Help me find this hat?

[AbbaDatDeHat]

How in the world ...?! My thread ended up being moved inside illumin8ems thread ...! I certainly did not mean to intrude.

Mods merged you thread into another old find hat thread.
For $100 max i think your best bet would be a Playboy on eBay. Maybe you will get lucky. It happens.
There are many hats out there that would satisfy your soft, thin, moldable felt that we all seek but those qualities come at a price. That’s the nature of fine felt hats.
Good luck in your search.
B

 

[belfastboy]

Mods merged you thread into another old find hat thread.
For $100 max i think your best bet would be a Playboy on eBay. Maybe you will get lucky. It happens.
There are many hats out there that would satisfy your soft, thin, moldable felt that we all seek but those qualities come at a price. That’s the nature of fine felt hats.
Good luck in your search.
B

As he is a 59cm I think finding decent vintage for $100 or less is asking a lot. And sifting through all the drek on Ebay is daunting even for those with a smidge of knowledge.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

As he is a 59cm I think finding decent vintage for $100 or less is asking a lot. And sifting through all the drek on Ebay is daunting even for those with a smidge of knowledge.

True. I know.
I was trying not to burst his bubble totally.
B

 

[belfastboy]

True. I know.
I was trying not to burst his bubble totally.
B

I think the best we all can do is enjoy the hunt because it is often more work than result.

 

[Terrier]

Or else I'll get a newer, stiff hat, and keep it out in the rain, beat it, steam it, ... until it finally gets softer, or reshaped the way I am comfortable with. It can't stay perfectly geometrical forever.

 

[belfastboy]

Or else I'll get a newer, stiff hat, and keep it out in the rain, beat it, steam it, ... until it finally gets softer, or reshaped the way I am comfortable with. It can't stay perfectly geometrical forever.

I have Akubra Sydney and its precursor Madison they are both soft felts that mold easily. You might check with the US distributor David Morgan as to their current softness...mine are 10 and 25 years old so I can't speak to the current models. Run you a bit more than the $100 but they are great hats for the money in middle of the road proportions....4 1/2" bashed crown, 2 1/2" brim

 

[Terrier]

I am not a fan of trilby hats. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think they look creepy. If we talk "gangster hats", that's the model, if you ask me. Like Connery in Dr. No, when he puts on the trilby he is transformed from elegant man to a nightmarish figure. I think it it because the hat doesn't give the impression of having any practical purpose or function.

So my point is that I am quite concerned about the width of the rim. I want a sensibly wide rim, that gives me protection from the sun. On the other hand I don't want a wide-brimmed cowboy hat either, because I am not in that social context. I guess I am looking for a bourgeois middle-ground.
Is 6cm (2.36") a good width, in line with the Stetson Playboy? Or is it on the narrow side? Was the Playboy a consistent definite model, or did its form and brim-width vary in style? Or did the brim simply widen as hat size increased?

 

[jlee562]

I am not a fan of trilby hats. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think they look creepy. If we talk "gangster hats", that's the model, if you ask me. Like Connery in Dr. No, when he puts on the trilby he is transformed from elegant man to a nightmarish figure. I think it it because the hat doesn't give the impression of having any practical purpose or function.

So my point is that I am quite concerned about the width of the rim. I want a sensibly wide rim, that gives me protection from the sun. On the other hand I don't want a wide-brimmed cowboy hat either, because I am not in that social context. I guess I am looking for a bourgeois middle-ground.
Is 6cm (2.36") a good width, in line with the Stetson Playboy? Or is it on the narrow side? Was the Playboy a consistent definite model, or did its form and brim-width vary in style? Or did the brim simply widen as hat size increased?

JMHO, the middle ground for "medium width" brims is 2 1/4" - 2 3/4"...this entirely arbitrary distinction is just where I personally make the delineation, YMMV.

The Playboy had a few iterations and brim widths. It was a longstanding model for a few decades, you can see the collected variants in the Playboys on Parade thread: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/playboys-on-parade.9386/

 

[belfastboy]

I am not a fan of trilby hats. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think they look creepy. If we talk "gangster hats", that's the model, if you ask me. Like Connery in Dr. No, when he puts on the trilby he is transformed from elegant man to a nightmarish figure. I think it it because the hat doesn't give the impression of having any practical purpose or function.

So my point is that I am quite concerned about the width of the rim. I want a sensibly wide rim, that gives me protection from the sun. On the other hand I don't want a wide-brimmed cowboy hat either, because I am not in that social context. I guess I am looking for a bourgeois middle-ground.
Is 6cm (2.36") a good width, in line with the Stetson Playboy? Or is it on the narrow side? Was the Playboy a consistent definite model, or did its form and brim-width vary in style? Or did the brim simply widen as hat size increased?

IMHO, the brim width appearance is somewhat contingent on the crown height....they do work together.

For me the sweet spot for a fedora brim starts at 2 1/2" with a bashed crown height of 4 1/2 - 4 3/4" at the front. To me a 2 3/8" is a little on the narrow side and closer to the Trilby look than I like. If I have a fuller crown I will get a brim that is as wide as 2 7/8". I am 6', 215lbs and a 7 3/8" hat size.

