Is this Stetson worth the trouble?

[lauro13]

I picked this up for $24, I think it might be an old Open Road or maybe a Strat but not quite sure. The felt is really soft and pliable. The sweatband was falling off so i took a chance, stripped it and gave it a thorough washing in cold water and woolite. I reshaped it by hand and let it dry and this is what I ended up with. The felt did not shrink one bit. Taking in to consideration the quality level of the hat/felt (this is where I'm clueless), is it worth to proceed with fixing it based on the $24 spent and on the $30 or $40 I'll spend on having a new ribbon and sweat put in. Also, the dark spot on the pic of the reshaped hat is not a stain but an imperfection on my lens.

 

[danofarlington]

Yes.

 

[TPD166]

+1

 

[hatophile]

Yes, Yes and Yes!!!

 

[JAVIER]

Great canvas, go for it!

But I feel you, I too took on some project hats, and shipped to the pros, they work some magic and that felt it perhaps better than most modern felts so your half way there.

 

[randooch]

Do you need any more yeses?



Yes.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Ohhellyeah! :thumb:

 

[lauro13]

Thanks for the advise. Not sure where the "sovereign" quality falls put its super soft. I was surprised at how much abuse it could take during washing and how it cleaned up. I have a few Open Roads so I'm going to do a thicker ribbon. Trying to figure out a color combo. After researching it part of me is tempted to try to dye it a darker shade.

 

[jlee562]

Sovereign is a lower-middle grade felt. IIRC, it's Royal, Royal Deluxe, Sovereign, Imperial, and so on. That having been said, the felts of that era are superior to their nomenclature equivalents today. Hence the survival of many Royal Stetsons even though they were the lowest quality designation.

 

[seabass]

Yup !
& great info Jared !

 

[Chepstow]

Yes, indeed!

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

I think you got it.

 

[pjt113]

Yes

 

[Rick Blaine]

In SF ya' must have at least a few options without leaving the city, how civilized.
Unlike here in the sticks where one must absorb $35 in shipping just to get work underway.

Someone who knows more of the city than do I should chime in, here.
'Cause I am just talkin' through my ar...hat, having not been there in a very long time.

I took a ratty old Stetson 25
(sold to me as an Open Road) & sent it to Optimo in Chicago, asking for a hat as much like their

"Michum" as could be made, the result:

B4


And here are the results:

You have done so much already, looks like a great piece o' felt.
Gopher it!

 

[TomS]

I think you'd do well to fix it up. Including the price of a renovation, you'd still get your money back if you sold it.

 

[figment2179]

as long as you are happy with the result and it looks good on your head, then its well worth it.

 

[lauro13]

Wow Rick, that hat looks amazing! I'll be shipping mine to Optimo this week!

 

[lauro13]

Wow Rick, that hat looks amazing! I'll be shipping mine to Optimo this week!

 

[seabass]

Double Wow Rick !

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks ya'll.
They do one great job, as I am sure do many of the other craftsmen we are acquainted with here.
I was very pleased.