Beginner Mania

[PhilS]

Gosh I have wasted so much money and barely one week into the hat fancy set. I bought a black short brimmed winter hat at the reincarnated Worth & Worth, which is on Shakespeare's head in my Avatar, then a wool porkpie at the hatter on Nassau Street, then the mania hit - and all of it deferred gratification - a vintage stetson on ebay, an English Optima from Panama Bob, and a Akubra Campdraft. I went through this sort of phase when I started with pens many years ago. It is painful to learn the hard way what one likes. (I have my eye on some ebay hats but the bidding has been furious on them and I expect to be sniped). Although I am fairly confident that I will like all of these hats, but I also think it would have been better to simply buy a custom hat and get it right the first time. I'd like to hear the experience of others who have been bitten by this bug.

I am curious -- and maybe this is a question for a pm rather than the board -- are the special editions at VS fitted for the purchaser? if not, how much more expensive is one made to order for the head peculiarities of the intended purchaser?

 

[indycop]

I am curious -- and maybe this is a question for a pm rather than the board -- are the special editions at VS fitted for the purchaser? if not, how much more expensive is one made to order for the head peculiarities of the intended purchaser?

When you order a hat from Art you will be sent a conformer device. It's easy to use once you figure it out, anyway you put it on yer head and adjust it to the exact shape of your head. Then you put it back in the box and send it back to Art. When you get your hat it will fit exactly to your head!! After the first one you won't have to do anything but tell him what you want since he keeps your sizing info.
You can talk to art by phone or email, you won't be disappointed!

 

[Delthayre]

Fairer and more gentlemanly than your wildest dreams

I am curious -- and maybe this is a question for a pm rather than the board -- are the special editions at VS fitted for the purchaser? if not, how much more expensive is one made to order for the head peculiarities of the intended purchaser?

I am under the impression that the special editions are made to order, just as a client-designed hat is. So far as I can discern, and as was the case with my hat, mister Fawcett charges no extra cost to a client for a hat of the client's design. Some special feature that you might request, for example a gold pin like that of the HST, might warrant a higher price, but otherwise a limited edition and client-designed hat will cost the same amount.

 

[bolthead]

Gosh I have wasted so much money and barely one week into the hat fancy set. I bought a black short brimmed winter hat at the reincarnated Worth & Worth, which is on Shakespeare's head in my Avatar, then a wool porkpie at the hatter on Nassau Street, then the mania hit - and all of it deferred gratification - a vintage stetson on ebay, an English Optima from Panama Bob, and a Akubra Campdraft. I went through this sort of phase when I started with pens many years ago. It is painful to learn the hard way what one likes. (I have my eye on some ebay hats but the bidding has been furious on them and I expect to be sniped). Although I am fairly confident that I will like all of these hats, but I also think it would have been better to simply buy a custom hat and get it right the first time. I'd like to hear the experience of others who have been bitten by this bug.

I am curious -- and maybe this is a question for a pm rather than the board -- are the special editions at VS fitted for the purchaser? if not, how much more expensive is one made to order for the head peculiarities of the intended purchaser?

....and it's not even Straw season yet, wait.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Ha

(Bolthead, you are SO right.)

Hey Phil, welcome. I'm new(ish) too and have a similar fiendish way of diving into collecting things that grab me.

Try not to feel so stressed and guilty at some miscues here and there. Yeah, it might be great to ace every purchase decision but heck, you can always sell the ones you ultimately determine aren't really your cup of tea.

I already had a bunch of hats when I recently went on a vintage binge on EB and out of probably 25 hats I bought in two months one was too big and two aren't as good looking on my head as they were in the photos. Oh well. Hats happen.

And sure it's great to have resources available like Art Fawcett and to have the confirmation from Loungers that he does great work. But I wouldn't have known what to ask a guy like him for if I hadn't gone through the process of living with a variety of crown heights, brim widths, bash variations, etc. and determining what I really go for specifically in a hat.

