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Messages
18,446
Location
Nederland
Randall tipped me off to this one on ebay thinking it would make a nice conversion. The pictures didn't do it justice however, and I don't think I want to mess with it now. Absolutely pristine and new looking Cavanagh Homburg with the 'John Cavanagh' liner putting it between 1936 and 1951 and with the tag indicating 40's. Just perfect condition and the liner is bright white compared to a little bit newer Cavanagh I have that has yellowed. Wonderful felt. I got it out of the freezer last night and did a few different bashes after steaming and brushing.

No outside pics since it won't stop raining around here.

Unbashed:

View attachment 220819

View attachment 220824

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With and without side pinches:

View attachment 220825

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View attachment 220828
Great catch, Tim. One of my favourite colour combinations. The hats works every way you've shown (and probably a few more).
 
Messages
18,446
Location
Nederland
Messages
18,446
Location
Nederland
View attachment 220888 View attachment 220889 View attachment 220890 View attachment 220891 Greetings All:
Today....i had 3 white hats today. Thought i’d try for a side-by-side post since they are 3 diff brands.
Everyone please join me in a hardy LOL...ha ha ha cause some “little one” had tight hold of the reins. Was lucky to get these shots while she was looking the other way! I got Willow switched..just like when i was a kid.
JBS 3X LD in sugar white, a sweet gift!
Be well out there. Bowen
Ps: thanks Brent
Very cool, Bowen. These pristine light coloured hats always make me nervous:)
 

Randall Renshaw

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,100
Location
Nahunta, Ga.
Lovely hat. Everyone needs a few homburgs in their rotation. I think the pinches help to make it more approachable when it’s worn with casual attire. For what little it’s worth, I hope you don’t convert it into a fedora.
Yeah, once I got all the info on Tim’s Cavanagh , I ended up telling him it was best to leave it be. Now after seeing it, it is definitely too nice and too old for a conversion. Now, on the other hand, I don’t mind seeing a well done conversion on a hat that needs work anyway, or on a hat that will never be considered a mint condition antique.
I know there are those who think it verboten to change any hat, and I respect that opinion. I truly do.
But for me, for all hats not considered untouchable; a truly improved hat is a good thing. Imho.
I’d guess that too many times folks have seen bad conversions and thereby come to conclude that no hat should be tampered with.
I understand and can agree.
A similar and validated argument for both sides can also be made with various types of traditional music.
Won’t go into any of that, but I will say this: I’m glad there are those who despise change and just as glad there are those who are determined to cause change. Both work together to keep things alive and healthy for future generations.
Don’t expect everyone to agree with what I’ve said here, but...that’s just fine. I’m fairly easy to get along with :)
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,857
Location
Denmark
The Pork Pie crease sure suits it, Joe. No need to change it.

The first of a two hat haul that came in last week.

The Mallory Ten

View attachment 220627

The Mallory Ten with a 3 1/2 inch pork pie bash.
Tan felt
2 1/2 inch brim with 1/4 inch tan grosgrain binding
1 7/8 brown ribbon
1 1/2 sweat in great condition
Size 6 3/4

I realized that these hats I wear many of which are much older then I may have stories of their previous owners. And started trying to get some of that story when possible.

Both of these hats were very small at 6 3/4 but since the seller made me a wonderful deal for both hats and the story of her Great Grandfather to whom they belonged I decided to take a chance on them.

Her great grandfather the original owner of these hats was a Chief of Police in Poland during WWII. A Holocaust survivor and hero who saved the lives of many. He hid in an attic for two years with only a bible. Spoke 7 languages. A very tough man who lived to 88 years old.

By some small miracle both of these 6 3/4 hats fit just wonderfully. Apparently this tough old survivor was cramming his about size 7 head into these 6 3/4 hats for decades. I am proud to now own them and will wear them with honor

View attachment 220631 View attachment 220632 View attachment 220633 View attachment 220634 View attachment 220635 View attachment 220636 View attachment 220630 View attachment 220629 View attachment 220628
 
Messages
11,713
And now for the travel mate of the Mallory Ten that arrived last week.

