Panama Hat Thread

[pplepic]

Stetson Centerdent Panama

I'm trying to upload a coupld of shots of this hat I just got from Delmonico. I realize it's no museum Montecristi, but it isn't advertised as one. Just a hat woven in Ecuador and finished in the United States. The weave at the top of the crown seems just a bit looser, presumably to allow heat to rise out of it. I'm not familiar with straw hats, but it seems just a bit stiffer than I would have thought, but I believe they sprayed it with something to make it water repellant. It has a nice silk grosgrain band, and the sweatband is some fabric. I used to think leather was on all the better hats, but I see some quite expensive hats advertised with "comfort sweatbands" and so on.
In any case, this hat is "natural", not white-white, but very light and looks and fits well, so for $112.50 postpaid, I sure can't complain.
I have two photos on photobucket, but I'm not having any success in trying to move them over here.

 

[Neil]

Took the plunge

Ordered a Superfino from Mr. Weber tonight.
Extra high crown, extra brim.
Looking forward to it.

 

[Panamabob]

I've had two of our "regular" hatters call and tell me that someone is spreading malicious rumors that we've closed. They now know the truth! We've had several emergencies and just plain bad luck piling on, so we've moved back to USA and are just a month or two behind. We've significantly changed our workforce in Ecuador and everything looks like smooth sailing again. Rumors bashed!!! Thanks to our patient and understanding friends and customers as they await their hats.

 

[skwerl-hat]

my first panama

here is my first panama it was hand made in columbia.
It hasnt arrived yet but im very excited.
Does anyone have any experience in dating these hats?
did i do well?


i've never owned a panama and i also am grateful for the vast amount of knowledge you all put out every day. So whatever you can tell a noob i would be deeply in your debt.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h208/malleytek/ebay/nov26/DSC00024.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h208/malleytek/ebay/nov26/DSC00024.jpg

 

[HatDoc]

here is my first panama it was hand made in columbia.
It hasnt arrived yet but im very excited.
Does anyone have any experience in dating these hats?
did i do well?


i've never owned a panama and i also am grateful for the vast amount of knowledge you all put out every day. So whatever you can tell a noob i would be deeply in your debt.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h208/malleytek/ebay/nov26/DSC00024.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h208/malleytek/ebay/nov26/DSC00024.jpg

Skwerl,

I'm not an expert, but I have a bit of experience with Panama hats. If anyone else cares to chime in and correct me, go ahead.

Firstly, it's a fine looking hat.....I bid on it myself.

Second.....I doubt that it was made in Columbia. In order to be a "Genuine Panama", as stated on the sweat band, it must be made in Ecuador. It may have been finished in Columbia, or just exported through Columbia.

Third.....it looks to be a medium-grade Cuenca hat. Without a ruler placed on the weave to measure the wpsi, it's impossible to tell, but I would suspect about 300-400 wpsi (??). The weave is not a brisa weave, as is typical on most Cuenca hats, but is a better llano weave. Essentially all fine Montecristi hats have the llano weave pattern.

Fourth.....the number of vueltas on the crown tell the tale.....it's a Cuenca. Once again, the best way to count vueltas is to hold the hat up to the light and look through the inside to count them. But just looking on the outside, there appear to be 4-6 vueltas, not quite enough for a Montecristi.

All of that being said, it's a fine vintage Panama for a great price. Congrats on your first Panama hat. One thing I can say with certainty......it won't be your last......they're addicting.

Cheers,

Randy

 

[scotrace]

Gosh, I haven't looked in on this thread in awhile. I'm always surprised at how the debate over weaves, color, etc., rages. The trees obscure the forest at times.

