New Members Collection

[Chuck Naill]

I am enjoying this community and appreciate the wealth of information about hats, caps, and their history. Since I have a large head, 7 1/2 it puts me out of the range of most Ebay opportunities. I decided to go new. To date I have a Stetson Stratoliner, Bollman 1930 Trilby, a used Dobb "milan", a cheap Panama, fur felt "Raiders" fedora, and a Dobbs velour with pheasant band on the way.

My hats gets a lot of positive attention from my customers and co workers. They also have made this Summer's high temps bearable. It's like being under a shade tree.

Perhaps going forward a custom will be an option, but for now, I am really enjoying the practicality and style of using a hat for my business activity. It seems funny that I did not start before since I have always used a wide brimmed hat for the farm, golf, and hiking.

Thank you for a great site and great members!!!

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

I too have a large head (7 1/2 loose fit or 7 5/8) and I've had some good luck here on the forum and on Ebay recently. Just take your time and focus on a certain hat and it will come along. I had a period a couple of months ago when I got hit with three of my bucket list hats all in a couple of weeks. That was an expensive period. I've got some real nice vintage and a few new. I still have one or two on my list but I can wait until I find the exact one I want.

 

[Chuck Naill]

Thank you for the advice, Terry. The velour hat that should arrive on Monday is a good example of what you were talking about and I got it for $35 plus postage. It was on my "bucket" list because I remember a great uncle having one in the '60's

 

[gtdean48]

We LNL's (Large Noggin Loungers) are going to pay a bit more for quality vintage lids but they are out there. I have bought & sold quite a few, pristine, large size lids. It takes a lot of patience & a few more dollars. I compare prices based on what a Heritage Akubra, factory Stetson Pinnacle, or a custom will cost. If I can snag a vintage Borso or 50's Stetson for under $200, I am all over it & seriously consider any up to $300. Over $300, I look at the rarity of the model. Some of these models are few & far between in our sizes & they are never going to be making any more. My hat wearing was mostly western due to showing AQHA & NRHA over last 20+ years. Shop custom western hats someday though there are tons of old cowboy hats out there.
I am a true 7 5/8 LO but when scoping & scooping vintage ones, I go for 7 1/2 to 7 3/4. If the smaller 7 1/2's don't work, I resell them. Right Terry?

 

[TomS]

I'm an LNL ( like that, Tom) as well, and it does make the hobby a bit more expensive. Having said that, it probably makes me a more discriminating collector. If I wore a more common size I'd have way too many hats

 

[gdc]

I'm another LNL and have been collecting since last year. The most I've paid was $80 for a size 7 3/8 1940's Borsalino with a 2 1/4 brim. At a small shop in Nebraska I picket up a 1950's Stetson for a song because it was missing the liner. I also bought a Stetson box with ..........a liner wadded up for $10 and ended up with the hat shown in my avatar. The name written on the box match the initials printed on the sweat so I know they go together.

My first few hat buys were stingies but I've come to believe wider brims are best for me. It's difficult finding nice larger lids under $200 but I try to be patient. My hat budget is pretty small. I am a 7 3/8 long oval to 7 1/2.