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[jeffgarf]

question: has anyone here ever taken the brim binding off their hat? how did it end up looking? tia

Without removing the part of the brim where the binding was, it was noticable for both the stitches and the coloring.

 

[ShadowXY]

HAT BRUSH???
Scoured FL but came up empty. I have all sorts of brushes some horse hair some a soft boar but I want to get the best type of brush to brush the hats. I think they even recommend black bristle for dark felts & natural for light.

I've seen some use those paint brush type horse hair & others just a small horse hair like shoe brush.

I'd like some advice on what brush & bristle would be best? Thanks

 

[jlee562]

HAT BRUSH???
Scoured FL but came up empty. I have all sorts of brushes some horse hair some a soft boar but I want to get the best type of brush to brush the hats. I think they even recommend black bristle for dark felts & natural for light.

I've seen some use those paint brush type horse hair & others just a small horse hair like shoe brush.

I'd like some advice on what brush & bristle would be best? Thanks

As far as color is concerned, there's nothing special about the bristles. It's more about not cross mixing light fibers onto dark hats and vice versa.

 

[Frunobulax]

HAT BRUSH???
Scoured FL but came up empty. I have all sorts of brushes some horse hair some a soft boar but I want to get the best type of brush to brush the hats. I think they even recommend black bristle for dark felts & natural for light.

I've seen some use those paint brush type horse hair & others just a small horse hair like shoe brush.

I'd like some advice on what brush & bristle would be best? Thanks

These are the most common. Available at most hat shops.

https://www.hatmanjacks.com/product...BWcKzpjWrul3dvHywcjWi82QZ4W4HsrhxZxGZRv7eMJXX

 

[shopkin]

I like the rectangular one with stiff bristles on one side and soft bristles on the other side.... Was going to post a link but do not see them listed now.

 

[ShadowXY]

As far as color is concerned, there's nothing special about the bristles. It's more about not cross mixing light fibers onto dark hats and vice versa.

I suppose I was more concerned if the dark bristles had some dye that might rub off on a light hat. I think some white bristle may even be bleached which could affect/ break down the hair.

 

[ShadowXY]

Thanks, I was looking at the paint brush type as I don't have really long bristle brushes but I imagine a brush with 1 - 1/2 inch in bristles would put more pressure. Not sure if a brush is just to knock off dust or smooth & align fibers.

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks, I was looking at the paint brush type as I don't have really long bristle brushes but I imagine a brush with 1 - 1/2 inch in bristles would put more pressure. Not sure if a brush is just to knock off dust or smooth & align fibers.

Both. The type I posted are shaped to allow for brushing the brim.

 

[RickP]

Liner questions for those that might know.......

One.....On older Stetsons, will a picture of the reorder tag inside and the Size tag lead me to a proper vintage liner style?
Two...Big question of the day does anyone have a box of 1940s-1950s Royal and Royal Deluxe liners languishing away in their closet that they might be willing to part with? Ive got a couple that were missing liners and they just dont look right with shiny new satin ( these will be for MY hays that will ride on MY head.... not for flipping) Sneak me a PM it can be our little secret and I promise I wont tell anyone where I got them lol

Three.. Ive got a really nice 1Q that has no liner and no tag inside the top ( I dont see any residue from a label so I assume it once had a liner.) Any 1Q knowledge to enlighten me?

 

[blewnote]

Liner questions for those that might know.......

One.....On older Stetsons, will a picture of the reorder tag inside and the Size tag lead me to a proper vintage liner style?
Two...Big question of the day does anyone have a box of 1940s-1950s Royal and Royal Deluxe liners languishing away in their closet that they might be willing to part with? Ive got a couple that were missing liners and they just dont look right with shiny new satin ( these will be for MY hays that will ride on MY head.... not for flipping) Sneak me a PM it can be our little secret and I promise I wont tell anyone where I got them lol

Three.. Ive got a really nice 1Q that has no liner and no tag inside the top ( I dont see any residue from a label so I assume it once had a liner.) Any 1Q knowledge to enlighten me?

I'm with you on wanting a correct liner to throw in, but I do have to say that the ones you hipped me to are great. I put a cream or maybe bronze one in my Stetson Royal DeLuxe Open Road and the color is off white enough to look like a liner that's turned golden with age. I was very impressed with how nice it looks and feels.

 

[RickP]

I'm with you on wanting a correct liner to throw in, but I do have to say that the ones you hipped me to are great. I put a cream or maybe bronze one in my Stetson Royal DeLuxe Open Road and the color is off white enough to look like a liner that's turned golden with age. I was very impressed with how nice it looks and feels.

I really like the bronzish ones Ive been keeping on hand too. Ive just about used up all the white satin ones up. they can be loud in a darker hat lol

 

[The Spaniard]

I bought a cap from Sterkowsky some days ago and when I took it from the box, I noticed some strange, like the frontal sewing was not centered on the brim. After putting more attention, my impression was the three sewing was placed like the brim is rotated relative to the crown. In fact, I had the same feeling looking at the elastic band: it is not in the center.

