Personal Plea to Panamadub re: Montecristi Hats

[toastedskin]

Dear Panamadub:

In March of this year, you reported that you had recently had begun an experiment. You had ordered one montecristi panama hat, with the same budget (more or less $1000) from three different hat makers: Brent Black, Panama Bob, and Casey at Panama Hats direct.

We are dying to know how the experiment turned out. We would be interested in photos, a report of the quality of the three hats (weaves per square inch, color, consistency, etc), and your general impressions of dealing with these three quality hat makers.

We are in anxious anticipation of, and would gratefully appreciate, your conclusions and insights.

 

[BellyTank]

What was his name? I want to see his progressively sillier suit alterations.


B
T

 

[Aureliano]

I had come to the conclusion that Panamadub was a troll trying to see how long he could stretch things out. It reminded me of that portly guy who had the interminable thread about not being able to buy a suit, posting successive and increasingly ridiculous photos of himself in various suits he bought and had "altered."

I agree, I feel mocked... unless he died.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Maybe I can stop holding my breath. What a relief!!!!!!!!

 

[Brad Bowers]

To be fair, his location does say China, which, if true, could indicate any number of reasons he hasn't visited us in a while.

Brad

 

[Panamabob]

No, I think he's quite real. Remember, I had a hat blocked in Oregon and sent to him and he did followup with a thank you for the hat's arrival. There's been no chargeback situation. Once in a while I get someone saying that they are going to do this type of contest, but what they really want is a free hat or a deep discount. I did have the feeling that he was a friend or a business contact with one of the other two, but that was just a feeling I had. I've never been one to trust Islanders (Hawaiian kind) nor those from Ecuador....with good reason.

Most people who have BB hats and pony up the money for a nice hat from us are pleased. Heck. most who've ponied up over $200.00 are pleased at the outcome when comparing to many others. Comparing apples to apples on a pricepoint/quality ratio.

 

[Fletch]

My impression is that there's a lot of mystery surrounding Panamas, and that it's in some dealers' best interests to preserve that mystery. When I see pix of weaves without scale or wpi numbers, or small pix of hats that can't be enlarged, I get the feeling that merchant doesn't want to educate the buyer.

 

[Lefty]

I ran into panamadub on my recent vacation - or was it in a dream? Either way, the service was impeccable and the proprietors were friendly and very well dressed.

 

[bolthead]

I ran into panamadub on my recent vacation - or was it in a dream? Either way, the service was impeccable and the proprietors were friendly and very well dressed.

Wow....that's one helluva Lei......

 

[jamespowers]

I ran into panamadub on my recent vacation - or was it in a dream? Either way, the service was impeccable and the proprietors were friendly and very well dressed.

My dear guests, Welcome to Fantasy Montecristi Island.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Well either way... I still need a good Panama and am on the prowl for the right dealer. Input is welcome.

Something with a high crown and maybe a brim that is 2.5 inches or so... Like the hats in "A Room With A View".

Something I can roll up and talk with while it's in my hand.

I sold my last vintage one to a friend... Nice Yellowed one that just wasn't quite my style... a Dobbs from the 40s.

 

[WH1]

[/QUOTE]

Dig that crazy outfit on Ricardo Montalban, is it a white tailcoat, a morning coat, what???? Only the 70's could give us that.

 

[Aureliano]

I know the two options here seem to be PanamaBob or Brent Black. Nothing against either. I've seen their hats and both seem to be of similar quality. The issue, I think, is price and the way PB and BB price their hats, the former more down-to-earth and fair; the latter a bit steep.
I have a third option for top quality, hand picked from Pile, blocked in the USA montecristi hats (fine Cuencas too) Worth&Worth in NYC. Orlando Palacios is the proprietor of a great shop. He hand picks the hats (as the other too probably do too) and cares about the weavers (he, I believe with another person, donated a clinic for the people there). His felts are great too BTW. Just my two cents. I believe there's too much tension between PB and BB. Why not look for other sources?. Disclaimer: I'm not associated, alied, affiliated or represent the interests of Mr Palacios shop. I'm just a customer.

 

[Lefty]

or Optimo (Chicago)
or Optimo (Arizona)
or Montecristi Custom Hat Works (New Mexico)

Price is certainly an issue, but there are more than two choices available.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

...a good Panama...
Something I can roll up and talk with while it's in my hand.

Talk away but be careful with the rolling. Although I've been quick to show off some of my Panamas (and a Parabuntal) in a state of rolliness, I must point out that it really isn't something one should do to a straw hat once it has been transformed from a raw hood into a blocked and trimmed hat. No matter how fine or durable the straw, it will weaken it and hasten cracks and tears. It also plays hell with the blocked shape - they really don't bounce back to form like good thin felt roll-ups.

I believe the myth of a Panama hat being something which is designed to be rolled and unrolled repeatedly stems from how they were originally rolled right after being made into a hood for shipping out of Equador. It sort of burst my bubble to come to accept this because I always fancied being able to roll up a Panama all the time until I learned their limits.

I have a range of "good Panamas" and then I have a couple which are crappy enough that I don't mind abusing them (once in a great while, only when absolutely necessary) by rolling - and I don't mind them making me look a little silly due to the weird shapes they take on as a result.

 

[WineGuy]

A testament to Panama Bob (also posted on Panama Canal)

Someone made my day today!

While in the process of selecting a hat from PanamaBob a few months ago, we discussed a few style options, price ranges and delivery times. In the end I went with the Montecristi Fino that Art just reblocked and banded for me and is posted a few pages back. When I closed the deal with Bob he told me I was getting an exceptionally good hat for the money and that he would compare it favorably to the Borsalino Montecristi Fino sold at JJ Hat Center in Manhattan for over $1200. I thought that was a bit of an exaggeration but as long as the hat was worth what I paid for it, so what.

Today I was in Manhattan and made a service stop at JJ Hat Center because some of the stitching of the new sweatband released and the band was pulling away from the hat. JJHC took the hat and repaired it on the spot....twenty minutes work...$10 fee...I love these folks.

When Joe, the head honcho there, brought me the hat he commented that it was an exceptionally nice Montecristi and asked me what I paid for it. I asked him what he thought I should have paid for it and he said "about twelve hundred dollars". I told him I paid a fraction of that and he was in shock, said I got the deal of the century. I was smirking all day today, and only wish my wife was there to here it because she thought I spent too much to begin with. Thanks PB, you are the man!

 

[indycop]

Nice!!:eusa_clap

 

[billysmom]

Fantastic Panama - and the ribbon really gilds the lilly! What a nice affirmation of its merit. I have one on order from PB (superfino Optimo). Looking at yours makes me content to wait for however long it takes.

Sue

 

[WineGuy]

Hi Billysmom, getting your first Panama from PB puts you at the head of the pack, I wish I knew Rob before the duds I bought previously

 

[tortswon]

Beautiful hat WG. I agree, Art's Ribbon makes that hat visually stunning.

So as one wine guy to another, what's in th glass you are holding in your avatar? Best, Sam