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[AbbaDatDeHat]

Just curious, what happened to @splintercellsz? I don't visit here as often as I once did, but I sure miss his posts of his fine hats and his period clothing. I hope he's doing okay.

I know he had a fire and the Benzilla was lost!!
He had friends pitch in and gift him one to rebuild.
Now that’s friends!!
Best wishes Justin!
B

 

[Bat_Fastard]

I think I made a mistake by posting the same thread across 3 forums to get more options, I ended up with decision fatigue.

I ended up ordering this one. Something about the texture just felt perfect.

 

[gwyche]

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place for this question but will give it a go.
I am from NZ and curious about a vintage resistol hat that my grandfather owned. He passed away many years ago now, but I remember always had a lot of hats.
He was born in 1908, and did a lot of travel from the 40s-60s, and had a real love for the USA and all things American.
After having a look through this site I think this hat is probably made in the 1950-60s, which is around the time my grandpa would have been visiting the USA. Clearly a dress hat, and I'm guessing a fedora?

There is no original box with it, so that can't help us, it's actually in a stetson box at the moment.
Can anyone tell me more about it? It really looks practically unworn, he has had his initials printed on the sweat band, and they look almost unmarked.
Obviously it is out of shape after sitting in a box untouched for many years.
My father has it sitting around (it's too small for him) but is my size exactly, so I may start wearing it occasionally.
Also any advice on how I can restore it's shape? Ideally I'd like to find some pictures of what it should look like in proper condition and shape.
Thanks!

 

[BobHufford]

Beautiful hat @gwyche ! Lucky that you have your Grandfather's hat and it fits! There are a few threads on hat shaping if you look around. If I remember correctly the Byer-Rolnick reference predates 1967 (when Coracorp bought them out).

 

[Scooterz]

First just do it dry with your hands. Push it out gently into an open dome shape. Then shape it the way you would like it. It may show old memory or it may reshape pretty well. There are videos on you tube from JJ Hat Center and others. Search for how to bash, how to shape, or crease a felt hat. If you can find the one from Moontheloon that would be great. After you watch a few videos and search through some of threads here. If it fits it should be pretty easy to do. You can use a ball like a kids smooth plastic ball maybe size of an orange or grapefruit to push out on the dome and smooth any wrinkles out with your fingers. You can use a steamer or teapot with distilled water lightly on the outside (don't steam the leather sweat). Or you can spray a little distilled water on it without steam. You should be able to round it out better with steam or distilled water and then recrease. Some guys use a little steam after final shaping to hold the shape in the felt. Quite a few threads here on bashing and creasing hats. I like teardrop and diamond shapes but whatever suits your fancy is fine. Looks like yours might have had a cattlemen crease at one time.

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place for this question but will give it a go.
I am from NZ and curious about a vintage resistol hat that my grandfather owned. He passed away many years ago now, but I remember always had a lot of hats.
He was born in 1908, and did a lot of travel from the 40s-60s, and had a real love for the USA and all things American.
After having a look through this site I think this hat is probably made in the 1950-60s, which is around the time my grandpa would have been visiting the USA. Clearly a dress hat, and I'm guessing a fedora?

There is no original box with it, so that can't help us, it's actually in a stetson box at the moment.
Can anyone tell me more about it? It really looks practically unworn, he has had his initials printed on the sweat band, and they look almost unmarked.
Obviously it is out of shape after sitting in a box untouched for many years.
My father has it sitting around (it's too small for him) but is my size exactly, so I may start wearing it occasionally.
Also any advice on how I can restore it's shape? Ideally I'd like to find some pictures of what it should look like in proper condition and shape.
Thanks!

 

[Frunobulax]

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place for this question but will give it a go.
I am from NZ and curious about a vintage resistol hat that my grandfather owned. He passed away many years ago now, but I remember always had a lot of hats.
He was born in 1908, and did a lot of travel from the 40s-60s, and had a real love for the USA and all things American.
After having a look through this site I think this hat is probably made in the 1950-60s, which is around the time my grandpa would have been visiting the USA. Clearly a dress hat, and I'm guessing a fedora?

There is no original box with it, so that can't help us, it's actually in a stetson box at the moment.
Can anyone tell me more about it? It really looks practically unworn, he has had his initials printed on the sweat band, and they look almost unmarked.
Obviously it is out of shape after sitting in a box untouched for many years.
My father has it sitting around (it's too small for him) but is my size exactly, so I may start wearing it occasionally.
Also any advice on how I can restore it's shape? Ideally I'd like to find some pictures of what it should look like in proper condition and shape.
Thanks!

A fantastic hat, gwyche! And your grandfather's, to boot. You're a lucky man.

Good advice precedes me, as Bob indicates it's pre-1967 and scooterz helps with reshaping.

Yes, watch a few videos before tackling, but you have a tremendous hat to start with.

Keep steam away from the sweat!

And wear it in good health.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place for this question but will give it a go.
I am from NZ and curious about a vintage resistol hat that my grandfather owned. He passed away many years ago now, but I remember always had a lot of hats.
He was born in 1908, and did a lot of travel from the 40s-60s, and had a real love for the USA and all things American.
After having a look through this site I think this hat is probably made in the 1950-60s, which is around the time my grandpa would have been visiting the USA. Clearly a dress hat, and I'm guessing a fedora?

