The Conversion Corral

[M Hatman]

Cool hat M Hatman.
Good work.
Being a crazy crease lover i do like that crease. I think you need to name it.
Looks kinda like a waterfalls from the side.
I dig it.
B

I am thinking the "Double Basin" in honor of the often hand dug "water tanks" you see for livestock all around Missouri....I have seen some similarly set up on hillsides...though "the waterfall" could work too.
I really do like making my wonky creases......
M
I wore this around all weekend to a LOT of compliments, with one being the ultimate compliment, where a guy offered to buy it from me. But, I hardly ever sell anything and for sure will not be letting this go for some time......

 

[T Jones]

I finally finished the tweaks on this '50s era Royal De Luxe Stetson Homburg conversion. It was my size so I didn't reblock it since the original open crown shape was tall, (at 5 3/4 inches), and straight sided. After I ironed the brim flat it measured out at 2 5/8 wide, and then I re-flanged it to a snap brim. The only things I took off the hat during the conversion was the liner and the sweat band bow so I could clean them up. I also had to remove the ribbon and bow before I could take out the liner. For some reason, the bow work was sewn through the liner, and it looked like it was done at the factory. Everything's cleaned up and back together. As creased, the crown is 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 1/2 to the back. The overall height, as creased, is 5 inches. It's a fairly tall and straight sided crown.

Before:

Liner has to be removed for cleaning...

Seriously? Now the ribbon has to be removed so I can get the liner out!

The sweat bow is dirty and coming loose so it has to removed and cleaned up a bit too.

The original sweat is in very good condition...

After:

Liner cleaned and put back in the hat. Only a faint trace of the old staining is barely visible.

The ribbon has been ironed and re-attached for a nice snug fit. I like that stitching with the brim binding.

From the Back. The crown is really straight sided on this hat.

Sideviews

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I finally finished the tweaks on this '50s era Royal De Luxe Stetson Homburg conversion. It was my size so I didn't reblock it since the original open crown shape was tall, (at 5 3/4 inches), and straight sided. After I ironed the brim flat it measured out at 2 5/8 wide, and then I re-flanged it to a snap brim. The only things I took off the hat during the conversion was the liner and the sweat band bow so I could clean them up. I also had to remove the ribbon and bow before I could take out the liner. For some reason, the bow work was sewn through the liner, and it looked like it was done at the factory. Everything's cleaned up and back together. As creased, the crown is 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 1/2 to the back. The overall height, as creased, is 5 inches. It's a fairly tall and straight sided crown.

Before:

Liner has to be removed for cleaning...

Seriously? Now the ribbon has to be removed so I can get the liner out!

The sweat bow is dirty and coming loose so it has to removed and cleaned up a bit too.

The original sweat is in very good condition...

After:

Liner cleaned and put back in the hat. Only a faint trace of the old staining is barely visible.

The ribbon has been ironed and re-attached for a nice snug fit. I like that stitching with the brim binding.

From the Back. The crown is really straight sided on this hat.

Sideviews

I love it, Terry! No one does conversions like you do. I’d wear the heck out of that hat.


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[T Jones]

I love it, Terry! No one does conversions like you do. I’d wear the heck out of that hat.


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Thank you buddy! I appreciate that!

 

[Cornshucker77]

I finally finished the tweaks on this '50s era Royal De Luxe Stetson Homburg conversion. It was my size so I didn't reblock it since the original open crown shape was tall, (at 5 3/4 inches), and straight sided. After I ironed the brim flat it measured out at 2 5/8 wide, and then I re-flanged it to a snap brim. The only things I took off the hat during the conversion was the liner and the sweat band bow so I could clean them up. I also had to remove the ribbon and bow before I could take out the liner. For some reason, the bow work was sewn through the liner, and it looked like it was done at the factory. Everything's cleaned up and back together. As creased, the crown is 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 1/2 to the back. The overall height, as creased, is 5 inches. It's a fairly tall and straight sided crown.

