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What is Shantung????

fedoralover

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,006
Location
Great Northwest
I've seen hats that say they are "Genuine Shantung". They look like a panama hat and are sometimes advertised as such, but I doubt they were made in Ecuador. Is Shantung another name for "Cheap Panama Knockoff"????

regards fedoralover
 

Art Fawcett

Sponsoring Affiliate
Messages
3,717
Location
Central Point, Or.
Hi Rich,
Shantung is the Chinese version but if I remember my history is was developed by Resistol to make a cheaper hat for the masses and is actually a form of paper that is laquered up ( as opposed to liquered up) and stiff as a board. I have tried to renovate a couple and wasn't successful and left myself asking ( Why in the world did I do that??) If all else fail, you can drive nails with it.)
 

Michael Mallory

One of the Regulars
Messages
283
Location
Glendale, California
I believe shantung hats are that whiter-than-white color than sometimes works, depending on the style, and other times looks like a cheap imitation of a Panama hat. If you can get one cheap (in California, Nordstrom's Rack -- the outlet version of Nordstrom's department store -- carries the overstock shantung hats that Bailey puts out for $20), then fine. It will get you through the summer.
 

Butters

New in Town
Messages
45
Yeah, too bad the biggest thing nordstrom rack carries is around a 7 3/8 (they were large) i think. I was going to buy one for working in the yard... not everyone has a small head! or relatively small for me.
 

gcollins

One of the Regulars
Messages
270
Location
Shanghai, China
Shantung is the old spelling of Shandong, a province in North Eastern China. The straw that comes from there is thick and cheap and often coated with a clear laquer so the hat can be mass produced cheaply with auto presses.

G
 

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