Do you ever try to learn the history of your hat?

[FedoraFan112390]

When you buy a used hat--particularly an old one--have you ever made an attempt to trace it's history? Like who first owned it, etc? For me it'd be wild if someone out there has a hat that was belonged to one of my great grandparents or great uncles, or if by some odd fate, one of my family's old hats came into my posession without me knowing it, or if my hat had a wild history.

 

[Rick Blaine]

When you buy a used hat--particularly an old one--have you ever made an attempt to trace it's history? Like who first owned it, etc? For me it'd be wild if someone out there has a hat that was belonged to one of my great grandparents or great uncles, or if by some odd fate, one of my family's old hats came into my posession without me knowing it, or if my hat had a wild history.

YES!

This panama

was once the hat of

Gen. William Kunzig, a key planner for the D-Day invasion and second in command to Omar Bradley (who himself answered only to Patton) during the Battle of the Bulge.

I also have an outstanding cav edge 50 yr. old Biltmore

that belonged to the President of Simpons/Sears (Sears Canada), Mr. Simpson. I ALMOST snapped up a lot of the actor Jack Lord's hats on eBay a few years back, but let 'em go. Anyone else?

 

[monbla256]

One of two hat's (vintage) that I have that I know their history

I've posted it before but I have my father's Rittenhouse which he bought in 1948 at Monnigs Dept. Store here in Ft. Worth. From the receipt which is still in the box, He paid $10.95 for it and it was his "Sunday/dress" hat which I remember him wearing up to the early 60s when it became "...too old fashioned" and went back in the box till I started wearing it after he died 18 years ago. It's the same crease as he had it in.

 

[dhermann1]

Cool hats indeed. But you're a little confused about the chain of command. Patton was UNDER Bradley, not above him.

 

[mayserwegener]

Yes I have a couple with known histories.

Hückel Superior Crystall Velour

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/6-johann-huckel%c2%b4s-sohne-huckel-hutfabrik-weilheim/page__view__findpost__p__273

Echter Borsalino

My father´s Borsalino
History

Kurzfassung:
Gekauft vermutlich zwischen 1921 und 1929 in Karlsruhe,
getragen bis 1948,
im Schrank gelagert bis 2010,
wieder entdeckt im Februar 2010,
bei ebay versteigert Ende März 2010
an den neuen Besitzer in USA.


Über den Hut selbst kann ich nicht viel erzählen, denn ich habe die Zeit, als er gekauft wurde und auch die Jahre später nicht selbt erlebt. Meine Mutter lebt nicht mehr und kann mir keine Auskunft geben.

Deshalb muß ich zuerst von meinem Vater erzählen.

Er war von Beruf Elektromeister und Rundfunktechniker. Zur Ausbildung lebte von 1921 bis 1929 in Karlsruhe. Er war ein Fan von Richard Tauber, der in dieser Zeit hin und wieder an der Karlsruher Oper gesungen hat und sehr populär war.Wir hatten einige Schallplattenaufnahmen von ihm, die durch die Kriegswirren verlorengegangen sind. In Wikipedia ist der Tenor mit einem Hut abgebildet, den ich für einen Borsalino halte. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tauber. Ich denke, mein Vater kaufte sich in dieser Zeit den Borsalino in Karlsruhe. In den 20er Jahren nach dem ersten Weltkrieg waren die jungen Menschen in Deutschland sehr modebewußt.

Nach seiner Ausbildung eröffnete mein Vater in einem kleinen Ort in der Nähe von Heidelberg ein Rundfunkgeschäft und übernahm die Betriebsleitung eines privaten Kraf twerkes. Er war oft auf Geschäftsreise in seinem eigenen Auto. Er war immer korrekt und sorgfältig gekleidet und trug dazu den Borsalino.
Ab 1939 konnte man in Deutschland keine schicken Kleider mehr kaufen. Deshalb ging mein Vater sorgfältig mit dem Borsalino um und pflegte ihn.
Durch einen Berufsunfall hatte mein Vater ein steifes Bein und musste nicht Soldat werden. Er durfte wegen des Kraftwerkes und der Energieversorgung des Ortes sein Auto behalten und den Krieg über fahren.

Jetzt erst setzt meine Erinnerung ein, denn ich war in dieser Zeit noch ein Kind. Wenn mein Vater geschäftlich unterwegs war, trug er den Borsalino.

