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TheOldFashioned

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,183
Location
The Great Lakes
Maybe shelving with plexiglass doors is the way to go.
The tennis ball idea certainly seems like a good idea. I figure they'll need vacuuming every once in a while but that's no big deal.
I seem to remember @Bill Hughes talking about acquiring some glass cabinets from an antique store with the intent to store/display his hats. (I kicked around a similar idea but the wife squashed that pretty quickly. The shelving was a compromise.) Perhaps he can chime in.

Looks nice, Jonathan. Dust and moths are my biggest issues.

Max has the ideal set up, but not all of us (me) can go his route. I need to at least get shelves or racks to hold the boxes. If the box stack is eight high and three deep the hats on the bottom or in the back disappear. Your wall mounted adjustable shelves look about perfect. I also admire your 50 limit followed by the buy-one-sell-one philosophy. I hope you have more discipline than I do.
Thanks, Brent. Those entry way shelves did turn out to be a nice compromise I think. I actually just received a compliment on it today from some visitors we had over this morning. The only minor issue my wife mentioned was that they weren't centered above the chest freezer. After I explained that the brackets were mounted to studs she had no problem with it.

The hat limit and one in one out policy is only an ideal to strive for at this point. Whether I have the self discipline when the time comes is yet to be determined. I actually sold one of the hats I acquired for myself for the first time recently. I had been contemplating it for a few months and finally committed to moving it on. I'll just need to remind myself that I've done it before and can do it again.

And yes, Max's setup is quite impressive. I think the only thing left for him is adding a climate controlled annex with security guard. :)
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,883
Location
Denmark
I seem to remember @Bill Hughes talking about acquiring some glass cabinets from an antique store with the intent to store/display his hats. (I kicked around a similar idea but the wife squashed that pretty quickly. The shelving was a compromise.) Perhaps he can chime in.


Thanks, Brent. Those entry way shelves did turn out to be a nice compromise I think. I actually just received a compliment on it today from some visitors we had over this morning. The only minor issue my wife mentioned was that they weren't centered above the chest freezer. After I explained that the brackets were mounted to studs she had no problem with it.

The hat limit and one in one out policy is only an ideal to strive for at this point. Whether I have the self discipline when the time comes is yet to be determined. I actually sold one of the hats I acquired for myself for the first time recently. I had been contemplating it for a few months and finally committed to moving it on. I'll just need to remind myself that I've done it before and can do it again.

And yes, Max's setup is quite impressive. I think the only thing left for him is adding a climate controlled annex with security guard. :)
Great shelving system, Jonathan. It's definitely given me an idea.
The only hats I find in boxes in Denmark are top hats, so stacking them that way is not an option for me.
Dust is the biggest problem, but I enjoy a good hat dust and brushing every two weeks or so.
I've long over reached the 50 hat maximum by at least twice that amount. I console myself though by knowing that mine is a small collection compared to other FL'ers [emoji4] [emoji145]

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SteveFord

A-List Customer
Messages
481
Where can I find a picture of what Max is doing with storing his hats? Everyone keeps mentioning him.
Right now mine are sitting atop motorcycle helmets and the rest are all over the place.
I do have shelving everywhere so I suppose some of it could be relocated.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Where can I find a picture of what Max is doing with storing his hats? Everyone keeps mentioning him.
Right now mine are sitting atop motorcycle helmets and the rest are all over the place.
I do have shelving everywhere so I suppose some of it could be relocated.


Max has cabinets and hat “safes” that were custom made for him. He’s made a big investment to secure, protect, and store his hat collection. Send Max @drmaxtejeda a PM and he might share some photos with you.


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drmaxtejeda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,363
Location
Mexico City
I seem to remember @Bill Hughes talking about acquiring some glass cabinets from an antique store with the intent to store/display his hats. (I kicked around a similar idea but the wife squashed that pretty quickly. The shelving was a compromise.) Perhaps he can chime in.


Thanks, Brent. Those entry way shelves did turn out to be a nice compromise I think. I actually just received a compliment on it today from some visitors we had over this morning. The only minor issue my wife mentioned was that they weren't centered above the chest freezer. After I explained that the brackets were mounted to studs she had no problem with it.

The hat limit and one in one out policy is only an ideal to strive for at this point. Whether I have the self discipline when the time comes is yet to be determined. I actually sold one of the hats I acquired for myself for the first time recently. I had been contemplating it for a few months and finally committed to moving it on. I'll just need to remind myself that I've done it before and can do it again.

And yes, Max's setup is quite impressive. I think the only thing left for him is adding a climate controlled annex with security guard. :)
I will add a humidity-controlled annex if I live long enough and if some real estate projects I am in come to fruition.
It won't have an armed guard, just concrete walls and metal doors with Papaiz locks.
If I ever buy the house I am living in right now it will be easy, because the garage is waaay too big, and it already has concrete walls on three sides. The humidity control will be necessary because the garage is underground.

I plan to put all the hat safes down there, plus shelves to put the hats on the walls for easy viewing when they aren't in the safes. I will also have a work bench to work on them while I watch a big screen TV, and a fireplace.
Ah! I can't wait.

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drmaxtejeda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,363
Location
Mexico City
Where can I find a picture of what Max is doing with storing his hats? Everyone keeps mentioning him.
Right now mine are sitting atop motorcycle helmets and the rest are all over the place.
I do have shelving everywhere so I suppose some of it could be relocated.
Hi, Steve. At first I had a wooden closet with shelves built for 33 hats, and I thought that would be sufficient. The first time we left on vacation, however, I worried that the maids might steal them while we were gone. We've had maids steal stuff before, and several of my hats were Optimos that cost 1000 dollars each.
When we returned from vacation I ordered the first metal safe for my Optimos and put it in my bedroom, over Ana's objection. The cost was lower than that of my wooden closet, 'though it can only hold 14 hats, and again I thought that would be the end if it.