Lee Fifth Avenue Water Bloc - Silver Label

F9529C9B-D331-4534-9ACE-D3BD4545089E.jpeg


Beautiful Chocolate Brown ‘Panda Felt’ A fuzzy pet able velour like finish

5 1/2 open crown

1 1/2 matching grosgrain ribbon

2 3/4 brim with matching 3/8 grosgrain binding

2 inch sweat still in supple condition

Wind trolley.

The felt does have a decent amount of moth nibbles... though the bulk of it is on top of the crown. The moths do seem to love these fuzzy finish hats.

CAE0E171-D4EE-4B76-94B5-D39FF7AD6C62.jpeg
2FE75FB1-9DD0-465F-9F43-A105D89D07A8.jpeg
34E881AF-72A0-46C1-A9CD-F6D63C1D4E45.jpeg
680A25F6-D64A-4BC5-9030-C9B28047E0F3.jpeg
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EA3806FB-E1FD-4D12-BCB5-5922BF7505DC.jpeg
BBABF516-EA74-45D3-B17B-52451D705F4F.jpeg


Both this and the Mallory Ten were very small at 6 3/4 but since the seller made me a wonderful deal for both hats and the story of her Great Grandfather to whom they belonged I decided to take a chance on them.

Her great grandfather the original owner of these hats was a Chief of Police in Poland during WWII. A Holocaust survivor and hero who saved the lives of many. He hid in an attic for two years with only a bible. Spoke 7 languages. A very tough man who lived to 88 years old.

By some small miracle both of these 6 3/4 hats fit just wonderfully. Apparently this tough old survivor was cramming his about size 7 head into these 6 3/4 hats for decades. I am proud to now own them and will wear them with honor

9E9EFACB-2661-48E0-9188-5600D1E84DD8.jpeg
 
Messages
18,446
Location
Nederland
And now for the travel mate if the Mallory Ten that arrived last week.

Lee Fifth Avenue Water Bloc - Silver Label

View attachment 221266

Beautiful Chocolate Brown ‘Panda Felt’ A fuzzy pet able velour like finish

5 1/2 open crown

1 1/2 matching grosgrain ribbon

2 3/4 brim with matching 3/8 grosgrain binding

2 inch sweat still in supple condition

Wind trolley.

The felt does have a decent amount of moth nibbles... though the bulk of it is on top of the crown. The moths do seem to love these fuzzy finish hats.

View attachment 221269 View attachment 221270 View attachment 221271 View attachment 221272 View attachment 221273 View attachment 221274 View attachment 221278 View attachment 221276

Both this and the Mallory Ten were very small at 6 3/4 but since the seller made me a wonderful deal for both hats and the story of her Great Grandfather to whom they belonged I decided to take a chance on them.

Her great grandfather the original owner of these hats was a Chief of Police in Poland during WWII. A Holocaust survivor and hero who saved the lives of many. He hid in an attic for two years with only a bible. Spoke 7 languages. A very tough man who lived to 88 years old.

By some small miracle both of these 6 3/4 hats fit just wonderfully. Apparently this tough old survivor was cramming his about size 7 head into these 6 3/4 hats for decades. I am proud to now own them and will wear them with honor

View attachment 221277
Very nice, Joe. We see far too few Lee hats here.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,857
Location
Denmark
That Cavanagh looks great with and without pinches, Tim. A true sign of a quality Homburg.
Hats off to Randall for giving the heads up.

Randall tipped me off to this one on ebay thinking it would make a nice conversion. The pictures didn't do it justice however, and I don't think I want to mess with it now. Absolutely pristine and new looking Cavanagh Homburg with the 'John Cavanagh' liner putting it between 1936 and 1951 and with the tag indicating 40's. Just perfect condition and the liner is bright white compared to a little bit newer Cavanagh I have that has yellowed. Wonderful felt. I got it out of the freezer last night and did a few different bashes after steaming and brushing.

No outside pics since it won't stop raining around here.

Unbashed:

View attachment 220819

View attachment 220824

View attachment 220821

View attachment 220822

View attachment 220820

View attachment 220823


With and without side pinches:

View attachment 220825

View attachment 220826

View attachment 220827

View attachment 220828
 

Hagwood

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,017
Location
Fort Worth, TX
True!! for a factory that made so many... they put their own name on so few! The ones I have had in my hands have been wonderful. Including the Marathon they made for Penny’s.


