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Messages
10,857
Location
vancouver, canada
Coincidentally, received 3 such bows from Tim this week.



On the vintage Stetsons I have, the 2/3 ply bands are tacked at the bottom. I feel it's probably less intrusive to tack on the 'row.'
I picked up two of the vintage navy. Not sure if it is the look I was after so haven't tacked it down at all. I just cinched it tightly and it has held perfectly. The look is growing on me and may just keep it ....and eventually tack it down.
 

dkstott

Practically Family
Messages
726
Location
Connecticut
Those are really nice looking. But they'll be too thin for use on my hat. They're thinner than the leather strip I'll be removing & won't cover the stitching.



Coincidentally, received 3 such bows from Tim this week.



On the vintage Stetsons I have, the 2/3 ply bands are tacked at the bottom. I feel it's probably less intrusive to tack on the 'row.'
 

Bushman

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,138
Location
Joliet
I was dusting my hats yesterday when I noticed a sticky spot on the leather sweatband of my Stetson western felt hat. The hat is only a year old, and I use it regularly for yard work. It's not uncommon to get sweat stains on it, so I tried oiling the band with some leather conditioner I have for jackets and sweatbands, but it did nothing to take care of the problem. Last time I wore the hat was a few weeks ago, and the spot definitely wasn't there when I put the hat on the rack. Any idea what caused this and any potential fixes? I considered just using GOOP, or goo-gone, but I wasn't sure how those kind of chemicals would affect the hat, or my forehead in long term use.
ntY7AsL.jpg
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,008
Location
Alberta
I was dusting my hats yesterday when I noticed a sticky spot on the leather sweatband of my Stetson western felt hat. The hat is only a year old, and I use it regularly for yard work. It's not uncommon to get sweat stains on it, so I tried oiling the band with some leather conditioner I have for jackets and sweatbands, but it did nothing to take care of the problem. Any idea what caused this and any potential fixes? I considered just using GOOP, or goo-gone, but I wasn't sure how those kind of chemicals would affect the hat, or my forehead in long term use.
ntY7AsL.jpg
Have you tried baby wipes or similar product? That’s what I would use.
Johnny
 
Messages
19,427
Location
Funkytown, USA
I was dusting my hats yesterday when I noticed a sticky spot on the leather sweatband of my Stetson western felt hat. The hat is only a year old, and I use it regularly for yard work. It's not uncommon to get sweat stains on it, so I tried oiling the band with some leather conditioner I have for jackets and sweatbands, but it did nothing to take care of the problem. Last time I wore the hat was a few weeks ago, and the spot definitely wasn't there when I put the hat on the rack. Any idea what caused this and any potential fixes? I considered just using GOOP, or goo-gone, but I wasn't sure how those kind of chemicals would affect the hat, or my forehead in long term use.
ntY7AsL.jpg

Goo Gone is about 95% petroleum distillates, so quite similar to the naphtha some of us use to clean our hats. I think a little to test it out should be fine. I have a feeling it might do the trick.
 

Lean'n'mean

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,087
Location
Cloud-cuckoo-land
I was dusting my hats yesterday when I noticed a sticky spot on the leather sweatband of my Stetson western felt hat. The hat is only a year old, and I use it regularly for yard work. It's not uncommon to get sweat stains on it, so I tried oiling the band with some leather conditioner I have for jackets and sweatbands, but it did nothing to take care of the problem. Last time I wore the hat was a few weeks ago, and the spot definitely wasn't there when I put the hat on the rack. Any idea what caused this and any potential fixes? I considered just using GOOP, or goo-gone, but I wasn't sure how those kind of chemicals would affect the hat, or my forehead in long term use.
ntY7AsL.jpg

Could be the varnish/plastic coating on the 'leather' is breaking down. If it is that, then only removing all the coating with something like acetone will work. But that's only as a last resort. Better try everything else first.
 
Messages
11,714
When I got this older Stratoliner. It was my assumption that the brim had at some point been trimmed to its current 2 inches and that it at some point in its life had a liner. Some discussions in other groups refute that theory.

My question here today isn’t so much what the real story of this hat is... that may never actually be known. But have we seen any early Stratoliner that came with shorter unbound edge. Or any Stratoliner that came with no liner and no branding on the felt.


Follow up question.. original consensus is late 40s to early 50s.... any opinions on age?

876E3CF6-20C1-43E4-BBE2-75F0CBD3D05F.jpeg

3D4DC30C-477B-473F-B1DD-99964D34004F.jpeg
3DD28315-6925-4627-85D6-E379977D177B.jpeg
AED7D4FD-60C8-4EA0-9A28-9F2D57ED1F98.jpeg
 

regius

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,300
Location
New York
Question: Chin Strap? I don’t think chin strap is a common component on western hats? The high quality ones almost never have chin strap...but, practically, for horse riding and (well, watching Hateful Eight), they all have chin strap and it’s hard to imagine how the hat stay on without it?
 
Messages
10,857
Location
vancouver, canada
Question: Chin Strap? I don’t think chin strap is a common component on western hats? The high quality ones almost never have chin strap...but, practically, for horse riding and (well, watching Hateful Eight), they all have chin strap and it’s hard to imagine how the hat stay on without it?
It is called a 'Stampede String'...most western shops should stock them. Many online sellers as well. They work well, and are removable or you can hide them under the hat. Cheap too!
 

FlyFishing

New in Town
Messages
35
It is called a 'Stampede String'...most western shops should stock them. Many online sellers as well. They work well, and are removable or you can hide them under the hat. Cheap too!

This ^
I usually dedicate one western hat to duty that I would need a stampede string for, when I don't need it, I tuck it in the hat and wear it. If I don't do this it ends up getting caught on things. They are easy to put in and take out, but it is easier for me to just leave it in one hat all the time.
 
Messages
10,857
Location
vancouver, canada
This ^
I usually dedicate one western hat to duty that I would need a stampede string for, when I don't need it, I tuck it in the hat and wear it. If I don't do this it ends up getting caught on things. They are easy to put in and take out, but it is easier for me to just leave it in one hat all the time.
I agree, taking them out is a pain and puts undo stress on the sweat band.
 
Messages
18,221
This ^
I usually dedicate one western hat to duty that I would need a stampede string for, when I don't need it, I tuck it in the hat and wear it. If I don't do this it ends up getting caught on things. They are easy to put in and take out, but it is easier for me to just leave it in one hat all the time.
When put thru a grommet in the brim the proper way you pull it back up thru the grommets & loop it around the crown like a wind trolley when not in use. A stampede string lays around the ribbon or hatband. Those inside sweat cotter key things are a joke.
 

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