Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Crush Cap as Daily Wear?

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,673
Location
Central Ohio
Here's my favorite cap. I wore it to a local event sometime back.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240517-093850~3.png
    Screenshot_20240517-093850~3.png
    368.5 KB · Views: 46

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
Greek fisherman cap
I like those too. Thanks.
But I want one with a leather visor and more like the captain in King Kong or like Jake's in Tales of the Gold Monkey.
I ordered the Elvis one, in khaki, as it looks pretty much the same as the captain one. I will likely get the olive/brown one from US Wings for colder weather, and remove the insignia etc. Seems like the one Jake wears still has the front bolster-or whatever its called, to keep the front a little up. I may remove that as well.
 

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
FYI, there's already a big thread on Sterkowski caps here that's probably worth a look:

Thanks! I'll check it out.
 

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
Well I ordered two of the Sterkowski crush caps: a fabric one for spring/summer and a wool one for fall/winter.

They are very well made!
I ordered on the generous size, since I'd rather a hat be a little loose instead of even a little tight.
My only wish is that the lining was not sewn to the headband. This prevents inserting a little foam or whatever spacer to help it fit better.

I can either stick some thin leather or fabric to the inside using double sided tape, or make a little cut in the lining to allow insertion of a spacer. This cut can then be either stitched back up or left open, with a little sewn border, to facilitate late adaptations.

However, that has nothing to do with the quality which, again, is excellent.
The stitching is perfect and excellent wool and "canvas" on the hats.
The wool one doesn't crush as much or as easily as the fabric cap: obviously since the wool is denser. But no wig deal. I may store it on a dummy head with some earphones on to maybe give it a memory.

AWESOME!

I REALLY like these hats!!!

If you're thinking about these hats, give them a try. Very good!

Here are a couple of pics I took for the fun of it...

CapTan_BW.jpg
IMG_0087 2.jpg
IMG_0078.jpg

Since it's warmer now, I wore the fabric one out already. If anyone asks, I am the captain of a ship going to warn King Kong of the incoming a-holes.
IMG_0073.jpg
IMG_0079.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0100.jpg
    IMG_0100.jpg
    303.2 KB · Views: 24

The Lost Cowboy

One Too Many
Messages
1,356
Location
Northern Alabama
Well I ordered two of the Sterkowski crush caps: a fabric one for spring/summer and a wool one for fall/winter.

They are very well made!
I ordered on the generous size, since I'd rather a hat be a little loose instead of even a little tight.
My only wish is that the lining was not sewn to the headband. This prevents inserting a little foam or whatever spacer to help it fit better.

I can either stick some thin leather or fabric to the inside using double sided tape, or make a little cut in the lining to allow insertion of a spacer. This cut can then be either stitched back up or left open, with a little sewn border, to facilitate late adaptations.

However, that has nothing to do with the quality which, again, is excellent.
The stitching is perfect and excellent wool and "canvas" on the hats.
The wool one doesn't crush as much or as easily as the fabric cap: obviously since the wool is denser. But no wig deal. I may store it on a dummy head with some earphones on to maybe give it a memory.

AWESOME!

I REALLY like these hats!!!

If you're thinking about these hats, give them a try. Very good!

Here are a couple of pics I took for the fun of it...

View attachment 616719 View attachment 616720 View attachment 616721
Since it's warmer now, I wore the fabric one out already. If anyone asks, I am the captain of a ship going to warn King Kong of the incoming a-holes.
View attachment 616723 View attachment 616724
Fantastic photos and thanks for the write-up. I can''t believe they sew the liner to the sweatband - thanks for the warning!

I ended up purchasing a very new but used Stetson newsboy in silk off eBay. It should be a $90 hat and I got it for $30 all in. An excellent addition to my summer collection, as I hope yours is for you.

So you know the way to Kong Island?
 
Messages
11,930
Location
Southern California
Thanks.
Says they're made in Poland. They seem to be good quality.
I will post a review when I get it.
I have a few of Sterkowski's flat caps (i.e., "Ivy" and "Newsboy" caps), and I like them. The lighter weight "linen" cap I have is a bit too light for my tastes--it doesn't quite want to stay put when I wear it, and shifts position regularly--but the others are excellent value for the price. I don't have a "crusher" cap yet, but I'm now considering it.
 

