHufford]

View attachment 302643 A very special eBay victory.
Snagged this mid 30s black Dobbs Homburg called the, “Pilgrim”.

Great save Randall! Beautiful hat ...