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

[Rmccamey]

It is always great to find such history in a hat. Congrats.

So here's an interesting hat that I found on the bay. I haven't really seen a Dobbs with the 3 stitch brim edge before although with the loss of early photos on the site it's hard to tell. The brim is somewhat stiff and the crown is pretty pliable, kind of a cool hat, price tag, but no liner.

The most interesting thing about the hat is it's former owner Dr Arthur T Kemper... or should I say his father Dr GWH Kemper (General William Harrison) who was a Civil War General that was a surgeon. I found that part really appeals to the history buff in me. Last photo is from the Library of Congress.

The tag is 50's and since the original owner died in 1954 that would seriously narrow down the hat's date to 70 years old or more.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

So here's an interesting hat that I found on the bay. I haven't really seen a Dobbs with the 3 stitch brim edge before although with the loss of early photos on the site it's hard to tell. The brim is somewhat stiff and the crown is pretty pliable, kind of a cool hat, price tag, but no liner.

The most interesting thing about the hat is it's former owner Dr Arthur T Kemper... or should I say his father Dr GWH Kemper (General William Harrison) who was a Civil War General that was a surgeon. I found that part really appeals to the history buff in me. Last photo is from the Library of Congress.

The tag is 50's and since the original owner died in 1954 that would seriously narrow down the hat's date to 70 years old or more.

Nice find! Good idea Arthur had with the rubber stamp. General Kemper died in 1927. His son in 1954.

 

[georgie girl]

It is always great to find such history in a hat. Congrats.

I agree, thanks

Nice find! Good idea Arthur had with the rubber stamp. General Kemper died in 1927. His son in 1954.

Thanks, yeah very surprised to see the rubber stamp (multiples) made looking him up very easy.

 

[TimmyV]

Here's some pix of a Royal DeLuxe Stetson Twenty Open Road that I picked up on e-bay for 52.00, which I thought was a bargain despite it looking kinda rough in the ad. First 2 pics are as found.
Once I got it home I used some Bickmore foaming hat cleaner to see if I could improve the looks. Apparently the Bickmore foaming hat cleaner had some effect on the thin ribbon hatband and changed it to a rose color. Odd that it didn't do the same on the brim edge binding but no worries. I kinda like the outcome as it really stands out against my other Open Road hats.

 

[Blare]

Here's some pix of a Royal DeLuxe Stetson Twenty Open Road that I picked up on e-bay for 52.00, which I thought was a bargain despite it looking kinda rough in the ad. First 2 pics are as found.
Once I got it home I used some Bickmore foaming hat cleaner to see if I could improve the looks. Apparently the Bickmore foaming hat cleaner had some effect on the thin ribbon hatband and changed it to a rose color. Odd that it didn't do the same on the brim edge binding but no worries. I kinda like the outcome as it really stands out against my other Open Road hats.
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That really cleaned up nicely, Tim.

 

[TimmyV]

That really cleaned up nicely, Tim.

Thanks Joe... even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then !! Lol

 

[RickP]

I have a side hobby of collecting Stetson advertising. One group I have original ads is a 1939-1941 joint ad campaign between Stetson, Boeing Aircraft, and TWA airlines. The ads always showed a fellow in a Stetson Stratoliner hat, getting on or off a Boeing 307 Stratolner, And the planes were all in TWA paint. Big deal back then as this was the first commercial pressurized cabin passenger plane that could comfortably fly high up above weather and turbulance.

Being a Stetson Stratoliner hat fan it was an easy draw for me.

Now go back to about 2000 when the last surviving Boeing 307 Stratoliner went through a total restoration in order to fly it to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. in 2002 When the restoration was all done they did a few days of flight testing. On the last test flight before flying it to Virginia, Someone goofed and forgot to fuel the plane up. They took off and after a half hour or so reported that the fuel gauges werent functioning. Then the engines cut out and they had to ditch in the water of Seattles Elliot Bay a mile or so short of the Boeing Field runway. ( gauges were evidently fine...they just ran out of fuel). Definately a oh Crap! moment. Had to do another total cleaning and restore due to the salt water bath before it finally made it to the Smithsonian. On my last trip to Seattle I was driving down I-5 and actually saw this poor plane bobbing in the water minutes after it set down in the water.

(Bear with me... I know this is a long winded story lol). During the restoration they made up a ballcap with a nicely embroradered old style Boeing Logo with the "Stratoliner" name ove the logo, and the NC registration number of the plane on the back. The workers and company execs all got one, and Im pretty sure the Boeing Museum of Flight Gift shop sold them to tourists. Anyway I saw one on ebay a while back and figured it would fit perfectly with the Stratliner ads Ive got. Ive got Stetson Stratoliner matchbooks, and eventually will find a set of the Stationary, pencils, and playing cards that Stetson/ TWA/ Boeing gave to passengers. Guess Ill have to keep and eye out for a clean original silver Stratoliner oval hat box as well lol

Makes for a nice corner in the Stetson shrine ( the dining room)

Always funny to see what one can find on ebay at 2am lol

 

[The Shoe]

I have a side hobby of collecting Stetson advertising. One group I have original ads is a 1939-1941 joint ad campaign between Stetson, Boeing Aircraft, and TWA airlines. The ads always showed a fellow in a Stetson Stratoliner hat, getting on or off a Boeing 307 Stratolner, And the planes were all in TWA paint. Big deal back then as this was the first commercial pressurized cabin passenger plane that could comfortably fly high up above weather and turbulance.

