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[M Hatman]

It is a favorite of mine when I want an old look......as has been said we call it a "Centerfire" now. Popular in the 40's and 50's, the crease actually can be seen well back into the late 19th century and maybe even earlier.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Popular in the 40's and 50's,

The Centerfire is commonly called the dog dish.

Popular in the 1940’s - 1950’s as a woman’s crease called the Ridge, from a modified telescope crease. Can be seen in the catalogs of that era, particularly Denver Dry Goods Co.

 

[M Hatman]

The Centerfire is commonly called the dog dish.

Popular in the 1940’s - 1950’s as a woman’s crease called the Ridge, from a modified telescope crease. Can be seen in the catalogs of that era, particularly Denver Dry Goods Co.

I don't know about the women's crease (we borrowed from each other more than we think) but it is shown on a lot of men's westerns then, as you say. Miller-Stockman shows a lot too. I also Like the variant of the high center with lowered creases on each side shown on this "Oregon Trail" and "Stetson Texan" from 1956.

I have pictures from 1943 I cannot load right now showing the lower ridge like my hat has. The site is acting up a good deal....

I will say I really like these old creases....and love looking especially at Infantry in the field from 1880 to about 1910. They show a LOT more individuality than one would think.

 

[Bfd70]

I don't know about the women's crease (we borrowed from each other more than we think) but it is shown on a lot of men's westerns then, as you say. Miller-Stockman shows a lot too. I also Like the variant of the high center with lowered creases on each side shown on this "Oregon Trail" and "Stetson Texan" from 1956.
View attachment 807770
I have pictures from 1943 I cannot load right now showing the lower ridge like my hat has. The site is acting up a good deal....

I will say I really like these old creases....and love looking especially at Infantry in the field from 1880 to about 1910. They show a LOT more individuality than one would think.

View attachment 807773 View attachment 807775

I came looking for info about what one would call the style of hat Walt Whitman is wearing in this picture. I think several of the infantry hats look quite similar. Is there a name other than maybe slouch?

 

[M Hatman]

I came looking for info about what one would call the style of hat Walt Whitman is wearing in this picture. I think several of the infantry hats look quite similar. Is there a name other than maybe slouch?
View attachment 807871

Actually when you look closely at the brim, that one appears to be a straw. But yes, usually he wears what they call a "slouch" or "Artist's" hat at the time.

Then as now many names were given in the catalogs of the time as you can see here in my thread: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hatters-cleaners-and-dyers.99090/

 

[The MBP]

Ok guys, I’m a newbie to these vintage hats. Can someone help me decode this tag? I was hoping to read which model Stetson this is but the internet and AI not my friend today. For anyone not wanting to click it says STETSON then GRAN and 7 3/8. Well it’s a mid century or so Stetson LO 7 3/8, but i can’t figure out which one.

 

[blewnote]

I feel like I had two questions but this is the only I can remember at the moment.

Anyone have a specific recommendation for a tape to tape the ends of a sweatband that the stitches ripped out of back together? The rest of the sweatband is in great shape and it doesn't seem worth replacing if I can just substitute a taped seam. I also have a few hats where the thread disintegrated and I am unsure if it is possible to resew it through the original holes and thought a taped seam might be a good alternative.

 

[HatsBySam]

I feel like I had two questions but this is the only I can remember at the moment.

Anyone have a specific recommendation for a tape to tape the ends of a sweatband that the stitches ripped out of back together? The rest of the sweatband is in great shape and it doesn't seem worth replacing if I can just substitute a taped seam. I also have a few hats where the thread disintegrated and I am unsure if it is possible to resew it through the original holes and thought a taped seam might be a good alternative.

If the leather is supple, I fold the sweatband out and use a leather threading hole punch and then some waxed thread to close the back seam.

If the reeded vinyl tape is still well attached to the original sweatband, and the leather is supple enough, it’s definitely possible to hand sew it back to the hat.

 

[shopkin]

You may not even need new holes. Stitch it using the existing holes.

 

[HatsBySam]

You may not even need new holes. Stitch it using the existing holes.

Yes, I should have been more clear. I use this method if the previous holes have torn through.

 

[belfastboy]

You may not even need new holes. Stitch it using the existing holes.

Yes, when I am doing a restoration and the thread has rotted but the leather still supple I stitch through the existing holes. Painstakingly slow but helps to keep it original.

 

[belfastboy]

I feel like I had two questions but this is the only I can remember at the moment.

Anyone have a specific recommendation for a tape to tape the ends of a sweatband that the stitches ripped out of back together? The rest of the sweatband is in great shape and it doesn't seem worth replacing if I can just substitute a taped seam. I also have a few hats where the thread disintegrated and I am unsure if it is possible to resew it through the original holes and thought a taped seam might be a good alternative.

The tape at the back of the leather sweat is never glued. I use a heavier weight interfacing that is placed over the seam and THEN it is stitched with the sweat band ends. It is intended as reinforcement for the stitching not to actually join the ends.

 

[blewnote]

The tape at the back of the leather sweat is never glued. I use a heavier weight interfacing that is placed over the seam and THEN it is stitched with the sweat band ends. It is intended as reinforcement for the stitching not to actually join the ends.

What about old hats (I'm thinking maybe some Borsalinos I've seen) that are not stitched together but instead taped?

 

[belfastboy]

What about old hats (I'm thinking maybe some Borsalinos I've seen) that are not stitched together but instead taped?

I have never run across that. Must be a modern era Borsa where they were trying to cut costs and quality suffered. Borsa also began to glue in their liners.....blasphemy in my book and unforgiveable.

 

[blewnote]

I have n

I have never run across that. Must be a modern era Borsa where they were trying to cut costs and quality suffered. Borsa also began to glue in their liners.....blasphemy in my book and unforgiveable.

Here's a long hair Borsalino from 1920-1936. It doesn't appear to have any stitches joining the sweatband seam, only tape. That's what I was talking about mimicking.

I just snapped the pictures and put it away again, I guess I should pull it back out and feel that tape to see what it is, but it looks like just paper (maybe heavyweight) and maybe they just glued it to the sweatband?

 

[belfastboy]

Here's a long hair Borsalino from 1920-1936. It doesn't appear to have any stitches joining the sweatband seam, only tape. That's what I was talking about mimicking.

I just snapped the pictures and put it away again, I guess I should pull it back out and feel that tape to see what it is, but it looks like just paper (maybe heavyweight) and maybe they just glued it to the sweatband?

View attachment 808264 View attachment 808265 View attachment 808266

It is possible.

 

[jacopo1987]

Hallo everyone,

I’ve just joined the forum.
This summer, I had the chance to browse through some antique shops in the United States, where I came across this Bailey. Would anyone be able to help me identify, at least approximately, the period in which this hat was made?
Thanks!

 

[jlee562]

Hallo everyone,

I’ve just joined the forum.
This summer, I had the chance to browse through some antique shops in the United States, where I came across this Bailey. Would anyone be able to help me identify, at least approximately, the period in which this hat was made?
Thanks!

100% speculative guess, but that crown style tended to show up in the 70's urban cowboy era.

 

[SepticShock]

Does this Akubra Kiandra look like it needs reshaping or any other work before wearing? Got it second hand for less than half the price.

 

[Judgmentalist]

I bought this Jiffy steamer a couple fo years ago for steaming my suits. I'm not overly excited about the amount of steam it produces.

It appears to be essentially the same model as the Jiffy version of a table-top hat steamer, but the hat steamer has feet instead of wheels and different port to allow steam to escape from the base.

1.) Is this correct?
2.) Is this an acceptable hat steamer?
3.) Is there anything I should know that I haven't thought to ask?