humanshoes
One Too Many
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You know I admire that type of futile tenacity Robert.
Ask a question, get an answer
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belfastboy
I'll Lock Up
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I think it a good thing I never went to war as likely would not have made it to lunch time....certainly not dinner.
AbbaDatDeHat
I'll Lock Up
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Hilarious!!!We will definitely revisit that one Brent. As soon as it warms up a bit here I plan to put a big kettle on the boil outside, load it with acid dye, and cook that damn hat body until it does what I want it to do.
I love this. You can always make something outta it!!
No felt before it’s time.
B
A question about history of ribbon styles! When did they start making shark gill ribbons for fedoras? I tried different ways to find out the answer here, but with my skills, I couldn’t get any, so if the topic has been discussed earlier, would you please kindly provide a link....
Regards,
Juhani
Regards,
Juhani
glider
A-List Customer
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After carefully reading all the replies to my question about dyeing felt, I decided not to buy the damn hat and not think about dyeing anything in the future!!!
glider
A-List Customer
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AND, thanks for the replies, probably saved a lot of frustration.
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Those who are about to dye salute you.
Deeeluxe Definitely
Familiar Face
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Good morning fellow hat folk,
What effect does ribbon width have on the apparent proportions of a hat? A wide ribbon will make a crown seem shorter, but will it - at the same time - make the brim seem wider or narrower than it is?
Also, does a large head size make an x" brim look wider or narrower than a small head size?
Potentially dumb questions, and it's more than one question, but hey.
What effect does ribbon width have on the apparent proportions of a hat? A wide ribbon will make a crown seem shorter, but will it - at the same time - make the brim seem wider or narrower than it is?
Also, does a large head size make an x" brim look wider or narrower than a small head size?
Potentially dumb questions, and it's more than one question, but hey.
Last edited:
Blare
I'll Lock Up
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Not dumb questions at all. Brent @deadlyhandsome and I have the proportions and appearance discussion related to hats with the same brim or crown measurements but different head size often as we are both at opposite ends of the hat size spectrum. A hat with a 5 1/2 Crown and 2 1/2 brim will look different on me in the 7ish range than on him in the 7 3/4 range.
Interesting questions and definitely not dumb at all.
At 6cm, this is definitely the widest ribbon on any of my hats. The crown height is 8cm and brim width is 5.5cm.
Optically, I don't think the ribbon makes the crown height or brim width look shorter. It all depends on the angle you're looking at it.
Deeeluxe Definitely
Familiar Face
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Thanks, guys, for the friendly and helpful replies!
@Blare That's a good point. Even if you had 2 hats with a 5½" crown and 2½" brim, they could vary extremely depending on the block. In my never-ending struggle to find the ideal hat for my proportions and preferences, I've found that - more than a tall crown or wide brim - the limiting factor in a hat that looks just "too big" for me is a complete lack of taper. Unfortunately I've had to concede that due to my wider head and pointy jaw (very V shaped face, which I am otherwise fine with), I look best with a bit of taper.
@Steve1857 Wow! I didn't even know they made grosgrain ribbon that wide, for any application! And even though I prefer the side bow, there's something very cool about that back cross patch. Definitely has that pre-war vibe to it. But you illustrate the point well. I really like a wide ribbon (mine, at 1 15/16" is modest in comparison!) but was concerned it would affect the crown and brim perception differently than, say, a more traditional 1¾".
Thanks again! Feel free to chime in, anyone else reading.
@Blare That's a good point. Even if you had 2 hats with a 5½" crown and 2½" brim, they could vary extremely depending on the block. In my never-ending struggle to find the ideal hat for my proportions and preferences, I've found that - more than a tall crown or wide brim - the limiting factor in a hat that looks just "too big" for me is a complete lack of taper. Unfortunately I've had to concede that due to my wider head and pointy jaw (very V shaped face, which I am otherwise fine with), I look best with a bit of taper.
@Steve1857 Wow! I didn't even know they made grosgrain ribbon that wide, for any application! And even though I prefer the side bow, there's something very cool about that back cross patch. Definitely has that pre-war vibe to it. But you illustrate the point well. I really like a wide ribbon (mine, at 1 15/16" is modest in comparison!) but was concerned it would affect the crown and brim perception differently than, say, a more traditional 1¾".
Thanks again! Feel free to chime in, anyone else reading.
Edward
Bartender
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A very brand-specific question here:
I recently discovered that Akubra have ceased production of their Homburg model. Christys I know discontinued their bowler in anything other than standard black, but have Christys also now dropped their Homburg entirely? I'm not in a rush but looking towards eventually picking up a brown homburg, but it seems increasingly the (affordable - I can't justify Locks' GBP350 for an OTR model) furfelt homburg options are disappearing, being overtaken by wool models at sub-GBP40. Not that some of these wool options aren't nice, but they don't offer the option of putting a front pinch on them, something of which I'm rather fond.
I recently discovered that Akubra have ceased production of their Homburg model. Christys I know discontinued their bowler in anything other than standard black, but have Christys also now dropped their Homburg entirely? I'm not in a rush but looking towards eventually picking up a brown homburg, but it seems increasingly the (affordable - I can't justify Locks' GBP350 for an OTR model) furfelt homburg options are disappearing, being overtaken by wool models at sub-GBP40. Not that some of these wool options aren't nice, but they don't offer the option of putting a front pinch on them, something of which I'm rather fond.
