What To Do With An Unblocked Vintage Panama?

[Warbaby]

I'm new to the lounge - I've been lurking in the shadows for awhile, but now it's time to step up to the bar.

A few years ago I acquired a vintage Panama that was still in its original wood packing tube, complete with instruction leaflet. I'm guessing it's from the 20s, but it could be earlier. I've often thought of having it blocked, but it's so nifty that I can't bring myself to do anything to it. I wonder if it might be of more interest/value historically if I leave it in its original state. The packing tube is made of some sort of large, hollowed-out reed. The hat appears to be pretty good quality (about 25 strands per inch). I have another Panama that I wear, so I don't absolutely *need* to have it blocked if it's a rarity that shouldn't be messed with. Any thoughts or advice?

Note that Sr. Gordils also sold shrunken heads...

 

[deanglen]

Welcome to the Lounge, Warbaby. Great to have you inside! Find a comfortable chair and enjoy the atmosphere. Oh, and check out this thread about Marc's 1920's panama rehabilitation, might be helpful to you:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=22090

dean

 

[duggap]

That is a sticky one. The brim has not been finished so that means it would need to be sent back to Equador to be backwoven. Otherwise it would have to be stitched which is not the preferred method for a good panama. After you get it backwoven, it can be blocked by some of our members like Art or Optimo Hats. Panama Bob could get it backwoven for you but I don't know what it would cost, but my guess is that the shipping down and back would be the most expensive. Good luck.

 

[scotrace]

Welcome to active posting!

Personally, I would leave it alone. How often do you see something like that? And as you know, you can pick up a 25 wpsi Panama for pocket change.

 

[RBH]

Welcome to the Lounge Warbaby! GGlad to have you here.
I am with Scot, what you have is vintage, holler at PanamaBob, he can set you up with a fine hat and you will still have a show piece to amaze everyone.

 

[Kevin Popejoy]

Welcome to active posting!

Personally, I would leave it alone. How often do you see something like that? And as you know, you can pick up a 25 wpsi Panama for pocket change.

I wonder if he is saying weaves per linear inch or weaves per square inch? Big difference.

Kevin

 

[AlanC]

^Yes, it looks much finer than 25 wpsi. I'd say per linear inch is closer to right.

Considering the trouble in having it backwoven, it would probably be as cheap to just buy a new one at that weave count and hold on to that as a show piece. If it was a super high weave count hat I'd probably suggest blocking it.

 

[feltfan]

Note that Sr. Gordils also sold shrunken heads...

Man, that would be a useful service around here.
Too many of us have big heads which makes it difficult to
find vintage lids that fit.

If you are concerned about the unfinished edge, you
can always have a hatter put a binding on the edge.
I know Art Fawcett has done that for someone here.

But I have to agree it's a bit of a museum piece.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Welcome to the Lounge Warbaby...please...don't touch it!!! What you have right now is of more interest and historical value than if you had a hat made from it. Panama's are easy to get thanks to PanamaBob, but this is "something different".

 

[Warbaby]

Incorrect Weave Count

Oops - I should have described it as 625 wpsi - I was measuring linear weave count.

 

[Panamabob]

I would have said it would be 550-625 wpsi, but then you'd already said that!

 

[cookie]

I'm new to the lounge - I've been lurking in the shadows for awhile, but now it's time to step up to the bar.

A few years ago I acquired a vintage Panama that was still in its original wood packing tube, complete with instruction leaflet. I'm guessing it's from the 20s, but it could be earlier. I've often thought of having it blocked, but it's so nifty that I can't bring myself to do anything to it. I wonder if it might be of more interest/value historically if I leave it in its original state. The packing tube is made of some sort of large, hollowed-out reed. The hat appears to be pretty good quality (about 25 strands per inch). I have another Panama that I wear, so I don't absolutely *need* to have it blocked if it's a rarity that shouldn't be messed with. Any thoughts or advice?

Note that Sr. Gordils also sold shrunken heads...

Better not tell Panama Bob ...it says they were from Ecuador . On a sensible note after Art's 1920 rehab and block for Marc that is the way to go methinks....but then Art says NO!

 

[Panamabob]

Better not tell Panama Bob ...it says they were from Ecuador .

??????

 

[scotrace]

Pssst.... Cookie - Panama hats come from Ecuador (mainly).

 

[Warbaby]

Thanks for the comments! I thought about it some more and realized that if I couldn't bring myself to do anything with the hat in the time I've had it, I prolly never will (particularly after I counted back and realized that it's been more than a *few* years since I got the hat - 1983, I think). Since I'm more into wearing vintage than pure collecting, I'd rather see it in the hands of someone who's a more serious collector than I am. I have no idea what it's worth. I acquired it along with two others from the same era in a trade deal with an antique dealer friend and don't remember what was traded other than I got a bunch of his stuff and he got a bunch of my stuff.

Since I'm relatively new to the lounge, I'm not sure of the protocol regarding offering something for sale or trade - should I ask for offers here or offlist or post it in the Fedora Lounge classifieds? I'd rather keep it in the family and not list it on eBay (unless no one here wants it).

BTW - One of the other hats that came in the trade had a finished edge and I had it blocked a few years later at Paul's Hats in Boston. The third Panama got sold or traded somewhere along the way. The one I kept is really sweet - about 1000 wpsi - though a few of the weaves cracked at the front crease and were nicely repaired with Japanese paper on the inside. I'll post a photo if anyone wants to see it.

 

[carter]

Originally posted by Scotrace
Pssst.... Cookie - Panama hats come from Ecuador (mainly).

True.

However the leaflet with the hat in question gives the address as 'No. 41 Central Avenue, Panama, R.P.'.

Perhaps this would help in dating the hat.

 

[cookie]

Hey Smart Guy

Pssst.... Cookie - Panama hats come from Ecuador (mainly).

The ad says the ztantzanas shrunken heads were from Ecuador amigo ...now that got me thinking ....mmmm....does Bob do a hat to match?....:eusa_doh: :eusa_doh: lol lol

 

[Panamabob]

Regardless of what the pamphlet says, these hats are not woven as finely anywhere outside of a few communities in coastal Ecuador.

They now make Tsantsas out of goat hide. Pretty cool! Eerie, too.