Another vintage hat bloodletting......

[Fedora]

I have a reputation for buying vintage hats and taking off the brim ribbon, and basically using the vintage felt to create another hat. Now, I will admit that in the past, I should have left those beautiful bound brims alone!! And, since I now love bound brims, I will no longer do it..........unless the brim binding is in bad shape. Now, I bought this vintage open road on ebay for a song, as it was dirty, the sweat had dry rotted out....just a nasty hat. But, no moth damgage. I have been looking for a light colored vintage hat on which to use my new hatband that Sharptoyes acquired for us. This one fit the bill. So, I soaked the hat in the cleaning fluid, overnight, took the penetrating brush and scrubbed the stains out, and let it dry. I removed what was left of the brim binding and blocked it on a number 52 vintage block. I took the curl out of the brim as I was wanting a casual looking hat, for summer wear, and sort of copied the modern Stetson Weekender hat. This old felt pounced out to a really fine finish, and here she is. My new hat.

An up to date casual hat, using great vintage felt. I love the color and the contrasting hatband. Fedora

 

[scotrace]

It just works!

That hat needs to be hooked up with Bagger's new cotton J. Peterman jacket.

 

[Sefton]

Can you post a picture of the hat being worn? I think it's always much more interesting to see the hat that way. Nice looking lid!

 

[John in Covina]

Returned to service!

I always enjoy hearing the details of how some nasty old hat gets a new lease on life. Looking casual and countryfied / outdoorsy. Congrats!

 

[RBH]

Great Job!

Once again Steve you worked your magic!
That is a great looking hat. Did you make the hat band also?
P.S. I have an Open road I want to send you .. for a tune up !
P.P.S. I just got this hat and I love it. I will have to wait for hot weather so I can take it off ha ha.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Steve -- Wow, what a neat hat!

Is the band made of pheasant feathers? Looks like one I have on my Stetson Weekender. Ibought that hat several years ago mainly because I liked the band.

karol

 

[BellyTank]

Let the Blood flow..!

B
T

 

[Aerol]

converted hat

Nice hat! You really brought out the best in it.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Excellent hat, Steve! I would have liked to see a "before" picture. The after picture really is wonderful.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Nice job

Very good looking hat.

 

[Fedora]

Is the band made of pheasant feathers? Looks like one I have on my Stetson Weekender. Ibought that hat several years ago mainly because I liked the band.

Yes!! And what I liked about the Weekender, was the band. So, Sharpetoyes, through his sourcing magic, found us both a band like the one used on the Weekender. I just had to have some better felt to put it on, and the vintage hat supplied that. Good warm weather color too, as it is almost here in the deep South. Thanks all. Fedora

 

[Fedora]

Excellent hat, Steve! I would have liked to see a "before" picture. The after picture really is wonderful.

Here she is.

 

[tonyb]

WOW! Makes me wanna snap up as many "hopeless" old hats as I can get my mitts on.
What's a "penetrating brush," Steve?

 

[Fedora]

What's a "penetrating brush," Steve?

Just a short bristled stiff brush, that will scratch the felt and penetrate enough to scub out stubborn stains,using the solvent. Fedora