Looking for hat information?

[debras]

Thank you!

 

[johnnycanuck]

I second the Akubra Squatter. The bound brim with thinner ribbon in Australia. Safe bet.
Johnny

 

[debras]

Thanks!

 

[rogerstg]

It looks like quite the "fixer upper."

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I have always bought new hats, but since recently joining up I have become interested in learning more (and acquiring some) vintage (or almost vintage) hats. As a newbie to this side of hat collecting, I'd appreciate all advice, opinions and so forth on a potential purchase.

This is a Stetson 3X beaver I am going to look at later today. What do you folks think about this hat? I have no info on dating, but it looks to be decent.

Go ahead, and let me have it, good or bad. Don't hold back . . . .

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Just a suggestion, you might think about adding such post to the ask a question get an answer thread. It keeps the site from getting clogged with new threads every time someone posts a question. No harm.

As to the hat, it’s not what folks here would call vintage. Spend some time on the threads on dating Stetsons by liners, crests, and size tags. Reading the old posts is the best way to answer most questions. There’s a lot of information already here.

I buy hats like what you have photographed, but I get them cheap and I accept that the felt is going to be stiff and coarse. They have a place, but they are not the desirable vintage hats we seek for. Are you a western hat guy?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Good point about the ask a question thread, but this wasn’t so much seeking an answer to a question as to seeking general thoughts/opinions rahther than a specific answer to a particular question. Yes, it’s a kind of question, but with certain key differences. And how about a thread to get input on possible purchases, any value there, separate from the ask a question thread?

Re the hat in question, I gathered it wasn’t technically vintage, hence the parenthetical re “almost.”

I will find out later how well I can rock a western hat. Hasn’t been my thing, so far.

I understand about condition issues in general, as I have bought and sold vintage guitars and saxophones. Different items, some similar issues, broadly, re condition when buying vintage or just used.

This one today will be no more than $35 asking price, probably less in the end.

I did get all your nuances and caveats but I find it tedious to qualify every answer.

If the sweat is good, the felt isn’t damaged, and you like the color and properties of the felt (lots of stiffeners and coarse) then I’d do it at that price. It’s a blah generic western, but as I said before they have their place. I often reshape them and cut the brims back, but it’s a personal preference that you’ll have to decide for yourself. If you are buying online or otherwise sight-unseen, just understand that the felt is probably a bit rough and quite stiff. Steam and ironing along with brushing can sometimes work wonders. Black is one of my least favorite colors, but I have several and I manage to work them into my rotation. For the price of lunch why not take the chance?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Well, I truly appreciate your advice and info, and I do not wish to be tedious to anyone . . . .

I will get a chance to try this hat on later today. Even better, I just heard from another, even closer seller, who has a broader range of hats that looked more interesting. Heading out shortly to take a look at these:

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Looks like some good possibilities there.

I didn’t mean to imply that you were tedious, I just find it loathsome to qualify every answer with “...I realize we all agree it isn’t...” or similar tripe. Trust me, the Lounge denizens have put up with much worse from me.

 

[BobHufford]

If that last photo is of the Penney's Marathon I'd make a bee line towards it. There are some issues with the sweat, but if the price was right... (any chance it's a 7-1/2?)

 

[BobHufford]

It's a 71/4. He's asking $45

I'd probably go for that if there was no other damage (moth nibbles, stains, etc.). Wear it until the sweat crumbles and then replace the sweat. Would that fit you?

 

[belfastboy]

Good point about the ask a question thread, but this wasn’t so much seeking an answer to a question as to seeking general thoughts/opinions rahther than a specific answer to a particular question. Yes, it’s a kind of question, but with certain key differences. And how about a thread to get input on possible purchases, any value there, separate from the ask a question thread?

Re the hat in question, I gathered it wasn’t technically vintage, hence the parenthetical re “almost.”

I will find out later how well I can rock a western hat. Hasn’t been my thing, so far.