Granville
Familiar Face
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- 58
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- Long Beach, NY
I have two questions re: identifying a hat. First, vis-a-vis simple naming conventions, were the terms trilby and fedora interchangeable in Ireland/England during the early 1920's, with perhaps trilby being the more common name? I am obsessed with Irish history and the Irish war of independence in particular, and have found then fugitive Michael Collins described by the police as 'favoring a trilby' although no photograph of him in what we today would call a trilby seems to exist. Now it could be that once he learned of the police circular he ditched the trilby much as he similarly shaved off his mustache to avoid detection. And now part two: in these photographs of The Big Fellow, is he wearing a fedora with an upturned brim, or a homburg with side dents? I offer several photos for our experts to peruse:
Homburg or Fedora?
Here, Mick (with hands clasped) appears to be wearing a fedora with the brim snapped down. Same hat?
And here, again, same hat? Upturned Fedora or Homburg with side dents? By the way, that's Harry Boland in what to me looks like a homburg, and Eamon DeValera in an apparently dented derby.
Big thank you to anyone that can help.
Homburg or Fedora?
Here, Mick (with hands clasped) appears to be wearing a fedora with the brim snapped down. Same hat?
And here, again, same hat? Upturned Fedora or Homburg with side dents? By the way, that's Harry Boland in what to me looks like a homburg, and Eamon DeValera in an apparently dented derby.
Big thank you to anyone that can help.
Aahzz
New in Town
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- Northern Kentucky
I have a Scala fur felt Fedora that I stopped wearing several years ago. I thought Mrs Aahzz had donated it, but I have discovered that it was in fact shoved in a corner. So, I'd like to restore it to wearable shape. What is my best technique for cleaning the hat itself, definitely cleaning the sweatband, and getting the brim back into shape? The crown doesn't seem to bad, but if I'm reshaping everything I'll go there too. Pics for reference...thanks!!
belfastboy
I'll Lock Up
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At the risk of confusing the issue there is a style of hat referred to as a "Lord's" hat. It is a slightly less formal version of the Homburg. The difference is a Lords hat often has an unbound brim and has side dents. It gives it a more informal look about it. I suspect it was a style used by the landed gentry to tromp their lands.....Homburgs saved for the more formal occassions. YOur first pic is to me a Lord's hat.
To my eye it is not the same hat. Different colour for one. In the second pic the brim is wider with much less up turn on the brim and I cannot see any significant crown pinches (if any at all). Also, the words, Trilby, Fedora are very general terms with no definitive measurements, descriptions. Here in the Lounge is a thread that goes way back discussing (arguing) what constitutes a Trilby, a Fedora, a Stingy brim.
belfastboy
I'll Lock Up
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How dirty is the hat? If it is really dirty the only way to get it clean is to tear it down i.e. remove leather sweat, liner and ribbon and either wash it in warm water or if really stained give the full naptha bath treatment. This is a lot of work putting it all back together. If it is just a stain you might try a Scout brand hat spot cleaner. If you tear the hat down you will need a block and a flange to restore the hat to its former glory.
If the spot remover works that leaves you with the brim. This again really requires a proper flange to restore it correctly. If you are willing to play with it perhaps try ironing it flat with a steam iron and press cloth then with some more steam attempt to manipulate it by hand.
Clean the leather with a Lexol cleaner and then a touch of Lexol conditioner if the leather seems dry.
Rmccamey
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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Good definition, Robert. That's how I understand the Lord's hat.
Granville
Familiar Face
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Excellent answer re: Lord's Hat. Certainly in the portrait the hat looks unbound, and my understanding is Homburgs always have bound edges. As for your second answer, you don't see the pinches? The photos are of such widely different tones I'm not sure they're different colors, either (I'm assuming I haven't confused you with my captions - the "clasped hands" shot of Mick refers to the seated photo, and it is Harry Boland with his hands together, wearing the dark homburg, in the standing photo, with Mick between Harry and DeValera). But here's the relevant question given the new information you've provided: would a Lord's Hat have a snap brim, capable of being up or down?
PS: the fedora vs trilby thread is what made me start to think the terms were interchangeable, especially in Britain, with trilby being much more popular a term than fedora.
Thanks again, Belfastboy!
Rmccamey
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While it has a bound brim, this Milano has a more heavily curled brim and side dents (I often refer to this as being "westernized") and reminds me more of a Lord's hat than a Homburg.
Norm DePlume
New in Town
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Hi all, I'm relatively new here, just a couple of posts in the "Hi, I'm new here" thread. I guess my question is whether I did something stupid. I think the answer is no, but some validation would be cool. I was sort of coveting an Open Road, and wasn't finding any used ones in the usual places (being a 7-3/8 sucks sometimes). I saw some very good prices for new ones at Outlandusa.com, but they only have a few sizes left at the bargain price, and naturally my size ain't one of them. Then I considered going the Campdraft route and rolling my own, but I already have a couple of Akubras in my tiny but fast-growing collection and kind of wanted a Stetson for my next lid. Then I saw a really good deal on open crown Premier Stratoliners at Fashionablehats.com, and after watching a couple videos by the Hats and Guitars guy about customizing those with a cattleman's crown, thought maybe that was the way to go. And then before my brain could catch up with my fingers, I had pulled the trigger and ordered one of those Premier Strats in Silverbelly. Did my fingers betray me, or was this a reasonable path (aside from the fact that buying another damn hat was in itself a completely unreasonable thing to do)?