Restore, repair old hats

[Hondo]

Okay I read the threads, on restoration, repairs of hats, I need some advice guys.
What’s the best way to restore a hat, going to hat shop or mail order out some place?
I have a weather beaten Stetson, really is a mess, I hate to throw it out and I won’t.
It’s served its purpose well over 3 decades, those of you in the Bay Area (West coast)
(That’s you Andyk) that know HatGuys in Oakland, do they restore hats?
I will post a picture later, Thanks!

 

[Lorne]

Depends...

What is wrong with your hat? What does it need done? I'm finding I can do a lot at home with very little skill at all, and very few specialized supplies...


Lorne

 

[feltfan]

It’s served its purpose well over 3 decades, those of you in the Bay Area (West coast)
(That’s you Andyk) that know HatGuys in Oakland, do they restore hats?
I will post a picture later, Thanks!

I'm not Andyk, but in a word, don't.
I have had them do various work for me, from cleaning
and blocking to replacing a sweatband. All of it came out
badly. I would never bring another hat to those guys.

 

[jamespowers]

I'm not Andyk, but in a word, don't.
I have had them do various work for me, from cleaning
and blocking to replacing a sweatband. All of it came out
badly. I would never bring another hat to those guys.

I second that. Try someone else here on the Lounge.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Optimo is always a safe bet.

 

[Hondo]

What is wrong with your hat? What does it need done? I'm finding I can do a lot at home with very little skill at all, and very few specialized supplies...


Lorne

It looks like something Walter Brennan would wear in the Real McCoys.
Its weather beaten, very soft, its almost 38 yrs old, used to be stiff,
it needs new outside ribbon, sweat band.
It has a hole in the front. I have seen worse hats restored.
I appreciate all comments; I’ve never read where anyone trashed a hat so I hope to save this one, I when it was new it used to look like those LBJ hats.
Its a John B Stetson, Thank’s guys!

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Hondo, Given my passion for reworking hats, this may come as a surprise. If that hat were mine, I'd throw it away. There just isn't anything worth salvaging. Look for bargains that are in better shape. They are still to be found, especially in the "LBJ" or "Open Road" style.

However, if you've never worked on a hat, and would like to try your hand at it, that would be a perfect candidate. All you need to do is wash it, reshape it, replace the sweatband, and put a ribbon (or other hat band on it). Oh yeah, you could try your hand at refelting that hole. You can learn on it, and you sure won't mess it up.

 

[Lorne]

I'm going to have to side with J.T. Marcus on this one. You can either use it as a beater, or take to a nice shaddy spot and put it out of it's misery.

It lead a full life, and now its suffering, time to let it go...


Lorne

 

[Hondo]

Thanks to All, better off buying a new one,
I kind of thought it wouldn't be worth the trouble to restore.
I had to ask, appreciate feed backs.
Makes a nice siesta cap

 

[J.B.]

It looks like something Walter Brennan would wear in the Real McCoys...Its weather beaten...38 yrs old...needs new outside ribbon...sweat band...hole in the front...

...I appreciate all comments...

hm.

With all of the genuinely kind, fraternal, caring sensitivity that only a fellow hat enthusiast could graciously communicate to another member of the community -- regarding that lid, I feel it necessary to echo the words of the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson...

"...All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none!"

sorry.

OTOH, J.T.M. is right -- it's the perfect hat on which to learn restoration techniques!

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

It actually CAN be saved

I'm the new guy and I'm gonna' fly in the face of common sense but here goes: On eBay there's a book: "Scientific Hat Finishing and Renovating". Photocopied reprint of a 1919 technical manual of sorts for the hatter. You read some of the tricks in this thing and you begin to believe anything is possible. Now, to find someone in this day and age with all the blocks and other tools (plus know-how) might be a trick, and might cost a fortune. But back then, before plastic and automated manufacturing methods, those fine items such as a quality hat which were wrought into this world by skilled artisans were considered worth the time and effort. A restorer would take this old tired lid and give it a gasoline bath. No kiddin'. Then brush it with particular brushes. Then dry it. Then turn it inside out and put it on the appropriate block. Either backwards sometimes so the front became the back after blocking - or sideways so they could make the hole in the front into one of two eyelits on the sides of the reblocked crown. These guys were clever. Anyway, if it is of sufficient sentimental value, one might be able to find and finance a new lease on life for even this beat up old brim.

 

[cookie]

I'm the new guy and I'm gonna' fly in the face of common sense but here goes: On eBay there's a book: "Scientific Hat Finishing and Renovating". Photocopied reprint of a 1919 technical manual of sorts for the hatter. .

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250206694456&ssPageName=STRK:MEAFB:IT:D I think I have the original winging its way from los Estados Unidos de America.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250206694456&ssPageName=STRK:MEAFB:IT:D I think I have the original winging its way from los Estados Unidos de America.

Thank-you for the details in that post. Now, I need a "Rounding Jack" and a "Hinge Shackle." :eusa_clap

 

[Donato]

I second that. Try someone else here on the Lounge.

Who would you recommend to repair or restore a hat? It just needs a new sweatband and has some mild moth tracking. Thanks.

 

[surely]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250206694456&ssPageName=STRK:MEAFB:IT:D I think I have the original winging its way from los Estados Unidos de America.

I just checked ebay and I'm sorry to say that the book you ordered is a reproduction. I also have a copy, its nicely done.

 

[John in Covina]

They have fixed worse,

The hole is a bit of a problem but I recall there are some repair tricks to overcome that. Hat repair or restoration is done by a number of places. Coming to mind is Peters Brothers also Jimmy Pierce who's ad comes up now and again on this site. Figure 70-100 bucks so then that is the question if it is worth it.

BUT- if you are willing to give home repair a try, this may be a good candidate for a little elbow grease on your part.

On the Peters Bros site they show a cowboy hat that is in pretty bad shape getting re-done.

Would you bring it back to its original design or opt to make another hat out of it?

Best Wishes,

 

[Fletch]

On eBay there's a book: "Scientific Hat Finishing and Renovating". Photocopied reprint of a 1919 technical manual of sorts for the hatter. You read some of the tricks in this thing and you begin to believe anything is possible. Now, to find someone in this day and age with all the blocks and other tools (plus know-how) might be a trick, and might cost a fortune. But back then, before plastic and automated manufacturing methods, those fine items such as a quality hat which were wrought into this world by skilled artisans were considered worth the time and effort.

Of course back then, labor (even skilled labor) was a good deal cheaper than materials. Now labor is much much costlier.

Also, many of the skills of the earlier day, and a good variety of the materials, are virtually unobtainable no matter how much you pay. That's the price of fighting fashion!

It might come down to this question: How close can I get to this hat in a new hat?

 

[Hondo]

Thanks to all for great feed backs, I just can not throw it out,
I don't care about stains, even with hole in front,
I sometimes use a "pin" to cover it, I shape it like an
old cowboy hat, I have gotten many a complements,
for how it looks, I wore it on fishing, camping trips,
soon will post a picture, I just wish I could get it a
bit stiffer, its too soft but still wearable.
Its an old friend, drinking buddy I just cannot
say "goodbyes" I got another candidate for repair.
Its in much better shape. Hope to get image soon.
Thanks gents!!!

 

[carouselvic]

Stiffener

If it is just stiffness that your after you can go to all most any western store were they sell hats a by a product called Scout Felt Hat Stiffener. Last I bought ran about $8.00.

 

[John in Covina]

The aligations are that the stiffener is actually a form of SHELLAC!