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viclip

Practically Family
Messages
571
Location
Canada
Has anyone used the Ziplock X Large or XX Large bags (10 and 20 gallons, respectively) for storing their hats?

They look like a good way to protect hats from moths or dust.

Roger

A while back I'd posted my technique of using large plastic bags in which I placed my hats, followed by inserting same into a cardboard hat box or similar carton. I was advised that hats need to breathe & that a better solution was to use large cloth bags similar to pillow cases.

Don't ask me why rabbit or beaver fur needs to breathe, maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.
 

rogerstg

A-List Customer
Messages
325
Location
Rhode Island
A while back I'd posted my technique of using large plastic bags in which I placed my hats, followed by inserting same into a cardboard hat box or similar carton. I was advised that hats need to breathe & that a better solution was to use large cloth bags similar to pillow cases.

I can understand that the felt absorbs a lot of moisture when warn and would need to air out for a while (hours or even days) before placing it in an airtight container. My intention is to store hats not currently in the rotation without fear of dust or bugs. As an avid fly tyer, I've stored hundreds of mammal and bird pelts, fur and feathers, for years in airtight containers without incident.

Did you have any problems storing your hats in plastic bags?

Roger
 

viclip

Practically Family
Messages
571
Location
Canada
I can understand that the felt absorbs a lot of moisture when warn and would need to air out for a while (hours or even days) before placing it in an airtight container. My intention is to store hats not currently in the rotation without fear of dust or bugs. As an avid fly tyer, I've stored hundreds of mammal and bird pelts, fur and feathers, for years in airtight containers without incident.

Did you have any problems storing your hats in plastic bags?

Roger


I think that you're right namely that the problem with storing hats in a sealed plastic bag relates to the entrapment of moisture. That of course can lead to mildew issues, even rot I suppose in extreme cases.

Any hat that I've stored in my plastic bags has been dry, albeit subject to prevailing atmospheric conditions. What the safe level of relative humidity that can be enclosed with a hat is, is beyond my knowledge.

I've never experienced any issues with my stored hats, but note that I don't seal the plastic bags (they're not zip locks). After inserting the hat I simply fold over the excess portion of the bag before placing same into a cardboard box thus, the storage isn't airtight. This does suffice to keep the hats dust-free & safe from marauding moths looking to lay eggs. Also, the bags are stiff enough such that they immobilize the hats so when the boxes fall off of the shelving I don't have to worry about any damage to the brims.

I now recall reading about old clothing storage on some museum site, in their preservation techniques section. The curator recommended against airtight storage, I believe because of mildew &/or mold concerns. Come to think of it, a fairly common question on this board relates to removing the mildew odor from recently discovered vintage hats which have sat in a moist environment for some time.
 

APP Adrian

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
Toronto
hi, i m a newbie on vtg hats n this seems to be the right place to ask questions. can anyone tell me more about pre war flat top fedoras? i am interested in getting one. they are not creased down the center but are not top hats apparently, n i suppose have soft felt?
many thanks in advance. i did do a search for flat top fedora in here but too many threads came up with no specific way to find the answer.

Don't you mean open crown hats?

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?72210-FS-Federation-Deluxe-IV-7-1-2-or-Trade
 
Messages
19,194
Location
Funkytown, USA
Yes! I had seen a Dobbs one like this a while back for 29.95 and was wondering abt it, what era they came from, what style period. This resistol is cheap, i should go bid for it! thanks!

At that price, go for it even if the size isn't exactly right. Looks like it's about a 7. I see these pop up fairly frequently, so keep an eye out. You're bound to find something. This one looks to be in pretty good shape.
 

Brad Bowers

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,187
Yes! I had seen a Dobbs one like this a while back for 29.95 and was wondering abt it, what era they came from, what style period. This resistol is cheap, i should go bid for it! thanks!

That style was popular from the mid-1950s to the early-1960s. They enjoyed an earlier period of popularity in the early part of the century, but almost every one that comes up for sale or auction are 1950s.

