New Member to the Hat Forum

[Just A Hat Rack]

I am learning that hats matter.
I have been interested in hats for decades, but have only wet my toes. Hats used to be very different, required to be really dressed, but still not ordinary. Now they are not not nearly as mandatory, so they are more extra ordinary.
I like simple special things. I have an Opinel pocket knife that can shave a layer from a sheet of paper.
I also love my Leatherman.
It isn't perfect for anything.
What is perfect about it is that it is "pretty good" at enough things that it I feel unprepared for the day without it.
I also like fountain pens.
Because...
Because they take work.
Because they are extra ordinary.

I have two real hats currently; depending on your definition of real.
One is mostly utilitarian, a Henschel Safari hat. I bought it this spring because I started shaving my scalp. It serves my need for sun and bug defense and has just a bit of style.

I wanted a more traditional fedora. I confess to liking "Indiana" hats but I would never wear a hat branded as such no matter the quality.
Today 08/20/2020 I received a black wool felt St Martin Short brim safari hat. To me it looks like a fedora.

I am struggling to figure out what exactly I like.
I know I despise some things people love. Some things I think I like at first seem less appealing after turning them over in my mind.
"Good wine is any wine you like to drink."
If I get a good enough hat, brush up on my German, get a bit more into Russian, and keep after Italian, I might be able to pull of the international man of mystery image...
...Nah. Spies are tall and handsome.
I want to avoid buyer's remorse.
I also want to avoid paying for a hat twice. I once bought a set of job interview clothes.
I paid for them twice; first at the register, then later when my wife saw how much I paid.

Very nice introduction! Welcome to the lounge! If you hang around here long enough, your wife's limits may be tested as your taste and desire for hats will grow exponentially. Especially when you narrow down what suits your pleasure. Not only that, but once you delve into the realm of fur felt, the cost goes up, as does the desire for more of them. Once you get to that point I recommend going the custom route. The cost to quality ratio is much better going custom than what most factory brands offer these days outside of vintage. Good luck!

 

[FlyFishing]

Hello from Florida.
I've been reading the forum for a few months and in that time the photos and information have grown my taste from modern westerns to a little bit of everything. I just wish my weather would allow for more outdoor felt hat wearing.
I'm excited to continue to learn from all of you!

 

[belfastboy]

Hello from Florida.
I've been reading the forum for a few months and in that time the photos and information have grown my taste from modern westerns to a little bit of everything. I just wish my weather would allow for more outdoor felt hat wearing.
I'm excited to continue to learn from all of you!

Up here in the Pacific Northwest....I wish for more weather that calls for Panamas......I suppose it is that greener grass syndrome.

 

[NCHandyMan]

Hello all. New here and new to hats other than baseball caps. My nephew who, like most teens these days, is 17 going on 12 and really gotten into the cowboy way of dressing. Him and his buddies have been getting quite the collection of hats to head out town and impress the ladies, (girls I guess I should say). Same old story with the new age I guess. I never got into the following trends and what was hip myself and always did my own thing, but to each their own.
Anyway, I was out hitting thrift stores to see what I could find, which is something me and my mother like to do from time to time and I ran across an older Resistol XXX Beaver hat with a handmade feather band. I've looked throughout it and found all the tags with info on it, but can't seem to find much about it at all. I know the store that it came from was built in 1962, but has closed down sometime between then and now. So the hat is at least from 1962 and up I'd say. It does have the store stamped into it and it says "Tack Shack" from Bothell Washington. There is also a size tag on it that says 7 3/8. On the back of that tag is has the United Hat and Millinery W'rkrs Intl Union on the back of that tag. There is another tag under the inner liner that says "(10) 077 C75675 7/38" on it.
I have and will upload some pictures of it also. What I'm wanting to do is give it to him to go with his other ones. What I don't want to do is give him a very expensive or rare hat that he will trade off to one of his buddies for some cheapo hat that is just a common piece. Him not being as mature as he should be just yet, I also don't want it destroyed by him not taking care of it. I've always taken care of everything I've owned and it's just something I'm big on. If it's just a common hat that isn't real expensive, then I'll just give it to him. If it's not though, I may hold onto it a little longer and see how he does. He's already destroyed a nice older Justin belt with buckle that I gave him and don't want this to end the same way.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what this hat may be? Or know exactly what it is? Which is part of why I'm here. I like to do my research before bothering anyone first of all, but am at that point where I can find nothing else and need to go to someone who does.