You can't buy a better quality Montecristi Panama Hat (or Cuenca, for that matter) for the $ spent than from Panamabob. I've had three, two Montecristi, one Cuenca, from him (the former blocked by Art Fawcett). I still say that unless you plan to buy a rare breed, $1000+ straw hat, then quibbling over weaves is a moot point. Get a hat in your price range, with a style that pleases you, wear it and be done with it. And if it takes 3 months or 6 months or a year to get it, it's worth it. If you must have it right now, you can get a serviceable straw hat from Burlington Coat Factory for the price of lunch.
I've seen some of these hats that seem to be made from ultra fine Irish linen. They're just SO beautiful! But a cheap, stiff Cuenca does a perfectly good job of keeping the sun off and looking smart. And if it blows off into the lake, you won't cry.

Anyway, there are lots of great questions here. I'm just suggesting that sometimes it's better not to overthink a decision.

Also? I miss my friend Sharpetoys!

 

[HungaryTom]

The wait

"You can't buy a better quality Montecristi Panama Hat (or Cuenca, for that matter) for the $ spent than from Panamabob. .... Get a hat in your price range, with a style that pleases you, wear it and be done with it. And if it takes 3 months or 6 months or a year to get it, it's worth it."

QUOTE]

TRUE. The more hats you have from Bob –the more patient and confident you are with your wait- the hats will arrive.

While you wait you have time to occupy yourself with the fine things in life and to think out questions like this: why are there vueltas only in the crown of the Panama hats and not in the the brim - the direction of the weave would be the same?

 

[HatDoc]

Gosh, I haven't looked in on this thread in awhile. I'm always surprised at how the debate over weaves, color, etc., rages. The trees obscure the forest at times.

You can't buy a better quality Montecristi Panama Hat (or Cuenca, for that matter) for the $ spent than from Panamabob. I've had three, two Montecristi, one Cuenca, from him (the former blocked by Art Fawcett). I still say that unless you plan to buy a rare breed, $1000+ straw hat, then quibbling over weaves is a moot point. Get a hat in your price range, with a style that pleases you, wear it and be done with it. And if it takes 3 months or 6 months or a year to get it, it's worth it. If you must have it right now, you can get a serviceable straw hat from Burlington Coat Factory for the price of lunch.
I've seen some of these hats that seem to be made from ultra fine Irish linen. They're just SO beautiful! But a cheap, stiff Cuenca does a perfectly good job of keeping the sun off and looking smart. And if it blows off into the lake, you won't cry.

Anyway, there are lots of great questions here. I'm just suggesting that sometimes it's better not to overthink a decision.

Also? I miss my friend Sharpetoys!

Scotrace,

I can't agree more. I have 5 of Bob's hats, 2 of which were blocked and finished by Art.

I hope you didn't interpret anything that I said as "quibbling over weaves".
Skwerl requested info.....I simply provided what info I could. My favorite everyday Panama is a 150 wpsi Cuenca. I baby my fine Montecristi's from Art, only wearing them to church or other "safe" functions. But this is my real baby:

Actually, I would cry if it blew into a lake, or was stolen, or got burned up by my cigar, or lost it's shape in a downpour.......and hope that Robert could find me a replacement Diamante pronto.

Best regards,

Randy

 

[HatDoc]

"You can't buy a better quality Montecristi Panama Hat (or Cuenca, for that matter) for the $ spent than from Panamabob. .... Get a hat in your price range, with a style that pleases you, wear it and be done with it. And if it takes 3 months or 6 months or a year to get it, it's worth it."

TRUE. The more hats you have from Bob –the more patient and confident you are with your wait- the hats will arrive.

While you wait you have time to occupy yourself with the fine things in life and to think out questions like this: why are there vueltas only in the crown of the Panama hats and not in the the brim - the direction of the weave would be the same?

That photo is obscene, Tom.......PanamaBob over-kill. lol

Reminds me of Bill Cosby's question from the 1960's......."Why is there air?"

 

[HungaryTom]

The photo was meant to be grotesque and self-critic as well. [huh]

On the other hand the question remains- why are those concentric circles only on the top of the crown and not elsewhere - because it looks better like that or is it due to the weaving technique that they don't have to hunch over the bank when they begin the hat?

