Hat Stretcher I just bought...questions...

[PabloElFlamenco]

Hi guys, I just won this on eBay, from the Pyrinees mountains in France...

Obviously, it's a hat stretcher and my guess is, it's a good one.

I have yet to receive it, but I understand from the eBay offering that it would be marked "60". Now, that seems very likely to be a reference to size (60 cm being American 7-1/2 size). I do not know if this means it is "exactly" size 60, or maybe "maximum" size 60, or whatever. Would any of you know what it means? My size is 7-1/8 (57) and I would of course hope to use the thing with my size in mind...

What would render a "60" hat stretcher "inoperable" referred to my "57" size? Would I have to sandpaper the stretcher down to fit my size? Obviously, I'd rather drop that idea altogether...

I suppose this ...millenary tool... would be perfect for increasing the size of small hats a notch. I also suppose it would have to be employed with wet felt (or steamed felt), and without the (leather) sweatband being submitted to stretching. Any tips here are welcome, thank you.

Paul

P.S. I also won a 7x Stetson "Open Road" style hat, with medium brown sweatband. I have a hunch this might be a spectacular hat (basing myself on previous posts on this forum). Wait 'n see.

 

[Lefty]

Congrats on the purchase. I've seen those on ebay in the past, but yours is a very nice example.

I'm not sure how they sized hat stretchers. I've got one of the more basic ones, like this

Mine says 6 3/4 on it, but opens to a 7 1/2 - my size. I can't imagine a hat stretcher starting with a size 7 1/2, as there just aren't many sizes above that.

 

[tonyb]

I can't imagine a hat stretcher starting with a size 7 1/2, as there just aren't many sizes above that.

I suspect that's right.

Looks like a good one, Pablo. The beauty of that type is that it stretches the entire crown, rather than just that bit of it at the opening, as is the case with the more common type.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

No, dear Kabuto, this is not "holy crap": it is a hat stretcher, and if you have a fancy to get real smart, it has nothing to do with Tchaikovski's suite or the garrot of ancient Spanish infamity lol
Of course, thanks for the reactions, so far. I agree it must be impossible that it starts at "60", unless of course it be intended for those Pyrenees giants from the tale of Gargantua lol
Kabuto's remark does have the benefit of putting me on my toes and, yes, be careful when I try it out.
Indeed, it looks like it stretches the whole crown, so should be good at avoiding taper.
Paul

 

[Panama Hat Man]

We have a couple of these for our business and use them all the time. They work really well if you want to stretch a hat just a couple of sizes. You will need to leave the hat on for a day or two. Occassionally, I will put my own hats(an old vintage one which is a little small) on one and only stretch it for a short period of time(15 min), but it seems to shrink back in no time at all.

I would be surprised if it was for size 60 and up, as ours work from about a size 55 on up to 64.

Anyway, it looks like it is in good nick. They are certainly hard to come by these days.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks Panama Hat Man. Your reply is pertinent. Meanwhile, the rather massive thing arrived, at first, it didn't move, totally stuck, but cleaning out the muck on the screw, and removing rust on the three guiderods, some ...olive oil... and it works perfectly. In view of there being some wormholes in the wood, I treated it with some chemical wormkilling furniture wax, and now it's been standing outside in the freezing temperatures for a few days, matter of making sure the weevils are stone dead. Since then, I bought some WD40 which we ran out of, and general lubrication oil, I'll fill the little holes with synthetic wood filler, give all a good waxing with furniture wax and...presto. BTW, there's a scale, and the maximum size is "60" cm. My size, "57" shows as "7" so it's British measures, not American.
Stretching hats will not be any problem now, just have to be very careful not to overdo it...
I'm seriously considering doing a starter's hattery course being offered by my (lady) hatter. I would like to be able to sew in sweatbands, liners and ribbons...

 

[RBH]

Looks like a neat stretcher, I like that it does the whole crown.
Let us know when you use it.

 

[bolthead]

Is it possible to make one of these from an old Block?
It seems to me that....that's what they're originally made from to start with? [huh]

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Well, Bolthead, theoretically you are of course fully correct.

You don't even have to destroy an old block for it: the "block" part of the contraption is basically only a rounded (on top) "pole", turned in a lathe to give it some more elegance and, thereafter, sawn in two on the vertical plane.

The "screw" fits into metal "nuts" embedded into both halves of the "block", which is guided by 2 (bottom) and 1 (top) guides, sliding into corresponding holes, to prevent the block from tilting when exerting force.

So, theoretically, it is easy enough. Between that and actually doing the job, procuring the screw and other parts, is another piece of cake. Maybe something could be worked out on the basis or an old car jack?

Engineers and woodworkers: let loose!

 

[cooncatbob]

You can get Acme threaded rod and nuts in various sizes here.
http://www.mcmaster.com/

 

[Boodles]

PabloElFlamenco - Please take care with the WD-40

One of the properties of products like WD-40 is the tendancy to displace moisture which is not at all healthy for the wood on such a wonderful old piece like your yours. I would spray the WD-40 carefully or just use paste furniture wax on the threads. This looks to be a first rate tool. I am envious.

Thanks Panama Hat Man... Since then, I bought some WD40 which we ran out of, and general lubrication oil, I'll fill the little holes with synthetic wood filler, give all a good waxing with furniture wax and...presto. BTW, there's a scale, and the maximum size is "60" cm. My size, "57" shows as "7" so it's British measures, not American... I would like to be able to sew in sweatbands, liners and ribbons...

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks Boodles, I stand warned and will be very careful then; so far the only harm done is with ...very little olive oil.
Cooncatbob, thank you too. Who will take up the challenge?

I recently saw a piece on (French? I don't properly recall, but undoubtedly) TV, alleging that in the whole world, there would only be four producers of wooden blocks, all of them...lol lol ...where else?...in France. I know that to be, at least, not entirely the truth: there is at least one in Australia and one in the United Kingdom, and some one makes plastic "blocking forms" in the USA. But, indeed, such equipment appears to be rare, and needs to be "protected from disappearance".

 

[cookie]

Strand Hatters have a couple in their shop and some out back that Rob uses to stretch hats. He has one that stretches them when they are warm! They are good though as he reminds me many hats have blocks hardwired in to them that just ache to reconform to the default size. As he says "The bane of my life!"