Nach Kriegsende wurden wir amerikanische Besatzungszone. Mein Vater organisierte zusammen mit dem Ortskommandanten der amerikanischen Besatzungssoldaten den Wiederaufbau des Stromnetzes. Die Energieversorgung mußte schnell wieder hergestellt werden. In den letzten Kriegstagen wurde das Elektrizitätsnetz noch zerstört. Dafür wurde mein Vater jeden Morgen mit einem Militärfahrzeug abgeholt (kein Jeep wegen des steifen Beines). Und er trug den Borsalino. Die Soldaten und auch der Kommandant waren gut zu uns Kindern und unserer Familie. Das Kraftwerk war "Off Limits". Der Kommandant, Hinkel aus NewYork, freundete sich mit meinem Vater an. Er schickte uns nach seiner Rückkehr in die USA regelmäßig Päckchen.

Im Februar 1948 erkrankte mein Vater an einer schweren Lungenentzündung. Antibiotika konnte man nur auf dem schwarzen Markt bekommen. Er verstarb innerhalb einer Woche an seinem 44. Geburtstag. Die Familie war wie betäubt. Seine Kleider schenkten wir den Flüchtlingen aus dem Osten. Den Borsalino aber verwahrten wir sorgfältig in einem Schrank. Kürzlich machte ich den Schrank leer und entdeckte den Borsalino. Ich hatte ihn vergessen. Er war noch makellos und unversehrt. Ich bot ihn bei ebay zum Verkauf an und er landete in den USA. Mein Vater würde sich darüber freuen.

Google transaltion.

My father's Borsalino
History

Abstract:
Probably bought in 1921-1929 Karlsruhe,
worn until 1948,
stored in the closet until 2010,
rediscovered in February 2010,
auctioned on ebay in late March 2010
to the new owner in USA.


About the hat itself, I can not tell you much, because I have the time, when he was bought and not experienced the selbt years later. My mother is not alive and can give me any information.

Therefore, I must first tell you of my father.

He was a professional electrician and radio technician. To form lived from 1921 to 1929 in Karlsruhe. He was a fan of Richard Tauber, who at this time every now and again sang at the Karlsruhe Opera, and very popular war.Wir had some recordings of him that have been lost through the ravages of war. Wikipedia in the tenor is shown with a hat, which I think is a Borsalino. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tauber. I think my father bought in this time the Borsalino in Karlsruhe. In the 20 years after World War II, the young people in Germany were very fashion conscious.

After his training, my father opened in a small town near Heidelberg, a broadcasting business and took over the management of a private Kraf twerk. He was often on business in his own car. He was always dressed properly and carefully and contributed to the Borsalino.
From 1939 you could buy in Germany do not send any more clothes. That's why my father was careful with the Borsalino and nursed him.
By an occupational accident my father had a stiff leg and did not have to be a soldier. He was allowed to keep because of the power plant and the energy of the place his car and go to war over.

Now only uses my memory because I was at this time still a child. When my father was away on business, he wore the Borsalino.

After the war we were American occupation zone. My father organized together with the local commander of the American soldiers rebuilding the power grid. The power supply had to be quickly restored. In the last days of the war the electric grid was not destroyed. For my father every morning was met with a military vehicle (not a jeep because of the stiff leg). And he wore the Borsalino. The soldiers and the commander were good to us kids and our family. The power plant was "off limits". The commander, Hinkel from New York became friends, in with my father. He sent us after his return regularly to the U.S. package.

In February 1948 my father became ill with severe pneumonia. Antibiotics could only get on the black market. He died within a week of his 44th Birthday. The family was stunned. His clothes we donated to refugees from the East. The Borsalino but we held carefully in a cupboard. Recently I took the empty cupboard and the Borsalino discovered. I had forgotten him. He was still pristine and intact. I offered it for sale on ebay and he landed in the U.S.. My father would be pleased.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Cool hats indeed. But you're a little confused about the chain of command. Patton was UNDER Bradley, not above him.

...oops. Mea Culpa

 

[Chepstow]

Yes I have a couple with known histories.