I understand about condition issues in general, as I have bought and sold vintage guitars and saxophones. Different items, some similar issues, broadly, re condition when buying vintage or just used.

This one today will be no more than $35 asking price, probably less in the end.

Yes I would go $25 max if I was looking for a project hat to work on. I screw it up nothing much lost.

 

[BobHufford]

...I am hoping I can stretch it to fit better. It will be a learning experience, as I've only stretched a couple of hats

Congrats on the new hat!

The sweatband might not take too much stretching without breaking. Even so, you can get a new sweat for not too much money and have another learning experience of sewing it in.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Congrats on the new hat!

The sweatband might not take too much stretching without breaking. Even so, you can get a new sweat for not too much money and have another learning experience of sewing it in.

The $15 a hatter charges to sew in a sweat is money well spent in my book. I hate doing it...my wife has done a few for me but she doesn’t like it much either.


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[deadlyhandsome]

This sweatband will not take stretching, that is clear. Half of the seam stitches of the sweatband ends are already gone, and there are small rips that will get much larger when stretched. So I was thinking that band was not likely to survive.

A guy at work had told me about a hatmaking class at a local community college, and I have looked into that, but can't make the class times. Maybe next term. In the meantime, seeing what I can learn in doing it myself is a good idea. I'll do some research before I undertake anything.



You make a good point, finding someone already skilled is usually worth it. I think the teacher of the class also has more occasional informal groups, for a much smaller fee, to work on specific projects . . . . That may be a good vehicle to both get some learning in as well as have it done or overseen by an experienced person. Will check that out.

It’s not rocket science and if you have even some modest skills you can do it. Bond sells nice sweats and you can see his wares on Etsy. Agnoulita also sells sweats and their quality is excellent.

 

[Bambolina]

I saw the Fedora Lounge and knew this was the place to be!

Just found this hat at a garage sale and am very curious about it's history. But I can not find any information about Bates New York. It came in a black Dobb's hat box, which after some research is on 5th Avenue.

But I can't find anything about Bates New York in searches or ebay.

There are Bates in Paris and London, but this is clearly Bates New York. The Extra quality seems to be a vintage phrase. Which may not be related.

The top of the hat was shaped down, concave, and we think it should be pushed up, to make a bowl shape, as in, maybe this is a vintage bowler hat

My daughter loves the hat and doesn't want to take it off! Can you please help me with any info you have?

 

[jlee562]

Can't tell you anything about the brand, but that's just a stingy brim fedora, not a bowler.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I saw the Fedora Lounge and knew this was the place to be!

Just found this hat at a garage sale and am very curious about it's history. But I can not find any information about Bates New York. It came in a black Dobb's hat box, which after some research is on 5th Avenue.

But I can't find anything about Bates New York in searches or ebay.

There are Bates in Paris and London, but this is clearly Bates New York. The Extra quality seems to be a vintage phrase. Which may not be related.

The top of the hat was shaped down, concave, and we think it should be pushed up, to make a bowl shape, as in, maybe this is a vintage bowler hat

My daughter loves the hat and doesn't want to take it off! Can you please help me with any info you have?

New to me (not saying much). It is an open crown fedora.... looks to have a brim just over 2” in width.

Lots of old hat makers are now gone and not much of a paper trail either. Also, lots of retailers had Hat companies make hats using the retailers name on the hat. Those run the entire spectrum of quality. I’d crease it and wear it if it fits.


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[splintercellsz]

that looks like a Hat Corporation of America size tag. Should be late 30s/early 40s.

http://www.thehattedprofessor.com/datehca.html

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[splintercellsz]

And it's a fedora, this is a derby/bowler.

felt on the derbies is extremely stiff

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[splintercellsz]

is there a label behind the sweatband?

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[Zombie_61]

is there a label behind the sweatband?

Do you think it's safe to look? You have far more experience with vintage hats than I do, but that sweatband looks a little dehydrated to me and trying to look behind it might damage it further.