more new stuff...

[havershaw]

A couple more things I got this week (1950s HJ still MIA, sadly):

This is my favorite of the new items. It's a Romer Beaver Twenty. The color, for some reason, seems kind of dark in these photos. It's not quite this dark - sort of a taupe. The ribbon is a greyish green. This hat is immaculate - one of the nicest I own. The felt is tight, smooth, and flawless. There's a good amount of stiffener in the brim, but I can live with that.

 

[havershaw]

This is another Mallory. It's a very thin, tight felt. I dig the tall crown. One note of interest, something I've never seen on a Mallory: the size tag is made of cloth, and it looks like the writing on that cloth is actually embroidered in there!

 

[havershaw]

Finally, here's my really great catch of the week, maybe just because I don't have anything else quite like it, in terms of color. And both this and the Mallory you see above cost me...$8 and $3, respectively (plus shipping, but it was no big deal). As usual, I thought I was getting some fixer-uppers so I could hone my blocking skills...but as usual, they were great as-is (maybe a little bashing was necessary).
Anyway, this is a Stetson Stroliner in a great dark charcoal grey. There's a little more blue in the hat than is shown here. The felt is as nice as my VitaFelt Stetsons. Really thin, and tight. Vitrually no stiffener, so it's very soft and floppy.

I also won this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=378&item=4205117826&ssPageName=STRK:MEBWN:IT
Anyone familiar with this? It says in the item description that the author has written four books on the subject of hats. Anyone have any of these?

By the way, just to sort of show folks that eBay can be your best friend - you just have to know what you're looking for - I wanted to post what the Stratoliner and Mallory looked like in their auctions. They didn't look like much - but they both turned out to be great hats! It just goes to show - sometimes, taking chances (inexpensive ones) often pays off. Don't ask me how, but I had a sneaking suspicion these would be cool, even though they didn't look too great in the auctions (hence my cheap winning bids!)

Mallory:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2998&item=4140743109&ssPageName=STRK:MEBWN:IT

Stratoliner:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2998&item=4140743570&ssPageName=STRK:MEBWN:IT

look at those ending prices!

 

[fedoralover]

As usual, great hats havershaw. I have 3 stratoliners and they are great hats. I just got a light beige one that is a very light weight felt and I've started wearing it to work. The other ones are a bit thicker felt. I actually got one that was in like new conditon that was monogramed on the sweatband "Rich's shop for Men" my first name is Rich, so it was a great find. You are going to have to start renting space to keep all these great finds.

regards fedoralover

 

[MK]

Amazing. Simply amazing. Why can't I find beautiful lids at those prices? You are lucky to be that size.

 

[Fedora]

Havershaw and Fedoralover always find the deals,and the nice hats. I am envious. I am still waiting on the 127 buck Cavanagh that I bought off ebay a couple of weeks ago. I am anxious to see what that brand looks like. Fedora

 

[havershaw]

Thanks for the kind words, all. I got to admit - I'm a lucky man. I still don't have an Optimo, though - I think it's easier for me to spend money when it's in little $10 - $30 chunks. It does add up, though. And as AndyKev will tell you: you get pickier.

Fedora, I have two Cavanaghs and each one's felt is totally different. I don't know if they're from different eras or what - the liners appear to be the same - or if one's just winterweight and one's summerweight. I love them both, though.

MK, from now on, when I see a deal in your size, I will PM you. That Adam Executive in your size just went for under $12, you know. The deals are out there, and in more than just my size...but you have to be persistent (unless you're a size 7...then I recommend you just give up). I work pretty long hours, and at the end of every day (which is somewhere around 2 or 3 in the morning), I spend an hour or so on eBay (it's the only shop open when I have free time) to sort of wind down from my day.

There are probably better wind-down activities...or at least, less expensive ones...but it's still probably cheaper than being an alcoholic.

 

[MK]

Thanks!

 

[Bogie1943]

Those are some really wonderful lids Havershaw. A question for you, what size do you wear? I notice one of those is a 6 7/8, my size, if it's too small, ya wouldn't want to sell her, would ya? Just interested to expand my collection as always. That first lid is spectacular, my favorite style in fact, nothing like that bound edge!:cool2:

 

[Canadave]

Wow...nice transformations!

Originally posted by havershaw
...but you have to be persistent (unless you're a size 7...then I recommend you just give up).

What about 7 7/8? I guess I should give up too? I've been searching eBay with no luck on vintage fur felts. Any secrets to finding them?

David

 

[havershaw]

Canadave, I have a jillion different "favorite searches" which (hopefully) give me a good look at anything I think might be worth looking at...and I do see some pretty large hats from time to time. If I see anything in your size, I will give you a holler, I promise.

Bogie, my size is really a 7. I can wear 7 1/8 with a little padding (sometimes I don't even need the padding), and I can squeeze into a 6 7/8 (sometimes I have the cowboy shop here put the hat in a stretcher for a second and that seems to do it). Some 6 7/8 aren't too bad, others are a little tough to get into. Now, 6 3/4 is really tough for me...if you can fit into that, I probably have a couple of hats to sell...I've reblocked 6 7/8 hats up to a 7...but if the crown is sort of low-ish, you lose a fair amount of crown. I do plan on either reblocking or simply stretching that Mallory, as it's a little too tight for me.

I may have a couple of 6 7/8 I could think about parting with. I'll look through what I've got. And just for your info...that Romer Beaver Twenty you like so much is indeed a 6 7/8. There's a grey Disney on eBay right now in that size which I almost bid on, until I saw something else that I decided I would die without...so go to it!

 

[Matt Deckard]

Green hats in my experience are hard to come by.

Looks like a great find.

 

[havershaw]

Does that hat look green? It's not supposed to...the ribbon is gray-green. I did try to correct the color on that one to try to better reflect what it looks like...I may have overshot the mark.