After that I discovered the world of Vintage, and my collection kept growing, so I ordered a 55-hat capacity safe, then a 114, and then a 140, and put them in my home office. I am currently waiting for another 140, which I am putting in the billiards room because there is no more room in the office. This time I am pretty sure it will be the end of it until I build a hat room in the garage.

I put each hat on a wooden custom band block and cover it in a plastic bag with an adhesive label. I have tried to keep them in alphabetical order to make it easier to find the one I want, but since I've run out of room in the safes I will have to wait until the next one is ready and start over. I have thought of subdividing them by "Homburgs", "Stingies", "Straws", "Westerns", "European", "Modern" etc., but I will decide when the next safe finally arrives. It should have been here already

2d05af17924672bfef71a17a04493317.jpg
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SteveFord

A-List Customer
Messages
481
Boy, you don't fool around!
I don't have to worry about theft as one of my hobbies is breeding giant reptiles and that seems to keep sticky fingered miscreants at bay.
Thank you all for the ideas, I'll post some pics when I figure out what will work here.
The sensible thing to do would be to throw away some of my wife's clothing as that will free up some room.
 
Messages
11,744
Hi, Steve. At first I had a wooden closet with shelves built for 33 hats, and I thought that would be sufficient. The first time we left on vacation, however, I worried that the maids might steal them while we were gone. We've had maids steal stuff before, and several of my hats were Optimos that cost 1000 dollars each.
When we returned from vacation I ordered the first metal safe for my Optimos and put it in my bedroom, over Ana's objection. The cost was lower than that of my wooden closet, 'though it can only hold 14 hats, and again I thought that would be the end if it.

After that I discovered the world of Vintage, and my collection kept growing, so I ordered a 55-hat capacity safe, then a 114, and then a 140, and put them in my home office. I am currently waiting for another 140, which I am putting in the billiards room because there is no more room in the office. This time I am pretty sure it will be the end of it until I build a hat room in the garage.

I put each hat on a wooden custom band block and cover it in a plastic bag with an adhesive label. I have tried to keep them in alphabetical order to make it easier to find the one I want, but since I've run out of room in the safes I will have to wait until the next one is ready and start over. I have thought of subdividing them by "Homburgs", "Stingies", "Straws", "Westerns", "European", "Modern" etc., but I will decide when the next safe finally arrives. It should have been here already

2d05af17924672bfef71a17a04493317.jpg
7a6bf0a985efc6c282ce1cabf2fbb1fc.jpg
0e9885ee6d34c44ee1120c633626b3a3.jpg
3f38e6565d7797ed3da4d3f600d7aff0.jpg
cbbab656d22e9cd298ae75e04ef8caaa.jpg
365281e3cfdc7a82c9c4cb0ace955a07.jpg
16717c8537b576584f01786beb543a60.jpg
1bc00cc16a67bef6a327eed2a6c6d880.jpg
c5f2695f59737152c8b2994c0f898d98.jpg
702f98d854df5a2f85fe29b1694b2c50.jpg


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WOW!


Best,
Joe

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TheOldFashioned

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,183
Location
The Great Lakes
Great shelving system, Jonathan. It's definitely given me an idea.
The only hats I find in boxes in Denmark are top hats, so stacking them that way is not an option for me.
Dust is the biggest problem, but I enjoy a good hat dust and brushing every two weeks or so.
I've long over reached the 50 hat maximum by at least twice that amount. I console myself though by knowing that mine is a small collection compared to other FL'ers [emoji4] [emoji145]
Thanks, Steve. I do have a few hats in boxes, my topper being one of them like you.

The fifty was a convenient though arbitrary number to set for a personal max. Whether that really happens remains to be seen. I'm already putting the caveat that straws don't count against that number. I haven't figured a hard cap for that category yet but it won't be fifty, that's for sure.

Any more than that and I think the wife would start getting suspicious. I think I picked up seven or eight leather jackets since joining here as well, so I have that working for/against me as well depending on perspective.
 

Dotneck

One of the Regulars
Messages
113
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
I am kind of new to using finer fedoras and am learning a lot on the lounge. In many threads I see guys describing a hat as having "nice felt".

What are some concrete components of a great felt? When looking at two hats how would you tell if one has good felt and one is not as good?
 
Messages
19,434
Location
Funkytown, USA
I am kind of new to using finer fedoras and am learning a lot on the lounge. In many threads I see guys describing a hat as having "nice felt".

What are some concrete components of a great felt? When looking at two hats how would you tell if one has good felt and one is not as good?

1. Quality. Is it dense? Evenly felted? Is the color saturation even and with good depth?
2. Hand. "Hand" is the quality of the felt as it feels in your hand. Is it soft, smooth, evenly pounced? (Pouncing is the act of sanding the hat to achieve it's finish)
3. Response. How does it respond to manipulation? This is especially true of open crown hats, as most new hats have a pressed crown. Quality vintage felt is often described as "molds like clay." Easy to put a crease in or manipulate. Great felts from vintage hats will often do whatever you want without steam or anything to assist in the process.

To understand these in detail, you will have to handle many hats, newer and vintage, and compare them with each other. Most of us develop an appreciation for the felt qualities over time as we acquire and experience different hats. It's just one of those things that, "you'll understand when you get there," I guess.
 

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