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

[Viper Man]

I have been having a great week at ebay. First, I scored a 50s Open Road for $35 and two days later I won a Cavanagh stingy for the opening bid of $9.99. Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you. [huh]

 

[Ande1964]

I was extremely sorry to lose this auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...0933&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab=Watching

I think the Bowman Hat Company was a East Tennessee operation. I can't tell if it is still in business. This was a sweet looking hat and in retrospect I should have bid higher, I think.

Sorry about that! Well... kinda sorry...

I'll keep you in mind if it doesn't work out for me. My high bid wasn't much higher than I paid, so I was a little surprised to win. I've been looking for a nice porkpie for a long, long time. I'm hoping this one, while it will require a little stretching, will fit the bill.

Anj

 

[Tango Yankee]

Not that there's any way of finding out, or that it really has any bearing on anything, but I wonder: What percentage of vintage hat buyers on ebay are members or lurkers here on The Fedora Lounge?

Just a random thought...

Tom

 

[AlanC]

^I'd say a pretty sizeable percentage.

 

[Lon Goval]

Stetson Porkpie

I recently won a Royal Deluxe Stetson Porkpie in 7 3/8 LO (very similar to the Bollman photo), thinking I might be able to stretch it. But after seeing it on my head, I realize it's not my style. I was also worried that after stretching the brim would distort.

Two questions though: When was it common to place the Ribbon Bow at the rear of the hat (I have another Royal Stetson with rear bow), and do people snap the front brim down on Porkpies or do they generally keep it snapped up?

 

[Viper Man]

I believe the back bow came back into popularity in the 50s. I have two Stetsons one from the late 40s-early 50s (Royal Stetson) and one from the early to mid 50s (Stetson 15 3 X) that have the bow in back. I always wear my porkpies with the brim up but mine are 2" or shorter brims and I just feel they look better that way.

 

[Spellflower]

It would be worth a lot more if it were a size 7 3/8 or larger, but these hats aren't really that rare in size 7. Still, this was a heckuva deal, an the buyer is sure to turn a profit on it.

 

[HamletJSD]

It must be the size ...
I haven't even been watching ebay much lately, but I did see that one. WAY too small for me.

Great catch! :eusa_clap

 

[Tango Yankee]

Oh, it will be back on eBay before long, accompanied by some very good photos and an overblown, cliche-ridden but very likely effective sales pitch. Sell the sizzle, you know.

I find it odd that he bought it--he usually doesn't go near that high when he's buying. Doesn't leave a lot of room for profit, especially when you add shipping to the overall cost. But you're right, we'll likely see it again.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[bolthead]

wow...

How'd I miss that one? :eusa_doh:

 

[tonyb]

If he's true to form, he'll mention the size near the end his little narrative.

The guy's shtick leaves me rolling my eyes, but his customers seem to like him well enough, judging by his feedback scores. So, what the heck. A certain amount of hucksterism is inherent to the buying and selling of stuff of this nature, I suppose.

 

[bolthead]

Sorry about that! Well... kinda sorry...

I'll keep you in mind if it doesn't work out for me. My high bid wasn't much higher than I paid, so I was a little surprised to win. I've been looking for a nice porkpie for a long, long time. I'm hoping this one, while it will require a little stretching, will fit the bill.

Anj

Well I think you found yourself a beauty Anj.

 

[HamletJSD]

I just posted this in the "Post your new hats here" thread, but it seems it would be a better fit here.

This is a new eBay win (only my second hat from ebay) that I have not received yet. I am not sure what I bought into here, despite the illuminating description and model photos ...

CHAMP HAT

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A LIGHT GRAY HAT COULD NOT GET TRUE COLOR TO TAKE

EXCELLENT CONDITION BOX HAS SOME DAMAGE

At least I know it's vintage and light grey! For $15 I think I'll be happy

 

[jimmy the lid]

I have to say, I just about fell out of my chair when I saw this lid, since it is a dead ringer for a Stetson 3X I acquired a while back...

Stetson Vogue:

My 3X:

I gotta say, I was wondering whether any of our Size 7-ish Loungers would nab the Vogue. It is an extraordinary lid, in what looks to be superb condition.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Tango Yankee]

^ Heck, Jimmy, it looks like the only difference is the rows of stitching on the brim binding of the Vogue!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[jimmy the lid]

^ Heck, Jimmy, it looks like the only difference is the rows of stitching on the brim binding of the Vogue!

Yup -- good eye, Tom. Other Vogues pictured on the Lounge also have the single row of stitching, so I guess this particular detail varied over time. In general, I love that fact that the Vogue has a wide binding on the top of the brim, but it is narrower on the bottom of the brim, with an extra row of stitching -- very cool:

Cheers,
JtL

 

[AlanC]

^JtL, is that 3x yet bashed in the JTL C-Crown® or has it maintained its center dentedness?

 

[carouselvic]

If he's true to form, he'll mention the size near the end his little narrative.



The guy's shtick leaves me rolling my eyes, but his customers seem to like him well enough, judging by his feedback scores. So, what the heck. A certain amount of hucksterism is inherent to the buying and selling of stuff of this nature, I suppose.

He spends too much time blowin' on the fur instead of gettin' to the hide.

No amount of his blarney will sell a hat to me. If I want a novel I'll go to the library. I look at 100 or more hats a day and I have learned to spot his auctions. Ninety percent of the time they are 6 7/8 to 7 1/8 in size. I'm sorry for the rant.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

It would be worth a lot more if it were a size 7 3/8 or larger, but these hats aren't really that rare in size 7. Still, this was a heckuva deal, an the buyer is sure to turn a profit on it.

"these hats aren't really that rare", your kidding right? This is only the 3rd that I have seen including mine. Ask James Powers how many he has seen. If you know where these are plentiful, please let us in on the location. It by far is the #1 hat that I own. Until you have had one in your hand, it is beyond compare.

 

[ideaguy]

there was a question about what category to look for Fedoras-how about when the guys with the new baseball caps with porno & coke ads slather the "Vintage" hat listings? what category is that? the stuff is brand new, says so in the copy-and yet there they are, day in and out- some pretty deprecating stuff toward women, and some caps kids are gonna buy and surprize Mom with when they get thrown out of school for wearing one.
Seems like the practice of scattering goods all over eBay is not a mistake, but pretty well crafted, and eBay doesn't give a hoot-these guys spend a lot in listing fees... just burns my bunions to see that stuff next to a decent hat that someone took some time to shoot, write about, etc.; gotta feel for the seller of the real "Vintage" hat when he's surrounded by the junk out there. my rant on auctions.