I just got a Lee in last night as a twofer on ebay with a Templeform. My first one under the actual Lee brand. I knew they needed work, but dirt cheap and good project hats. The Lee has wonderful felt, but the sweat is destroyed. I think I'll order one from Agnoulita and try my hand at sewing a new one in. The Templeform just needs a new ribbon.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Yeah, once I got all the info on Tim’s Cavanagh , I ended up telling him it was best to leave it be. Now after seeing it, it is definitely too nice and too old for a conversion. Now, on the other hand, I don’t mind seeing a well done conversion on a hat that needs work anyway, or on a hat that will never be considered a mint condition antique.
I know there are those who think it verboten to change any hat, and I respect that opinion. I truly do.
But for me, for all hats not considered untouchable; a truly improved hat is a good thing. Imho.
I’d guess that too many times folks have seen bad conversions and thereby come to conclude that no hat should be tampered with.
I understand and can agree.
A similar and validated argument for both sides can also be made with various types of traditional music.
Won’t go into any of that, but I will say this: I’m glad there are those who despise change and just as glad there are those who are determined to cause change. Both work together to keep things alive and healthy for future generations.
Don’t expect everyone to agree with what I’ve said here, but...that’s just fine. I’m fairly easy to get along with :)


I’ve modified and converted several hats myself. I don’t have any pangs of conscience doing it. I don’t like seeing rare and/or old hats getting modified, but I’m also a big believer in personal property rights and figure all get to do whatever we want with our own stuff. At the end of the day, it’s just stuff and no matter what it’s not going to be around forever. I’m with you on not really caring if others feel differently; I can respect their arguments without being obliged to agree with them.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
my newest hat. I pushed out most of the felt. will steam help the hat regain its shape?


Fur felt is usually pretty resilient stuff. If there aren’t any sharp bends and if the hat hasn’t tapered or had some some other calamity befall it, steam and brushing can often work miracles. You won’t know how your hat will respond until to give it a try.

I use an aluminum domed “block” that is several sizes smaller than my hat size. With steam, I can almost always iron (no heat) out the crown and remove old creases or handling/shipping deformities. Good luck.
 
Messages
11,713
I just got a Lee in last night as a twofer on ebay with a Templeform. My first one under the actual Lee brand. I knew they needed work, but dirt cheap and good project hats. The Lee has wonderful felt, but the sweat is destroyed. I think I'll order one from Agnoulita and try my hand at sewing a new one in. The Templeform just needs a new ribbon.
Looking forward to your renovations Tim.
 
Messages
11,713
Stetson Open Road in Silverbelly

AACBD115-0A54-465E-8627-FFA21054342F.jpeg
6F6A5914-84D3-45CA-890D-971057227F07.jpeg
F2DF6CCC-91CB-4259-A115-4FAA40E98DF9.jpeg


4 1/2 crown in cattleman’s crease

1/4 thin ribbon light tan

2 3/4 brim with 1/8 matching bound edge.

1 3/4 brown leather sweat

This one arrived a couple weeks back. This is the buck and a quarter Stetson. Not $125.. one dollar and twenty five cents was the end of auction price. It has definitely seen some wear in its life as evidenced by the sweat staining around the ribbon and wear on the sweatband. But other than that it is in very good shape

Most of the gold embossment other than than the 6x logo has worn off the sweat band. But Model number SFOPRD and other Open Road indications like bound edge leave me assuming this is a fairly modern Open Road model.

Judging by info from the seller whose father was the original owner and some details of the hat itself like the UPC on the label. I’m gonna guess this one to be early 90’s or late 80’s. The seller thought it was much older still... but that’s my guess. Any thoughts here?

But my question really is brim up or down on this one?

8B898B49-2978-4F79-BB5A-B0968D68482D.jpeg
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BFCDB7BF-6E4A-4FFE-BA57-962B15778758.jpeg
14DF828B-BF38-4970-8E8B-7D9CD840E588.jpeg
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2949F666-EF1D-446F-9487-63930C25DA2E.jpeg
 
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