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[Mobile Vulgus]

Just not sure it'd look beautiful on my head.

Oh, yeah. I've bought half a dozen fedoras that I thought looked great... until I plopped them on my head. Then my little smiley face was turned upside down!
LOL

 

[scottyrocks]

Pardon me if Ive said this here, but buying hats through the mail is a very iffy proposition.

Before I got my hat block, I have been dissatisfied more often than not with what Ive bought through the mail, whether through a reputable company, or ebay. Thats why I dont, if ever, buy online anymore, unless that hat looks like it has enough material to fit over my block.

 

[DragonJade]

I took a risk buying my first hat over the internet, the Fed IV. I was extremely trepidatious about getting the right one (hat size, brim, crown, etc.) , but it worked out great, thankfully. I'm extremely happy with it and it's often made me wished I had two more hats; one in a very dark/granite colour, and a brown one, to match better what I was wearing. Unfortunately, there aren't too many hat shops with much variety near me.

 

[DragonJade]

Discolouration - does this hat just need a brushing?

 

[fmw]

Pardon me if Ive said this here, but buying hats through the mail is a very iffy proposition.

Before I got my hat block, I have been dissatisfied more often than not with what Ive bought through the mail, whether through a reputable company, or ebay. Thats why I dont, if ever, buy online anymore, unless that hat looks like it has enough material to fit over my block.

Apparently you don't live 120 miles from the nearests hatter like me.

 

[danofarlington]

I took a risk buying my first hat over the internet, the Fed IV.

It's all a risk by Internet, that's true. But to get the vast selection available there, I've learned to live with it. It is true that very often the hat looks different than what you thought, and looks different on me than what I imagined. But when I buy it's the result of very pedantic Internet shopping, and even if it isn't exactly what I thought, I know it was the best I could do via long distance. Then I live with it, and I find it expands my concept of what I wanted in the first place. Sometimes I think that if I am only locked into what my preconceived notion was, I would have a lesser collection of hats than I do. It is also true that the ideal is to go into the hat store and find out right there what you like, and might like, and so on. But I take the risk of Internet shopping for the selection available.

 

[scottyrocks]

Apparently you don't live 120 miles from the nearests hatter like me.

No, I live 30 miles outside of NYC where there are at least a couple of good, reputable hatters.

However, I like to do things myself, so, over time I tend to acquire things needed to do repairs, as I had done first with bicycles, then cars, motorcycles, houses, african drums, and now hats.

Of course, if hats were more mainstream, thered be more hatters, both local and on the interwebs. But until that happens, I will continue to be as discerning as I can. Also, luckily for me, I dont have that burning desire to amass a huge collection of anything. I have what I have and am generally satisfied with it.

 

[Neophyte]

Apparently you don't live 120 miles from the nearests hatter like me.

230 miles for me, and that's all in-state!

 

[Undertow]

Discolouration - does this hat just need a brushing?

Although I can't see the picture (work computer here), I would recommend brushing a hat before cleaning. Felt sucks up dust and fabric from the air like a little sponge (along with moisture, too!). If you already own a hat and you're trying to even out the color, give it a good brushing. There are some FAQs on routine hat care by Mr. Deckard and I believe they're still on the front page stickies.

On the other hand, if it's drastically uneven, you could either be dealing with a "dusting" issue, where the manufacturer used a colored powder to even the color of the finished product (and the powder has since fallen off), or you may need to give it a good naptha bath to remove soiling. In either case, the casual hat wearer may want to consider contacting a local hat dealer for a nice cleaning and reblocking.

 

[Jedwbpm]

230 miles for me, and that's all in-state!

FIVE miles for me

Jeff

 

[scottyrocks]

Bows in back were more common a long time ago. Someone posted a film here a while back from the 1920s, teens maybe? where just about all the mens hats had back bows. I also think the film was from Europe, maybe Italy. If someone remembers this better than I do, please clarify.

My 'house' hat, a Dobbs, came with a back bow. When I bought it (off the bay) I didnt know it had a back bow - the pictures didnt make it obvious, and I didnt know any better to ask. I removed the entire ribbon and remounted it with a standard left side bow. I have since replaced that ribbon and bow completely with a left side flying V (double bow on the rear side).

My newest porker has a back bow which I am going to leave there.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

I thought I remembered that rlk said that back bows became popular for a short time in the 1950s, too. I could be wrong.

 

[rlk]

I thought I remembered that rlk said that back bows became popular for a short time in the 1950s, too. I could be wrong.

You are correct--not so short. Mid-50's through the end of the decade. Plenty of stingy flat-top and pork-pie back-bows. I've certainly seen examples from each of the first 6 decades of the 20th Century.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

I thought I remembered that. Thanks, rlk. That is one style I still don't have represented in my small collection. I'll get one eventually.

 

[scottyrocks]

Okay, I musta missed that. Ive so rarely seen them anywhere.

 

[rlk]

Later generation Back-bows

A few I could grab quickly

Dobbs, Portis, Disney

 

[alanfgag]

The simple back bow influenced me to bid on this French hat.

 

[rlk]

The simple back bow influenced me to bid on this French hat.

I think yours was a flat-top(or really shallow pp). These Alonge hats seem to be US made with a fancy name.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...ts-and-makers.&p=921309&viewfull=1#post921309
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...ts-and-makers.&p=921238&viewfull=1#post921238

 

[monbla256]

The simple back bow influenced me to bid on this French hat.

Alan,
I'll bet when you get it refurbed ( at the price you paid, you could afford to do a COMPLETE refurb on it ) , you will have a DYNOMITE hat for sure !!
Onward thru the Fog

 

[alanfgag]

I think yours was a flat-top(or really shallow pp). These Alonge hats seem to be US made with a fancy name.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...ts-and-makers.&p=921309&viewfull=1#post921309
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...ts-and-makers.&p=921238&viewfull=1#post921238

intéressant... merci beaucoup. I found no reference to the hatmaker on a quick google search.

Alan,
I'll bet when you get it refurbed ( at the price you paid, you could afford to do a COMPLETE refurb on it ) , you will have a DYNOMITE hat for sure !!
Onward thru the Fog

Like many of us, I've been accumulating some hatmaking tools and supplies... I look forward to using these modest finds for practice.