How many hats do you own?

[Mulceber]

I have 3. an Adventurebilt Raiders (which I love), a Peters Bros. Custom (needs to have everything but the felt body replaced) and a cheap panama I got over the summer that's holding up well. I intend to collect more though... -Mulceber

 

[TommySalieri]

I only need what I need. I wouldn't want to make it difficult for any newcomers to get their hands on vintage hats.

 

[Doh!]

Although I voted in the 6+ category, I realisitically have 3 that I wear: 2 felt and 1 straw. I have other felts that I've outgrown or just don't wear 'cause I was naive and paid for a Disney "official" Indiana Jones hat. It's wearable... but I don't.

I also have 2 fezzes (fezi?) that are too small, and a Civil War kepi and a pith helmet that just look too silly to wear day-to-day (although I confess to wearing the kepi while watching Ken Burns' "Civil War" on dvd). I also have an army helmet (modern era Israeli, I believe, that looks like vintage U.S.) so I guess I am a hat collector of sorts.

 

[Visigoth]

Tony, re: those new Stetson's you don't wear...

That, my friend, is why they invented ebay.

 

[FedoraGent]

My Hats

I have one for every day of the week, but I also have reserves as well. And then there is the old beater and the new beater.

Jon

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Tony, re: those new Stetson's you don't wear...

That, my friend, is why they invented ebay.

I'd hate to inflict them on some unsuspecting eBayer, though. "Almost new top of the line Stetson Sovreign, from the proud Stetson tradition..."

Gotta stop, I'm making myself sick. Maybe I can get Rilico to write my ad copy. lol

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Just counted again, and I'm up to 37. Somebody needs to invent some kind of methadone for the hat addiction. Fedoradone?

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

More than I need, less than I want

1 Stetson Royal Stratoliner
1 Stetson Royal DeLuxe Vogue
1 Stetson Royal Sovereign
1 Stetson Royal DeLuxe 2 tone
1 Stetson Royal summer weight
1 Adams Executive
1 Mallory Premier
1 Lee Straw
1 Borsalino Alessandra
1 Resistol Ten
1 Resistol San Antonio
1 Resistol Explorer
1 Resistol 737
1 Resistol Lawton
1 Wormser Rambler
1 Cortney Homburg
1 Cortney Fedora
1 Knox Superfine Homburg
1 Smith Panama
2 Vintage newsboy caps

 

[skillbilly]

I'm up to about 8 at the moment, but just feel I need more!

 

[RadioHead]

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful...

Not counting (of COURSE) baseball caps, I have 3 hats. 3.

I know. 3. But I'm new, OK? HAHAHAHA! "New"! Say, that's rich! I was born in 1955 and I'm new. As Eric Cartman would say... "sweeeet".

1. Stetson 0181 "Bozeman" crushable.
2. "Big it up" Bogart fur felt fedora.
3. "Big it up" Crushable Fur Felt teardrop fedora.

But, oh, my son! More coming soon.

"RadioHead"

 

[mauriciogray]

Five babies...

 

[Tommy Fedora]

And growing...

I only have 8, not much compared to some of you.
Leaving now to search e-bay.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

1 Stetson Stratoliner
2 Stetson Standards
1 Dobbs Stingy
1 Lee Vintage
1 Resistol vintage
2 Argentine fur felts
1 Bailey Fur Felt porkpie
5 various Milan straws
1 Monticristi panama
6 Various toyo straws
1 FINE Baron Milan custom (my favorite)
1 Stestson Open Road (new addition)
A couple of crappy wool fedoras I wear in the rain
4 Wool newsboys
1 Poplin newsboy
2 IN TRANSIT Tonak hats from the Czech Republic (my wife just got back)
And a patridge in a pear tree!

Man! You think I got enough hats!!! Shees! No wonder I have no room in my office

 

[BigSho]

Yeah so I have about 7 different hats which is 4 felts and 3 straws. The only reason it is so few is because of my gigantic head (66 cm folks). But if you want to include caps I definitley have over 3 dozen.

Jeremy
http://www.hats-plus.com

 

[Rick Blaine]

Brother... you ain't kiddin'

...because of my gigantic head (66 cm folks)...
Jeremy
http://www.hats-plus.com

Yeah, I guess with THAT size melon... it might be cheaper just to own the hat shop!

Regards,

Rick

 

[Boroparkpyro]

I'd hate to inflict them on some unsuspecting eBayer, though. "Almost new top of the line Stetson Sovreign, from the proud Stetson tradition..."

Gotta stop, I'm making myself sick. Maybe I can get Rilico to write my ad copy. lol

What's wrong with them, besides the fact that they're too new for vintagey people? Or is that it? Because i'm not a vintagey person, and i'm thinking of branching out into non-straw hats... maaaaayyyybeeee.....

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

What's wrong with them, besides the fact that they're too new for vintagey people? Or is that it? Because i'm not a vintagey person, and i'm thinking of branching out into non-straw hats... maaaaayyyybeeee.....

Go for it! (Asking the question you asked is the first step!)

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

I just don't like the sweatbands on the modern Stetsons. The vintage ones are just nicer. I've never worn 'em in the rain (the situation just hasn't arisen), so I can't speak to the other complaints I hear about them.

I'm just wondering just how many times I can use the word "Just" in one post. :eusa_doh:

 

[Boroparkpyro]

I just don't like the sweatbands on the modern Stetsons. The vintage ones are just nicer. I've never worn 'em in the rain (the situation just hasn't arisen), so I can't speak to the other complaints I hear about them.

Ah, okay. So what's the difference between the sweatbands? And what are the rain-complaints you hear about them?

And what's the deal with felt, anyway? Or is there a FAQ someplace about "fur felt" and "wool felt" and whatnot?

(counting the 'what's)

 

[feltfan]

And what's the deal with felt, anyway? Or is there a FAQ someplace about "fur felt" and "wool felt" and whatnot?

Here's one place to start:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=11106

But you can find various comments about modern Stetson
quality, or lack thereof, in various places on the site.

As for the sweat bands, compare for yourself.
The old leather and the way it was treated just
seems a lot higher quality. The really old ones are
soft like a baby's butt. Well maybe that's not what
you want on your head, but you do want something
durable, porous, and comfortable.

The only way to answer the question for yourself is to
find a vintage Stetson in a style you like, in very good to
New-Old-Stock (NOS) condition and check it out. To get
a classic look for:

- brown sweat band (not black)
- size tag that is round or black with reversed white writing
- clear, crisp stamped writing on the leather and liner

These are generalizations (there are good Stetsons with
black sweats, etc) that will keep you safe. Other clues might
be a tall crown, brim edges no longer made, such as "Mode Edge"
or "Selv-Edge", and perhaps a vintage round box.

There is no FAQ about fur vs. wool felt... yet, though there
is much discussion if you poke around. Start here:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4469

Simply put, a wool felt hat cannot be shaped as nicely
as a quality fur felt, will not hold that shape as well, cannot
hold up in the rain (probably having to do with the way wool
felt is made, not the wool itself- it's a cheaper felt all around),
is usually heavier, and does not feel as luxurious as fur felt.
Those are physical facts. We can go from there into aesthetics.
Mind you, there are modern fur felts that are much better than
modern wool felts...