After it, I tried on the cap and I saw the front panel sewing was rotated toward the left side.

After that, trying to understand what is wrong, I measured the distance from the brim end to the next panel union. The result was 2 cm on the right side and 3 cm on the left side. This means, if all the panels are equal, that the front sewing must not be centered on the brim. It is the same that I observed after trying on the cap.

Is it acceptable?
I am waiting for a reply from them since Friday, and I would like to know the opinion of people with experience on it.

Edit: Sterkowsky already replied me. They offered me a refund or a exchange. I will update.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Question for all of you with more hat knowledge than myself (which is just about any and everyone). I’m considering buying a vintage hat, however it is a 7 1/8, and I wear a 7 1/4. Is this even worth the trouble? The hat is a gorgeous homburg ‍

 

[blewnote]

Question for all of you with more hat knowledge than myself (which is just about any and everyone). I’m considering buying a vintage hat, however it is a 7 1/8, and I wear a 7 1/4. Is this even worth the trouble? The hat is a gorgeous homburg ‍

It really depends.

I'm sorta between a 7 1/8 and 7 1/4 (around 22 1/2") but mostly look for 7 1/4 hats.

How a hat fits will depend on a lot of things though. Different manufacturers used slightly different sizing so hats in the same size from different brands may fit loose or tight. Then there's the issue of buying something that's vintage... As a general rule, over time the leather sweatband has a tendency to shrink. How much or if at all really depends on the hat, how it was taken care of, and how it was stored.

That said, I've bought a couple 7 1/8 hats that fit me out of the box and are great. I've bought 7 1/4 hats that are too small. And I've bought 7 1/4 hats that are too big. I've also bought a few 7 1/8 hats that I've been able to stretch (slowly and gently) to fit me, although sometimes that can cause the brim to have some strange swoops to it and requires working on that to get it to look right. And I've also tried to gently stretch some 7 1/8 hats and had them just not quite feel right and I think I'll have to sell them on.

There are folks here that have been around much longer than I and have much more skill with working on their hats that seem to be able to consistently stretch up a size with ease and sometimes even 2.


So I guess it just depends. You may get lucky, or you may not.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

It really depends.

I'm sorta between a 7 1/8 and 7 1/4 (around 22 1/2") but mostly look for 7 1/4 hats.

How a hat fits will depend on a lot of things though. Different manufacturers used slightly different sizing so hats in the same size from different brands may fit loose or tight. Then there's the issue of buying something that's vintage... As a general rule, over time the leather sweatband has a tendency to shrink. How much or if at all really depends on the hat, how it was taken care of, and how it was stored.

That said, I've bought a couple 7 1/8 hats that fit me out of the box and are great. I've bought 7 1/4 hats that are too small. And I've bought 7 1/4 hats that are too big. I've also bought a few 7 1/8 hats that I've been able to stretch (slowly and gently) to fit me, although sometimes that can cause the brim to have some strange swoops to it and requires working on that to get it to look right. And I've also tried to gently stretch some 7 1/8 hats and had them just not quite feel right and I think I'll have to sell them on.

There are folks here that have been around much longer than I and have much more skill with working on their hats that seem to be able to consistently stretch up a size with ease and sometimes even 2.


So I guess it just depends. You may get lucky, or you may not.

Thanks, I’m kind of in the same boat as you. I’m between a 7 1/8 and a 7 1/4, but definitely more towards a LO than a RO. I think I’m going to pass on the hat I was eyeing. Appreciate the candid response.

 

[blewnote]

Thanks, I’m kind of in the same boat as you. I’m between a 7 1/8 and a 7 1/4, but definitely more towards a LO than a RO. I think I’m going to pass on the hat I was eyeing. Appreciate the candid response.

I think I may be more of a LO too, although perhaps also in between that and a regular oval (I think Mike Miller said I wasn't when I asked him in the process of getting a custom hat made and I figure he knows what he's talking about).

For what it's worth, when you stretch a regular hat with a 2 way hat stretcher you end up with more of a long oval shape. If you use a 4 way hat stretcher it stays more like the original shape, just bigger.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Yeah, I saw that on a video which is what made me buy a vintage 2 way stretcher. Currently waiting on 2 hats from Mike, can’t wait!

 

[belfastboy]

Without removing the part of the brim where the binding was, it was noticable for both the stitches and the coloring.

The stitch holes can usually be closed enough so they are not noticeable by giving it a good ironing with lots of steam Biggest risk is the difference in color as felt is often sun bleached, It is often a different colour under the binding and under the crown ribbon.

 

[Judgmentalist]

The sticker in the crown of this Biltmore Milan has come partly unstuck. Any suggestions as to what to use to re-stick it?

 

[Frunobulax]

The sticker in the crown of this Biltmore Milan has come partly unstuck. Any suggestions as to what to use to re-stick it?
View attachment 804179

Try a fabric glue.

Or duct tape. Yeah, that's it, duct tape.