Before:

Liner has to be removed for cleaning...

Seriously? Now the ribbon has to be removed so I can get the liner out!

The sweat bow is dirty and coming loose so it has to removed and cleaned up a bit too.

The original sweat is in very good condition...

After:

Liner cleaned and put back in the hat. Only a faint trace of the old staining is barely visible.

The ribbon has been ironed and re-attached for a nice snug fit. I like that stitching with the brim binding.

From the Back. The crown is really straight sided on this hat.

Sideviews

Nice job Terry. Looks like it really turned out nice.

 

[T Jones]

Nice job Terry. Looks like it really turned out nice.

Thank you, CS. Yes. It sure did. I'm really liking this one.

 

[humanshoes]

I finally finished the tweaks on this '50s era Royal De Luxe Stetson Homburg conversion. It was my size so I didn't reblock it since the original open crown shape was tall, (at 5 3/4 inches), and straight sided. After I ironed the brim flat it measured out at 2 5/8 wide, and then I re-flanged it to a snap brim. The only things I took off the hat during the conversion was the liner and the sweat band bow so I could clean them up. I also had to remove the ribbon and bow before I could take out the liner. For some reason, the bow work was sewn through the liner, and it looked like it was done at the factory. Everything's cleaned up and back together. As creased, the crown is 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 1/2 to the back. The overall height, as creased, is 5 inches. It's a fairly tall and straight sided crown.

Before:

Liner has to be removed for cleaning...

Seriously? Now the ribbon has to be removed so I can get the liner out!

The sweat bow is dirty and coming loose so it has to removed and cleaned up a bit too.

The original sweat is in very good condition...

After:

Liner cleaned and put back in the hat. Only a faint trace of the old staining is barely visible.

The ribbon has been ironed and re-attached for a nice snug fit. I like that stitching with the brim binding.

From the Back. The crown is really straight sided on this hat.

Sideviews

Beautiful job on this one T. I wish I could buy that color hat body.

 

[T Jones]

Beautiful job on this one T. I wish I could buy that color hat body.

Thank you, Rick! It's a beautiful color. To me, it looks to be a cross between a powder blue and gray. Unfortunately, the felting and dyeing quality these days don't even come close to matching the quality of vintage hat making.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thank you, Rick! It's a beautiful color. To me, it looks to be a cross between a powder blue and gray. Unfortunately, the felting and dyeing quality these days don't even come close to matching the quality of vintage hat making.

I’m hoping this is what Winchester’s blue smoke looks like.


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[AbbaDatDeHat]

I finally finished the tweaks on this '50s era Royal De Luxe Stetson Homburg conversion. It was my size so I didn't reblock it since the original open crown shape was tall, (at 5 3/4 inches), and straight sided. After I ironed the brim flat it measured out at 2 5/8 wide, and then I re-flanged it to a snap brim. The only things I took off the hat during the conversion was the liner and the sweat band bow so I could clean them up. I also had to remove the ribbon and bow before I could take out the liner. For some reason, the bow work was sewn through the liner, and it looked like it was done at the factory. Everything's cleaned up and back together. As creased, the crown is 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 1/2 to the back. The overall height, as creased, is 5 inches. It's a fairly tall and straight sided crown.

Before:

Liner has to be removed for cleaning...

Seriously? Now the ribbon has to be removed so I can get the liner out!

The sweat bow is dirty and coming loose so it has to removed and cleaned up a bit too.

The original sweat is in very good condition...

After:

Liner cleaned and put back in the hat. Only a faint trace of the old staining is barely visible.

The ribbon has been ironed and re-attached for a nice snug fit. I like that stitching with the brim binding.

From the Back. The crown is really straight sided on this hat.

