Summer in Panama

[jake_fink]

Actually, I meant, Summer in A Panama... hat that is.

I need a new Panama; mine's all sweaty and cracked and looks like something Fred C Dobbs would pitch. So, show me yours. Vintage is nice, always like looking at vintage, but I really want to see hats that I could get easily for this summer.

I've been thinking of a Panama Bob/Biz hat, but I'd like to see pics of hats on heads. I'm especially interested in seeing what the hats blocked in Ecuador look like. I'm especially (don't worry, I'm almost done) interested in the optimo royale (new James Bond movie?). C-crown would be good too.

So. Hat, style, hatter and pictures. Now.... GO!

 

[Nathan Flowers]

<---Same as avatar hat

From PanamaBob, blocked in USA by Graham, finished by Marlene. Block is some sort of diamond style with a point on the sides and back. Not sure what it's called.

 

[Zemke Fan]

How much you got into that puppy...

... counting the hat, block, finish, shipping, etc.?

 

[scotrace]

From Panama Bob

Blocked and finished in Ecuador.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

... counting the hat, block, finish, shipping, etc.?

I'm not exactly sure without going back and looking through my records. I think I paid about $250 for the body, and I'm not sure about the blocking/trimming. It's around 750wpsi, but the weave is very regular and even. A beautiful body at a bargain price.

 

[RedPop4]

I'd love something like that, but I don't have anywhere near that kind of scratch. And if I DID, I'd still have to get that figure past MrsRedPop4.

Any ideas for a decent hat under $100? I'd go as low as a 500wpsi, if possible. I know that's a tall order, but I have to try. I don't wish to go without a summer hat.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

I do...

I'd love something like that, but I don't have anywhere near that kind of scratch. And if I DID, I'd still have to get that figure past MrsRedPop4.

Any ideas for a decent hat under $100? I'd go as low as a 500wpsi, if possible. I know that's a tall order, but I have to try. I don't wish to go without a summer hat.

I sent you a pm... You will be happy!

 

[SHARPETOYS]

My favorite Montecristi Panama hat. Mr Bogey...

Here is one of mine. This Montecristi is 2000 plus wpsi. The hat was blocked by Master Hatter Mr. Art Fawcett and its blocked on a Bogey block.

Panamabob searched for over 7 months to find this hat body for me.


http://www.panamas.biz/images/roger.JPG Roger's Montecristi

http://www.panamas.biz/images/hat5.jpg Before it was blocked..

http://www.panamas.biz/images/hat6.jpg After it was blocked..

 

[RedPop4]

That's a gorgeous specimen.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Here's mine, ready for summer!





Boy, I look terrible in that second picture! Oh well.

The Body is by our own Panama Bob and the styling is by the great Art Fawcett!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

This mannequin won't get a sunburn!

 

[jake_fink]

Marc Chevalier:
This mannequin won't get a sunburn!

That mannequin - the one in the first pic - is wearing more or less exactly what I want for this summer. Any suggestions.

Hemingway Jones:
Here's mine, ready for summer!

Would you mind letting me know what that cost after blocking? It looks great.

SHARPETOYS:
I sent you a pm... You will be happy!

Oh, Sharpey, please share... You're hat looks really great.

scotrace:
Blocked and finished in Ecuador.

Looks good. How high is the crown? Is it a C-crown?

Zohar:
From PanamaBob, blocked in USA by Graham, finished by Marlene. Block is some sort of diamond style with a point on the sides and back. Not sure what it's called.

A fantastic looking hat... a little pricey. I'm with RedPop4, I'd love something just under - or only a little over - $100.


Thanks guys!

 

[Johnnysan]

Worn today for the first time...

I found this fellow at a local antique mall. Still in the box with tags from a local men's shop that appear to date back to the 30-40s. The temp finally hit 75 yesterday, so I could wait no longer and brought it back into service this morning.

