Bye, bye, boater...

[Warbaby]

My recently acquired vintage boater was destroyed today in a scene right out of a Laurel & Hardy movie. This was Canada Day - our version of the 4th of July - and of course our town has the obligatory Canada Day parade. Our local history museum was represented in the parade by a big vintage 2 1/2 ton truck with a display on the back. Several of us walked alongside, handing out free tickets to the museum. I was wearing a vaguely 20s-30s era outfit consisting of cream linen trousers, red braces, and a striped shirt with a red bowtie, and my vintage boater. About a third of the way through the parade route, a sudden gust of wind lifted my boater off and deposited it directly in front of those big dual wheels on the back of the truck. Yep, definitely a Laurel & Hardy moment. I took it well, but I was not particularly amused at the time.

Now it's back to searching eBay for a replacement.

Dang.

 

[Dreispitz]

My condolences!

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace!

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[jazzncocktails]

Yep, definitely a Laurel & Hardy moment. I took it well, but I was not particularly amused at the time.

Now it's back to searching eBay for a replacement.

Dang.

A heart-stopping moment...but at least someone didn't take it off your head and put their fist through it. I could only imagine Oliver Hardy's double take on that. Small consolation, I know![huh]

Good luck on the search for a replacement!

 

[Charlie Huang]

You should have got yourself a boater wind trolley...

 

[daizawaguy]

Boaters have sold out in Tokyo this summer - they are now the number one fashion item! CA4LA (a hat store in trendy neighborhoods) is out of stock.

 

[ScionPI2005]

That does sound like Laurel and Hardy.

I'm sorry for your loss. That would really put me in a bummed mood for a while.

 

[Tango Yankee]

A heart-stopping moment...but at least someone didn't take it off your head and put their fist through it. I could only imagine Oliver Hardy's double take on that. [huh]

Actually, as RHY brought to our attention a while back, that bit was Abbott and Costello and the Susquehannah Hat Company.

Sorry for your loss, Warbaby. You looked great in your boater!

Good luck on your search for the next one.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I hate to hear that, WB. Whatchagonnado, I guess, but man, that is sad news. I think you'll have no problem looking just as smart in the next one. It wasn't THAT hat necessarily, but the way that style suits you which was so impressive. And, no doubt, it will be again...

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

P.S. was the ribbon salvageable?

 

[carouselvic]

That Graham, up there at Optimo, can fix anything that ain't been dead too long. Although it might come back smelling of smoke. TLH

 

[Fletch]

Laurel & Hardy...well. In 1930 when a new boater cost one dollar, it would have been a laff riot. Today, when they're $100 or more and sometimes a long wait before you can find a good one... :rage:

 

[KeyGrip]

What size do you wear?

 

[besdor]

It is amazing that in Japan the boater would be a sellout. Here is the USA ,it is a dead item that has been relegated to barber shop quartets and old time reinactments. The two remaining manufacturers must be happy.

steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[Lawrence Connor]

My recently acquired vintage boater was destroyed today in a scene right out of a Laurel & Hardy movie. This was Canada Day - our version of the 4th of July - and of course our town has the obligatory Canada Day parade. Our local history museum was represented in the parade by a big vintage 2 1/2 ton truck with a display on the back. Several of us walked alongside, handing out free tickets to the museum. I was wearing a vaguely 20s-30s era outfit consisting of cream linen trousers, red braces, and a striped shirt with a red bowtie, and my vintage boater. About a third of the way through the parade route, a sudden gust of wind lifted my boater off and deposited it directly in front of those big dual wheels on the back of the truck. Yep, definitely a Laurel & Hardy moment. I took it well, but I was not particularly amused at the time.

Now it's back to searching eBay for a replacement.

Dang.

Sorry to hear that.

I was thinking of getting one myself.

 

[daizawaguy]

The two remaining manufacturers must be happy.

steven
www.bencrafthats.com

Who are they...Tesi and ??

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Lawrence; please do not link to live auctions.

You can learn the ropes by reading some of the sticky threads at the beginning of page one on Hats. Like the one; "No Live EBAY or online auctions".

 

[Warbaby]

Thanks to everyone for your kind condolences. While it was a bummer to lose a hat that I really, really liked, I don't hold on to tragedy. What's done is done and there's no sense fretting over things that can't be changed. It's not like it was the Last Boater on Earth. Sooner or later I'll find another (hopefully sooner, before summer is gone).

Fortunately the hatband was undamaged and I've salvaged it for use on the next one. I liked that black band with the thin white stripe a lot. Even more fortunately, I had my favorite hat pin - the enamel one from Zeppelin Day at the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair - on it and it survived the crushing without a scratch. That's one that I'd prolly never be able to replace. The last one I saw on eBay went for over 200 bucks. So all's well that ends well, and the whole fiasco ended on a brighter note than it might have.

BTW, I'm watching eBay for another boater, but if anyone hears of one for sale elsewhere, please let me know. My hat size is 7 1/4 or 58-59 cm.

And for those who haven't seen it, here's that hat pin:

 

[Lawrence Connor]

Lawrence; please do not link to live auctions.

You can learn the ropes by reading some of the sticky threads at the beginning of page one on Hats. Like the one; "No Live EBAY or online auctions".

Alright. Thanks.

 

[Charlie Huang]

The only boater maker in the UK seems to be Olney's.

I am surprised that Japan has a boater craze! I think I should tell my colleagues and friends and put them to shame that the Japanese can out do us when it comes to traditional headwear!

May I ask what maker are the Japanese boaters? Are they proper stuff boaters at all?

 

[Caity Lynn]

Ouch! I feel for you

and *shudder* Susquehanna Hat Co. I was in a vaudeville type show that did that skit. One word "SCREAM" very loud. Quite nerve shattering.