Was wool felt even used...?

[tonyb]

The reason I ask is because I was talking to a guy selling a vintage fedora (40's) and he claims that is wool felt. I didn't think this was right...

I'm guessing you are right, and he isn't. It's quite common for uninformed people to describe an old fur felt hat as being made of wool. They're not lying, they just don't know any better. (Although you have to wonder why they would assume it is made of wool and not some other fiber. Could it be that they think wool is superior, and the hat seems superior, so it must be wool?)

 

[Dinerman]

I think hats made by merrimac (which I see on ebay sometimes) are vintage and wool.

 

[jamespowers]

I think hats made by merrimac (which I see on ebay sometimes) are vintage and wool.

They are indeed. Many women's hats of the golden era are wool. They were not only cheaper but the price made it more practical to change styles since women's hat styles changed more rapidly than men's. The same is still true today. Think women's shoes and fashions versus men's.
A man can still look stylish and not stand out with a suit made in 1940 while a woman in an outfit from the 1940s is no where near what they wear today. [huh]

Regards,

J

 

[Jerekson]

Well, he got back to me.

He says that he isn't sure what kind of material it is. The only reason he assumed it was wool was because it "didn't have the smooth finish of a fur felt" or something along those lines. I asked him if it was lighter or less dense than any of his fur felts...he's yet to replied.

Well, thanks for the help and info, guys. Thinks make better sense now.
-

 

[Jerekson]

All i can say is we had sheep while i was growing up and they all got rained on and every last one of them kept their shape and none of them died from the water.

Yes, but did they taper?