Now I've got that down and I don't regret my learning process. My approach is: Be patient. Don't overspend my personal discretionary cash supply. Enjoy the process of collecting and learning. Know that I'm supporting the hat industry when buying new or custom and participating in the Used Hat Rescue League when buying vintage. Live with a little imperfection. And don't take things too seriously. They're great and all - but dare I say, they're just hats.

All the best,

Gene

 

[Stan]

Hi,

I'm in the same boat. I decided that I wanted a hat like a vintage one I'd had for many years that was no more. Where to go? Nothing worthwhile in stores around here. Ah! Of course! eBay!

Well, I've bought all of three hats off of eBay since I went looking right after Christmas. I've been outbid a lot, you see. There have also been some issues with label size vs. actual fit as one was a too large, one too small and one fit right. Sounds more like porridge than hats!!

Well, I managed to correct the fit issues, but I also can see where I really need to equip myself to work on hats some if I continue with older hats. I also really need to bid a lot higher to boot! Since I want to wear hats, not work on them, I decided that I'd be better off to just buy a new hat or two from a hatter.

Heck, it does not take long buying things on eBay to add up to what a new one custom made for your head would cost. I guess the real question to be answered is 'do I want a large number of different hats, or only one or two?'. I'd say that eBay would be the way to go to grow a collection, and a hatter the way for only one or two.

later!

Stan

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Hi,

I'd say that eBay would be the way to go to grow a collection, and a hatter the way for only one or two.

Stan

Perfect logic Stan. Gets right to the point!

And like I wrote in another post, I admire those who have one or two hats and stick with them. That to me is the coolest thing. I just CAN'T DO IT!!!....


Gene

 

[bolthead]

Hats Happens.....

That's a good one, I have to remember that one. :eusa_clap

"Well, I've bought all of three hats off of eBay since I went looking right after Christmas. I've been outbid a lot, you see. There have also been some issues with label size vs. actual fit as one was a too large, one too small and one fit right. Sounds more like porridge than hats!!"

Stan, as far as the size/fit goes on ebay. You're best bet is.... I found this through experience myself. No matter what size they say the hat is, when it comes to a Vintage hat, alot of makes run different as far as size/fit....especially after sitting around for so many years.

I always ask the seller to measure the inside circumference with a cloth tape, no matter what the size, if I'm interested in the hat. I wear a 7, sometimes a 6 7/8. If I see a 7 1/8, or even a 1/4 that I like, I'll ask the seller to measure it for me. You'd be surprised. This way you know for sure up front what you're getting, instead of taking a higher risk chance by not even asking & just assuming by size tag alone.

Hope this helps some, and enjoy your hat searching trek.

 

[Custom79]

Lessons Hard Learned

I caught this thread and I had to chime in with my two cents.

I must admit that, in years past, I have experienced beginner mania a few times. While I really enjoyed the neat stuff I acquired, my wallet did take a hit more than once. Those are what I call lessons hard learned.

With that said, I am taking my time choosing my first fedora, but it doesn't mean that I haven't wanted to jump at a couple of beauties that I saw the first few visits I made to the lounge.

Cheers.

C79

 

[Stan]

Hi,

Good advice, that - asking the seller to measure with a tape.

Of course, small size variations can be corrected. The one that was a bit too large, I padded behinds the hatband. The one that was a tad too small, I used a stretcher on after conditioning the leather hatband. In both cases, things worked out.

I have to admit, that there were actually *four* hats I got off eBay. The first was way too big and it was my own fault. I had looked at my helmet size and forgot all about the fact that hats are not measued in the same manner as a helmet - which takes into account the bony parts of the skull and the ears as well! :eusa_doh:

One thing I really have no help for when it comes to eBay is - color.

All three of my eBay hats came in as a different color than the eBay photos showed them to be. It seems that no one corrects for the color temperature of their lighting, which would get the color close enough for me.

