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[jlee562]

 

[JakeHacker]

As I say Wikipedia is a great starting point. One disappointing thing I find about fedoras particularly is there is a play the hat was named after. They start showing up in catalogs and fashion shortly afterwards. But there is more of a organic popularity of the hat then a solid start date like the Bowler. A lot of stuff I have read is more modern opinion than anything else. Simply put everyone wore a hat outside the house. It was roughly the 20’s when bowlers/homburgs started to disappear from the “every day man hat” and was replaced with the fedora. It’s easier to look up fedora “models” like the Stetson Whippet or Stetson Playboy than the general term Fedora.

Johnny

Speaking as a beginner hat person however with a strong tendency toward research; I have found the word "fedora" to have an almost universal application in the common parlance, frequently used as being synonymous with "hat" in general, even on sites I thought would know better. I suppose the nuances of hat anatomy and structure as well as etiquette may be beyond the pale in society at large.
I would think that, as you say, the more organic placement of the acceptance/popularity historically alongside it's modern resurgence would provide a rather considerable body of background material within flexible enough frameworks to be adaptable to almost any interpretation.
Thanks again for the tip and reminder about wikipedia. I have not looked there yet, however I will soon.

 

[JakeHacker]

....well, have you dug around this site yet?

Since the answer is essentially the same, I'm quoting myself.

Yes, I have been taking a glance around, however not in any organized manner.
Many of the lists of links do not seem to work for me. I always get some kind of error code, not certain why, perhaps a problem with the settings on my new phone which is rapidly becoming my go-to browsing device.
Thanks for asking, I will continue to investigate here.

 

[belfastboy]

Yes, I have been taking a glance around, however not in any organized manner.
Many of the lists of links do not seem to work for me. I always get some kind of error code, not certain why, perhaps a problem with the settings on my new phone which is rapidly becoming my go-to browsing device.
Thanks for asking, I will continue to investigate here.

Persevere....there is no better "one stop" place the the Lounge. It is by far the best, most thorough repository of hat knowledge that I have found>

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yes, I have been taking a glance around, however not in any organized manner.
Many of the lists of links do not seem to work for me. I always get some kind of error code, not certain why, perhaps a problem with the settings on my new phone which is rapidly becoming my go-to browsing device.
Thanks for asking, I will continue to investigate here.

There are two issues (at least) here: based on how photos were included in the past, and even recently in more limited cases, many of the photos are no longer visible. Second, the Fedora Lounge recently went through a big upgrade and not all the links work now. The threads are still there, but the links don’t work. If you find a tread that you’re interested in, type it’s name into a Google search followed by “the fedora lounge” and you’ll get there. You have to work for some of the information, but it’s worth it and we can’t complain about the price!

 

[JakeHacker]

There are two issues (at least) here: based on how photos were included in the past, and even recently in more limited cases, many of the photos are no longer visible. Second, the Fedora Lounge recently went through a big upgrade and not all the links work now. The threads are still there, but the links don’t work. If you find a tread that you’re interested in, type it’s name into a Google search followed by “the fedora lounge” and you’ll get there. You have to work for some of the information, but it’s worth it and we can’t complain about the price!

Thank you for the search work-around option. I am used to working for information however I do like to actually get there, your suggested approach seems to do the trick.

 

[Steve1857]

If only they'd called them swamp beavers instead of swamp rats, Elaine would have been on safe ground

 

[Reblevi]

Hi All,
New to the forum.
Was wondering if anyone knows if or what starch one can use to clean a fur felt Fedora?
Thanks!
Levi

 

[belfastboy]

Hi All,
New to the forum.
Was wondering if anyone knows if or what starch one can use to clean a fur felt Fedora?
Thanks!
Levi

Can you be more specific? Do you want an overall cleaning or is it spot removal. What are the nature of the dirt or stains?

 

[Reblevi]

Can you be more specific? Do you want an overall cleaning or is it spot removal. What are the nature of the dirt or stains?

 

[Reblevi]

I sell fedora hats and I also offer reshaping and cleaning, mostly fur felt, and I have ways to clean them, though I saw mixed opinions on using starch.

Also, many hats come with old stains. I can't usually get them off, they are deep in the felt. So more for spot I guess.

Thank you .

 

[belfastboy]

I sell fedora hats and I also offer reshaping and cleaning, mostly fur felt, and I have ways to clean them, though I saw mixed opinions on using starch.

Also, many hats come with old stains. I can't usually get them off, they are deep in the felt. So more for spot I guess.

Thank you .

Have you tried Naptha bathing them? I too refurbish vintage hats. My first line is to deconstruct them taking them back to just felt. I use a warm water bath Using Orvis paste, an effective but gentle fibre detergent. If the staining is bad I will give the felt a full bath in naptha....soaking them for an extended period and using a gentle plastic bristled brush for the stubborn stains. Google - "Fedora Lounge, naptha bath" as there is an extensive thread on this. I have never success using baking soda, corn startch or such to remove stains. Usually the hats I get as vintage have either extensive shelf dust or overall dirt and need a good clean to bring back the lustre to the felt. I will then 'lure' the felt to bring out the lustre to the felt as a last step.

 

[Reblevi]

Wow. That's interesting. I'll go check out the thread. Appreciate your detailed response!

 

[belfastboy]

Wow. That's interesting. I'll go check out the thread. Appreciate your detailed response!

Always use the Google search as it works so much better than the search engine attached to the Lounge. Google and the topic searched should lead you to the links.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I saw mixed opinions on using starch.

Corn starch & corn meal are pretty good on oily wet & greasy spots on felt. It's the same principal as oilsorb or kitty litter on your garage floor. Cover the spot & leave it for a couple days. Then vacuum & brush out any dust left over.

 

[Nate98]

Can anyone identify or provide more info on this hat? All I know is Royal Deluxe, which is more about the material used than the hat style, correct? And a guess is that it is from the 50's. I found it for sale online, but that is all of the info the seller knows. Thanks.

 

[belfastboy]

Can anyone identify or provide more info on this hat? All I know is Royal Deluxe, which is more about the material used than the hat style, correct? And a guess is that it is from the 50's. I found it for sale online, but that is all of the info the seller knows. Thanks.


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If you use Google, search "The Fedora Lounge, dating Stetson hats. It will lead you to a huge pool of information on age dating your hat. Luckily you8 have the size sticker under the little bow and that will get you close. Style wise it looks more 1960's vintage.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Can anyone identify or provide more info on this hat? All I know is Royal Deluxe, which is more about the material used than the hat style, correct? And a guess is that it is from the 50's. I found it for sale online, but that is all of the info the seller knows. Thanks.


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I’d say mid-1960s or even ‘70s, but my money is on the mid to late 1960s. It’s a stingy brim fedora, but there isn’t a way to determine the actual model name that I can see. This is very common as most vintage hats did not have their model names printed anywhere on the hat. Nothing “wrong” with the hat if you like the style and hats with small proportions. This hat is from a time when Stetson, like most US hat companies, was at the top of their game but all that matters is if you like it.

 

[Nate98]

Thanks for the Google lookup info. By the shape of the square size tag and only in US size ( 7 3/8 but not 59), I think deadlyhandsome is right with the mid-60s to 70s. I'll know more soon when it arrives in the mail.

 

[Michael Smith]

Hello, all! I am brand-new here, and am seeking any info, opinion, etc. about a hat I just purchased. It is a cobalt blue fedora, from a company called "Michael Zechbauer", distributed by Mayser. Does anyone have any experience with this company? It seems to me to be a gorgeous hat, but the brand is new to me. Thoughts, opinions?