Sideviews

Another stellar convo Terry!
What technique did you use to clean the liner?
B

 

[T Jones]

Another stellar convo Terry!
What technique did you use to clean the liner?
B

Thank you buddy! I used a mixture of white vinegar and dishwashing liquid. Vinegar cuts the salt that's in sweat stains and dishwashing liquid is a degreaser. Afterwards I put the liner over a hat block covered with a paper towel and then I put another paper towel over top and let it dry overnight. After it's dry I iron it out on the lowest heat setting with a smooth white cloth between the iron and the liner.

 

[T Jones]

I’m hoping this is what Winchester’s blue smoke looks like.


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That would be great if it is. These older vintage hats had a lot of interesting undertones going on that's lost in today's felting and dyeing techniques.

 

[Cornshucker77]

Not a conversion, but more of a refurb. 1950's Open Road. I had to replace the ribbon as it was too stained to reuse.Although the color appears grey in the photos it is a Silverbelly.

 

[T Jones]

Not a conversion, but more of a refurb. 1950's Open Road. I had to replace the ribbon as it was too stained to reuse.Although the color appears grey in the photos it is a Silverbelly.
View attachment 162528 View attachment 162529 View attachment 162530 View attachment 162531 View attachment 162532 View attachment 162533 View attachment 162534 View attachment 162535

Looks good, CS!

 

[T Jones]

A conversion in the process. Nothing does 'em up better than using tools that were crafted by two of our own talented Loungers. Mahogany Band Block by our own "Rockwater" and an Oak Rounding Jack by Rick of "The Phoenix Hat Company". Two great craftsmen and I love using their tools...

Straight sided Mahogany Hat Block by Rockwater

Another look at Rick's Rounding Jack

I'll have more later on my newest conversion project.

 

[Cornshucker77]

Looks good, CS!

Thank you Terry. When I bought it was listed as 6 7/8 and I was going to try to size it up as you have done. But it turned out to be a 7 1/4 so I just cleaned it up. Good luck and a good price of only $43.00.

 

[Cornshucker77]

A conversion in the process. Nothing does 'em up better than using tools that were crafted by two of our own talented Loungers. Mahogany Band Block by our own "Rockwater" and an Oak Rounding Jack by Rick of "The Phoenix Hat Company". Two great craftsmen and I love using their tools...

Straight sided Mahogany Hat Block by Rockwater

Another look at Rick's Rounding Jack

I'll have more later on my newest conversion project.

I always look forward to your projects. Beautiful tools!!

 

[humanshoes]

Not a conversion, but more of a refurb. 1950's Open Road. I had to replace the ribbon as it was too stained to reuse.Although the color appears grey in the photos it is a Silverbelly.
View attachment 162528 View attachment 162529 View attachment 162530 View attachment 162531 View attachment 162532 View attachment 162533 View attachment 162534 View attachment 162535

Absolute beauty Scott. Great save there my friend.

 

[bond]

One of my favorite lounge customers (Doc) sent me this Vintage Homburg for a conversion to make into a fedora style hat. The Custom brand felt is different than most felts Of standard brands but it turned out to be suitable for the task.
Navy hats can be difficult to match the correct navy ribbon with as this was case with this hat so I let it sit for a while and came back to it several times to find some vintage ribbon that would potentially work with this color navy felt.
I’d call this color ribbon more of a Bronze.
The liner and sweat are original and fortunately I was able to rework the felt without much of a problem there.
Here are before and after pics

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[M Hatman]

One of my favorite lounge customers (Doc) sent me this Vintage Homburg for a conversion to make into a fedora style hat. The Custom brand felt is different than most felts Of standard brands but it turned out to be suitable for the task.
Navy hats can be difficult to match the correct navy ribbon with as this was case with this hat so I let it sit for a while and came back to it several times to find some vintage ribbon that would potentially work with this color navy felt.
I’d call this color ribbon more of a Bronze.
The liner and sweat are original and fortunately I was able to rework the felt without much of a problem there.
Here are before and after pics View attachment 163001
View attachment 163002
View attachment 163004
View attachment 163005




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My my.....that turned out nice!