resizing vintage

[mayserwegener]

Since I can't find a face palm smiley...

:eusa_doh:

+1

 

[fedoracentric]

LOL. I guess it is better to laugh, isn't it?:eusa_clap
It's all good.

 

[Golden]

Thank you for the discussion gentleman.
Very interesting and some points I have not considered.

I love most things vintage, furniture, cars, clothes and more recently hats.
I really just want to have some to wear.
It is somewhat maddening seeing so many beautiful hats for sale out there that wont fit my watermelon head.

My father has told me the story of how my grandfather used a steam kettle and an old cooking pot to upsize all of his hats
to fit on the cursed family "Big-Head".

I do believe in preserving not destroying, but I also believe in honoring vintage items through using them..
I'm not really one to buy something and not use it.
I buy vintage for the quality, look and feel...

at any rate
maybe I will find a nice 7 3/8 and try to have someone upsize it without changing anything.

Now the question becomes, who is reputable in that regard?



Thank you for the opinions fellas!

-j

 

[John Galt]

I am happy to do the work. Please PM.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

The notable exceptions are conversions of westerns and homburgs, but most of the western conversions (even the stagecoach conversions that Joao deplores) are usually not done to particularly historic or rare hats, and how many homburgs do most of us really want or need? (No offense fellas - I have several myself, but really ;-).

I deplore any western conversions, not only Stagecoach's. I do know Stagecoach's have a really nice felt (own 4 and waiting for... 2 or 3 more) so I understand anyone wanting to trim the brim to make a fedora, but...
Now about rare... someone speculated that most Stetson 100 westerns have been trimmed to make fedoras because they are more value... true is that I think I still have to see a picture of one... all I have seen are fedoras.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I do believe in preserving not destroying, but I also believe in honoring vintage items through using them..
I'm not really one to buy something and not use it.
I buy vintage for the quality, look and feel...

at any rate
maybe I will find a nice 7 3/8 and try to have someone upsize it without changing anything.

I would say keep searching and don't give up. Most Tom Mix Stetsons I seen are small size. From time to time, one of my size emerges but beyond my budget. One time there will be one for me. Also a Stetson 100 with more than 3.5" brim will appear. I just have to keep searching.

 

[John Galt]

I like the felt on Stagecoaches and like Stagecoaches generally (to wear or convert on request), but personally prefer a couple of other generally lesser known Resistol models that I will not name here for quality of felt.

Joao, your dark brown Stagecoach (on which I just finished putting a new ribbon & bow) has particularly nice felt. I believe it may have been lured at some point in its' history because it has a slightly oilier texture, more even color (after a good brushing), and heavier weight in the hand than I had expected. This last may be due to a lot of brim, but whatever the reason, I think yours has the best quality felt I've personally seen on a Stagecoach.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I'll try to compare with my other Stagecoaches (I too like to wear them).
You did a really nice job, can't wait to have it in my hand (and head).

 

[TheDane]

can't wait to have it in my hand (and head).

Quite a mouthful! Can't wait to see, what the brim will do to your cheeks

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Ole, it will make a nice shade