Hückel Superior Crystall Velour

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/6-johann-huckel%c2%b4s-sohne-huckel-hutfabrik-weilheim/page__view__findpost__p__273

Echter Borsalino

My father´s Borsalino
History

Kurzfassung:
Gekauft vermutlich zwischen 1921 und 1929 in Karlsruhe,
getragen bis 1948,
im Schrank gelagert bis 2010,
wieder entdeckt im Februar 2010,
bei ebay versteigert Ende März 2010
an den neuen Besitzer in USA.


Über den Hut selbst kann ich nicht viel erzählen, denn ich habe die Zeit, als er gekauft wurde und auch die Jahre später nicht selbt erlebt. Meine Mutter lebt nicht mehr und kann mir keine Auskunft geben.

Deshalb muß ich zuerst von meinem Vater erzählen.

Er war von Beruf Elektromeister und Rundfunktechniker. Zur Ausbildung lebte von 1921 bis 1929 in Karlsruhe. Er war ein Fan von Richard Tauber, der in dieser Zeit hin und wieder an der Karlsruher Oper gesungen hat und sehr populär war.Wir hatten einige Schallplattenaufnahmen von ihm, die durch die Kriegswirren verlorengegangen sind. In Wikipedia ist der Tenor mit einem Hut abgebildet, den ich für einen Borsalino halte. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tauber. Ich denke, mein Vater kaufte sich in dieser Zeit den Borsalino in Karlsruhe. In den 20er Jahren nach dem ersten Weltkrieg waren die jungen Menschen in Deutschland sehr modebewußt.

Nach seiner Ausbildung eröffnete mein Vater in einem kleinen Ort in der Nähe von Heidelberg ein Rundfunkgeschäft und übernahm die Betriebsleitung eines privaten Kraf twerkes. Er war oft auf Geschäftsreise in seinem eigenen Auto. Er war immer korrekt und sorgfältig gekleidet und trug dazu den Borsalino.
Ab 1939 konnte man in Deutschland keine schicken Kleider mehr kaufen. Deshalb ging mein Vater sorgfältig mit dem Borsalino um und pflegte ihn.
Durch einen Berufsunfall hatte mein Vater ein steifes Bein und musste nicht Soldat werden. Er durfte wegen des Kraftwerkes und der Energieversorgung des Ortes sein Auto behalten und den Krieg über fahren.

Jetzt erst setzt meine Erinnerung ein, denn ich war in dieser Zeit noch ein Kind. Wenn mein Vater geschäftlich unterwegs war, trug er den Borsalino.

Nach Kriegsende wurden wir amerikanische Besatzungszone. Mein Vater organisierte zusammen mit dem Ortskommandanten der amerikanischen Besatzungssoldaten den Wiederaufbau des Stromnetzes. Die Energieversorgung mußte schnell wieder hergestellt werden. In den letzten Kriegstagen wurde das Elektrizitätsnetz noch zerstört. Dafür wurde mein Vater jeden Morgen mit einem Militärfahrzeug abgeholt (kein Jeep wegen des steifen Beines). Und er trug den Borsalino. Die Soldaten und auch der Kommandant waren gut zu uns Kindern und unserer Familie. Das Kraftwerk war "Off Limits". Der Kommandant, Hinkel aus NewYork, freundete sich mit meinem Vater an. Er schickte uns nach seiner Rückkehr in die USA regelmäßig Päckchen.

Im Februar 1948 erkrankte mein Vater an einer schweren Lungenentzündung. Antibiotika konnte man nur auf dem schwarzen Markt bekommen. Er verstarb innerhalb einer Woche an seinem 44. Geburtstag. Die Familie war wie betäubt. Seine Kleider schenkten wir den Flüchtlingen aus dem Osten. Den Borsalino aber verwahrten wir sorgfältig in einem Schrank. Kürzlich machte ich den Schrank leer und entdeckte den Borsalino. Ich hatte ihn vergessen. Er war noch makellos und unversehrt. Ich bot ihn bei ebay zum Verkauf an und er landete in den USA. Mein Vater würde sich darüber freuen.

Google transaltion.

My father's Borsalino
History

Abstract:
Probably bought in 1921-1929 Karlsruhe,
worn until 1948,
stored in the closet until 2010,
rediscovered in February 2010,
auctioned on ebay in late March 2010
to the new owner in USA.


About the hat itself, I can not tell you much, because I have the time, when he was bought and not experienced the selbt years later. My mother is not alive and can give me any information.

