Restore, repair old hats

[carouselvic]

Stiffener

It sure is. Shellac has been used in the millinery business for many years.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Hondo, good for you!

I congratulate your devotion to your old friend. Funny; I've been buying a few real nice fedoras lately. I work in public and wear hats everyday. Instead of hearing how fantastic these new collectibles are, I've had a few people within a week's period ask me where my "other hat" is at. When I probe, they describe this one beat up, stained, beige, suede number that I've worn many times when manning my caricature concession. They remember the cheap beater for it's "character" and request its return.

By the way, I've read that in olden days shellac was preferred for a board stiff effect on felt hats but they used "gum tragacanth" for a more plyable memory in the blocking. I don't know if this is available chemistry and it sounds like a real process to mix with water, store 'til consistency is right pound it into the felt, etc., etc.

The shellac can be thinned to consistency of rich milk by adding equal parts of denatured alcohol. Also, this reference reads that shellac should always be applied to the "inside and upper brim of the hat".

FYI - Gene