Being a Stetson Stratoliner hat fan it was an easy draw for me.

Now go back to about 2000 when the last surviving Boeing 307 Stratoliner went through a total restoration in order to fly it to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. in 2002 When the restoration was all done they did a few days of flight testing. On the last test flight before flying it to Virginia, Someone goofed and forgot to fuel the plane up. They took off and after a half hour or so reported that the fuel gauges werent functioning. Then the engines cut out and they had to ditch in the water of Seattles Elliot Bay a mile or so short of the Boeing Field runway. ( gauges were evidently fine...they just ran out of fuel). Definately a oh Crap! moment. Had to do another total cleaning and restore due to the salt water bath before it finally made it to the Smithsonian. On my last trip to Seattle I was driving down I-5 and actually saw this poor plane bobbing in the water minutes after it set down in the water.

(Bear with me... I know this is a long winded story lol). During the restoration they made up a ballcap with a nicely embroradered old style Boeing Logo with the "Stratoliner" name ove the logo, and the NC registration number of the plane on the back. The workers and company execs all got one, and Im pretty sure the Boeing Museum of Flight Gift shop sold them to tourists. Anyway I saw one on ebay a while back and figured it would fit perfectly with the Stratliner ads Ive got. Ive got Stetson Stratoliner matchbooks, and eventually will find a set of the Stationary, pencils, and playing cards that Stetson/ TWA/ Boeing gave to passengers. Guess Ill have to keep and eye out for a clean original silver Stratoliner hat box as well lol

Makes for a nice corner in the Stetson shrine ( the dining room)

Always funny to see what one can find on ebay at 2am lol

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Sounds like you have some stuff to add to this thread: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hatters-cleaners-and-dyers.99090/

 

[DiamondJimLA]

Just got this Akubra Kiandra today, eBay find. Seller said it was only worn once and I believe that, it is basically brand new. $62 plus shipping.

 

[Blare]

This one is a defeat for me… but should be a big win for whoever picked it up. We must have both been clicking buy it now at the same time I waited about a week to see if it showed up here before posting to avoid stealing anyone’s thunder. What a unique wine color felt and cool bucking bronco liner on this Stevens Royalist western!

 

[Blare]

Look what is out for delivery this morning… a bit earlier than expected

 

[RickP]

Took a chance on a older cute little Stetson Royal Deluxe Gun Club. Thought Id like to have a shorter brim Gun Club. ( I have a few but theyre all 2-1/2- 3-1/2" brims) The pics kinda looked like a longhair hat in the ad, but in person its just a little fuzzy lol . Brim is 1-3/4" with the edge rolled under and stitched. Little different than most of my hats, (smaller) but it should make for a nice knock-around-town-hat. Hats in pretty nice shape and just needs to knock some dust off do some cleanup. Ill remove the crinkly cellophane liner cover and give the liner some woolite cleaning. Its a gold tint satin, so it should clean up nicely. Will do some leather treatment too so the sweat wont fall apart from dry rot.


Guess Im still going to be on the hunt for a nice long hair hat lol

 

[RickP]

Humm.... I hit the gun club with a bit of steam and the front corner dents popped right out into a smooth rounded crown.
The corner dents looked good, but I kind of like it like this... Almost a bowler look on the crown

Nice problem to have... I like both. Nice to get an ebay hat that didnt require surgery lol

 

[Rmccamey]

Nice catch, Joe.

Look what is out for delivery this morning… a bit earlier than expected

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[Blare]

Took a chance on a older cute little Stetson Royal Deluxe Gun Club. Thought Id like to have a shorter brim Gun Club. ( I have a few but theyre all 2-1/2- 3-1/2" brims) The pics kinda looked like a longhair hat in the ad, but in person its just a little fuzzy lol . Brim is 1-3/4" with the edge rolled under and stitched. Little different than most of my hats, (smaller) but it should make for a nice knock-around-town-hat. Hats in pretty nice shape and just needs to knock some dust off do some cleanup. Ill remove the crinkly cellophane liner cover and give the liner some woolite cleaning. Its a gold tint satin, so it should clean up nicely. Will do some leather treatment too so the sweat wont fall apart from dry rot.


Guess Im still going to be on the hunt for a nice long hair hat lol


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Nice heathered felt.

 

[Blare]

Nice catch, Joe.

Thanks Randy

 

[moehawk]

Look what is out for delivery this morning… a bit earlier than expected

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The Bird is the word!

 

[Blare]

The Bird is the word!

 

[Blare]

 

[RickP]

New hats today part one........ Got three new-to-me hats in today. On my wall I have a Silverbelly LLBean Moose River, And a Dark Olive Green Cabelas Three Forks. Found another Royal Stetson/ Cabelas Three Forks In a lighter Green/ Tan. 2-1/4" brim raw edge brim. This ones was worn enough to wear off some of the sweatband embossing, and has what looks like a hat pin hole right up front above the hat band ( Not bad but I know its there lol), but hat is in pretty nice condition. The spots on the underside of the brim look way worse in the picture than it actually looks in person... just a shadow effect. These aren't dress hats anyway. If it bothers me too much Ill just sew on a 1" grosgrain ribbon and bow and cover the hole. Other that that it just needs some dusting and a woolite bath and ironing for the liner. Now Ive got a better choice of colors. Ill fire up the steamer later on for some touch up, but these hats are in really nice shape.