Therefore, I must first tell you of my father.

He was a professional electrician and radio technician. To form lived from 1921 to 1929 in Karlsruhe. He was a fan of Richard Tauber, who at this time every now and again sang at the Karlsruhe Opera, and very popular war.Wir had some recordings of him that have been lost through the ravages of war. Wikipedia in the tenor is shown with a hat, which I think is a Borsalino. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tauber. I think my father bought in this time the Borsalino in Karlsruhe. In the 20 years after World War II, the young people in Germany were very fashion conscious.

After his training, my father opened in a small town near Heidelberg, a broadcasting business and took over the management of a private Kraf twerk. He was often on business in his own car. He was always dressed properly and carefully and contributed to the Borsalino.
From 1939 you could buy in Germany do not send any more clothes. That's why my father was careful with the Borsalino and nursed him.
By an occupational accident my father had a stiff leg and did not have to be a soldier. He was allowed to keep because of the power plant and the energy of the place his car and go to war over.

Now only uses my memory because I was at this time still a child. When my father was away on business, he wore the Borsalino.

After the war we were American occupation zone. My father organized together with the local commander of the American soldiers rebuilding the power grid. The power supply had to be quickly restored. In the last days of the war the electric grid was not destroyed. For my father every morning was met with a military vehicle (not a jeep because of the stiff leg). And he wore the Borsalino. The soldiers and the commander were good to us kids and our family. The power plant was "off limits". The commander, Hinkel from New York became friends, in with my father. He sent us after his return regularly to the U.S. package.

In February 1948 my father became ill with severe pneumonia. Antibiotics could only get on the black market. He died within a week of his 44th Birthday. The family was stunned. His clothes we donated to refugees from the East. The Borsalino but we held carefully in a cupboard. Recently I took the empty cupboard and the Borsalino discovered. I had forgotten him. He was still pristine and intact. I offered it for sale on ebay and he landed in the U.S.. My father would be pleased.

das ist eine wunderbare Geschichte Steve!!!
thats a wonderfull story Steve! and a great looking Borsalino

 

[Tango Yankee]

I've got a Stetson that I bought a while back that was being sold by the grandson of the original owner. The grandson put into his auction that his grandfather had been a politician in Nevada. I used that info to do a search and found a letter that connected him with a casino in Cuba in the late '50s. It was a State Department letter concerning mob connections with Cuban casinos. I don't have the details to hand as I'm not at home at the moment, but I thought it was cool to learn it.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[HatsEnough]

I have three hats with any personal history to them.

This one is a Number 1 Quality Stetson Western in a beautiful white...

Owned by Nathan Levy, Post Master, Visalia, California -- Nathan Levy, son of Julius was Postmaster of Visalia up to the time of his death in 1939 at the age of 67. Arrived in California in 1863, in Tulare County in 1865. His daughter Rita married Marco Hellman of Los Angeles.

This 1880s black tall derby from Illinois...

Was made at Romeiser's hats in Belleville Illinois. The hat belonged to W. H. Phelps, prominent businessman in the area in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

And finally, this 1860s era top hat...

Owned by Dr. John McKirk & family. Here is a brief history on Dr. John McKirk & family.

JOHN D. McGIRK, M. D., of Philipsburg, Centre County, was an able and successful physician whose many years of unremitting application to his professional work have given him a place in the front rank among the practitioners of his section. He is a native of Philipsburg, born
October 21, 1834, and the family name is associated with some of the important events of pioneer times in that locality.

Dr. McGirk laid the basis of his education in the schools of his native town and in the academy at Williamsport, Penn., but for the most part his education has been gained by private study. Medical science early attracted his attention, and he practiced with marked success for some years before entering medical college; but in the spring of 1871 he completed the regular professional course at the University of Pennsylvania, obtaining the degree of M.D. Returning to his old home he resumed his work with renewed zeal, and has since remained in active practice.

