First hat off eBay

[Nick D]

I just recieved the first hat I've bought off eBay. It's also the first vintage hat I've bought in several years. It's an Attaboy, actually the second I've bid on but I actually won this one.

Well, got it home, out of the box, and it looks fair enough. It's not my ideal fedora, but I was looking for something for general day wear. Unfortunately, there are a couple problems. First and foremost, even with a haircut this hat is never going to fit. I knew I was taking a chance, even with a stated size, but I'm still dissapointed. Also, when I looked under the band to see the union label, it started to seperate from the hat. It hasn't fallen off completely, but it's on its way.

I've had a really hard time finding hats on eBay UK, and there's not a lot of shops in the area that I could look. I stop by the one large vintage clothing store on my way home from the Royal Armouries every time I'm there, but so far no luck.

Oh well, I just keep looking.

[RBH]

Hope you have better luck Nick.
Can you post a photo of the hat?
Keep on trying, my size is not really hard to find, but goes for a high price. Every so often I will luck up. So just hang in there!

[Stoney]

Nick,

All is not lost. If the felt in in good shape. Sweatbands are easily replaced as are ribbons. There are places where you can buy just the sweatband and cut it to your own size, for a perfect fit.
http://www.hatsupply.com/mens_supplies.htm
Just remove the ribbon, sweat and re-block it to your own size. I would rather have a vintage felt with a rotten sweatband than a new one that was pristine. Working on your own hats can be an adventure.

[Nick D]

RBH, I'll get a couple photos asap.

I think the hat may be able to be resized. I'm sure I can repair the sweatband just fine, and if it can stay that would be nice, but if it can't, then it can't. The problem is, I have no idea where to get a hat stretcher in the UK. I wouldn't mind trying it, but unless there's a way to do it which doesn't require specialized equipement...

I'll look around and see what I can find. But one way or another, I'll keep looking for that perfect hat.

[Lon Goval]

eBay is a crapshoot for me. The good deals are balanced with the bad ones that don't fit (wrong size given, bad measurements, inconsistent sizing), bad descriptions as to condition, etc. Nice that there are conversion threads on the forum. I may try to convert one in the near future. Until then, I'll have a local person do the conversions for me.

Ralph

[Justdog]

Hi:

Dont sweat it was a good win and a good start.

I am new and only won a first hat 3 weeks ago.

Pretty rusty in the liner, not really shown and some rusty stains on top.

What size are you looking for?

Should be some masterful hatters in England.

Let us know your size and Will keep an eye open.

[Nick D]

Here's some pictures of the hat.


And the union label in the sweatband


I like the side profile, though the brim is a touch short for me (2.25"), though not bad. But, I did a careful measure of the inside, it's a UK 6 5/8, I need a UK size 7, so it would need to be stretched over an inch. From what I've found, that's really, ah, stretching it.

[Justdog]

Hi:

Yes I would get some realll good advice before even thinking about that size of a stretch.

Beautiful vintage hat.

I too like the higher crowns, will post my Wormser later.

Just got back from the Hat shop in Toronto.

Most of the crowns are like yours.

No high crowns.

The Biltmores are really excellent made in Canada.

Chocolate browns blacks Steele gray.
2 2. 2.75 brims.

But I still like the High sort of Gibralter look of the high crown it almost seems to slant on a forward angle toward the brim as it rises.

But lucky for us there are varietes.

7 will not be hard to find.

I just got all my hats measured as well as my head.

The Hatter has an amazing little measuring device to measire any hat.

All the hats were not quite the same size and one was definately 1/8 smaller than the tag.

My head accourding to his chart was 1/8 but I had all 1/4s and they were all snug except for the one mentioned with the rust it was apparently a true 71/4 and fits loose.

Only real way to tell is to try one on and wear it.

Thanks

[Justdog]

Oh yes, that Union label is great to have that is true vintage.

[duggap]

The crease (or bash) on that hat makes it look like it used up a lot of felt. I was wondering if you could make the crown look a little taller by reshaping it just a little. It is a nice looking hat and I believe it would look even that much better with just a tad higher crown.