Renovate vintage or buy new?

[gtdean48]

Here is my query, should I spend close to $115 to renovate a vintage 3x Stetson or go with a new Campdraft for less money? Is the quality felt of the vintage better than what is coming out now? I don't collect hats, I wear them, so the vintage is just a blank for me in that regard.... gtd

 

[Wil Tam]

vintage

renovate if it is a prized possession, vintage lids are always better than any modern lid straight off the rack... the material used in a vintage is of much better quality than you would find nowadays & Stetson has high quality workmanship.

Plus if you go with Optimo in Chicago for the renovation you will end up with a custom vintage hat

hope this helps & welcome to the fray

 

[bolthead]

Vintage.....

You won't be sorry if you go Vintage.

 

[Lefty]

Unless you're a tough size or this is one really special hat, vintage 3x (at least, the thin ribbon, late 50s-60s variety) is pretty easy to come by.

 

[KatintheHat]

If the vintage is in nice shape you must surely renovate.

Then look for a new one.

 

[carter]

A couple of thoughts

It would be easier to answer your question if we had some pictures of your vintage 3X. Especially if they included the sweatband and liner.

At the current exchange rate, the Akubra Campdraft is a very good value. You could always order an Akubra (with shipping included, it's less than the cost of renovation) and have the renovation done at a later time.

I'd probably order the Akubra.

 

[jec]

Go with Optimo

I had a renovation done by Optimo just a couple of months ago on a vintage Stetson thin ribbon (not sure which model since the sweat band was worn and illegible). Graham actually tried to talk me out of it - saying that the felt was too old to be worth the cost - but I insisted, and he did a beautiful job converting a cattleman's crease and curled brim to a fedora. I paid $80 for a cleaning, reblock and new ribbon.

Go for it.

 

[gtdean48]

Unless you're a tough size or this is one really special hat, vintage 3x (at least, the thin ribbon, late 50s-60s variety) is pretty easy to come by.

I am either a 7 1/2 long oval or a 7 5/8 based on modern makes I have tried on, in my early 20's I wore a 7 3/8 extra long oval. I have a few vintage 7 1/2's that a hat jack makes fit just right, 3 I wear regularly.

Thanks for all the votes & it seems vintage is winning so far. I'm going to give Optimo a try with a renovation & post before & after.... gtd

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Every (true, quality) vintage hat you (have) renovate(d) is one valuable hat saved from disappearance.
Every (quality) new hat you buy, is one investment in the continuation of the industry.
To be honest, you need to promote a fair balance between the two.

 

[jec]

Images of recent renovation by Optimo

FYI - Here are before and after images of Optimo's renovation of my hat:

Before -- from the EBay posting

AFTER:

In the lower image, you can see a hint of a stain left from the bow of the original thin ribbon

Optimo does great work.

 

[Wil Tam]

plus if you get the Campdraft directly from Akubra in Australia then you are in for a long wait ... anywhere from 2 to 3 months .... so I heard

 

[Dinerman]

what size are you? You should be able to get a near mint vintage 3X for under the price of renovation w/shipping.

 

[gtdean48]

what size are you? You should be able to get a near mint vintage 3X for under the price of renovation w/shipping.

I am a 7 5/8 (7 1/2 long oval) but I already have 2 vintage hats in need of renovation that I was debating putting the money into.

To be honest, you need to promote a fair balance between the two.

I have a Campdraft on order & already own a Borso from about 15 years ago, so I'll go with a renovation to help the other side out!

Thanks for all the good post & photos! gtd

 

[jec]

Every (true, quality) vintage hat you (have) renovate(d) is one valuable hat saved from disappearance.
Every (quality) new hat you buy, is one investment in the continuation of the industry.
To be honest, you need to promote a fair balance between the two.

Agreed. A renovation not only saves an individual vintage hat , it also provides work for a hatter.

 

[gtdean48]

Agreed. A renovation not only saves an individual vintage hat , it also provides work for a hatter.