On November 20, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary F. Hand, a native of Cape May county, N.J., born May 1837. They have had three children:
Loretta, who died at the age of seven years; Annie, at home; and
Charles E., born September 17, 1869, now in practice with his father; his literary education was secured at Dickinson College, Carlisle,
Penn., and then, entering the University of Pennsylvania, he pursued the medical course, graduating in 1895. Studious, progressive, and endowed with fine native abilities, he is a young man of whom the community expects much. Dr. McGirk and family are members of the M. E.
Church. Socially he is affiliated with the F. & A.M., in which fraternity he in his younger days took an active interest. In politics he invariably votes the Democratic ticket. Besides his elegant and comfortable residence, the Doctor owns a fine block in Philipsburg; for several years he kept a popular drug store in the city.

Mrs. McGirk is a descendant of a well-known family of English origin.
The first ancestor of whom we have any record was John Hand, who was born in 1611, at Stanstead, near Maidstone, in the County of Kent,
England. Coming to America, he settled first in Massachusetts in the vicinity of Lynn. In 1634 he moved to Connecticut, to South Hampton in
1644, and to East Hampton in 1648, his death occurring at the last named place in 1660. He married Miss Stamborough, and had seven sons and one daughter. Shamgar Hand, the first son, married, and had five sons and two daughters. Zelophephad Hand, the next in line of descent, married, and had four sons and three daughters. Nathaniel, the first son married, had three sons and three daughters, his eldest son, Jeremiah, being Mrs. McGirk's grandfather. He was born in 1763 and died in 1815. He married Deborah Hand, his cousin, and had four sons and one daughter, as follows: Joseph, Jeremiah, Jesse, Aaron and Deborah. Aaron Hand, Mrs. McGirk's father, was born May 30, 1786, and died May 31, 1852. He and his wife, Eliza (Foster), had four children: Aaron S., Elizabeth, Deborah and Mary (Mrs. McGirk).

 

[Dinerman]

About Charles Gates:

Page 1, New York Times October 29, 1913

C. G. Gates Dies Suddenly in Car

Stricken with Apoplexy at Cody After a Hunting Trip in Wyoming

“Speed is Life,” He Said

Had Crowded his Thirty Seven Years with Many Exciting Experiences

Tips $1,000,000 a year
That was one of his boasts- his mania for special trains- to be buried in Woodlawn

Special to the New York Times

Cody, Wyo., October 28-

Charles G. Gates, son of the late John W. Gates, died here this afternoon at 1:40 of apoplexy. His death occurred in his private car Superb, which was lain on the side track at Cody station ever since his arrival some weeks ago. Mr. Gates and a party of six, including his two pricate physicians, came to Cody about five weeks ago for the purpose of hunting elk, deer, and bear, in the big game country adjacent to this place.

It is understood that one of his principal reasons for making this trip was the state of his health, which he hoped would be improved by a hunt in the pure air of the Wyoming mountains. The party fitted out at this point and spent five weeks in the hills. They returned to Cody last Thursday after a very successful hunt. Elk heads, bear hides and other trophies of Mr. Gates’s skill with the rifle are now being prepared for shipment east.

Mr. Gates appeared to be greatly benefited by his outing and was so well pleased with the country and his trip in general that he remained in Cody for several days, looking after his trophies and enjoying himself generally. His generous nature and jovial disposition made him a favorite with Cody’s town people, with whom he associated as though they were all old friends.
On his return from his hunting trip Mr. Gates spent more than $7000 buying fur coats for friends. He gave his chauffer $1000 and presented to his guide on the trip $10,000 in cash.

A few hours before his death Mr. Gates said he had just made a big turn on the Chicago Board of Trade, and that he expected to spend $70,000 before leaving Cody.

Yesterday he became ill, and, although no serious consequences were anticipated, he was immediately taken to his car and received treatment from his physicians, Drs. Williamson and Mothersell, who remained with him constantly until his death. This morning, at about 10 o’clock, his condition became worse, and Dr. Bennett, a local physician, was called in consultation. The trio of doctors rendered every possible service, but without avail.

It was indended to attach his private car to the noon train for Billings, but his condition at that time was such that it was not considered advisable to move him.

The people of Cody had grown attached to Mr. Gates, and the entire community was shocked beyond measure when the news came that he was dead. A message was immediately sent to his mother in New York, and the disposition of his body was directed by her.
A special engine was engaged and through service arrangements were made for New York. It is understood that as soon as the embalming process has been completed the Superb, bearing the body of its late owner, will be started East.
A Plunger in Wall Street.

