Panama Hat Thread

[Lefty]

Fantastic. :eusa_clap

 

[ScottF]

Thanks everyone - yes, Graham does amazing work. He has my other Montecristi - darker but similar weave-count - and I need to decide on design. This one's a series C and I'm thinking of doing the same for the other one, but with a thinner copper or light-rust ribbon.

 

[scaber]

Panama's when wet.

Hello everyone. I am shopping for my first Panama hat and could use your experience. I live near Tampa, FL where a good hat is appreciated in the heat and sun. I think that a panama will suit my needs for an every day hat because it can be worn with informal clothes. We do have sudden, summer rain showers though. I have read various threads and information about rain being very damaging to Panama's. Although I would never purposely wear the hat in the rain, you never know when a shower will pop up. How fragile are these hats? If they were truly worn by workers building the canal then they can't be that fragile. I am looking at a mid priced ($100) Montecristi fine from ultrafinopanamahat. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Hats off to you.

 

[cookie]

Don't wear a Montecristi in the rain or a shower like happened to me a few Melbourne Cups ago. As for sellers see which other FL well liked-suppliers there are on this thread.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Hello everyone. I am shopping for my first Panama hat and could use your experience. I live near Tampa, FL where a good hat is appreciated in the heat and sun. I think that a panama will suit my needs for an every day hat because it can be worn with informal clothes. We do have sudden, summer rain showers though. I have read various threads and information about rain being very damaging to Panama's. Although I would never purposely wear the hat in the rain, you never know when a shower will pop up. How fragile are these hats? If they were truly worn by workers building the canal then they can't be that fragile. I am looking at a mid priced ($100) Montecristi fine from ultrafinopanamahat. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Hats off to you.

Welcome ..

I lived in Gulfport near St. Petersburg as well as West Palm. The hat I used and still have where I am now located in the Stetson Center Dent.

While I am very happy with my hats, I would strongly suggest you shop around. Their is a fellow here that I think you could use. Do not be hasty take your time.

 

[WineGuy]

Hi scaber and welcome to the most addictive forum on the web,

As a some what new member to the lounge, I'm still not sure what the proper etiquette is for referring people to a lounge vender. I have sung the praise of one hatter in particular because of the great Panama's I got from him and I noticed some seasoned members responded to you and alluded to the same vender without mentioning his name. Please look at my posts for his info.

At the same time, can someone please spell it out for me, I'm a little dense on this matter, was it bad form for me to recommend this vender by name in my previous posts?

FYI: I purchased my first Panama from Ultrafinopanamahat for precisely $100 and got a $25 hat for the money. They took the hat back and refunded my money to their credit but I had to cajole them to make a prompt refund as they wanted to take 8 weeks.

 

[thinkfloyd]

I've been waiting for about a month now for my Panama to arrive I don't know if I should mention the vendor, but they are a generic seller though... was expecting it two weeks ago, still no sign of it... I should've just gotten one from PB.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Wineguy, I believe there is only one taboo vendor and he does not make panama's so, you are safe for naming anyone you want. I don't believe there is a protocol , we need to hear both bad and good and first hand experience is most valuable so, name away!!

 

[dhermann1]

Speaking of Panamas and showers, this was a really soggy summer in New York, and my Panama definitely got a little moist several times. It now has what some people have called "character", but what I just call droop. Can someone point me to the posts that tell what to do about this? Is a reblock in order?

 

[WineGuy]

Thanks Art! BTW, great job on my Resistol!

That said, scaber, I was going to recommend Robert Weber aka Panama Bob of Panama Hat Works of Montecristi. After my sour experience with Ultrafino I ended up with a glorious hat from Robert that is worth four times what I paid for it and Bob was great to deal with to boot. I later purchased from Bob a $35 Cuenca that blew away the $100 Ultrafino.

Now I also have to point out that Art Fawcett is a master hat maker and I recently became the proud owner of a custom Fedora Art made for me. Art makes among the very best Felt hats you can find and he has also worked on my Montecristi so you might want to talk to him also about a Panama Hat.

There are certainly many other reputable hat venders but I can tell you that I'm sticking with Bob and Art for the long haul...they are the best!

 

[Carlisle Blues]

^
^
^
Listen to the man.

 

[mineral]

Speaking of Panamas and showers, this was a really soggy summer in New York, and my Panama definitely got a little moist several times. It now has what some people have called "character", but what I just call droop. Can someone point me to the posts that tell what to do about this? Is a reblock in order?

No, just wet it and you can shape it again. If you let it slowly dry in the exact shape you want it to be, then it would keep that shape (till the next time it gets moist ...).

 

[CRH]

Wineguy, I believe there is only one taboo vendor and he does not make panama's so, you are safe for naming anyone you want. I don't believe there is a protocol , we need to hear both bad and good and first hand experience is most valuable so, name away!!

:eusa_clap

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Akubra Balmoral

A birthday gift from my kids, the Akubra Balmoral (hemp) straw.
When I wear it out I guess I could always smoke it.

 

[CRH]

A birthday gift from my kids, the Akubra Balmoral (hemp) straw.
When I wear it out I guess I could always smoke it.

Hemp is the modern Constitution of the fabric world......

 

[dnjan]

My first PanamaBob

I know I missed straw season, but I actually bought this hat for a trip next summer. My Stetson palm-fiber is fine for most Seattle weather, but too hot for a really warm climate. And I don't really like brims much beyond 2"
So I contacted PanamaBob and asked him what he could do for $300.
I wanted a 2" snap-brim with a Homburg-style centre-dent and no pinch.
The result:

He told me it would be at least 500-weave. I think it is at least 600, but haven't gotten out the magnifyingglass to count:

It is incredibly light, and now I can't wait for next summer:

By the way - blocking by Art Fawcett

 

[Carlisle Blues]

^
^
Nice .........Looks good on you..........:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[WineGuy]

A really nice lid!

Like usual, PB and Art are the "dynamic duo".

Beautiful weave and elegant blocking!

I hope you get many years of enjoyment out of it dnjan!:eusa_clap

 

[billysmom]

By the way - blocking by Art Fawcett

Very, Very, nice!!!!! Looks terrific on you.

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Sue

 

[mike]

dnjan - I love, love, love that hat! So you're saying that's ballpark a 300 panama bob and a approx 100 art block..? Any further info on exactly what that is so as to one day hope to order it from PB?