Is the vintage hat market dead?

[deadlyhandsome]

Ah, but it's technically correct, which is the best kind of correct!

"Vintage" is really a non-descriptive term, and leaves the definition unclear. To be sure, when we use the term we have something in mind - perhaps we mean "Golden Era" vintage (but there's even disagreement on what that means). Frankly, the 60s or even 70s are considered vintage by some standards. I can get historical license plates for a 25-year old car in my state. Is an '84 Citation historical?

Hey, I'm just here to muddy the waters.

I’ll support you as the supreme arbiter of all hat definitions. Three days in the stocks in the public square for failure to adhere!

 

[Frunobulax]

I’ll support you as the supreme arbiter of all hat definitions. Three days in the stocks in the public square for failure to adhere!

If nominated, I will not run; If elected, I shall not serve.

 

[Rmccamey]

this Fedora Lounge site also kept popping up and after joining, the quality of my hats has increased exponentially

A most excellent observation, Gary! As a measure of positive impact, information on TFL and generous mentoring of many members here has improved the quality of my hats exponentially (both modern and vintage). By extension, I am much more in touch with the history of the hats I own, much more appreciative of hats and builders, and much more discerning and knowledgeable about the hats I look to purchase. I don't know what the future holds but TFL is the most inviting and welcoming forum I've come across and I'm glad to be part of the membership. We have some great hat makers across the globe and, while they don't have access to a lot of vintage felt, they are keeping history alive by crafting wonderful hats. It's a good time to be a hat collector and a hat wearer

 

[Louis Mountbatten]

My personal definition is anything between 50 and 70 years old or so is "vintage." Before than is antique. Anything newer is just a hat as far as dates go.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

If nominated, I will not run; If elected, I shall not serve.

But you will cash the paycheck, right?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is being delivered this week:

There’s a good market for vintage hats, but not as many showing up. When they do show up you need to move fast and/or be willing to pay top dollar.

 

[belfastboy]

I am walking around the house today wearing my Gus Miller Batsakes hat trying to get the vinegar smell out of it. My wife asked about the hat and I said it was a 'vintage' custom made by the oldest custom hatter in America. She looked at me, smiled....and replied...."He probably isn't that much older than you so you could be the second oldest!" Does that make me 'vintage'?

 

[Frunobulax]

But you will cash the paycheck, right?

Nah, donating it all to St. Alphonso's pancake breakfast.

There's enough in the graft and corruption alone to keep me going.

This is being delivered this week:

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There’s a good market for vintage hats, but not as many showing up. When they do show up you need to move fast and/or be willing to pay top dollar.

That is so sweet, Brent. I can only imagine the felt. A pre-Stetson Mallory is a great find.

I am walking around the house today wearing my Gus Miller Batsakes hat trying to get the vinegar smell out of it. My wife asked about the hat and I said it was a 'vintage' custom made by the oldest custom hatter in America. She looked at me, smiled....and replied...."He probably isn't that much older than you so you could be the second oldest!" Does that make me 'vintage'?

I think most of us are.

 

[The Shoe]

Frivilous posts - no way. I enjoy your posts and views on the world that you share. I am in agreement that the great equalizer in hats is the thread WHAYWT. Your wearing whatever hat is meaningful enough. Sharing it in the spirit of the Fedora Lounge is excellent.

Space is allowed to all. The original intent was to feature "vintage" and the understanding of the details of these "oldsters." I believe that hats made today are inspired by the hat legacy of history and can easily stand next to vintage. A modern hat or a vintage hat does not detract from the other. They are different. The difference of that divide is up to us to ascertain.

The above said, I do enjoy seeing the breadth of hats over the ages. Folks espousing their hat choice is enjoyable.

On with the hat parade I say.

Best to all. I tip the brim of my vintage hat to you all. Or is it a modern hat? I will have to take the hat off to ascertain it's providence. Until then, cheers, Eric -

Thank you, Eric, always, for your kind words.
But a little frivolity is no bad thing. We should all indulge in it from time to time!

Gary

 

[glider]

Vintage, when used in this context, must be more than 20 years old and usually refers to something from the 20s and 30s. Retro and vintage are often confused. There are vintage hats and retro hats which actually would be most hats produced today. I don't know of any hat style that couldn't be refereed to as retro since for the most part they are copies of vintage hats .