There is no original box with it, so that can't help us, it's actually in a stetson box at the moment.
Can anyone tell me more about it? It really looks practically unworn, he has had his initials printed on the sweat band, and they look almost unmarked.
Obviously it is out of shape after sitting in a box untouched for many years.
My father has it sitting around (it's too small for him) but is my size exactly, so I may start wearing it occasionally.
Also any advice on how I can restore it's shape? Ideally I'd like to find some pictures of what it should look like in proper condition and shape.
Thanks!

There are lots of ways the hat “should” look. You can give it a cattleman’s crease in keeping with the thin ribbon western dress vibe of the hat (this looks like the way the hat was creased at one point):

Or, you could push the crown open from the underside:

And shape like a fedora (diamond crease shown):

Welcome, and good luck.





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[gwyche]

wow, did not expect so any replies so soon! Thanks all for your help.
I had read somewhere about the Byer and Rolnick label pre-dating it to 1967.
I'll have a go at carefully re-shaping it. I don't want to damage it by overuse, so imagine it'll be worn occasionally only in ideal conditions. Not really a beater hat, I have others for that job. But really nice to have a link back to the old man...

 

[Hurricane Jack]

wow, did not expect so any replies so soon! Thanks all for your help.
I had read somewhere about the Byer and Rolnick label pre-dating it to 1967.
I'll have a go at carefully re-shaping it. I don't want to damage it by overuse, so imagine it'll be worn occasionally only in ideal conditions. Not really a beater hat, I have others for that job. But really nice to have a link back to the old man...

You might want to take your time & read thru these threads for general info & crease shapes.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-resistol-roundup.42092/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-other-open-roads.36972/

 

[Fivesense]

*Posted over at the Open Road Guild too but figured here might also make sense.

I'm pleased to report that I just received my Open Road 10X straw in toast. I love the classic OR shape and profile and have touched it with a bit of steam to even out to my liking.

Question- are the internal sweats on the OR straw 10X made of real leather? It feels and looks a tad synthetic, but it's definitely a little different than most shantungs I've seen. Is it just a thinner leather than I perhaps expected?

 

[Frunobulax]

wow, did not expect so any replies so soon! Thanks all for your help.
I had read somewhere about the Byer and Rolnick label pre-dating it to 1967.
I'll have a go at carefully re-shaping it. I don't want to damage it by overuse, so imagine it'll be worn occasionally only in ideal conditions. Not really a beater hat, I have others for that job. But really nice to have a link back to the old man...

Fur felt hats are tougher than you think. You don't need to baby it, it was made for daily wear. Just take good care of it and it will take care of you.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

[Cornshucker77]

When you are an in between size and buying new, going for the larger size is the better option. Best to pad the sweatband a little to make it fit than stretch it if there is a choice, IMO.

Agreed!!!

 

[Cornshucker77]

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place for this question but will give it a go.
I am from NZ and curious about a vintage resistol hat that my grandfather owned. He passed away many years ago now, but I remember always had a lot of hats.
He was born in 1908, and did a lot of travel from the 40s-60s, and had a real love for the USA and all things American.
After having a look through this site I think this hat is probably made in the 1950-60s, which is around the time my grandpa would have been visiting the USA. Clearly a dress hat, and I'm guessing a fedora?

There is no original box with it, so that can't help us, it's actually in a stetson box at the moment.
Can anyone tell me more about it? It really looks practically unworn, he has had his initials printed on the sweat band, and they look almost unmarked.
Obviously it is out of shape after sitting in a box untouched for many years.
My father has it sitting around (it's too small for him) but is my size exactly, so I may start wearing it occasionally.
Also any advice on how I can restore it's shape? Ideally I'd like to find some pictures of what it should look like in proper condition and shape.
Thanks!

Nice. Good luck with it.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I know he had a fire and the Benzilla was lost!!
He had friends pitch in and gift him one to rebuild.
Now that’s friends!!
Best wishes Justin!
B

Wow, I did not know that! I hope everyone is okay?

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Wow, I did not know that! I hope everyone is okay?

Yes Jack, i think all ok.
I hate to tell another man’s story but after noticing Justin’s extended absence i looked at his facebook page. I could feel his devastation. I’m sure Zilla II will be bigger and badder than before. You can’t keep a good man down.
B

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Yes Jack, i think all ok.
I hate to tell another man’s story but after noticing Justin’s extended absence i looked at his facebook page. I could feel his devastation. I’m sure Zilla II will be bigger and badder than before. You can’t keep a good man down.
B

Maybe I'm assuming too much. Was it just the car or his home too?

 

[drmaxtejeda]

7 1/4? hhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm. And welcome to the Lounge. Sorry I can't answer your question but I'm sure somebody here will give you an idea. If you end up selling it I'm sure some of us here at the Lounge would be interested. I can think of one certain fellow in particular who is fond of anything 100.

Got it! Pics in Other Than

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[Frunobulax]

Maybe I'm assuming too much. Was it just the car or his home too?

I think the garage burnt at the storage yard he and his father have. The Benz was in it at the time. Not sure what other losses occurred.

You were on hiatus, I think travelling.

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[gwyche]

Fur felt hats are tougher than you think. You don't need to baby it, it was made for daily wear. Just take good care of it and it will take care of you.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Haha, yes agreed! The hat is currently in a box stored away, but next time I am at my Dad's I'm going to grab it, fix the shape and give it a wear!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I think the garage burnt at the storage yard he and his father have. The Benz was in it at the time. Not sure what other losses occurred.

You were on hiatus, I think travelling.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Thanks Jim. Sounds like a bad enough loss but could have been worse. I'm glad for him that it wasn't.