Panama Hat Thread

[mikespens]

An unsual but nice crown Daniele. I especially like the unbleached 2 tone weave or patina of it. It sounds like your aversion to straw hats is an unfortunate cultural one, something like associating straw hats to hillbillies here in the new world. All I can say is enjoy it's obvious comfort benefits in the summer and know we can all appreciate it's fine style whether it's paired with peasant wear or formal.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Indeed, Daniele, but we like him!

Bob, I know I mentioned a walk through the process, but I don't even have a smart phone yet, (waiting for them to be perfected, and to "catch on") so I can't help.

Thx! Seminar at Delmonico...? Lol.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Mike, I have no aversion to straw hats.
I belong from my father to a peasant family - sharecroppers who cultivated strawberries and peaches until the fifties on the banks of the river Adige.
The straw hats were common in my father's family and where I was born and live, in the hills.
The only thing I regret is that I was born in a country famous for having built excellent straw hats for centuries and be forced to wear a hat that comes from far away!
I also like this Montecristi made with straw of different colors.
Honestly I do not like panama white with black ribbon.
They are too common and inflated.

 

[Trevi007]

Angel Suarez & Hnos. Vintage Panama



Hi, this is a vintage Panama handmade in Ecuador exclusively for the Suarez store in San Juan PR. This store was open from 1886 to early 90's. Hat is in new condition with original box. A great find!

 

[vmtrevino2]

Yes I did and also your PM. Thanks! I'm really happy with this hat. My wife likes it better than my fedora. I think she likes it because the crown is not as high. Funny thing...I 'love' that sulfur smell. How about you? Does anyone hate that smell? I'll post a picture this weekend.

Andy

That smell. Lol

 

[alanfgag]

This is an early Montecristi (1920s - 1930s) which arrived to me in a Kaufmann's box with an L.C. Rossen Hat Co. label where the hat had been renovated (Rossen-ized). Narrow brim, tall crown, beautifully blocked with very little taper. Much patina. This is an example of the wonderful vintage panama hats that used to show up from time to time and sell at low prices on eBay (small sizes).

 

[mikespens]

Congrats Alan, a very kool find made even kooler by the paper still intact.

 

[tommyK]

Beautiful, Alan. Classic perfection and just in time for summer! I remember Kaufmann's and Horne's.

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks Mike and Tommy. This is the first Montecristi panama I purchased some years back. I need to wear it more.

 

[hatophile]

Wow

 

[carouselvic]

i love the smell of sulfur in the morning

 

[alanfgag]

Alas, the only aroma left in this one is Pittsburgh.

 

[AndyR]

That smell. Lol

Mine still smells, thankfully.

i love the smell of sulfur in the morning

LOL! Me too.

This mention of sulfur makes me wonder. On the Optimo site, they point out that no sulfur is used in the finishing of their Montecristi hats. Other than the smell, would someone be able to look at and feel two hats and know which one was treated with sulfur and which wasn't?

Is it safe to assume that more hats are treated with sulfur than are not? I wonder if there is a difference between them, regarding longevity. I apologize if this is something I could have found by searching. I'll search as well. I just figured I'd point out what I saw at Optimo.

Andy

 

[AndyR]

This is an early Montecristi (1920s - 1930s)...(Rossen-ized).

Great old hat Alan. Looks like it was created just for you. Rossen-ized, love that, but you mention a label. Do you mean the little round tag inside? Because the second image is surely a matchbook, no? Was that in the hat? Any matches left in it? Very cool find indeed. Yeah, you need to wear that one more.

Andy

 

[Jacora]

Anyone have a picture of the Stetson Renaissance being worn? Any opinions on it?

 

[alanfgag]

Great old hat Alan. Looks like it was created just for you. Rossen-ized, love that, but you mention a label. Do you mean the little round tag inside? Because the second image is surely a matchbook, no? Was that in the hat? Any matches left in it? Very cool find indeed. Yeah, you need to wear that one more.

Andy

Hi Andy, the box I mentioned was the hat box that the panama arrived in... an old Kaufmann's box with a shipping label on top from LC Rossen to the owner. Correct on the matchbox and it is matchless.

 

[AndyR]

Hi Andy, the box I mentioned was the hat box that the panama arrived in... an old Kaufmann's box with a shipping label on top from LC Rossen to the owner. Correct on the matchbox and it is matchless.

DOH! My mistake. I re-read your post and it is clear on the label. It's always fun when there are a few matches, but still a cool additional piece. I enjoy collecting little things like that.

Andy

 

[Jacora]

Anyone have a picture of the Stetson Renaissance being worn? Any opinions on it?

Quoting myself just to get more exposure to my earlier question

What I'd really like is a straw (or hemp or polystraw) that's just like my Akubra Banjo Paterson. Blue would be a big plus. Any suggestions?

 

[alanfgag]

Panama enthusiasts might enjoy this post in the Side by Side comparison thread.

 

[barrowjh]

Hermit Panama?

Is Kim wearing a genuine Ecuadorian panama here, or is this one of those shatung things?

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/8.../091a4f2c4199e5ea494ed9cba560ce8f8cf5b1a8.jpg

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/..../660bfd8450d29bf9f69663048a3271b81bd32c6b.jpg

not sure if these links will work, my apologies if they do not.