 

[belfastboy]

Vintage, when used in this context, must be more than 20 years old and usually refers to something from the 20s and 30s. Retro and vintage are often confused. There are vintage hats and retro hats which actually would be most hats produced today. I don't know of any hat style that couldn't be refereed to as retro since for the most part they are copies of vintage hats .

So a fedora from the year 2000 could be correctly referred to as 'vintage'?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

So a fedora from the year 2000 could be correctly referred to as 'vintage'?

I thought the same. I have no problem with it being described as a “2000 vintage,” or something similar, but plain vintage just doesn’t seem right. If the exact same hat that is indistinguishable from the “vintage” hat is still being made then I won’t use that term to describe the older hat. However, a 1980s Stetson 4X Beaver Open Road is vintage to me since it’s no longer being made. It’s still not a “great vintage” or a vintage when felt like was high quality, but to my way of thinking it is vintage.

 

[Frunobulax]

I thought the same. I have no problem with it being described as a “2000 vintage,” or something similar, but plain vintage just doesn’t seem right. If the exact same hat that is indistinguishable from the “vintage” hat is still being made then I won’t use that term to describe the older hat. However, a 1980s Stetson 4X Beaver Open Road is vintage to me since it’s no longer being made. It’s still not a “great vintage” or a vintage when felt like was high quality, but to my way of thinking it is vintage.

Yup

 

[suitedcboy]

If AARP sends it offers it is vintage (typed as I look at AARP and other "senior mail" I weeded out of Saturday's mail stack).

 

[glider]

Hey, I'm just giving the definition, I don't necessarily agree either but them is the facts folks. And the word can be a noun or an adjective, when speaking about wine it is a noun.

 

[RJ and Parkins]

Vintage hats have always been dead to me. After seeing the moth invested / buggy / filthy hats at "antique shops" or consignment shops. I have no desire to own them. I certainly wouldn't take a chance buying a high priced"vintage" fedora on Flea-bay or other places.

All my hats are utilitarian and get worn daily. There's no purpose in my owning a vintage hat. If my newer Stetson or Akubra gets destroyed by weather, I can get a new one.

I couldn't disagree more. In the last year I have purchased around 60 vintage hats and they are superior in every way to my new hats. It is well known among serious hat collectors that vintage felt is superior to today factory felts. I will never own a new factor felt hat after experiencing vintage. Vintage Felt rules! Peace.

 

[belfastboy]

I couldn't disagree more. In the last year I have purchased around 60 vintage hats and they are superior in every way to my new hats. It is well known among serious hat collectors that vintage felt is superior to today factory felts. I will never own a new factor felt hat after experiencing vintage. Vintage Felt rules! Peace.

What size are you? Are you in the vintage hat 'sweet spot' of sizing'? For us in the 7 1/2" + our pickins' tend to be slim and I lack the patience for the hunt for the 'black truffles of hatting'. So I gravitate towards the custom market with a goodly selection of decent felts that may not equal the feel of a vintage Borsa, they can come close and so much better than the 'off the rack' modern offerings. I do have Stetson Excellent quality in beaver from 2015 or so and it is a Yeti of modern hats......a great felt.

 

[RJ and Parkins]

Im a 7 1/4 in the vintage felt. So, yes I do have a much better selection thats for sure. I also broker hats for guys who do not have the time to search out that special vintage brim. I agree, the larger sizes are much harder to come by. Im on ebay and etsy every day keeping my finger on the pulse. Owning a vintage hat to me is like owning a piece of Americana from an era when just about everything was made better.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I couldn't disagree more. In the last year I have purchased around 60 vintage hats and they are superior in every way to my new hats. It is well known among serious hat collectors that vintage felt is superior to today factory felts. I will never own a new factor felt hat after experiencing vintage. Vintage Felt rules! Peace.

I have some modern custom hats that will give vintage hats a run. I also bought a modern Stetson a few years back that was a revelation! The now discontinued Stetson New York LE in phantom grey has thin dense felt that by feel alone I’d swear was 70 years old. It still has all the poor build quality issues of modern Stetsons, but I had no idea it was possible to even still make felt like that. I also have the same hat in tobacco brown that is nice, but not as amazing as the grey.

 

[mayserwegener]

Long live Vintage / Antique Hats! No Felt like this today.

J. Hückel´s Söhne "Superior Crystall Velour"