Tom

 

[Neil]

Rumors

I actually had someone tell me you've separated your business from your brother in law, Robert. I heard nothing about you closing.

I've had two of our "regular" hatters call and tell me that someone is spreading malicious rumors that we've closed. They now know the truth! We've had several emergencies and just plain bad luck piling on, so we've moved back to USA and are just a month or two behind. We've significantly changed our workforce in Ecuador and everything looks like smooth sailing again. Rumors bashed!!! Thanks to our patient and understanding friends and customers as they await their hats.

 

[MisterGrey]

So how well do some of these hats hold up in the rain? I'm talking from sprinkling to downpour here.

ETA: I've been taking a look at this page: http://www.ecuadormall.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=4538_4539

Anyone had any experience? Can anyone tell me about the durability of the hats by looking at the specs?

 

[HatDoc]

So how well do some of these hats hold up in the rain? I'm talking from sprinkling to downpour here.

ETA: I've been taking a look at this page: http://www.ecuadormall.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=4538_4539

Anyone had any experience? Can anyone tell me about the durability of the hats by looking at the specs?

Rain and Panama hats do not play well together. If you want a "straw" hat to wear in the rain, you'll need a synthetic fiber hat, such as a Riverz Delta, Joe Fedora, or Akubra "straw", to name a few. In addition, SunBody and Shady Brady make some natural straw hats that can withstand foul weather. They are NOT Panama hats, however, and some reviewers have stated that they tend to be heavy. They use either raffia or palm leaf.

If you want a genuine Panama, stick with PanamaBob here on the Lounge.......you'll get your best deal there. Also, Art Fawcett has some Panama bodies that he will finish for you. But for goodness sake, don't wear them in the rain.

Welcome to the Lounge.

 

[Daoud]

Panamanian "panama" hats???

Although the sort of thing I'm looking for isn't a Panama hat as most think of them, it's what folks wear in Panama, in the sticks at least......anyone know where I can find one of these?-

I don't suppose they're widely exported, if at all... they're whitish straw with various black patterns- Manny Noriega was widely depicted wearing one when playing at being a regular guy. I just want one for nostalgia's sake. Plus they can get rained on. Anything you wear down there better be able to get rained on.

 

[Neil]

Colors. . .

I've ordered a Montecristi from Robert Weber, which I'll get blocked here in the U.S. when it's done in February.
Thinking of ordering a second hat, too, perhaps in a slightly more beige-ish shade.
What do you all know about Panama hat colors?

 

[HungaryTom]

I've ordered a Montecristi from Robert Weber, which I'll get blocked here in the U.S. when it's done in February.
Thinking of ordering a second hat, too, perhaps in a slightly more beige-ish shade.
What do you all know about Panama hat colors?

Neil,

The Montecristi have off white tones of butter, vanilla ice or ivory - as if ivory was so common. The hats tend to change color over time getting more dark and yellowish which is due to the sulfur bleach and the decomposition of straw. There are differences within a single hat - one strand being reddish others are greyish but you dont see the nuances from 1.5 meter or so.

Here is the Montecristi fino hat of Franklin Delano Roosevelt from the early 1940s auctioned on e-bay on 02 Dec 2008.

 

[Neil]

FDR

Not having much of a sense of history, I'd prefer a new one to FDR's sweaty old cracked Montecristi.
And I will have a new one. Nice superfino being woven as I type.
Extra high crown, extra wide brim, too.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Stetson Center Dent Borsalino Cuenca and Stetson shantung Panama

 

[Panamabob]

A new video from the people in Montecristi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQS_gTXBN5s

 

[Neil]

Brent Black

Has anybody out there actually bought a hat from Brent BlacK? He sure has a great website, full of detail. He doesn't come cheap, I know, and I also know the choice on this site seems to be Robert Weber (from whom I have ordered). But has anyone dealt with Mr. Black?