Charles G. Gates, dead at 37, lived up to his motto, “Speed is Life.” Following in the foodsteps of his father, John W. Gates, in the lavish distribution of tips, gaming for high stakes, and plunging in the stock market, he had made himself conspicuous also in the last few years for his record breaking dashes across the continent in special trains. It was on one of these occasions that a friend asked him why he spent thousands of dollars to get to New York a few minutes sooner, and he replied “Speed is life.”
It was not until he came to New York ten or twelve years ago that he began to loom up in the news columns. As a youth he had been in the steel and wire business with his fater, and later had entered a Chicago brokerage firm, where he learned the details of the business. Then he came East and bought a seat on the Stock Exchange

Did a Huge Wall Street Business

The heavy operations of John W. Gates were transferred to Charles. B. Gates & Co., in which the father was a member, and in the boom times that preceded the panic of 1907 it did a tremendous business. It was nothing unusual for the firm to carry at times more than $100,000,000 worth of stock for its 2,500 customers and John W. Gates said that for three years it did about 8 per cent of all the business transacted on the Stock Exchange.

In May, 1907, the firm went out of business, and the two Gateses, who were constant companions, left of Europe. The house had been bullish at the top of the market in 1906 and was supposed to be greatly extended. Wall Street figured it dissolved with a loss of $6,000,000 but John W. Gates sturdily maintained that he and his son were quitting at a profit. However, the older Gates suddenly returned at the height of the October panic, and in common with other holders, sold his Tennessee Coal and Iron stock to the Steel Corporation.

Little was heard of Charles G. Gates for two years or more, but in July, 1910, he returned from Paris, where he had fallen ill, and was operated on here for appendicitis, from which he soon recovered.

The next Fall he figured in a story that he had lost $40,000 in a gambling house of this city, and, although he poop-poohed the story, it was generally credited. He had long been a familiar feature on the race tracks and at gambling resorts, and on one occasion was said to have won $20,000 at a sitting in Reno.

 

[Dinerman]

Charles Gates in NYC

On the hunting trip

His Hunting Party

Shaking hands with Buffalo Bill Cody

His Funeral

[/QUOTE]

Inside the shop this hat was sold at c. 1940 with Dave Jones

 

[jlee562]

I have this Resistol Gotham I that I snagged off the 'bay:

The sweat indicates that it was sold by Sall Stearns in Binghampton NY:

I've googled the address and of course the store is long gone, that's about as deep as I've gone with any of my vintage hats.

 

[fmw]

I tried to find out what company manufactured my homburg. All I had to go on was the name of the company it was made for. While I did learn a lot about the company and its founder, I never discovered the manufacturer of the hat. This is the mystery homburg as I bought it.

And here it is after being rebuilt by Optimo.

 

[buler]

Lefty started a thread like this a while back. Maybe we can merge them.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?49169-HATS-WITH-HISTORY&highlight=history

B

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I know the history of most of my hats, as they came from a hat store, except for the few I have been lucky enough for my Wife to snare for me from eBay. Now those hats I do not know much about, and so far, "they are not talking"!

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I have this Resistol Gotham I that I snagged off the 'bay:

The sweat indicates that it was sold by Sall Stearns in Binghampton NY:

I've googled the address and of course the store is long gone, that's about as deep as I've gone with any of my vintage hats.

As to say anything less, you look sharp and as if you are ready for the director to say, "It's a wrap"!

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I tried to find out what company manufactured my homburg. All I had to go on was the name of the company it was made for. While I did learn a lot about the company and its founder, I never discovered the manufacturer of the hat. This is the mystery homburg as I bought it.

And here it is after being rebuilt by Optimo.

That hat looked pretty good before you had anyone work on it, but have to admit from the picture after being worked on, brand new!

 

[fmw]

Thanks. I have mixed feelings about it. The sagging brim on the original had some charm and made the hat look bigger than it is. The major problem was that the binding was frayed and discolored. Since the felt was pristine, I sent it to Optimo for a rebuild. Cleaned, shellaced and blocked, new hat band and matching binding, new sweat band. It is just like a new one now and I like the contrasting binding better.

 

[Lefty]

Lefty started a thread like this a while back. Maybe we can merge them.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?49169-HATS-WITH-HISTORY&highlight=history

B

Please, no. This one is a disaster.

 

[HatsEnough]

Please, no. This one is a disaster.

LOL. I was just thinking that same thing.