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
Fantastic photos and thanks for the write-up. I can''t believe they sew the liner to the sweatband - thanks for the warning!

I ended up purchasing a very new but used Stetson newsboy in silk off eBay. It should be a $90 hat and I got it for $30 all in. An excellent addition to my summer collection, as I hope yours is for you.

So you know the way to Kong Island?
Thank you!

Yeah I am going to message them about the liner/hatband sewing. Also, it would be nice to have a fabric/tan version with a light brown bill.
But the hats really are good quality.
 

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
I have a few of Sterkowski's flat caps (i.e., "Ivy" and "Newsboy" caps), and I like them. The lighter weight "linen" cap I have is a bit too light for my tastes--it doesn't quite want to stay put when I wear it, and shifts position regularly--but the others are excellent value for the price. I don't have a "crusher" cap yet, but I'm now considering it.
They are really nice crusher caps. The bill seems a bit shorter than the military ones, but that's fine. They have, for me, sort of that captain from the 1930's steamship vibe.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,855
Location
London, UK
As far as Kong Island, for the safety of all, I plead the fifth!!!
View attachment 616782
View attachment 616757

These look great. Plenty of body in the crown to get that pre-war oomph, so often missing in modern caps.


They are really nice crusher caps. The bill seems a bit shorter than the military ones, but that's fine. They have, for me, sort of that captain from the 1930's steamship vibe.

Slightly so, yes. The ones based on a fisherman style and the motorcycle style ones, the originals did have a smaller bill than milspec too. I wonder if they evolved that way because the larger bill could be more easily cught by the wind (off the sea, or the rush of air oveer a speeding bike) and whip it of, never to be seen again?
 

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
These look great. Plenty of body in the crown to get that pre-war oomph, so often missing in modern caps.




Slightly so, yes. The ones based on a fisherman style and the motorcycle style ones, the originals did have a smaller bill than milspec too. I wonder if they evolved that way because the larger bill could be more easily cught by the wind (off the sea, or the rush of air oveer a speeding bike) and whip it of, never to be seen again?
Makes sense about the wind. Could also be the military wanted a certain look/design.
Whatever the reason was, they both look good to me.
 

The Lost Cowboy

One Too Many
Messages
1,356
Location
Northern Alabama
So this is the Sterkowski model that I’ve been eyeing - this is the “Vigo” in linen. There were only two left in stock at Amazon when I looked this morning so I finally pulled the trigger. Supposed to deliver on Wednesday.

I anticipate having to stitch the crown to the brim.

IMG_2010.jpeg
IMG_2011.jpeg
 

Joe45

New in Town
Messages
29
So this is the Sterkowski model that I’ve been eyeing - this is the “Vigo” in linen. There were only two left in stock at Amazon when I looked this morning so I finally pulled the trigger. Supposed to deliver on Wednesday.

I anticipate having to stitch the crown to the brim.

View attachment 616877 View attachment 616878
Nice looking newsboy! I have a "newsboy" or golf hat (?) with the more modern shape, and a newsboy with the more substantial top, like the one above I prefer the older look like above!
 

The Lost Cowboy

One Too Many
Messages
1,356
Location
Northern Alabama
Nice looking newsboy! I have a "newsboy" or golf hat (?) with the more modern shape, and a newsboy with the more substantial top, like the one above I prefer the older look like above!

Yes, I want the more substantial top as well - I’m just concerned that it will be super floppy. I’ll report back though - it certainly looks like the style I want.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,855
Location
London, UK
Yes, I want the more substantial top as well - I’m just concerned that it will be super floppy. I’ll report back though - it certainly looks like the style I want.
Worth giving it a go to let it settle first. I have a couple of caps like that where the crown sits remarkably well pulled down in front like a regular eight panel. Not stitched down gives it the option of a look a bit more like the crusher / Brando type caps as well. I like the flexibility. One option might be to install a stud fastener instead of sewing the crown to the brim, that way you can keep it tacked down if you prefer, but the option to wear it otherwise remains available.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,582
Messages
3,041,134
Members
52,951
Latest member
zibounou
Top