Totally agree. There was a good one near me in Roswell, GA but he had some health issues, closed his place & did work in a Western/Feed store north of Ball Ground. I have 2 western hats that have been thru a cleaning, blocking, liner & sweatband process. What I am contemplating is more like what you did = western to fedora reno-conversion. Thanks again... gtd

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

what size are you? You should be able to get a near mint vintage 3X for under the price of renovation w/shipping.

That's kinda' my thinking. I like the idea of people getting work and all but for $80 to $115 I could get around three vintage hats at the average rate I spend on 'em. I am a vintage fiend with little use for modern hats now, but part of the 'sport' of it for me is getting them so cheap. If it were mine, I'd relegate it to 'beater' status and keep an eye out for a deal on a vintage hat in better condition. But that's just me.

 

[RBH]

Every (true, quality) vintage hat you (have) renovate(d) is one valuable hat saved from disappearance.
Every (quality) new hat you buy, is one investment in the continuation of the industry.
To be honest, you need to promote a fair balance between the two.

Im with you Pablo!

I find very few GOOD fedoras in my size [7 1\2] on E Bay . I have gotten my Mallory and my new [old] Open Road [it hasnt arrived yet] for less than $50.
BUT neither is in top condition. It seems the reall good hats are smaller in size.
That said I have seen some great Stetsons in my size go for a really small sum, but they have a 2 inch brim. I dont want that and would not buy it.

 

[jec]

That's kinda' my thinking. I like the idea of people getting work and all but for $80 to $115 I could get around three vintage hats at the average rate I spend on 'em. I am a vintage fiend with little use for modern hats now, but part of the 'sport' of it for me is getting them so cheap. If it were mine, I'd relegate it to 'beater' status and keep an eye out for a deal on a vintage hat in better condition. But that's just me.

Gene -

I don't disagree at all with your strategy. Finding a bargain is definitely the prize of collecting hats. But I was stuck. I had already overpaid for my hat that I posted up above in an EBay auction. When it arrived, I saw that it was in much worse shape than I expected. I couldn't have gotten back what I paid by reselling it (at least not honestly), but I had too much sunk in already to just call it a 'beater.' So had it renovated. Costly, yes. But it was a learning experience, and I ended up with a nice hat. And I am much more careful now about what I'll bid on an auction. If you have enough hats, the cost of each one - high or low - just averages itself out... right?

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Hey, jecoe,

I just wanted to say that I wasn't mocking you or anyone else who goes the restoration route. It's a totally rational, viable option. It's just not one I've exercised 'cuz I'm super cheap - most of the time.

I did go over $100 for a vintage Disney hat purchase once (glad I did too!). I also paid $150ish for a modern Stetson Chatham and similar $ for a Temple. I won't do that again.

Anyway, even with what you've invested, if you're not much over $200 then you're at less than the cost of a lot of modern production hats but you have a better hat for it. It's not a right or wrong thing from my point of view just a 'this option or that option' sort of thing.

By the way, your hat did turn out real nice!

If you have enough hats, the cost of each one - high or low - just averages itself out... right?

True, and by rotating through a passle of 'em, none get worn out quickly.

 

[HatDoc]

Hey GTD !!!!! I just noticed your Avatar. I live in Cherokee County as well.

The hatter that you mentioned from Roswell.....is he currently working at the well-known western store north of BallGround....(Jasper, I presume)? I need a local hatter for some small repairs not worth sending to Art or Optimo.

BTW.....I've bought about 4-5 vintage OR's and I've been disappointed with all of them. The felt just seems too stiff and hard. For the OR/thin ribbon look, I prefer my Stratoliners......much softer, smoother felt. I also have a Resistol OR-copy that fits the bill nicely. But....I digress.

My vote is for buying the Akubra. Sounds like you want a tough every-day hat that'll last. And if you don't care for vintage, why sink the money into it....just sell it on the Bay. Personally, however, I prefer vintage.

But I'll be ordering a Campdraft soon, just to experience the Akubra mania first-hand.

Welcome to the Lounge !!!!