OTHER THAN eBAY Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[mayserwegener]

Agree! Fantastic!

 

[Matt Crunk]

...being as how we are fast approaching the "hotter'n baked hell" season. I had my heart set on the TH5, nice hat.

Instead I found & bought this antique -


A 1982 tagged Tilley made, signed & dated by Mr. Tilley himself!
A little more brim than I was interested in. But it is dated '82, a full two years prior to them going "big".

I wonder if Alex would like to swap?

I've always called these "sailing hats" because they are what myself and many other sailors I know wear when we're out sailing our boats. I've never known the actual name for them or the history. Mine has a tag that says it was made in Tampa, FL, but I can't make out the manufacturer's name. All I know as it's a great hat to keep one cool and shaded in the the summer heat, and is nearly indestructible.

 

[guitarmasta12]

Here's an etsy win. $25! This is a 50s genuine Knox fifteen!

 

[Mr.Astor]

WOW! guitarmasta, what a find! Good for you. Nice looking hat wear it in good health.

 

[rclark]

Nice!

 

[guitarmasta12]

WOW! guitarmasta, what a find! Good for you. Nice looking hat wear it in good health.

Thanks Astor! I couldn't believe it my self! I checked the tag that has the block # and the size and type of oval. It has the crown height on it. Definitely a 50s Knox!

 

[guitarmasta12]

Nice!

Thanks Clark!

 

[fedoracentric]

Definitely a 50s Knox!

Don't even need the tags or the block # to know that. It has a back bow. That was popular in the late 50s and only for a few short seasons. (Though there are back bows from earlier in the century, it wasn't that popular an idea.)

 

[guitarmasta12]

Don't even need the tags or the block # to know that. It has a back bow. That was popular in the late 50s and only for a few short seasons. (Though there are back bows from earlier in the century, it wasn't that popular an idea.)

Yeah I know. I'm just saying that because it's my first one with the original tags. The size tag fell out. I'm thinking of putting a little super glue on it so it will stick on the sweat again. You think that would be fine?

 

[fedoracentric]

Think I'd just go with regular old Elmer's white glue, myself.

 

[guitarmasta12]

Think I'd just go with regular old Elmer's white glue, myself.

Ahh. ok I want to restore it's natural look in the inside by adding the size tag back. Funny, when I looked in the inside of the sweat it came right off. I kept it just to put it back in.

 

[fedoracentric]

Funny, when I looked in the inside of the sweat it came right off. I kept it just to put it back in.

Ha, I've had that happen, too. The reason I wouldn't use super glue as I don't think paper to leather is a good match for super glue. Because it is so pliable, I think it'll just break loose too easily. Good ol' Elmers will work... at least, I've used it several times and it has worked for me.

 

[alanfgag]

Fabri-tac would be a better choice.

 

[gtdean48]

Fabri-tac would be a better choice.

:arated:
I usually store the tag in the box if it is a wearer, attach it if I ever consider parting with it...

 

[Mr.Astor]

Alan you're right on with Fabri-tac my wife has been using it for a long time!! She sensed my frustration one day with a sweat that separated a little bit. She said I have something. Just be careful! I had no idea that her sewing experience could intertwine with hat making. Go figure,their day is Sunday! Recognize them.

 

[guitarmasta12]

Okay sounds good.

 

[mayserwegener]

I recently purchased this 222 page book on felt hat fabrication from Deustchen Hutmacher Zeitung (German Hat Makers News, 1933). It should arrive some time next week. It should contain some very interesting information.

 

[fedoracentric]

Are they sending a German to read it to you... well, I'd need one, anyway! LOL
Looks cool, though.

 

[mayserwegener]

I plan to translate the text (hopefully with some help from Manfred) but that will take some time.

 

[Annixter]

I experienced a missed opportunity today that is still gnawing at me. I was at a local flea market this morning, and I walked into a seller's stall who I have purchased some nice vintage items from before. The seller was talking to a gruff gentleman who was wearing a very beat up, torn, greasy fedora (looked like a vintage piece), and she said, "Since you are wearing that type of hat, check out my father's hat I have here." She proceeded to pull out a fedora from under the table near me. I could tell it was vintage from the start: a nice cream color felt, black ribbon, and matching black brim treatment. From my vantage point, it looked like it was in excellent condition. The gentleman took off his tattered rag hat and tried on the seller's fedora. It was comically too small for his head, which he himself pointed out. Then he proceeded to grab it harshly by the brim on both sides and tugged it down somewhat lower on his head. I cringed and then got excited at the prospect of him passing on it wherein I would be able to have a look, but before I could do anything, she asked him for $25, he countered with $10, the seller took his money, and he stumbled off with his friend. As he took off the fedora to put on his rag hat, I saw the liner: It was a late 40's/early 50's Harry Rolnick Resistol! If I had only gotten to that stall 30 seconds sooner, I would have seen the darn thing first.:eusa_doh:

I'm trying to allay my frustration by remembering that the fedora looked small, so it was probably not going to fit my 7-1/8 noggin in the first place (or maybe it would have?). Also, I didn't get to inspect it closely, so it could have been riddled with moth holes and other damage (or maybe it was pristine). Still, I feel pretty crummy that the piece of history is now in a brute's hands who will likely convert it into the type of rag hat he was wearing.