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Tvdeee

New in Town
Messages
1
Hi guys, long time lurker first time poster here.

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direct of what kind/style of hat Ossian Brown of the band Cyclobe is wearing here? I figure it's some sort of military hat but I can't seem to be able to name it.

cyclobe_2014_1412597271.jpg
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,355
Location
Central Texas
Does anyone know of a specific definition for a Coach hat? Coach hats seem to be shorter versions of Top hats. My actual question is what does "shorter" actually mean?
Thanks.
 

georgie girl

One of the Regulars
Messages
204
Location
The emerald city
I tried to look an answer up on the site, but most anything I found was over 7 years old, didn't address the topic and I know you guys have evolved since then ;)

I have an oilskin/onionskin liner that needs a clean, does getting the oilskin covering wet damage it?
 

RickP

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,812

jeffgarf

One Too Many
Messages
1,158
Location
Jerusalem, Israel
The words on the sweatband mean "hare guaranteed" so it is a hare/or rabbit fur hat. If it is soft enough (not filed with shellac or other stiffener, like a bowler might be), it should be easy enough to steam and reshape the crown in any way you like. As for the manufacturer, we'll have to wait for someone with more knowledge of the Italian hat manufacturing scene (ahem, @Daniele Tanto ).
 

The Spaniard

New in Town
Messages
19
Location
Spain
The words on the sweatband mean "hare guaranteed" so it is a hare/or rabbit fur hat. If it is soft enough (not filed with shellac or other stiffener, like a bowler might be), it should be easy enough to steam and reshape the crown in any way you like. As for the manufacturer, we'll have to wait for someone with more knowledge of the Italian hat manufacturing scene (ahem, @Daniele Tanto ).
Thank you for your reply.
The hat is a little stiff, so I think some substance has been used. The hat is not hard, but it is not as soft as felt usually is.
Maybe I will try to reshape the crown tomorrow. I hope not to worsen the hat.
 

Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,575
Location
Verona - Italia
The words on the sweatband mean "hare guaranteed" so it is a hare/or rabbit fur hat. If it is soft enough (not filed with shellac or other stiffener, like a bowler might be), it should be easy enough to steam and reshape the crown in any way you like. As for the manufacturer, we'll have to wait for someone with more knowledge of the Italian hat manufacturing scene (ahem, @Daniele Tanto ).
It's very difficult to give a date and an indication of the quality of Italian hats labeled "vera lepre" or "lepre garantia" or "lepre finissima" (guaranteed hare) and others that claim to be made of hare felt. They can be wonderful or unreliable, containing only a meager amount of hare in the felt. This one has an old sweatband and is probably made of quality felt, but I wouldn't venture anything just by looking at it and not touching it. It would be helpful to have a photo of the entire sweatband and some details, such as a photo of the paper label, if present.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,378
Location
Denmark
What could you tell about this hat?
Who manufactured it, is it made from hare hair, is it possible to modify the crown shape to a more casual style? Or another interesting information.

View attachment 722326
View attachment 722327
View attachment 722328
View attachment 722329
View attachment 722330
With some steam I'm sure you could definitely reshape it. It looks a soft enough felt.

The ribbon looks quite wide. Please post more photos of the bow treatment and any labels under the sweatband.
 

The Spaniard

New in Town
Messages
19
Location
Spain
It's very difficult to give a date and an indication of the quality of Italian hats labeled "vera lepre" or "lepre garantia" or "lepre finissima" (guaranteed hare) and others that claim to be made of hare felt. They can be wonderful or unreliable, containing only a meager amount of hare in the felt. This one has an old sweatband and is probably made of quality felt, but I wouldn't venture anything just by looking at it and not touching it. It would be helpful to have a photo of the entire sweatband and some details, such as a photo of the paper label, if present.
I find the felt quite smooth. I would say smoother than a fur felt hat I have.
There is not paper label. Nothing behind the sweatband. The lining is glued, so I can't see if there is something under it.
The only text on the sweatband is what I have shown before. But there is a detail:
In this point the sweatband is glued.
lepre hat-7.jpg


It is possible to see in the reverse side.
lepre hat-8.jpg


I am not sure what you mean by bow, so I put these two photos.
lepre hat-9.jpg

lepre hat-6.jpg


I don't see anything else that can be distinctive from other hats.

