Sportster- '30s concentric stitching

[Dinerman]

I thought this one was worth showing off. It's dirty and has moth problems, and I paid a little more than I like to for it, but I can't say I've ever run across anything like it. It's similar in dimensions and color to my c.1934 playboy, and is pretty light weight, with the same kind of paper thin supple leather sweatband. The look reminds me of a milan straw hat, only it's fur felt.

 

[Wesne]

That is bizarre. Felt imitating straw.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Dinerman, That has to be the most UNIQUE hat I've ever seen, in my life! "It belongs in a museum." :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Dinerman]

The closest I can find to it, as far as the stitching goes, is Baron Kurtz's Knox Tom 'n' Jerry, but they are miles apart stylistically, and his stitching is much wider spaced. Mine has the stitches less than 1/8" apart.

 

[MrFusion]

That is bizarre. Felt imitating straw.

Agreed. If I had just taken a quick glance at it I would have sworn it was straw.

Neat Lid!

 

[DOUGLAS]

Fantastic, Dman! That should clean up nicely.

 

[red71veloce]

Hello Dinerman, hope you are well.

I won the bid on eBay for this hat without realizing it was you I was buying it from! I have a couple of questions for you. Do you have any idea who the manufacturer was? I plan on sending it to Optimo for cleaning/re-blocking.....what odds do you give it or cleaning up?

Anyone else seeing this thread with info on this unique hat.....please chime right in!

Tracy

 

[Baron Kurtz]

There's something almost European about that hat. The French produced a lot of stitched felt hats in the 1930s - i've seen (and passed up on D'Oh!) a bunch of Flechet weirdly stitched ones. Concentrics, crosses, windowpane checks in multiple thread colours; you name it … I also recall in a little book about Borsalino hats a pic of an orangey tan coloured hat with white and blue all over windowpane stitching, from the middle 1930s.

I still have the Tom 'n Jerry mentioned above.

bk

 

[red71veloce]

I'm just hoping it cleans up ok. Also, I'm a 7......hope it's shrunk a little, though with a re-block I could have it sized down. I'm also afraid Optimo will insist on replacing the sweatband......

 

[Dinerman]

The sweatband is surprisingly solid for its age. Hopefully you won't lose it. The biggest challenge I forsee with cleaning would be the spiral stitching itself, which, since I haven't seen too many like this, much less ones sent out for cleaning, I don't know how well it will take it.

 

[Lefty]

I still can't believe that ScottF parted with his Spinner.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Modern day wool hats would do well to have this stiching but the labor to do this stiching would be costly in today's world.

 

[red71veloce]

I was captivated by the uniqueness of this hat when I saw it on eBay. I just hope it cleans up. I don't mind the ribbon being changed, I think it may not clean up......didn't even think about the stitching being a possible issue on cleaning......and of course, I don't want to change the sweatband.....but I've got to tell you, getting this old hat back into regular wear is my goal!

T

 

[mayserwegener]

Hopefully you can clean it up but there is also a mention of mothing. If it's a couple of small holes you might be able to cover them up.

 

[red71veloce]

Divots don't bother me too much, depending on their location. Holes I don't like, but if they're discreet......well, you know, this is a really old hat.....it's not pristine.....but that kind of makes it a little more interesting to me. If it is presentable, I'll always wonder the tales it could tell!

T

 

[Dinerman]

Shouldn't be anything that prevents it from being wearable, and the stitching provides enough visual motion to it that you don't notice the bites that are there immediately. No holes.

 

[mayserwegener]

Divots don't bother me too much, depending on their location. Holes I don't like, but if they're discreet......well, you know, this is a really old hat.....it's not pristine.....but that kind of makes it a little more interesting to me. If it is presentable, I'll always wonder the tales it could tell!

T

Sorry I didn't mean holes all the way through. BTW I have a few hats that have moth trails but I still wear them.

 

[navarre]

RLK has a green one on the Post new hats page #1411.
I'm not sure how to get the picture over here, but its sharp looking.

 

[red71veloce]

I think that one is a Borso......and it is nice....of course!

T

 

[Feraud]

I still can't believe that ScottF parted with his Spinner.

I was surprised to see it sold too. It's an amazing hat.

Sorry I didn't mean holes all the way through. BTW I have a few hats that have moth trails but I still wear them.

Same here. I've a few hats with moth bites and it is not an issue. Unless I point it out no one is the wiser.
A mint condition vintage fedora is becoming a rare thing nowadays.