Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[rlk]

Mallory Copper Printing Plate

Not mine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...395166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182

 

[buler]

Not mine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...395166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182

Dang, I hate it when my searches miss something. If anyone on here got this and wants to double their money (or more) PM me.

B

 

[feltfan]

I'm not with you on this one, Lefty. I think those auctions are fairly deceptive. Hawking those absolutely modern Hatco lids as "vintage" Stetsons, including info that suggests that they may be from the 1940's, is an absolute scam in my book.

"This fully custom vintage hat is by Stetson..."
Where "fully custom" means the guy sat on it
and "vintage" means he spilled wine on it?
I think it's intentionally misleading and I hope the
buyer is reading this site.

For that money, he could get a REAL fully custom hat.

 

[buler]

Strat box

Someone got a great price on this stratoliner box. I hate it when I'm out to dinner and an auction ends.... :eusa_doh:

PoorlylistedStratBox

B

 

[barrowjh]

Buler, I had seen that one and bid on it when it first came on line, but was unwilling to go beyond a combined $20 just for the box. It had no innards, and that was one of the unique things about those boxes - the 'hat form' was NOT level around, but was curved. It swooped up at the front and back, down on the sides, accomodating (in the reverse, for the upside-down hat) actual flanging iof crown-brim to facilitate that high side curl, and it would have helped make the front and back of the brim to angle both ends down in that Australian or hunter-downer style.

I had two boxes, one with the original innards, and I unrolled that crown cylinder and traced it onto some poster board to make an identical innard for the 2nd box. I have since given the one complete original box (with a dark grey Stratoliner) to a relative and I still have the 2nd box with the 'cloned' innards (hat form).

 

[barrowjh]

'Shelby' Stetsons

JTL, I have noticed those custom-bashed Stetson conversions, and was unwilling to chase those very high. Not too happy with the misleading descriptions, but what sells the hat is 'the look.' An incredible lesson for those that are timid when it comes to re-bashing, tending towards the 'conservative' or conventional styling, fearful to make it look more dramatic. The price earned is clear evidence that an aggressive bash is desired and will sell an otherwise mediocre hat.

In vintage pictures men often bashed their hats to intentionally draw attention (or some were just really AWFUL at bashing!). I've seen pictures of public meetings in the TVA service area in the 1930's-40's where a fedora was bashed almost triangular (NOT a diamond) - the crown sharply creased into 3 points (pinches). So, the title I give them - similar to those 'Shelby' Mustangs of the past, these hats are a make-over that sells higher than the original.

 

[Michaelshane]

"But for the fellows that are easily offended by the smell of smoke, etc...I strongly suggest that you stay away from vintage hats or clothing unless you can sniff it for yourself, or ask before you buy. And please don't bid on my hats, because I can't tell you what they smell like."

lol lol lol :eusa_clap
Now that's funny right there....

 

[ScottF]

I need to start doing some Western conversions to flip!

That hat selling in the same range as the like-new, 1952 3X Open Road I lost out on is... well, odd.

Anj

That's insane. The price on the one you lost is not really that odd - in that kind of condition, 7 1/2, cool box, dated (close). My 3X Open Road from that same period is one of my favorite felts - not only does it feel great, but it holds any bash you give it, and needs no steam. Keep looking for one - but you'll get it a lot cheaper if it's messy-looking and you're willing to send it to Optimo for cleaning.

 

[Lefty]

Also states "worn once and put away (well kept) for decades" and "The felt is 5X beaver fur"- not Quality- amongst other deceptive comments if not outright lies.

I did miss the 5x fur statement (I just skimmed these), but to me, the term "vintage" is meaningless. Plus hats just as new are specifically said to be 40s by many sellers. In this case, the hats might be 2 decades old and they don't look very worn. Aside from the "fur" statement, it's just a lot of the same puffing that's used by nearly everyone selling anything. I don't see it as deceptive, and note that the main thing the guy is selling is his reworking of the hats.

Either way, I don't think anyone here is buying what he's selling.

edit: I'll add that Stetson has been selling 3x beaver hats (with an unknown, and probably greatly varied over time, quantity of beaver) for nearly as long as the brand has existed.

 

[portolan]

Of Course I was drawn to the Western Fedora

shape of the hats. But I simply couldn't figure out why they went so high. So glad to know that it wasn't just me. The smoking thing made me laugh though. I'd like to meet the guy!

 

[Yeps]

Stetsonian

Killer. It went for just above my (extremely low) max. I am sure that the person who caught this would have outbid me even had I bid a bit higher.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110503773342&autorefresh=true

Anyone here get this, perchance?

 

[ScottF]

Killer. It went for just above my (extremely low) max. I am sure that the person who caught this would have outbid me even had I bid a bit higher.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110503773342&autorefresh=true

Anyone here get this, perchance?

It was tough to tell what you were getting with that hat - brim looks small, measurements might or might not be correct, and given the way the ebay pics were presented, it's also possible there might be some damage that the seller overlooked. Or it might be a super-bargain for whoever won it.

 

[Lefty]

The Stetson Supper Club is new to me (though I wouldn't be surprised to find that I've previously posted an ad for it).

 

[jimmy the lid]

The Stetson Supper Club is new to me (though I wouldn't be surprised to find that I've previously posted an ad for it).

Wow -- that's a new one on me. Thanks for posting it.

 

[jeffconnors]

FINO FINO FINO!!!

 

[ScottF]

FINO FINO FINO!!!

Jeff - I know that hat's way big for you to wear, so I assume someone else won it. I would NOT put $140 (Optimo price) into that hat to re-build it - the wpi doesn't justify it imo, but $77 is a great deal if it fits you as-is.

 

[ScottF]

another Stetson Select Quality goes cheap

Seeing how cheap my 7 3/4 Stetson Select is likely to go, and with the sweatband on my only other example about rotted out, I decided to take a chance on this beauty as my future pre-30's collection representative, even though it's a size small...and won it for $31. What gives?

Stetson Select with frayed bow

 

[jeffconnors]

Jeff - I know that hat's way big for you to wear, so I assume someone else won it. I would NOT put $140 (Optimo price) into that hat to re-build it - the wpi doesn't justify it imo, but $77 is a great deal if it fits you as-is.

Wpi " looks" pretty high. Iv got a big noggin and a strecher so I usally buy undersize and make it work...7 1/2lo is my head but I prefer a tight hat so 7 3/8 is purrrfect

 

[jeffconnors]

Seeing how cheap my 7 3/4 Stetson Select is likely to go, and with the sweatband on my only other example about rotted out, I decided to take a chance on this beauty as my future pre-30's collection representative, even though it's a size small...and won it for $31. What gives?

Stetson Select with frayed bow

wow! Steal! I think that one was well hidden.

 

[ScottF]

Wpi " looks" pretty high. Iv got a big noggin and a strecher so I usally buy undersize and make it work...7 1/2lo is my head but I prefer a tight hat so 7 3/8 is purrrfect

Hey, that's great - I just saw all those 7 to 7 1/4 hats you were selling, so I assumed you had a smaller head. I like this straw hat just as it is - especially the pug - so good pick-up.

Regarding wpi - I have picked up several in the 650-750 range, and after adding an additional $140 to rebuild, it's quite an investment that I can never re-coup. For whatever reason, Montecristis don't have much resale value - they seem to be a very personal item. Fortunately I love all three of mine, so it doesn't matter.