With some steam I'm sure you could definitely reshape it. It looks a soft enough felt.

The ribbon looks quite wide. Please post more photos of the bow treatment and any labels under the sweatband.

The ribbon is 3,5 cm wide. But there is a residual mark over the ribbon that makes me think: Isn't this the original ribbon?
Under the sweatband there is not labels.


Thank you both for try to help me.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,378
Location
Denmark
I find the felt quite smooth. I would say smoother than a fur felt hat I have.
There is not paper label. Nothing behind the sweatband. The lining is glued, so I can't see if there is something under it.
The only text on the sweatband is what I have shown before. But there is a detail:
In this point the sweatband is glued.
View attachment 722377

It is possible to see in the reverse side.
View attachment 722378

I am not sure what you mean by bow, so I put these two photos.
View attachment 722379
View attachment 722380

I don't see anything else that can be distinctive from other hats.



The ribbon is 3,5 cm wide. But there is a residual mark over the ribbon that makes me think: Isn't this the original ribbon?
Under the sweatband there is not labels.


Thank you both for try to help me.
The residual mark could also indicate that another hat was stacked over it for some time.
 

SnappyHat

New in Town
Messages
44
Location
SF Bay Area
Where do I start? I keep reading about these magical hats that you can just shape without steam . What hats are these , what would I look for? It seems to be mentioned on Stetson 25s but are there other models ? Whats the newest hat that can do this without being too old . I dont want to break the bank , and Im not picky about it having to be pristine, I just want to experience a hat that shapes by hand without steam . I wear a 7 1/4 . I want to go from an open road shape to a stratocaster shape or some sort of fedora shape.
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,231
Location
San Francisco, CA
Where do I start? I keep reading about these magical hats that you can just shape without steam . What hats are these , what would I look for? It seems to be mentioned on Stetson 25s but are there other models ? Whats the newest hat that can do this without being too old . I dont want to break the bank , and Im not picky about it having to be pristine, I just want to experience a hat that shapes by hand without steam . I wear a 7 1/4 . I want to go from an open road shape to a stratocaster shape or some sort of fedora shape.

Difficult to give a simple answer without getting too far into the weeds (some Stetson 100s are, later ones not so much, for example). But a good rule of thumb is older, the better. Graham at Optimo says their hats can be shaped without steam, but that will break the bank. Search out pre-war hats for your best bet. The easiest to shape hat I own is a very early Stetson, came to me without a sweat, so hard to age definitively, but this style was more popular from the turn of the century until the 30's or 40's.



And to be the pedant about it, there really is not an "Open Road shape," unless we are counting the unblocked crown. The whole point of open crown hats was that the hat did not come in any specific shape.
 
Last edited:

SnappyHat

New in Town
Messages
44
Location
SF Bay Area
Difficult to give a simple answer without getting too far into the weeds (some Stetson 100s are, later ones not so much, for example). But a good rule of thumb is older, the better. Graham at Optimo says their hats can be shaped without steam, but that will break the bank. Search out pre-war hats for your best bet. The easiest to shape hat I own is a very early Stetson, came to me without a sweat, so hard to age definitively, but this style was more popular from the turn of the century until the 30's or 40's.



And to be the pedant about it, there really is not an "Open Road shape," unless we are counting the unblocked crown. The whole point of open crown hats was that the hat did not come in any specific shape.
Ok so pre war , does it also have to be pure beaver?
Open road to Stratoliner was just the range I wanted it to be able to shape to. So are the lower priced 15s not able to do this?
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,031
Ok so pre war , does it also have to be pure beaver?
Open road to Stratoliner was just the range I wanted it to be able to shape to. So are the lower priced 15s not able to do this?
Maybe try a WTB hats in the classifieds. Describe exactly what qualities you’re looking for and a price range would let others know what they might have for you.
They will come.
B
 

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