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What's a wind trolley?

Edward

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,779
Location
London, UK
I've had them on a few hats. I would rely on one as an only defence, but it does give one a bit of reaction time, and, as others have said, it looks a lot less silly than running down the road after a precious hat - especially if it blows into the path of traffic.... I like how the even look, as a feature - I wish Hats Direct did a pimped-out version of the Fed IV with matchnig contrast ribbon and brim binding, with a trolley.... givven those sorts of additional options, I'm not sure I'd ever need to buy a different model fedora again.

MattJH said:
If I'm wearing a hat and it's windy, I'm taking the hat off. Wind trolleys are... dainty, totally unnecessary, impractical. Why would you go through the bother of unwrapping the wind trolley and pushing it through a button in your lapel if you can just take the hat off? An even better question -- what if you aren't wearing a shirt that has a button hole? It's 2007. The whole idea is outdated to me.
Click to expand...

I have to admit, I got a cracking chuckle at the idea of anyone in these parts worrying about being or looking "outdated".

Dinerman said:
My italian hats (borsalinos and barbisio) have stretchy, elastic wind cords. My American hats have no elasticity.
Anyone else find this?
Click to expand...

My Biltmore by Miller.com - my first furfelt hat, way back in 2007, has an elastic cord. I think it's Canadian? My Akubra Campdraft (Aussie, obvs), a Euro hat (I suspect a rebranded Tonak) and a couple of US vintage items all had regular string. IMO, the elastic does do a better job.
 
Short Balding Guy

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,585
Location
Minnesota, USA
Outdated - Sheesh!

To each their own conclusion. Trolley's work for me.

i-8T9QDCG-M.jpg
 
Highlander

Highlander

A-List Customer
Messages
473
Location
Missouri
There was a great thread here, and I can't find it to save my soul. But it was about the top button hole on the left lapel of your jacket being for the "button from your hat" so you could button your hat to your coat on windy days.

I just saw someone bring this up in another forum the other day. There was a photo of two of the hat with the button and the cord wrapped around it, but there were NO photos of a hat actually buttoned to a coat.

Just thought surely those here would have more knowledge and photos.

Thanks,
 
samtemporary

samtemporary

One of the Regulars
Messages
176
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
I have on vintage fedora with a wind cord, and actually used it once (in Chicago). Simply unwound the cord and buttoned it in my jacket lapel.

I have seen illustrations of the hat buttoned to a lapel, as well as a button hole in the back of a jacket/shirt collar.

Sent from my SM-N920C using Tapatalk
 
RJR

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
Highlander said:
There was a great thread here, and I can't find it to save my soul. But it was about the top button hole on the left lapel of your jacket being for the "button from your hat" so you could button your hat to your coat on windy days.

I just saw someone bring this up in another forum the other day. There was a photo of two of the hat with the button and the cord wrapped around it, but there were NO photos of a hat actually buttoned to a coat.

Just thought surely those here would have more knowledge and photos.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Here's a pic of a wind trolley on an Akubra.
Hat-Akubra-SBCD Deluxe.JPG
 
scottyrocks

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
M Hatman said:
Old but good thread!!!!
M
Click to expand...

Yes, it is, and I reply to your 3 year old post because I know you're still here. :)

I have, by my best reckoning, maybe 3 vintage hats with wind trolleys. I've never used them, but I love the way they look on fedoras.

When I know the weather will be inclement enough to be concerned about the hat on my head, I most often wear one of my Fed IVs instead of a vintage hat. My brown Fed IV, in particular, fits so perfectly, and the brim gives way so easily, that I don't worry about it in either rain or wind.

I've been out in blowing snowstorms, usually to shovel out a car or two, in that hat. The brim just gives way to the wind, and never do I get that feeling that the hat is going to leave my head. And if it ever were to, it's by no means irreplaceable, so I don't worry about it.

But if I happened to be wearing a hat with a wind trolley and the wind kicked up enough that I was concerned that the hat would blow off my head, I would certainly use the wind trolley for its intended purpose.
 
Last edited:
scottyrocks

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Bob Beecher said:
I read that the button goes into the little buttonhole on the back of your shirt collar. Remember those? I do! When I was growing up (in the 1960s), my shirts had a little button and buttonhole on the back of the collar. I could never figure out what that was for!
Click to expand...

Any of my shirts with a hole in that position has always had a button to go into that hole, so I don't know how a trolley button would fit.

If I wasn't wearing a jacket or coat with lapel button hole, I would fasten the trolley loop/button to an upper button hole on the front of my shirt.
 
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