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gtdean48 · Jun 14, 2011

Banditojoe said:
This question is to anyone that can help me out. I know absolutely nothing about Fedora hats, but I am trying to learn. I acquired many from my great unlce after he moved and I am trying to find out how old they are and if any of them are collectables. The three brands I have are Borcalino, Dobbs, and Knox all of which are in excellent condition still. Does anyone have extra time so that you can teach me a few things?
Thanks
Joe

Welcome Joe.
All 3 brands you have mentioned have been covered thru dedicated threads on the Lounge.
The Borsalino Brotherhood, The School of Hard Knox, The Dobbs Diner...
Read them & see if somebody hasn't already posted something similar to the hats you have.
Lots of tidbits about dating them are in there too.
Use Ask a question, get an answer sticky thread to post one-off questions & use those threads above to post photos & questions about those brands...
Good luck.

danofarlington · Jun 15, 2011

Banditojoe said:
This question is to anyone that can help me out. I know absolutely nothing about Fedora hats, but I am trying to learn. I acquired many from my great unlce after he moved and I am trying to find out how old they are and if any of them are collectables. The three brands I have are Borcalino, Dobbs, and Knox all of which are in excellent condition still. Does anyone have extra time so that you can teach me a few things?
Thanks
Joe

The most useful recommendation I can make is go to E Bay and type in borsalino hat, dobbs hat and knox hat, and look over the results. That's 90% of what you need to know. The other 10%, I forgot.

Yeps · Jun 15, 2011

blueoakleyz said:
Well I like hatsdirect for their Akubras.. but they cost $150.. I'm looking for temporary or once in a while hats for like 30-40 $

In that case, I strongly recommend ebay. It will take a while, but you can find good hats for cheap if you are patient. I am just trying to push you away from the wool hats which you could buy new in that range. They are not worth it (from personal experience). Stick to fur felt.

Seth Hawkins · Jun 15, 2011

blueoakleyz said:
Well I like hatsdirect for their Akubras.. but they cost $150.. I'm looking for temporary or once in a while hats for like 30-40 $

Don't forget this site's classified section. I've purchased a couple of nice Akubras from fellow Lounger's. Otherwise, I agree with Yeps - watch eBay, and stay away from wool.

Dennis Holt · Jun 16, 2011

glen grey or regency fawn?

Aright..got a question. I been wanting to get an akubra cattleman either in glen grey or regency fawn. Opinions? I like the grey in some pics but not so much in others. On the hatsdirect website it looks silver-ish. Thanks.

James71 · Jun 16, 2011

The glen grey is quite a bluey grey. Here's my campdraft in glen grey:-

Cattleman is a fine hat, but really considered a work hat. I've got a cupboard full of them from when they were part of my uniform issue.

gtdean48 · Jun 16, 2011

Dennis Holt said:
Aright..got a question. I been wanting to get an akubra cattleman either in glen grey or regency fawn. Opinions? I like the grey in some pics but not so much in others. On the hatsdirect website it looks silver-ish. Thanks.

I have the Cattleman in regency fawn & the Campdraft in glen grey. To me, the glen grey is a much dressier color than the regency fawn. The cattleman is more of a working ranch hat for me & my chore coats & vest are sage green Carhartts & my fish is a dark yellow. So, the regency fawn goes better with them. I guess it depends on what you'll be wearing it with. The glen grey will go with blue, navy, grey, & black. As James stated, it is quite a blue grey. I'd think the regency fawn would be a bit cooler during the warmer days.

kiltie · Jun 17, 2011

Can anyone tell me what the approximate turnaround time for having a hat overhauled at Optimo would be. And/or, offer an alternative to Optimo for quality refinishing. Looking to have the sweatband repaired/replaced, button on the wind cord recovered/replaced, cleaning, etc... On a nice tan colored 50s era Open Road - my 'go to' hat.
Thanks -

danofarlington · Jun 17, 2011

kiltie said:
Can anyone tell me what the approximate turnaround time for having a hat overhauled at Optimo would be. And/or, offer an alternative to Optimo for quality refinishing. Looking to have the sweatband repaired/replaced, button on the wind cord recovered/replaced, cleaning, etc... On a nice tan colored 50s era Open Road - my 'go to' hat.
Thanks -

Greeley Hat Works in Greeley, Colorado. www.greeleyhatworks.com ask for Jay.

gtdean48 · Jun 17, 2011

kiltie said:
Can anyone tell me what the approximate turnaround time for having a hat overhauled at Optimo would be. And/or, offer an alternative to Optimo for quality refinishing. Looking to have the sweatband repaired/replaced, button on the wind cord recovered/replaced, cleaning, etc... On a nice tan colored 50s era Open Road - my 'go to' hat.
Thanks -

Since you are in Texas = Peter Bros Hats, http://www.pbhats.com/RENOVATION/Default.htm

hatophile · Jun 17, 2011

kiltie said:
Can anyone tell me what the approximate turnaround time for having a hat overhauled at Optimo would be.
Thanks -

Optimo is about 2 weeks. They usually let you know if there will be a major delay.

thefedorastore · Jun 17, 2011

Cleanahat.com

I would suggest contacting Drew at www.cleanahat.com. He does great work, and we refer our customers to him.

justanuthercap said:
Good morning everyone (at least it's morning in my part of the world), I have a couple of fedoras that I'd like to have the brims cut down a bit and one I'd like to have stretched. No hatters here in Central Florida but we do have a rather large western wear store. I was wondering if it would be worth it to check them out to see if they have a "hat person" that could do this as I'd rather not send them out to have the work done?

Opinions and input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

-Scott

Tomasso · Jun 17, 2011

gtdean48 said:
since you are in texas = peter bros hats, http://www.pbhats.com/renovation/default.htm

estimated time =4 to 6 weeks :eusa_doh:

rlk · Jun 17, 2011

kiltie said:
Can anyone tell me what the approximate turnaround time for having a hat overhauled at Optimo would be. And/or, offer an alternative to Optimo for quality refinishing. Looking to have the sweatband repaired/replaced, button on the wind cord recovered/replaced, cleaning, etc... On a nice tan colored 50s era Open Road - my 'go to' hat.
Thanks -

Standard Optimo cleaning cycle is in by Monday, done by Saturday. Add shipping times to that.

TCMfan25 · Jun 17, 2011

How well do Vintage Boaters do in the rain?

Brad Bowers · Jun 17, 2011

TCMfan25 said:
How well do Vintage Boaters do in the rain?

Not very well. Most of them are stiffened with gelatine, which softens (and gets very sticky) with moisture. Warping of the brim is going to be the most likely problem.

Brad

kiltie · Jun 17, 2011

Thanks everyone for clear, quick answers. Much appreciated.

Lefty · Jun 18, 2011

kabuto said:
By buying hats made with Tierra del Fuego beaver fur, we would be helping the environment

and encouraging further jack-assery. Next on the list, flea breeding to tap into that insect circus market.

Fidena · Jun 18, 2011

Did hats used to sit higher on the head?

I've been looking at some old photos, and I think that hats used to sit higher on a person's head- in the Edwardian period, at least. Bowlers and homburgs, mainly. Is this true?

Lefty · Jun 18, 2011

In terms of derbies, the ads in my library suggest that wearing derbies high on the head was popular from around the turn of the century to around 1913ish. At that point, the derbies seemed to fall further down near the ears. It's discussed a little here.

The recent Hawes thread also illustrates the fashion in the early part of the century.

Compare the looks in those ads to these, from 1918 and 1919.

There were certainly hats worn low prior to the mid-teens, and there were certainly hats worn high after that. It's in that area, however, that I see a change in the ads.

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