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[AbbaDatDeHat]

The problem lies in people thinking that treating an already dried out sweat will revive it

It won’t

Hello Sir: another issue i found while researching leather revival and restorations by professionals was the distinction between revival and restoration. I recall two seperate camps. The first professional museum leather preservationalists where the item was displayed, NOT used and the other professional restoration folk who wore the items (coats etc). Wish i could recall the particulars but your point rings true. One however i recall seemed much more hat friendly. Interesting topic to research especially if one wears vintage leather jackets. Be well. Bowen

 

[FedoraFan112390]

The first two pictures look like cotton safari hats. Like the kind Tilley makes.
this https://www.tilley.com/ca_en/t3-cotton-duck-hat.html
or this https://www.tilley.com/ca_en/ltm3-airflo-hat.html for the green under brim.
Just add your own hat band.
Now the third picture is interesting. it almost looks like a straw open road hat with a wide cattleman's crease.
back in the 70's they used to add fabric under the brims of straw hats for added sun protection and reduced glare. closest I can find is this https://www.sunbody.com/index.cfm/product/589_1/open-road.cfm
Do you know what it was made form? Straw? Felt? cotton?
Hope that helps some.

I can't remember exactly (these pictures are from 20+ years ago) but I will say I doubt it was straw because the first two pictures (in the car) were taken in December 1995, and he wore this particular hat at times during the winter around that time. Probably felt or cotton. Do you have any idea about the band though?

 

[johnnycanuck]

Back in the 90’s you could get cotton bucket hats like that with enough crown you can shape them into a little bit of a style. The bands were usually tropical pattern fabric folded over a few times like a pug band. A friend had one back in high school he shaped like a fedora.
Hope that helps some. No idea who would make anything like this anymore. Same idea as those corduroy cowboy hats that had back in the 80’s. In fact it could be an open road version of those corduroy cowboy hats.
Hope this helps.
Johnny

 

[scottyrocks]

Once a sweat has reached a certain stage of deterioration, which it appears yours has, Abba, nothing is going to revive it. It is more than likely that it was not the Lexol, but the act of applying it, that destroyed whatever was left of its structural integrity.

 

[Nolucker]

Question about Western or "cowboy" style hats. Why are they made so stiff, as opposed to many fedoras I have handled? If this was previously discussed, I apologize.

 

[Ken David]

Once a sweat has reached a certain stage of deterioration, which it appears yours has, Abba, nothing is going to revive it. It is more than likely that it was not the Lexol, but the act of applying it, that destroyed whatever was left of its structural integrity.

I just purchased this hat and only wore it 2 times. The sweat was apparently in good shape (supple with some minor cracking), I should of left it alone I guess, I thought the Lexol would preserve the sweat (lightly applied with a cotton fiber rag). My bad, hat is un-wearable now.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[jlee562]

Question about Western or "cowboy" style hats. Why are they made so stiff, as opposed to many fedoras I have handled? If this was previously discussed, I apologize.

I'd be interested in learning how and why this happened actually. My suspicion is that felt stiffener increased as felt quality decreased.

But if you look at John Wayne's hat in The Searchers, you've got the brim flapping around in the wind. And sure that's a movie hat that's been beat up a bit, but there's no way it started out as stiff as any modern hat.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I'm guessing a real "working" type hat needs to be sturdy and not delicate.

 

[scottyrocks]

Bigger brims, too, or they'd be in your face.

 

[Redfokker]

Once a sweat has reached a certain stage of deterioration, which it appears yours has, Abba, nothing is going to revive it. It is more than likely that it was not the Lexol, but the act of applying it, that destroyed whatever was left of its structural integrity.

+1 Good theory here. Restoration specialists of antique auto leather use a clean/restore system. I surfed into an interesting product and tutorial for a company called Chamerlain's Leather Milk. More study of their website is in process. Looks promising.

 

[scottyrocks]

+1 Good theory here. Restoration specialists of antique auto leather use a clean/restore system. I surfed into an interesting product and tutorial for a company called Chamerlain's Leather Milk. More study of their website is in process. Looks promising.

Yes, a lot of reading there. Bookmarked.

 

[Redfokker]

I just purchased this hat and only wore it 2 times. The sweat was apparently in good shape (supple with some minor cracking), I should of left it alone I guess, I thought the Lexol would preserve the sweat (lightly applied with a cotton fiber rag). My bad, hat is un-wearable now.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

sorry about this bad experience. A new sweat and a spiff up from a Hatter is like a spa treatment for a hat. I have a few that I just had to say goodbye to the old sweat (I keep them in an archival box) and live with a non-original modern version. My hatter, NW Hats, will then form the hat to my custom hat form, making them fit like a brand new bespoke hat.

 

[Zombie_61]

I can't remember exactly (these pictures are from 20+ years ago) but I will say I doubt it was straw because the first two pictures (in the car) were taken in December 1995, and he wore this particular hat at times during the winter around that time. Probably felt or cotton. Do you have any idea about the band though?

Try a Google search for "pleated hat bands". It's highly unlikely you'll be able to find the exact pattern, but you might find one that's close enough to give you the "familiar" feeling of your Dad's hat.

 

[DOGMAN]

Have been using lexol in all my hats for over 5 years,no problems.But if the sweat is trashed already it won't help.

 

[RJR]

Have been using lexol in all my hats for over 5 years,no problems.But if the sweat is trashed already it won't help.

+1

 

[Ken David]

Have been using lexol in all my hats for over 5 years,no problems.But if the sweat is trashed already it won't help.

Thanks for the info. The issue I guess is I did not realize the "sweat" was trashed :-(

 

[Bamaboots]

Have been using lexol in all my hats for over 5 years,no problems.But if the sweat is trashed already it won't help.

I used Lexol for a number of years on all sorts of leather w/o a problem. Bick is easier for me to come by now, so that's what I use. I've also bought vintage lids that upon arrival, the sweat looked good, even felt soft and supple then, after a treatment, they began to disintegrate. I think the same thing would have occurred after wearing the hat a bit w/o treatment.

I think one of the problems is we have no idea what sort of conditions some of these old hats have been stored in. Probably many w/o being in the light or fresh air for years.

 

[Ken David]

..... I've also bought vintage lids that upon arrival, the sweat looked good, even felt soft and supple then, after a treatment, they began to disintegrate. I think the same thing would have occurred after wearing the hat a bit w/o treatment....I
.

That is exactly my thoughts....I guess that is the risk of buying vintage. Regardless new sweat in order.

 

[OldStrummer]

New question, probably been asked before but my searches have been futile: Are there any hat brands to avoid?

I'm looking to start building my collection. My tastes run to the Trilby-style. My first order is a Bailey. Sterkowski, Jaxon, Goorin and Stacy Adams all have models that interest me.

 

[belfastboy]

New question, probably been asked before but my searches have been futile: Are there any hat brands to avoid?

I'm looking to start building my collection. My tastes run to the Trilby-style. My first order is a Bailey. Sterkowski, Jaxon, Goorin and Stacy Adams all have models that interest me.

I have not purchased a Goorin fedora, only looked, and they don't strike me as good value. My judgemental opinion is that Jaxon, and S Adams are more fashion throwaway hats than good felt keepers. No opinion on Sterk and Jaxon.

Depending on your size Ebay/Etsy is a great source for both vintage and lightly used contemporary trilby style hats. It is the wider brims that command the higher pricing and with many makes/models the trilby style (2" or less on the brim) sells cheaply. I have a few narrower brimmed hats that I picked up on theBay in the $50 to $100 rangeand they are great hats. If you enjoy the hunt it is fun too. Knowing what you want and what looks good on you is a great start.