Here's one that should grab your attention. It's a Royal Stetson Playboy, size 7 3/8, made of super lightweight Vita-Felt and it's a dark GREEN.
I bought this hat from our own MK, via eBay in hopes of being able to stretch it to fit my 7 1/2 (slightly l.o.) head. Unfortunately, it just loves
to shrink back down to size. I can't handle constantly stretching this hat, so it's time to let it go for $150 plus actual UPS Ground shipping cost.
I should note that, in the auction from which I purchased this hat, MK wrote that the hat had been cleaned and blocked by Optimo.
Condition - This hat is about 70 years old and certainly looks great, but is NOT in perfect condition.
Felt: On the rear, underside of the brim is a rub in the felt that's about the size of a dime. It's not a hole, but a spot where the
fuzziness of the felt has been rubbed smooth. Aside from that, the felt is free of moth issues, stains, etc.
Liner: As is shown in the photos, this hat has seen some pomade in it's lifetime, probably while it was under the ownership of the guy whose
gold initials are stuck to liner. It's certainly yellowed and, as shown in the photo, billows out a bit at it's rear seam.
Ribbon: Here's where my stretching hurt a bit. I popped a stitch in the front of the ribbon. This means one of two things for the buyer.
Either you can replace that stitch, or you can do what I was doing, and just slide the ribbon down if it rides up a bit.
Sweatband: Maybe it was the pomade that helped to preserve the leather, because the sweat is in great condition. I'm especially fond of
that dark, russet color.
1945 Vita-Felt ad (left) Playboy ad, no date (right)
Playboy ad 1945
I bought this hat from our own MK, via eBay in hopes of being able to stretch it to fit my 7 1/2 (slightly l.o.) head. Unfortunately, it just loves
to shrink back down to size. I can't handle constantly stretching this hat, so it's time to let it go for $150 plus actual UPS Ground shipping cost.
I should note that, in the auction from which I purchased this hat, MK wrote that the hat had been cleaned and blocked by Optimo.
Condition - This hat is about 70 years old and certainly looks great, but is NOT in perfect condition.
Felt: On the rear, underside of the brim is a rub in the felt that's about the size of a dime. It's not a hole, but a spot where the
fuzziness of the felt has been rubbed smooth. Aside from that, the felt is free of moth issues, stains, etc.
Liner: As is shown in the photos, this hat has seen some pomade in it's lifetime, probably while it was under the ownership of the guy whose
gold initials are stuck to liner. It's certainly yellowed and, as shown in the photo, billows out a bit at it's rear seam.
Ribbon: Here's where my stretching hurt a bit. I popped a stitch in the front of the ribbon. This means one of two things for the buyer.
Either you can replace that stitch, or you can do what I was doing, and just slide the ribbon down if it rides up a bit.
Sweatband: Maybe it was the pomade that helped to preserve the leather, because the sweat is in great condition. I'm especially fond of
that dark, russet color.
1945 Vita-Felt ad (left) Playboy ad, no date (right)
Playboy ad 1945