Thank you al for looking and any info or help!
Hope all is having a good day!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hello all. New here and new to hats other than baseball caps. My nephew who, like most teens these days, is 17 going on 12 and really gotten into the cowboy way of dressing. Him and his buddies have been getting quite the collection of hats to head out town and impress the ladies, (girls I guess I should say). Same old story with the new age I guess. I never got into the following trends and what was hip myself and always did my own thing, but to each their own.
Anyway, I was out hitting thrift stores to see what I could find, which is something me and my mother like to do from time to time and I ran across an older Resistol XXX Beaver hat with a handmade feather band. I've looked throughout it and found all the tags with info on it, but can't seem to find much about it at all. I know the store that it came from was built in 1962, but has closed down sometime between then and now. So the hat is at least from 1962 and up I'd say. It does have the store stamped into it and it says "Tack Shack" from Bothell Washington. There is also a size tag on it that says 7 3/8. On the back of that tag is has the United Hat and Millinery W'rkrs Intl Union on the back of that tag. There is another tag under the inner liner that says "(10) 077 C75675 7/38" on it.
I have and will upload some pictures of it also. What I'm wanting to do is give it to him to go with his other ones. What I don't want to do is give him a very expensive or rare hat that he will trade off to one of his buddies for some cheapo hat that is just a common piece. Him not being as mature as he should be just yet, I also don't want it destroyed by him not taking care of it. I've always taken care of everything I've owned and it's just something I'm big on. If it's just a common hat that isn't real expensive, then I'll just give it to him. If it's not though, I may hold onto it a little longer and see how he does. He's already destroyed a nice older Justin belt with buckle that I gave him and don't want this to end the same way.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what this hat may be? Or know exactly what it is? Which is part of why I'm here. I like to do my research before bothering anyone first of all, but am at that point where I can find nothing else and need to go to someone who does.

Thank you al for looking and any info or help!
Hope all is having a good day!
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Welcome! This is a great place and I hope you stick around.

Your Resistol is a fairly common hat and not particularly valuable or desirable. Many of us throw away the feather bands, but it’s certainly a look. The urban cowboy thing from the 1970s and into the ‘80s produced a lot of...er...unique hats.

On my screen your photos of the felt show up as blue and I dig the hat too; although, it is a couple sizes too small for me. Hope the hat works its magic for your nephew.

Brent

 

[NCHandyMan]

Welcome! This is a great place and I hope you stick around.

Your Resistol is a fairly common hat and not particularly valuable or desirable. Many of us throw away the feather bands, but it’s certainly a look. The urban cowboy thing from the 1970s and into the ‘80s produced a lot of...er...unique hats.

On my screen your photos of the felt show up as blue and I dig the hat too; although, it is a couple sizes too small for me. Hope the hat works its magic for your nephew.

Brent

Thank you Brent! Since I'm out and about with mom quite a bit and always looking for things, I'm sure I'll be sticking around. I wanted to check on this one so I could go ahead and get it to him if it's just a common piece. It appears to be so I guess he'll end up with it as soon as I see him.
Oh yes. I remember the 70's and 80's well. Styles and all. I got him watching the Dukes of Hazzard when he was a baby and this one looks like one of Bo's so he will love it.

It's actually a black felt, but the LED lighting I used gives it that bluish color. Wish it was brown to be more like Bo's, but it is what it is.

Thank you very much for the welcome, the info and the reply!

 

[belfastboy]

Welcome! This is a great place and I hope you stick around.

Your Resistol is a fairly common hat and not particularly valuable or desirable. Many of us throw away the feather bands, but it’s certainly a look. The urban cowboy thing from the 1970s and into the ‘80s produced a lot of...er...unique hats.

On my screen your photos of the felt show up as blue and I dig the hat too; although, it is a couple sizes too small for me. Hope the hat works its magic for your nephew.

