WISH LIST

[tommyK]

I don't think anyone wants to own vintage hats for the sake of them being vintage
we buy them because they are far superior to anything available today ... including anything made by Akubra

That says it, right there. One of my first vintage hats was a Penney's from the 60's, it didn't seem much better than modern so I didn't buy any other vintage hats for a long time. Then I landed a Dobbs Twenty and that was it. I still dabble in modern hats from time to time, hoping they rediscover the formula. No one has come close. It's not that modern hats are junk, some of the custom makers do superb work but the felt they have to work with is inferior. No amount of aging is going to make that spidering go away.

I might add that there are shapes that are no longer done either like the 122 and/or 123 blocks on Stratoliners and Playboys. I recall somebody having a Stratoliner brim flange as well. They make for a more elegant shape that makes the modern Stetson's seem clunky by comparison.

 

[Bob Roberts]

That says it, right there. One of my first vintage hats was a Penney's from the 60's, it didn't seem much better than modern so I didn't buy any other vintage hats for a long time. Then I landed a Dobbs Twenty and that was it. I still dabble in modern hats from time to time, hoping they rediscover the formula. No one has come close. It's not that modern hats are junk, some of the custom makers do superb work but the felt they have to work with is inferior. No amount of aging is going to make that spidering go away.

I might add that there are shapes that are no longer done either like the 122 and/or 123 blocks on Stratoliners and Playboys. I recall somebody having a Stratoliner brim flange as well. They make for a more elegant shape that makes the modern Stetson's seem clunky by comparison.

Like the flange on you profile pic. I sent it to Mike at NorthWest and asked him to work off of it.

 

[tommyK]

Bob, if he nails that shape I'm ordering one right behind you

 

[Bob Roberts]

Bob, if he nails that shape I'm ordering one right behind you

That was on the Navy blue beaver he made for me a few months back. Maybe talk to him abt it. Yours was one of the first of many similar pics I sent to him. I ultimately asked him to back off a little on the depth and apparent curl and I told him I wanted it to appear snapped down in front without really being snapped down, if you know what I mean. He looked around and came up with something I believe he said he occasionally had used on some westerns. Please let me know if you come up with something. Thanks.

 

[bluesforchallah]

Right now, there's only a couple that I'm really being drawn towards.

Akubra Snowy River: Color Fawn
Stetson Stratoliner: Color Caribou
Akubra Campdraft: Color Sand or Sage/green color if it exists.

 

[FedoraRedHat]

Maybe you missed buying a hat on last season's go-around, or maybe you find yourself between hat seasons. Or maybe you're waiting for that custom hat to become available again.

For me, I currently have two hats on my wishlist. The first is unclear to resurface again. The hat is the JJ Hat Center The Claudio by Tesi. This sisal hat was discontinued by JJ Hat Center late last summer, and may not come back into stock in the next few months. JJ Hat Center is currently having felt end-of-season sales, so straw hats should be coming back in stock soon. Here is a picture of The Claudio:

If the Claudio doesn't pan out, I am considering going custom, and ordering a Kentucky Smith Panama from Brent Black. This is Brent's Cuenca version of the Indiana Jones hat.

So, what hats are on your wishlist?

 

[belfastboy]

I have an earlier Michael Gannon and I am overdue for another. By all reports his workmanship which was stellar to begin with has risen even higher.

 

[BobHufford]

If I ever get another custom it will be a Gannon. On my current wish list is a pre-'40s big Western, a brown or grey bowler and a light colored Homburg.

 

[jlee562]

Pre-60's long hair western
Fray sweatband Boss Raw Edge
Boss of the Plains
Optimo Nashville in natural Silverbelly (this one probably won't happen, lol)

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Vintage Stetson Wanderer or a vintage Stetson Weston in my size in excellent vintage condition. Never set your goals to low.

Eric -

 

[DaveProc]

Dobbs Cross County. Dobbs Cavalier

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Vintage black Open Road...like everybody else. Lol
Cadet Blue vintage Stratoliner...like everybody else.
B

 

[Frunobulax]

Anything from the Susquehanna Hat Company.

Preferably the Niagara Falls model.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Akubra Campdraft and a Sunbody for summer.
Johnny

 

[1967Cougar390]

Two hats that are on my wishlist and I’m just waiting for them to be crafted. Emerald Gray custom Bogart from Hufvud and a Steel Gannon thin ribbon.

Steven

 

[Frunobulax]

Probably the hat I would most like, but is likely made of Unobtanium, is a nice, snappy fedora with the markings of Truman and Jacobson Haberdasher's of Independence, MO.

Also, a Packard Hat. I don't care the size. We have a Packard museum in town and I'd like to find them one. I actually missed out on one (size 6 3/4) the other day because I was outbid.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Probably the hat I would most like, but is likely made of Unobtanium, is a nice, snappy fedora with the markings of Truman and Jacobson Haberdasher's of Independence, MO.

Unobtanium, for sure. I've looked for a long time & never seen any hats or real effamira. The haberdashery was short lived right after WWI & was in a hotel in downtown Kansas City. There were 4 hotels, one on each corner on a hill above the stockyards where all the buyers & sellers would come & stay for the weekly sale.

PS: Instead of a snappy fedora I think of a Western dress BRE with a Fray sweat, with all those cattle buyers & sellers milling around,

 

[DaveProc]

Unobtanium, for sure. I've looked for a long time & never seen any hats or real effamira. The haberdashery was short lived right after WWI & was in a hotel in downtown Kansas City. There were 4 hotels, one on each corner on a hill above the stockyards where all the buyers & sellers would come & stay for the weekly sale.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Well, there's this........

Then this........

And a relatively recent addition to the list, this.........

 

[Frunobulax]

My initial post in this thread, from about seven years ago:

Well, I am yet to find a Strat. But I have learned that patience and a little eBay OCD pays off. One will come. I have had good luck so far.

And a Stetson 25
and a pre-Stetson Mallory with a nice wide brim with a nice wide brim binding
and that Knox 100...
and all the Daltons in my size!
I will get a Gus Miller - soon. And that's within reach. I'm almost ready...

Strat - Check, though I still only own one vintage
Stetson 25 - Check (Thanks, Adrian @Miamibruno)
Knox 100 - Well...I know where one is
All the Daltons? - I have nine, now, so I'm working on it
Gus Miller - Check

Since then the goalposts have moved. And I have scored two Demon Hanovers, so I got that going for me, which is nice.