Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

fedoracentric · Sep 1, 2014

I wonder what the "seal" means on that liner? Is it "seal" as in "The Wegner seal"? Or is "Seal" the model name of the hat? If the latter, that is one odd name for a hat.

mayserwegener · Sep 1, 2014

It's a model name / quality mark. It might be finish related (like Seal Velour). Here is another one (not mine).

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/4-rm-wegener-hutfabrik/page__st__40#entry1021

ccorsair · Sep 2, 2014

fedoracentric said:
Seems to me the seller missed the date of manufacture by at least ten years. Its far newer than the 60s. But you can't beat the price, for sure.

I figure it wasn't that vintage with tat one pic has that Tag that has Rev 3/98 lol But still a great price I feel and should look great once cleaned up and shaped.

1mach1 · Sep 2, 2014

That one looks nice, Steve!

mayserwegener · Sep 2, 2014

Thanks! I think it has a really nice specialty finish. I will post photos when it arrives.

jskeen · Sep 3, 2014

I went out on a limb a while back to pick up this; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ste...17uq6QazaA2WkV38h044I%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I've wanted a black open road for a long time, never seemed to catch one in the right size at the right price. The seller was iffy on size but it was in the ballpark so I jumped on it. Turns out I bought myself a mystery hat, I guess. Once I steamed it open and brushed it up thoroughly, it's in really excellent condition. The generic Stetson sweat and liner look like a factory or authorized dealer refurb, and the original block tag and size are long gone :-( There is a number grease penciled inside under the sweat that looks like 4898, and the band is stamped RENSH, but that's it. The brim is 2 7/8 just like my one and only true open road, but the crown is considerably higher. After a little steam and shape, I thought it was a fair improvement over the auction pics. And best of all, It FITS! Little snug front to back, and loose side to side, but no more than a normal 7 1/4 regular oval. So I'm pretty stoked over it. What do you think?

RJR · Sep 3, 2014

Jskeen,I believe that you have a refurbished hat done by Schudde(sp?) Bros of Houston.

jskeen · Sep 3, 2014

Now that you mention it, I do believe you are probably correct. Given the relatively recent vintage of the sweatband, I would guess that Neil Shudde probably did this one, rather than his Dad, Weldon. Funny that the hat would have been refurbished here in Houston, ended up in Maryland, just to be brought back to Houston

Given that, It's not that much of a surprise that it fits, it seems like it was fate

The felt is a little stiffer than most vintage fedora's but nowhere near modern "western weight" I wonder if the brim was bound and the new mid ribbon added as a new part of the refurb, or if it was replacing similar original features. That we may never know.

I may have to take this one over to Neil's new store and see if he remembers it.

Rogera · Sep 3, 2014

Jskeen that's a good looking lid. I like that mid ribbon on it.

ManofKent · Sep 3, 2014

Rogera said:
Jskeen that's a good looking lid. I like that mid ribbon on it.

+1

Rick Blaine · Sep 4, 2014

Rick Blaine said:
....but from here it looks like a buyer's market. [huh]

... more evidence of a market correction?----> Vintage Royal Stetson 7 3/8 Blue/Grey

g.durand · Sep 4, 2014

Rick Blaine said:
... more evidence of a market correction?----> Vintage Royal Stetson 7 3/8 Blue/Grey

One can hope. Had the seller taken the time to shape the hat and take some better photos I wonder if it would have sold for a higher price.

fedoracentric · Sep 4, 2014

"... more evidence of a market correction?"

Maybe that people are only interested the "named" Stetsons instead of just Royals and De Luxe's.

Rick Blaine · Sep 4, 2014

... no liner, no name, no shape, it had allot against it, but the color/size/condition seemed VVG. [huh]

fedoracentric · Sep 4, 2014

I think everyone is stuck on "named" models thinking only they are collectable. That is my thought, anyway.

ccorsair · Sep 4, 2014

I wonder if they even looked at new hats and pricing or even the history of hats? It's "Vintage" tag or even the Name.. over on the other bidding site I have that issue now too no Vintage but the name. bidding on a Vintage Borsalino Brown fedora that is shooting more on the name the "vintage" in the tag.

There guy from Israel on ebay selling Borsalinos that 52 to 54 " range. and the pricing is very low..
A hat's bran isn't always a sign of $$ from what seen.

alanfgag · Sep 4, 2014

Attractive RS Leghorn, OPS era. Unsold at $200, scooped up at $175. Not mine.

g.durand · Sep 4, 2014

Yes, that is a beauty but alas, too small for me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Monte · Sep 4, 2014

Yes Rick, the color/size/condition are qualities which compelled me to bid on (and win) the Royal Stetson. I'm elated to have won this Royal, even if it's not a Strat' or a Flagship, etc.

I think the ad and pics were poor overall which gave me a bit less competition in the auction. No science to it in my mind. This has happened to me before with my '20s era homburg. The ad and pics were not good and I luckily scored.

Gambling to this extent has also landed me some hats that don't fit--but I'm not the kind of bidder that can afford really expensive mistakes, so I bid what I am comfortable losing.
Since they don't make this hat anymore, I will settle for '40s material, quality and workmanship at the expense of not being a labeled OR or whatever models we seek out and bid up.
Cheers

Monte · Sep 4, 2014

I also try not to count my chicks before they're hatched....

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