Brent

Interesting how certain things (like feathered hat bands) scream out for a particular era. If he doesn't like the feathered band you can buy leather bands cheaply on Ebay and Etsy.

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you Brent! Since I'm out and about with mom quite a bit and always looking for things, I'm sure I'll be sticking around. I wanted to check on this one so I could go ahead and get it to him if it's just a common piece. It appears to be so I guess he'll end up with it as soon as I see him.
Oh yes. I remember the 70's and 80's well. Styles and all. I got him watching the Dukes of Hazzard when he was a baby and this one looks like one of Bo's so he will love it.

It's actually a black felt, but the LED lighting I used gives it that bluish color. Wish it was brown to be more like Bo's, but it is what it is.

Thank you very much for the welcome, the info and the reply!

If he wears that hat maybe he will meet his Daisy Duke.

 

[NCHandyMan]

If he wears that hat maybe he will meet his Daisy Duke.

If it would bring her, I'd just keep it and wear it myself. LOL.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

If he wears that hat maybe he will meet his Daisy Duke.

If that were the case I’d be keeping all my feather bands.

 

[NCHandyMan]

Interesting how certain things (like feathered hat bands) scream out for a particular era. If he doesn't like the feathered band you can buy leather bands cheaply on Ebay and Etsy.

I'm sure he'll think the band is cool. None of his buddies has anything like it so he'll stand out a little. I'm not sure if they came on it or how they got there, but yes, he can take them off if he wants to.
Thank you for the replies and have a good day!

 

[Just Daniel]

Great feathers! Wow!

Welcome to the Lounge, what a fun addition.

Hello all. New here and new to hats other than baseball caps. My nephew who, like most teens these days, is 17 going on 12 and really gotten into the cowboy way of dressing. Him and his buddies have been getting quite the collection of hats to head out town and impress the ladies, (girls I guess I should say). Same old story with the new age I guess. I never got into the following trends and what was hip myself and always did my own thing, but to each their own.
Anyway, I was out hitting thrift stores to see what I could find, which is something me and my mother like to do from time to time and I ran across an older Resistol XXX Beaver hat with a handmade feather band. I've looked throughout it and found all the tags with info on it, but can't seem to find much about it at all. I know the store that it came from was built in 1962, but has closed down sometime between then and now. So the hat is at least from 1962 and up I'd say. It does have the store stamped into it and it says "Tack Shack" from Bothell Washington. There is also a size tag on it that says 7 3/8. On the back of that tag is has the United Hat and Millinery W'rkrs Intl Union on the back of that tag. There is another tag under the inner liner that says "(10) 077 C75675 7/38" on it.
I have and will upload some pictures of it also. What I'm wanting to do is give it to him to go with his other ones. What I don't want to do is give him a very expensive or rare hat that he will trade off to one of his buddies for some cheapo hat that is just a common piece. Him not being as mature as he should be just yet, I also don't want it destroyed by him not taking care of it. I've always taken care of everything I've owned and it's just something I'm big on. If it's just a common hat that isn't real expensive, then I'll just give it to him. If it's not though, I may hold onto it a little longer and see how he does. He's already destroyed a nice older Justin belt with buckle that I gave him and don't want this to end the same way.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what this hat may be? Or know exactly what it is? Which is part of why I'm here. I like to do my research before bothering anyone first of all, but am at that point where I can find nothing else and need to go to someone who does.

Thank you al for looking and any info or help!
Hope all is having a good day!
View attachment 257462 View attachment 257463 View attachment 257464 View attachment 257465 View attachment 257466 View attachment 257467 View attachment 257468 View attachment 257469 View attachment 257470 View attachment 257471

 

[NCHandyMan]

Great feathers! Wow!

Welcome to the Lounge, what a fun addition.

Thank you Just Daniel! I thought they were cool myself, but he may not like them as much as I thought he would.
Once he actually sees the hat and it on, maybe he will appreciate it more. If he doesn't maybe I'll sale it and buy him another or just keep it for him for later when he matures a little more. It's too big for my tiny baby sized head. LOL.

Thank you for the reply and the welcome!
Have a good day!

