Moth Bite Repair (send out)

[Art Fawcett]

And the reason is probably that vintage hats just aren't worth enough to make the profit from repair offset the profit lost through shoddy work (or finicky hat collectors' requirements). I understand it, I just think there's a need gap that could be filled.

Scott, I don't think you really DO understand. Most vintage hats are worth a max ( and I mean MAX) of $300. To use the example of this hat in question that to repair 20 moth bites would most likely take 10 hours ( at best) , not be able to guarantee that they will be invisible, spend approx $300 in moth bite repair only ( 10 hrs @$30 per.) and still only have a hat worth $85 on the open market. The owner then thinks he got ripped off, is unsatisfied with the end result because it doesn't look absolutely new, and starts badmouthing the hatter doing the work.

Been there, done that, no Thank you. If YOU can make it so that it becomes cost effective I would support your every effort in that direction and would help you with start-up equipment. I will teach you whatever I know that will help so that you can take this task on.

Unless you are willing to do this though, your words sound only like whining. I understand your frustration as I also want what I want at a price I want to pay getting perfect work in a very short time but that isn't reality.

I would not have responded to this thread Scott but your words seem to be directed at me not doing much repair work. I'm sure there are other hatters out there that use their name only but I can't think of any that are active on this board so I'm assuming your barbs are headed this way. RLK has stated a big part of the problem better than I can and I would ask you to try to step into my ( or any other hatters) shoes to see what we contend with as far as requests and demands. There is a reason I chose my signature line.

[mayserwegener]

Back in the day did they repair moth damage? I haven't seen any signs of it happening on my hats. I can see blocking, new liners, new ribbons, new sweat bands but not moth repair.

[Art Fawcett]

The short answer is yes, I have seen hats that , unless you take them apart, you would never know were repaired. I haven't attained that skill level but I've seen where others did. Even back then though, it wasn't common to spend more on a repair than the hat was worth.

[rlk]

I've had bits of felt from old(don't know if they qualify for vintage) repairs fall off when brushing the dust off newly acquired vintage hats on a few occasions, at least twice leaving a small hole exposed.

[ScottF]

Scott, I don't think you really DO understand. Most vintage hats are worth a max ( and I mean MAX) of $300. To use the example of this hat in question that to repair 20 moth bites would most likely take 10 hours ( at best) , not be able to guarantee that they will be invisible, spend approx $300 in moth bite repair only ( 10 hrs @$30 per.) and still only have a hat worth $85 on the open market. The owner then thinks he got ripped off, is unsatisfied with the end result because it doesn't look absolutely new, and starts badmouthing the hatter doing the work.

Been there, done that, no Thank you. If YOU can make it so that it becomes cost effective I would support your every effort in that direction and would help you with start-up equipment. I will teach you whatever I know that will help so that you can take this task on.

Unless you are willing to do this though, your words sound only like whining. I understand your frustration as I also want what I want at a price I want to pay getting perfect work in a very short time but that isn't reality.

I would not have responded to this thread Scott but your words seem to be directed at me not doing much repair work. I'm sure there are other hatters out there that use their name only but I can't think of any that are active on this board so I'm assuming your barbs are headed this way. RLK has stated a big part of the problem better than I can and I would ask you to try to step into my ( or any other hatters) shoes to see what we contend with as far as requests and demands. There is a reason I chose my signature line.

First of all, please don't think this was aimed at you. I had not thought of you in terms of hat repair, and haven't had any work done by you, so this was written completely without you in mind.

I had images and 'conversations' of Optimo in mind part of the time, but I also didn't want to sound negative about the services they DO supply, which are extremely valuable - I can't do a pencil curl or block a Panama, for instance, and really appreciate those (and other) services. On the other hand, while I now can repair unreeded sweatbands, there was a time period of frustration when I was really perturbed that they weren't willing to do that for me. I also am perturbed when I receive a 'clean' hat that has grit or removable stains in the felt - now, before I send a hat away for reblocking, new sweatband, new ribbon, etc, I first scrub it myself. It's regrettable that I have to do that, but otherwise it will come back too dirty for my tastes. But...I still send the hats in for cleanings at times, because they can really make that finished hat a thing of beauty - much better than I can.

As far as mothbites go, I agree with you - too much labor to justify the cost. That's why my comments in previous posts were focused on unreeded sweatband repair, and using elbow grease to clean felt. And Robert has pointed out why those services are probably also unlikely to be available any time soon.

Now that I'm fully caffeinated, I'll add that this is a great forum, but when discussions get touchy, board members tend to abandon the thread. We all want to be perceived as very loveable here, but a little risky honesty isn't going to hurt a forum. And I don't think it has done so in this thread.

edited: removed a paragraph because I erroneously got confused about some posts I was referencing.

Art - I certainly had no malicious thoughts concerning your work, and wasn't thinking of you when I wrote the previous posts, either before or during. I DID think of you when I was listing a Montecristi last night, only because we had discussed my sending it to you. I changed my mind because it was just too perfect in its original vintage state to mess with, and I figured someone on the forum would end up buying it and enjoying it as-is. But thanks for your discussion!

[ScottF]

I've had bits of felt from old(don't know if they qualify for vintage) repairs fall off when brushing the dust off newly acquired vintage hats on a few occasions, at least twice leaving a small hole exposed.

That is very interesting. I still have a beautiful re-blocked (but holey) vintage hat, awaiting moth-hole repair. I plan to photograph and time the repairs and report back here - just too preoccupied with work at the moment.

[mayserwegener]

Would be interesting to see photos of these rare vintage felt repair jobs.

[ScottF]

Would be interesting to see photos of these rare vintage felt repair jobs.

I think I have handled some unreeded vintage repair jobs, but uncertain - none have been very clean, so possibly modern, but most have been adequate. Given that most of us continue to wear unreeded vintage hats that are 1/3 to 1/2 disconnected, any repair that helps hold the band on is preferable to nothing.

[mayserwegener]

I think I have handled some unreeded vintage repair jobs, but uncertain - none have been very clean, so possibly modern, but most have been adequate. Given that most of us continue to wear unreeded vintage hats that are 1/3 to 1/2 disconnected, any repair that helps hold the band on is preferable to nothing.

I would like to see the vintage felt repair work that Art and RLK mentioned.

[Pilot99]

Everyone, I appreciate the comments, I have in fact learned a lot and I thank you. I guess this hat will just have to be my test dummy in trying to start learning to repair my own hats. Yes, $300 is not a justified expenditure for a hat that isn't even worth that. Moth bites are just the pits, oh well, thanks again everyone...sorry to create a thread that caused some heat.