The Dobbs Diner...

[Spats McGee]

. . . .
Newb-ignorant question of the day:

What's this "Naptha" I see you fellows refer to a bunch?
And where do I find it?
And what's it's purpose?

Looks like Mario's got you covered for most of these. For what it's worth, I found some in the paint department of Home Depot not long ago.

 

[Mario]

Thanks.. Wow some good threads on it. I'll be probably sending my dunlap off instead.. The thought is way too scary. Yikes.

I used rubber gloves, outside, and agitated the hat in the pot with a paint stirrer. You want to be careful, but it's not too hard if you take precautions.

Tooch is right. It sounds scarier thant it actually is. While cleaning your first hat with Naptha, you might develop a little short termed tremor, thinking that you'll bust it all up, but that fear will leave pretty soon... Just be careful.

 

[gtdean48]

Looks like Mario's got you covered for most of these. For what it's worth, I found some in the paint department of Home Depot not long ago.

I got mine from Lowe's, around the solvents in the paint dept.

 

[Mario]

On a sidenote: Don't reuse the Naptha you used for dark hats on lighter colored lids. You really want to keep two separate supplies of Naptha, one for dark and another one for lighter hats.

Happy cleaning...!

 

[babs]

Thanks.. Sorry to derail the thread for a sec. I might try a stripped down "project-hat" as I've been wisely advised. Thanks guys.

 

[rlk]

Dobbs Cross Country Blue Heather Mix

5-1/2" crown brim just under 2-1/4" with Cav' size overwelt. Lightweight thin and soft felt shaped by hardly a touch. Moderately fuzzy. Sweatband is ultra-thin and soft.

 

[Mario]

Now that is one gorgeous hat! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

I assume it's from the 30's?

 

[Lefty]

Fantastic felt. :eusa_clap

 

[rlk]

Now that is one gorgeous hat! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

I assume it's from the 30's?

I'm not sure. Cross Country was registered in 1927. May be Brad can guess its age.

 

[BobC]

Beautiful lid, r. Really looks good on you.

 

[hattrick]

my girl decided she wanted to take photos so i grabbed the dobbs 20.

 

[ScottF]

Received my Dobbs Boater today, a first time for this hat style for me. Beautiful condition, almost looks like it was never worn. 3 1/2" crown, 2 1/8" brim. The ribbon is removable, fastens with hooks like a pugaree. No way to know if it's original to the hat, but it looks like it belongs on it. I don't see any sign that it was ever changed out.

It does have the same adjustable sweatband attachment as ScottF's Cavanagh Derby (can I call it a lace and reed?). Something else interesting is the Dobbs slants upward into the hat, and every other Dobbs that I can remember from this era (that I've saved photos of) has the Dobbs name slanting downward. Odd.

Brad

I love the adjustable sweatband design - really adds a look of quality to the hat. Congrats on your first boater!

 

[billysmom]

Navy Dobbs Twenty

We stopped at an estate sale on the way home from lunch today. Lots of the usual tasteless and overpriced items. But sitting on top of some purple brocade draperies was this size 7 Dobbs:

2 3/8" brim, 5" uncreased crown, 2" sweat. It has minor moth nibbles here and there, but the navy felt seems to disguise them better than on lighter colored hats. The ribbon is 2 3/16" with a very nice bow, although it shows its age:

The inside's really clean. Only one scuff on the reeding:

There was an older gentleman who spotted me with it and proceeded to tell me all about how to care for it, how special the edge was (it's the Guild Edge) and how all the value in the hat was in the body. He told me that sweatbands and ribbons come and go, but never never give up on a good hat body. It was a very special conversation.

It's a bit roomy, but some padding under the sweat will take care of that. I haven't done anything to it yet except a light brushing and a dry crease. It may not need much more!

Sue

 

[Tango Yankee]

There was an older gentleman who spotted me with it and proceeded to tell me all about how to care for it, how special the edge was (it's the Guild Edge) and how all the value in the hat was in the body. He told me that sweatbands and ribbons come and go, but never never give up on a good hat body. It was a very special conversation.

Sue

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

(And the hat's very nice, too! )

Cheers,
Tom

 

[BobC]

Good lookin', Sue. Blue hats just look dressy, don;t they? Very nice.

 

[bolthead]

Great find Sue, love the ribbon width.....and the color. :eusa_clap

 

[rlk]

Home of Dobbs Fifth Ave. 1909-1914

http://lostnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/2009/07/unloved-fifth-avenue-building-gets.html

 

[Brad Bowers]

Great find, rlk!

The Dobbs & Co. shop at 242 Fifth Avenue actually opened September 15, 1908, not 1909, as the website states. 1914 is about the approximate date that they moved next door, but I haven't yet found a verified date. As of October 1914 they were still at 242. Their uptown shop at 620 Fifth Avenue opened May 1, 1917, and closed in 1928.

Brad

 

[rlk]

Thanks for the further details, Brad. 620 was torn down to make way for Rockefeller Center's British Empire Building.

Great find, rlk!

The Dobbs & Co. shop at 242 Fifth Avenue actually opened September 15, 1908, not 1909, as the website states. 1914 is about the approximate date that they moved next door, but I haven't yet found a verified date. As of October 1914 they were still at 242. Their uptown shop at 620 Fifth Avenue opened May 1, 1917, and closed in 1928.

Brad

 

[cookie]

RLK you PM box is full

You need to clean it out.