Looking for a Hat

[RickP]

I have a Stetson Gambler hat now (see pic below), and I like the top part of the hat.

But, I'd like to find a hat where the top part is the same (Gambler style) but the bill is flat.

I've seen movies where actors where wearing hats with a gambler style top and flat bill but I'm not able to find anyplace online to buy one and I've looked thru websites of numerous vendors.

If anybody knows where I can find a hat like that, please let me know. Thanks!


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Check out Miller Hats in Houston... Ill bet they have a model like that

 

[The Lost kansan]

Ive done a couple straw brim rolls WITHOUT dissassembly ( dont have to remove the leather sweat) Get yourself a wooden curling tool on ebay or etsy. There are a handfull of craftsmen in eastern europe that make these for about $125-140. Get the one with two diffferent sized curl slots. What I found works best is to soak the brim in a couple inches of warm water until its saturated. work the curl into the brim gently in 3 or 4 steps.. DONT TRY TO WORK THE TOOL IN ONE STEP, OR YOU WILL tear the straw fabric. I start with the bigger curve about halfway through until youve got a gentle curve all around and then resoak the brim and move to the smaller slot on the tool ( unless you have a 5" brim and want an inch and a half curl) I made a little curved backing block that matches the curl you want.

Prob the most important tool is an old Tower Hobbies tacking iron ( it was sold for securing monocote wing cover fabric to the wing structure of an R/C model airplane. Dad gave me this one so I wouldnt melt plastics with his ( 10 yr old me made a mess in 1960) Put the backing form in the back, cover with a press cloth and ROLL the little iron over the straw a few inches at a time. Do NOT rub it back and forth. Using this iron prevents steaming your fingers with a regular steam iron ( 2nd degree steam burns should NOT be part of this process). Note the silicone oven mitt... USE IT

Particlarly with Straw, you may have to let the hat tell you if it will let you actually do a particular curl. Most straws will take a 1/2 or 3/4 curl with too much grief. A full closed curl mat not work with your straw.

FYI... also check whether the brim has a reinforcing wire on the edge. If so steam until you can seperate the straw layers and remove the wire. reglue the edges back down. Absolute worst case scenerio, you may want to sew some matching grosgrain ribbon on the edge of the brim View attachment 702656 View attachment 702655 View attachment 702654 View attachment 702653

Fantastic resources, thank you for sharing!