Ink on a hat liner; removal or keepsake ?

[Cane Rod Maker]

A vintage Cavanagh I recently purchased has some ink pen marking on the liner; faint but none the less it is there.

It's the old gent's name and address whom owned the hat back in the day.

Amazing though, this hat was once 45 miles from my home town in some other era; it somehow ended up in Texas over time, and now only to find its way back home to PA..

Anyway...the question of the day; do I try to remove this faint inking of the past or do I keep it in there for the oddity that the hat found its way back home after all these years or service.

Curious on your thoughts.

 

[John in Covina]

It depends on the type of ink it is, ball point or fountain pen. Most fountain pen inks are washable with water. India ink uses a shellac component which may be disolvable. Ball point can come out with a variety of solvants that can hurt what it's on.

Goof-Off is a trade cleaner solvant that is used sometimes for ball point and sticker glues, it might be worth trying. Hardware & home Depot type stores may have it.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Thanks

It depends on the type of ink it is, ball point or fountain pen. Most fountain pen inks are washable with water. India ink uses a shellac component which may be disolvable. Ball point can come out with a variety of solvants that can hurt what it's on.

Goof-Off is a trade cleaner solvant that is used sometimes for ball point and sticker glues, it might be worth trying. Hardware & home Depot type stores may have it.

John,

Thanks for the tip. Uncertain at this point what I want to do. Last thing I want to do is stain the headliner trying to remove it.

Any other advice from anyone out there who may have had to remove ink??

[huh] Remove it or keep it in there[huh] curious what people think about the senerio.

Looking forward to responses.

Thanks !

 

[ScionPI2005]

Honestly, unless the ink was posing some sort of real issue (smearing in my hair, etc. ) I would probably keep it. The fact that someone wrote their name and address, allowing you to see it was once near your home now, is actually pretty cool and unique. I've seen discussions come up on these forums at times where posters describe that we are merely guardians of these unique items during our lifetime, before these items move on to someone else. The writing in your hat is simply a literal, visual example.

Either way, feel free to post a picture of the liner. I'd be curious to see it.

 

[tonyb]

I'd leave it be, Tim.

It lends the hat a touch of authenticity and uniqueness. Chances are that the old-timer who once owned that hat has himself gone the way of all things, so preserving some little reminder that he was once here seems, I dunno, cosmically appropriate. Or something like that. Not to get all gooey and sentimental about it.

 

[ScionPI2005]

Pardon the second posting...

I just had another thought.

I'm reminded of an individual in vintage watch repair I know and have talked to on occasion. Several years ago, I discussed with him the thoughts of getting my name and high school graduation date engraved on a vintage pocket watch my parents got me for graduation (a Waltham from 1904). He sort of winced at the time, and told me he felt that, on the lines of my "guardian" comment from my above post, we should preserve items as they were originally created, since we will more than likely not be the only, or final, owner.

I can see that side of the argument too. I guess it really depends on the item, and the extent to which it has been modified.

 

[CliffG]

I would leave it
I have an older Italian jacket with some ones name on the inside label in red ink, I am sure I could remove it, but...I have left it so far.
cant think of a reason to remove it.
It is not likely that some one will question me about having this coat, and should some one, say a cop or law person, than I would honestly tell them it was pulled from the bay.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

That is the feedback I was hoping to get !

You guys hit the nail on the head. :eusa_clap

I share the same sentiment; and I think its pretty cool that it is there. Just the feedback I was hoping for.

Maybe I'll put my name on the other side.

I'm sure after I leave this world, some other lucky person will own the Cav.

And for me, it's kind of like when I make Bamboo Fly Rod, my name is on something functional; something that will be in existance, and in use, long after my time. It bares my name, I live on through another person.

The old Gent lives on by my wearing the hat. His inking stays !

Thanks guys !

 

[Aureliano]

I'd keep it too. Specially after the hat traveled many distances and after the years landed back where it started. It's part of the charm of the hat.
My montecristi hat, just an example, has the name of the weaver--actually the signature--totally legible under the sweat. It's written with pencil. I know this is different than your story but sort of in the same vein. I've kept the signature because it's part of my hat's history. And also as a tribute to the weaver who, I assume is now dead.

 

[carldelo]

I surveyed a building built in 1904 that had the names of the steel riggers chalked on the main structural beam - still perfectly legible in 2001. I'm just glad there was no rust, so I didn't have to call for the beam to be stripped and repainted. I think you should add your name, and leave some room for the next guy.

 

[rgraham]

I have an old pith helmet that a Sgt. Rumble had drawn and written inside of. It adds greatly to the helmets interest, and really tells what the helmet has been through.

I'd leave the ink be.

 

[Drew B]

I wholeheartedly agree! :eusa_clap

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

I'd leave it be, Tim.

It lends the hat a touch of authenticity and uniqueness. Chances are that the old-timer who once owned that hat has himself gone the way of all things, so preserving some little reminder that he was once here seems, I dunno, cosmically appropriate. Or something like that. Not to get all gooey and sentimental about it.

What Tony said.

 

[rgraham]

By the way, did anyone notice that Sgt. Rumble used the vent in the top of his helmet to represent a wheel in his depiction of a cannon?

 

[Dewhurst]

My reply is probably a bit late on this topic.

I think it would be nice to keep it. Just kind of cool, I guess.

I had a coat that I got from a DAV that had the name of the soldier who wore it on the inside and I always kept it there. Just seemed kind of neat to have that bit of information if I wanted it someday.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

The ink is staying.

I agree with you all. It is a very neat thing that the hat not only has the full information of the gent who wore it, but he lived so close to me.

Dunno, maybe I should find his grandson and show him the hat; although he may want it from me.lol

The hat came back to PA from Texas after all this time.

In response to adding my name; it will be done; and with pleanty of room for the next owner.

Great responses; cool thread. Thanks ! :eusa_clap

 

[mineral]

By the way, did anyone notice that Sgt. Rumble used the vent in the top of his helmet to represent a wheel in his depiction of a cannon?

Interesting that he drew in the Royal Artillery badge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Artillery

(For those who are even remotely interested, the Latin on the logo reads "Everywhere Where Right and Glory Lead".)