Brad
~The Hatted Professor
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,590
Location
NJ
check this guy out to the right of the balloon basket ...

pic from 1911 ... was there a name for these very flat felt hats ?

1911.jpg
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,590
Location
NJ
Those, I believe, are boater hats, or skimmers, Moon. You DO NEED one!

even the felt hat on the man to the right of the balloon basket is a boater ?

I know the others are .. but I thought there was another name for those flat felts hats
 
Messages
10,485
Location
Boston area
Upon closer look, of course you're right (tell the wife!)... Possibly a flat top porker style, a la Buster Keaton? All great lids, Moon. Even the straw boater to the lower left of the center looks to have the brim unusually flanged.
 
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nidan48

New in Town
Messages
33
Location
Long Island, NY
John here, new to Lounge. Saw link to "everythingaustralian.com" and I am curious about how complicated and costly it is to buy from Australia. Are there duties or taxes, what is shipping cost like? Can't buy squatter in USA now, have one I might want to replace depending on what J&J says when my wife drops it off. It looks like some here have some experience with buying Australian.
 

javadave61

Practically Family
Messages
891
Location
Harrisburg, PA
John here, new to Lounge. Saw link to "everythingaustralian.com" and I am curious about how complicated and costly it is to buy from Australia. Are there duties or taxes, what is shipping cost like? Can't buy squatter in USA now, have one I might want to replace depending on what J&J says when my wife drops it off. It looks like some here have some experience with buying Australian.

It's generally no more complicated than buying from the U.S., other than the wait times for shipping - or if the hat is not in stock, it can often take a few months for them to make it. As far as duties, I know it can be stopped at customs and some kind of customs charge added, but so far, I've never had that happen.

As a side note, you do have to deal with the conversion rate to USD. I just ordered from EverythingAustrailian last night, and PayPal's conversion rate wasn't as good as a regular bank's (i.e through your credit card). But the only payment option I saw was through PayPal. So that was an extra few bucks, but nothing too bad. I read somewhere that there's a button you can click with PayPal to use the bank's conversion rate and not theirs. I didn't see that, but I wasn't looking either.

Overall, it's not too complicated and has been a good experience for me in the past.
 
Messages
11,926
Location
Southern California
check this guy out to the right of the balloon basket ...

pic from 1911 ... was there a name for these very flat felt hats ?
...Possibly a flat top porker style, a la Buster Keaton?...
Keaton's iconic, signature hat, which has been described as a Porkpie everywhere I've seen it mentioned, immediately came to my mind.

Buster_Keaton_01_zpsdeehqc1c.jpg


And here's a page which contains part of an interview in which Keaton explains how he shaped his hats; surely modern methods would be more efficient if one desired such a hat.

John here, new to Lounge. Saw link to "everythingaustralian.com" and I am curious about how complicated and costly it is to buy from Australia. Are there duties or taxes, what is shipping cost like? Can't buy squatter in USA now, have one I might want to replace depending on what J&J says when my wife drops it off. It looks like some here have some experience with buying Australian.
It's generally no more complicated than buying from the U.S., other than the wait times for shipping - or if the hat is not in stock, it can often take a few months for them to make it. As far as duties, I know it can be stopped at customs and some kind of customs charge added, but so far, I've never had that happen.

As a side note, you do have to deal with the conversion rate to USD. I just ordered from EverythingAustrailian last night, and PayPal's conversion rate wasn't as good as a regular bank's (i.e through your credit card). But the only payment option I saw was through PayPal. So that was an extra few bucks, but nothing too bad. I read somewhere that there's a button you can click with PayPal to use the bank's conversion rate and not theirs. I didn't see that, but I wasn't looking either.

Overall, it's not too complicated and has been a good experience for me in the past.
I agree with what Dave posted. I've ordered from Everything Australian and Hats Direct/The Hattery several times and have never had any problems. To the contrary, both vendors were very friendly, helpful, and responded promptly when I had questions (taking the time difference into consideration, of course). In fact, they were less problematic than some U.S. vendors I've dealt with in the past. I've heard/read very few complaints about their service and/or products, so in my experience you can buy with confidence.
 
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