Then, too, I have a color calibrated system since I'm into digital photography. For most, that have not gone thru the steps to color calibrate their computer screen, the problem of 'just what color is that hat on eBay' is even worse.

I even tried taking eBay photos off the web and into my system, looked at the colorspace the file said was being used (in the hope that the data was actually correct) and then tried to use a background reference or hat liner - anything I thought was white or grey - to correct the lighting color after the fact - and came up with color that didn't match reality once I'd received the hat.

Well, I knew that was probably not going to work out, but it was worth a try. It's one of those factors that makes me not want to bid up out there. One can try asking the seller to please take a new photo with a photographer's grey card in the shot for a color balance reference, but I doubt many sellers would do that - even if they happened to have a grey card!

So, my take is that I'm pretty much going to leave eBay to the rest of y'all and just get a couple hats made up.

Later!

Stan

 

[Spellflower]

Yeah, ebay can be hit or miss. I've had some great success there (Dobbs 20 for $50), and some wastes of time, mostly due to my laziness or ignorance. The more you know, the better you'll do, but it's always a risk.

 

[PhilS]

Color - and smell

The new avatar is my first ebay hat, received today. It is a nice enough hat, but it supports the comments above -- it was described as brown, when it is green (which is fine with me), and the link failed to mention it is a bit gamey (incidentally, is there a way to de-mustify old hats?). It fits great, though.

Now some questions concerning the hat. It says John B. Stetson Company 3x Beaver Stetson Crafted Edge on the brim. The coat of arms is a 3 color (gold, blue, red) with beaver on the left and a griffin on the right. The size tag says United Hatters Cap Works on the reverse. The box it came in has no info but bears the same beaver/griffin coat of arms and the tag "1865-1965 Born in America Worn Around the World".

Is this a good hat, a middling hat, a bad hat? Is it a 60's hat or is the box a macguffin?

 

[PhilS]

Pictures and PMS

A couple of other questions - are uploads and pms disabled for new members? When do these privileges kick in?

 

[indycop]

A couple of other questions - are uploads and pms disabled for new members? When do these privileges kick in?

I think at 15 posts.

 

[PhilS]

Well, when I hit 15 I'm going to ask you how you like that Route 66

It is a beaut.

 

[mingoslim]

Are you asking about the VS Route 66?

It is a beaut.

If so . . . snap one up.
I have one (Oklahoma), and it is a stunning hat . . .

See for yourself:

 

[indycop]

That would look awesome on the Disney Cruuise ship! The way to the Cadillac lounge and nightclubs is called Route 66 and is a great photo area especially with that hat!:eusa_clap

 

[Jfala]

As a newcomer to FL and "dress' hats I figured I should chime in as well. When I decided to start wearing better hats I couldn't figure out what to do. eBay (at the time) was too confusing since I had no real hat knowledge; plus I didn't want a lot of hats - I wanted a brownish o hat, a grey or black hat, and a lighter color hat so that I could wear one with anything in my wardrobe. After many many nights of reading up I bought a new hat (Stetson Temple in Mink) from Village Hats and not long after that I dove head first into eBay. In the past 3 weeks I have acquired a grey, vintage Stetson Royal Deluxe and a more modern Stetson Open Road. You could say that I am starting a Stetson collection. I am very happy with my eBay purchases, but I was fairly picky and only went with hats after communicating with the sellers to make sure the sizing was correct. Also I haven't spent more than $50 for either the Royal Deluxe or OR. Like with anything, eBay has pitfalls and you just need to be careful. To reiterate what others have said, without reading up here and looking at many hats on eBay I would never be able to tell a custom hatter like Art what I liked. At this moment, I don't think I can still. Just means I need more hats...

Have fun with it. Start slowly (I know it's difficult). Find a hat store close by and try on a bunch - that's the best way to learn what looks good on you.

- Jeff