Don't know much about the history of this one yet...here's what I can tell you. There was a shipping label inside the hat box from "Hat Corp. of America, Drawer 20, South Norwalk, Connecticut." The sweat is marked "Airliner Genuine Panama" and the size label reads "The Hopkins, Baltimore." The color is listed as "Burl." There is also a union label inside the sweat that reads "United Hatters Cap & Millinery Workers Int'l. Union 89, Straw Panama." The shop label on the box shows a 4-digit phone number. Any additional info would be appreciated!

 

[SHARPETOYS]

My size..

Great looking hat... The hat is a Cuenca Panama and yes its very old. The straw has taken on the great honey color of aged straw. I love the patina these hats take on over time.

One tip on older straw hats. Take it into the bathroom and block the bottom of the door and steam it for 15 minutes or so. I do this often with all my Panama hats. They need moisture so they won't crack over time.

Lets see it on your head next...

 

[Johnnysan]

Thanks, Roger...

Great advice, as always! I really do like the aging on this hat and can't tell you how happy I was to find it in such great condition. Take my advice, guys...ALWAYS check those seemingly empty hat boxes. This one was sitting on a back shelf inside a closed box. The sales tag simply said "Hat Box." I picked it up, gave it a gentle shake and felt something moving about. Opening the box, there was this hat, in my size! Box, hat and packing slip (sadly undated)...$8.00. Reintroducing an old friend to it's former stomping grounds...priceless.

BTW...the inside of the crown is marked with the number "8". Does this have any particular significance?

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Kinda like the X factor on bever fur felt hat body's

Quote...

BTW...the inside of the crown is marked with the number "8". Does this have any particular significance?

Well it depends...

First, let's explore the numeric "hat grades." A seller might say his hats are Grade 8. Or Grade 15/16. Or 30. Numeric hat grades are most often used to describe Panama hats woven in Cuenca (kwain-ka), Ecuador. They sound good, don't they? Factual. Authoritative. Reassuring. Useless.

The three largest hat exporters in Cuenca (Ortega, Dorfzaun, Serrano). They all use hat grade numbers that sound like they are all using the same system. But guess what? Each exporter has a different formula for deciding what grade a hat is. A Grade 10 from one company may be a Grade 14 from another and a Grade 12 from the third. They are all located within a couple of blocks of one another, and no two can agree on what grade a specific hat is.

If the exporters in Ecuador can’t agree on what grade a hat is, what do you think happens when the hats reach U.S. or European hat manufacturers and retailers? Right. The discrepancies and confusion are compounded.

The only context in which those grade numbers have any meaning is when you're comparing numbers from the same seller. The same seller's Grade 12 will be better than his Grade 8. His Grade 4 will be better than his Grade 2.

Most of the vintage Cuenca I have seen were a grade 8. A nice middle of the road hat body.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Arrived from everyone's favourite auction house just ion time for the grand weather this week: 28 degrees and sunny!!

Will now check this one for a stamped number on the inside - it has a union tag. Don't know if this signifies anything ... Inside is marked 7 for size. Also marked is the letter A in pencil just under a circular stamp - looks like an export stamp, but very badly faded.

bk

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Hemingway Jones joins GQ...

Here's mine, ready for summer!





Boy, I look terrible in that second picture! Oh well.

The Body is by our own Panama Bob and the styling is by the great Art Fawcett!

Mr.Jones,
Your Montecristi is a typical hat body that Panamabob can get for us. The block by Art Fawcett is a 1940's with the crown taller in the front than the rear. I'd say you got the perfect hat for your features and it will only look better with time... :eusa_clap You look like a million bucks in your new Montecristi!!

 

[Magus]

Here's my Bailey

Well I was thinking of sharing some photos of this hat and this gives me a good reason! This Bailey has aged to a wonderful golden straw color. I got it on "E" for about $15. The band reads "Genuine Panama" and the brand above it was never legible, so if any of you know what it might have said that would be good to know.

M

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That be the exact same stamp that's on my one ... Never legible, you say. Anyone with any ideas?

bk