 

[Terrier]

Here is one (Stetson Playboy) I like the looks of, currently available on Ebay. Quite expensive too. But too small for me (a 7"). The brim is only 2 1/4", but looks great.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Here is one (Stetson Playboy) I like the looks of, currently available on Ebay. Quite expensive too. But too small for me (a 7"). The brim is only 2 1/4", but looks great.

There aren’t any hard and fast rules but 2 1/4” puts it in the stingy brim/trilby camp to my eye. Then again, I thought Connery looked dapper and the man of his time in his trilby.

I have a larger head and my own preferences. For a dress hat and pulled-together look my brims start at 2 5/8” wide. Most of my hats are worn more casually and have brims that are larger than that. I prefer taller crowns too. I still have a few stingy brims and I enjoy wearing them on the right occasion.

The good news is that if you decide on a shorter 2 1/4” brim you can usually find them at much lower costs than their wide brim brothers.

 

[belfastboy]

Here is one (Stetson Playboy) I like the looks of, currently available on Ebay. Quite expensive too. But too small for me (a 7"). The brim is only 2 1/4", but looks great.

Check out MiamiBruno's listings on Ebay. He lists great hats at fair prices. not many in our size but from time to time has them

 

[Frunobulax]

There aren’t any hard and fast rules but 2 1/4” puts it in the stingy brim/trilby camp to my eye. Then again, I thought Connery looked dapper and the man of his time in his trilby.

View attachment 279225

I have a larger head and my own preferences. For a dress hat and pulled-together look my brims start at 2 5/8” wide. Most of my hats are worn more casually and have brims that are larger than that. I prefer taller crowns too. I still have a few stingy brims and I enjoy wearing them on the right occasion.

The good news is that if you decide on a shorter 2 1/4” brim you can usually find them at much lower costs than their wide brim brothers.

I'd say with your size, a 2 1/4" is a stingy. To me, it's the bottom rung before stingy.

I don't wanna see Connery - or anybody else - in their Trilby. Eewww!

 

[Terrier]

There aren’t any hard and fast rules but 2 1/4” puts it in the stingy brim/trilby camp to my eye. ...

Perhaps also the same 2 1/4" brim would have appeared much narrower on a 7 3/8" hat for my head, than it does on that 7" in the picture.

Conner does look dapper in his trilby, but also very hard. Then again, he is a ruthless secret agent after all. Very different from a Cary Grant, James Stewart, Bogart look, with wider brim.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I'd say with your size, a 2 1/4" is a stingy. To me, it's the bottom rung before stingy.

I don't wanna see Connery - or anybody else - in their Trilby. Eewww!

View attachment 279227 View attachment 279228

Strange name...probably still better than “stingy” for that product.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Perhaps also the same 2 1/4" brim would have appeared much narrower on a 7 3/8" hat for my head, than it does on that 7" in the picture.

Conner does look dapper in his trilby, but also very hard. Then again, he is a ruthless secret agent after all. Very different from a Cary Grant, James Stewart, Bogart look, with wider brim.

You’re able to attribute more character qualities based on a hat than I am. To me, it just has an early 1960s vibe but doesn’t exude any personality qualities to the wearer.

I like larger brims as they block more sun, fit my face better, and just have a look that I prefer. Spend some time around here and get a feel for what you like that others wear.

 

[Frunobulax]

Strange name...probably still better than “stingy” for that product.

I larfed.

 

[belfastboy]

You’re able to attribute more character qualities based on a hat than I am. To me, it just has an early 1960s vibe but doesn’t exude any personality qualities to the wearer.

I like larger brims as they block more sun, fit my face better, and just have a look that I prefer. Spend some time around here and get a feel for what you like that others wear.

Trilby/stingy.....too Bear Bryant, Tom Landry, Frank Sinatra for my taste.

 

[Terrier]

It is a bit difficult to find a vintage hat in good condition at an affordable price, and the sizing is precarious.

I got myself a beige Sterkowski Mosca. I like it. The brim is 6 cm, I might have wanted slightly wider but I think it is good. The hat is somewhat darker than the seller's picture; I would have preferred it lighter, perhaps it will pale after time in the sun.
I am going to reshape it, lessen the downward and upward bend back and front. I experiment with different shapes in my hands, before a final decision using hot steam. What do I get, "style-wise", if I bend up the sides of the brim (especially curving up near the edge) following immediately after the front downward bend? And if I squeeze the dents, so the front of the crown becomes sharper?

 

[belfastboy]

It is a bit difficult to find a vintage hat in good condition at an affordable price, and the sizing is precarious.

I got myself a beige Sterkowski Mosca. I like it. The brim is 6 cm, I might have wanted slightly wider but I think it is good. The hat is somewhat darker than the seller's picture; I would have preferred it lighter, perhaps it will pale after time in the sun.
I am going to reshape it, lessen the downward and upward bend back and front. I experiment with different shapes in my hands, before a final decision using hot steam. What do I get, "style-wise", if I bend up the sides of the brim (especially curving up near the edge) following immediately after the front downward bend? And if I squeeze the dents, so the front of the crown becomes sharper?

The Mosca is a rabbit fur felt so I would steam it, play with the bash and see what you get. Fur felts are very forgiving and steam is your friend. At the price point it is not likeley great quality felt but it is rabbit not a wool so you should be able to play with it, experiment with the bashes until you get something that works for you.