ADAM ALLEY

CONELRAD · Feb 16, 2013

I was snooping through Google News trying to uncover the history of the Hollywood jacket, and I decided to look up "Adam Constellation hat", and found this ad from a 1954 copy of the Reading Eagle.

It also seems to shed some light onto what the heck "Mystronic" leather means, if anyone but me was curious.

Miamibruno · May 2, 2013

Been trying to get information on an Adam Premier "Skyway". The price tag on it is $8.50 and the Mail Order Dept. is at 665 Broadway. Anyone ever hear of one? I just got it off the bay but can't find any info on it. 2 3/4 inch brim, 4 inch crown (bashed), and a 3/8th inch OR ribbon and the brim is bound with a 3/16 inch ribbon. I'll get some pictures up in a day or two. Just wondering.

Thanks for whatever you have.

Miamibruno · May 2, 2013

OK, here are some bad pictures of the above mentioned hat, the Adam Premier Skyway. Any assistance as to age or providence would be great.

Again, sorry for the poor picture quality.

Adrian

Dinerman · May 8, 2013

1964 Adam made for the US Olympic team. Worn at the Tokyo Olympics by Wrestling Coach (and Mr. York Barbell himself) Bob Hoffman.

billyspew · May 13, 2013

Dinerman said:
1964 Adam made for the US Olympic team. Worn at the Tokyo Olympics by Wrestling Coach (and Mr. York Barbell himself) Bob Hoffman.

Damn I want that.

mayserwegener · May 13, 2013

billyspew said:
Damn I want that.

+1

jskeen · Aug 9, 2013

Picked this one up off feebay a while back, but the seller was out of town, so I just got it today. Nice feel to it and it is almost mint condition. I already took the sweat and ribbon off and am going to have it blocked up to fit me, and a new sweat installed. It's odd in that the sweat is completely plain, no writing at all, and there are no other labels inside. The union stamp is actually printed on the back of the size tag (very small) to save having to print and install another sticker. The brim binding and ribbon are first rate though, no scrimping on the important stuff. Not sure what the 101 is for, but Coral as a model name and the unusual western theme liner seem to be a pretty different branding strategy for adam to try to catch some of the open road market.

ManofKent · Aug 11, 2013

jskeen - looks a good find.

ManofKent · Aug 11, 2013

Adam Premier 'Dean' in Graphite:

Picked this up of the 'bay from a US seller who charged fair international postage rates, and didn't use the extortionate Global Postage system

Whilst it's labelled graphite I'd describe it as more of a mink or taupe colour. Condition is very good, will just need a quick brush and steam.

I'd been after a pork pie for a while, although being generous of ear, I'll probably wear it with the front brim down.

Liner is sewn in, and the sweat has a protective shield behind it. I'm guessing mid-50's but any help in dating it is appreciated.

Chepstow · Aug 11, 2013

I can't help with the Age but I can say that it is a Super back bow Adam. Nice find, Richard.

mikespens · Aug 11, 2013

Fantastic shape Richard. I'm still on the fence with Pork Pies, just waiting for the right one to pull me off.

vintage.vendeuse · Apr 26, 2014

Should this hat be saved?

Granted, I'm no hat expert by a long shot, but this looked very fedora-like to me. I was able to find a couple newspaper ads (no pics) from 1950 of Adam Hats "The Strand" for $7.50 so I suppose that's pretty sure dating? The sweatband is shot but it still seems a nice snap-brim hat. Would someone actually want/buy a hat in this condition? (What I mean is, will it be resale-able for me or should I trash it?) How can I clean it? It's a size 7 1/4.

new2hats · Apr 27, 2014

vintage.vendeuse said:
Granted, I'm no hat expert by a long shot, but this looked very fedora-like to me. I was able to find a couple newspaper ads (no pics) from 1950 of Adam Hats "The Strand" for $7.50 so I suppose that's pretty sure dating? The sweatband is shot but it still seems a nice snap-brim hat. Would someone actually want/buy a hat in this condition? (What I mean is, will it be resale-able for me or should I trash it?) How can I clean it? It's a size 7 1/4.

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You never know who is watching on the ' Bay.
It would be a shame to just quickly trash it. Some, like me, like to hang those up on the wall as historic pieces.

alanfgag · Apr 27, 2014

For this particular hat, I don't think further investment would be worthwhile. We did have some Adam enthusiasts here at one time who might voice a different opinion.

ManofKent · Apr 27, 2014

It's difficult to judge the condition of the felt. If there is no mothing and it's just a bit grubby, then it might be worth getting a new sweat and cleaning it. A full clean, reblock and new sweat band is going to cost you a minimum of $75 -$100, and you'd be lucky to get much more than that once restored, you could have a sweat put in for less and clean it yourself... As is I can't see you getting more than a few dollars for it, but an enthusiast might buy it to to a home repair.

vintage.vendeuse · Apr 27, 2014

Thanks so much for the advice. I watched some youtube videos and gave it a light cleaning/brushing. I think the felt looks fab... except for the spots on the underside. I guess I'll just list it cheap and see if someone wants to have a go at the sweat band, or just use it for display.

facade · Jul 12, 2014

Attended the huge Brimfield antique show this weekend. A good number of hats but mostly in sad shape. I did manage to acquire a number of 1930's Adam Hats testimonial pictures. The most interesting one is Ted Healy founder of the Three Stooges.

Longplay · Oct 7, 2014

My First Vintage Hat? An Adam.

Though I do have a few fedora-type hats - a grey Akubra Fed IV and an Indy recreation by Lee Keppler - this Adam I found on eBay is my first vintage lid.

A while back I became enamored of the Whippet style with the bound edge but the cost of a nice one, though affordable, was something I couldn't bring myself to justify. In addition, after trying on a lot of hats, I came to realize that high crowns and wide brims don't suit me al that well and the Whippets appeared to be too large. Anyway, I'd been watching eBay for a while looking for a light brown to tan low-crowned, 2 1/2" brimmed hat, and when this Adam came up I decided to give it a go, if only to finally get to see what a vintage hat looked like.

It's a Long Oval Pacesetter with size tagged as 6-7/8. The seller said it fit more like a 7 and that seems to be right as 7 is what I normally wear and this fits well. There are no moth holes as far as I can see but the lining is stained and part of the ribbon is stained in the back. However, at $35.00 it seemed to be a decent deal.

Does anyone have a thought about the date of this hat? The logo is not quite like others I've seen on the web. If the number on the orange tag is the price (12.50? - hard to read), it seems pricier than others here and I'm wondering if this isn't of a later date.

hatsRme · Oct 7, 2014

Fantastic find, Longplay! Looks terrific, too!!

Only caveat (apologies if you already know this) is to be wary of the effects of perspiration on the vintage sweatband. Even a little can cause it to harden and break up. So just stay vigilant. Again, GREAT lid, sir.

Longplay · Oct 7, 2014

hatsRme said:
Fantastic find, Longplay! Looks terrific, too!!

Only caveat (apologies if you already know this) is to be wary of the effects of perspiration on the vintage sweatband. Even a little can cause it to harden and break up. So just stay vigilant. Again, GREAT lid, sir.

Thanks for the advice. Is there anything that should be done periodically to condition the sweatband?

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