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Hey there. I started browsing yesterday for about 20 minutes and you all got me spending money already

I've always been a hat person, but have kind of bounced around from beanies, to Ivys, to various "yard work" style. I loved hats so much, I really wore them where there was no business wearing them. I lived in Miami in the early 2000s, so got some looks wearing winter beanies walking around SOBE for instance. Never was really into the fedora style, mostly out of ignorance, but one day said what the heck. And now I'm hooked. Los Angeles doesn't have a lot of fedora wearers, but challenge on.

I got some good advice along the way (at least it sounds like it from what I read yesterday) about buying Akubra. I've got 5 on the wall. After getting the Bushman, it really went into overdrive (or Overload as the other thread say). I want more like that, but as we know the colors are limited and if I'm being honest, it's a tad bit boxy and tad bit wide for me. Going to be more of a show stopper kind of hat for me. So somehow I ended up on a forum thread, started reading about Federation, Campdraft, and Squatter. And what do you know, order went in last night with hatsdirect. What a great bunch of people. Answered my email and already have the order on the way. 3 more baby Akubras joining the family.

Anyway, I'm completely down the rabbit (fur) hole. I'm already checking out various custom hat makers and all that. Sounds like Nick Fouquet is a sore spot around here, but he's got a couple looks I'm trying to get at hopefully a 1/4 of the price. None of the funky on fire distressed stuff, but more of the classic, pinch front tear drop/diamond style with some cool color combos. So I'm going to be browsing some of your photos that get posted and taking notes. Hoping to continue to learn, get to know some of you, and contribute along the way.

 

[Jay_G]

Hi, I'm Jay, and I'm a Hataholic.

I own a fedora, a pith helmet, an early sailor cap, a tricorn, a fisherman's cap, a skully, 2 coonskins, a Bycocket, a Stormtrooper helmet (Star Wars), and several baseball caps.

 

[belfastboy]

Hi, I'm Jay, and I'm a Hataholic.

I own a fedora, a pith helmet, an early sailor cap, a tricorn, a fisherman's cap, a skully, 2 coonskins, a Bycocket, a Stormtrooper helmet (Star Wars), and several baseball caps.

I consider myself a child of deprivation as my parent's would NOT buy me the coonskin cap I dreamt about. Davy Crockett was my absolute hero and I was crushed by their insistent no. I saw one in a vintage shop in Montana last year and was going to buy it but it was cheap and ratty. I thought after all these years when I buy the damn coonskin hat it is going to be a good one.

 

[Bkdodgers]

Hi folks,

I've lurked and looked around here a while, but hadn't posted until today. With the pandemic, I don't have as many opportunities or need to dress up, but now that autumn is arriving in NYC, I'm excited to talk about nicer felt hats and am excited to wear them again soon. Currently have a JJ Hat Center/Fernandez y Roche Seville in "olive"; Royal Biltmore in steel; Selentino King in charcoal scratch; Worth & Worth (by Tesi?) sisol in gray; and awaiting a Dobbs Maxima in dark green velour.

Look forward to learning more and wearing more!
Matt

 

[belfastboy]

Hi folks,

I've lurked and looked around here a while, but hadn't posted until today. With the pandemic, I don't have as many opportunities or need to dress up, but now that autumn is arriving in NYC, I'm excited to talk about nicer felt hats and am excited to wear them again soon. Currently have a JJ Hat Center/Fernandez y Roche Seville in "olive"; Royal Biltmore in steel; Selentino King in charcoal scratch; Worth & Worth (by Tesi?) sisol in gray; and awaiting a Dobbs Maxima in dark green velour.

Look forward to learning more and wearing more!
Matt

Welcome!

 

[DaveProc]

Hi folks,

I've lurked and looked around here a while, but hadn't posted until today. With the pandemic, I don't have as many opportunities or need to dress up, but now that autumn is arriving in NYC, I'm excited to talk about nicer felt hats and am excited to wear them again soon. Currently have a JJ Hat Center/Fernandez y Roche Seville in "olive"; Royal Biltmore in steel; Selentino King in charcoal scratch; Worth & Worth (by Tesi?) sisol in gray; and awaiting a Dobbs Maxima in dark green velour.

Look forward to learning more and wearing more!
Matt

Welcome Matt!

 

[Bkdodgers]

Thanks, Belfastboy and Dave!