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

[gtdean48]

Nice weekender JB!

 

[zetwal]

Summer is a bad time to sell felt. I have several hats that I intend to sell, but won't bother putting them up until October of late Sept.

My observation is that felt hats seem to be selling just fine. Those that are in demand anyway. But isn't that always the case?

 

[randooch]

My observation is that felt hats seem to be selling just fine. Those that are in demand anyway. But isn't that always the case?

I agree. Case in point, the 7 5/8 LO Strat with 3 hours left. 270 clams and climbing!

rlk, very interesting poster.

 

[bowlerman]

That is fantastic!

 

[Joshbru3]

That is fantastic!

+1
Agreed!!

 

[danofarlington]

That's a good hat on you.

 

[barrowjh]

Dan, Tom, thanks for the compliment on the hat. I did not know it was a current production hat when I bid on it, and after seeing it in on-line catalogs, the back brim is supposed to be worn down (aussie style) instead of up. I had more trouble trying to make that back brim curl up correctly (lol) than any other hat ever! Oh well, still, I am pleasantly surprised by the felt quality, IMHO, it is about right for a basic rabbit fur felt, and is not full of stiffener as I expected it would be. I'm not too impressed with the sweatband, are these some sort of composite plastic/leather? The sweatband is in great condition, so there are no problems with it, but it just does not feel like a real leather sweatband. The crown tapers a little more than I prefer, but I can live with it. I expect I will give it to a relative, not a keeper. I'm still looking forward to a similar light sage color felt 'BH Cutter' that Mike will eventually make for me.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Dan, Tom, thanks for the compliment on the hat. I did not know it was a current production hat when I bid on it, and after seeing it in on-line catalogs, the back brim is supposed to be worn down (aussie style) instead of up. I had more trouble trying to make that back brim curl up correctly (lol) than any other hat ever! Oh well, still, I am pleasantly surprised by the felt quality, IMHO, it is about right for a basic rabbit fur felt, and is not full of stiffener as I expected it would be. I'm not too impressed with the sweatband, are these some sort of composite plastic/leather? The sweatband is in great condition, so there are no problems with it, but it just does not feel like a real leather sweatband. The crown tapers a little more than I prefer, but I can live with it. I expect I will give it to a relative, not a keeper. I'm still looking forward to a similar light sage color felt 'BH Cutter' that Mike will eventually make for me.

I've got the exact same hat but I've curled up the back and put in a different bash just like you did. Mine however is just a little over a year old and the felt is like cardboard. I agree that the sweatband is inferior to most of the older felts or even a new Akubra (which feels wonderful). It is a great looking hat though.

 

[HatsEnough]

It is, indeed, a synthetic sweatband. One of the many reasons I prefer hats made before 1960. Also, I notice that most every crown Stetson makes these days is heavily tapered.

 

[barrowjh]

thanks for the info, Terry1955 & HatsEnough. Terry, we may be talking about the same quality of felt, but precise definitions (semantics) make it different. I'm not saying the felt is as supple as 1950s, but it is not hard cardboard, and that was impressive enough, as there was a presumption (in my mind, anyway) that HatCo felts (and most all modern factory hats) were hard-stiff. Maybe if your home in Illinois is not too far from Covington, TN, we can directly compare our weekenders at the next fedorafest, though I doubt this would be high on our agendas.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Compared to my two year old Akubra Campdraft it is very stiff but it is wearable and I was able to steam it and shape it like I wanted it. I was new into the fedoras when I purchased it and would have gone a different route if I had to do it over again. Unlike your deal, I paid the full price for mine. I am much more careful now and I've learned a lot here on the forum. I won't waste my money on anything that I don't really want (not that you did, that is a nice hat). I'm saving up for the Holy Grail List (Stratoliner, Playboy and Whippet) to complete my collection (like that ever happens)! I figure I'm looking at a lot of time and about a grand to make it happen with a size 7 5/8 head. I plan on buying the Strat that the guys here are working on with Buckaroo and Stetson.

 

[barrowjh]

Terry, don't fall for the Playboy and Whippet. If you ever find one in your size, in good shape, and on the cheap, well why not - but keep in mind they were lower-shelf rabbit-fur hats when they were new. The playboy was intended as a cheap entry-level hat for young men, and the Whippet was a 'Royal' quality also, for every-day wear. If you could buy a Royal Deluxe, or better yet a Sovereign quality felt that was the same dimensions and color as a Whippet, why buy the Whippet just for the name? Especially in your size - much better to commission a new hat (in at least a beaver blend!) in a copy of those styles if you really want it. With Mike Moore or Art Fawcett (or Falcon Park, or . . .) you will have a much better quality hat, new, and built to fit you.

 

[Lefty]

old Select Quality, $26 shipped - I don't think this had the BIN option when I spotted it this morning. Congrats to the winner.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Terry, don't fall for the Playboy and Whippet. If you ever find one in your size, in good shape, and on the cheap, well why not - but keep in mind they were lower-shelf rabbit-fur hats when they were new. The playboy was intended as a cheap entry-level hat for young men, and the Whippet was a 'Royal' quality also, for every-day wear. If you could buy a Royal Deluxe, or better yet a Sovereign quality felt that was the same dimensions and color as a Whippet, why buy the Whippet just for the name? Especially in your size - much better to commission a new hat (in at least a beaver blend!) in a copy of those styles if you really want it. With Mike Moore or Art Fawcett (or Falcon Park, or . . .) you will have a much better quality hat, new, and built to fit you.

I understand where you are coming from and I plan on one of the new Strats but I'm stuck on the Whippet and Playboy if I can find the one I'm looking for. I'm not gonna jump unless I'm sure. I let a beautiful Choc Brown Strat go on Ebay (mint condition 7 5/8 LO) because it was not the color I wanted. Even the cheaper hats from the past have a better felt than most of the newer hats I've seen. I'm a "Vintage" kinda guy. I have a mint Supreme Fur Marathon that is as nice as any Stetson I've ever held but I bet it was a $7.00 hat in the 50's.

 

[zetwal]

I understand where you are coming from and I plan on one of the new Strats but I'm stuck on the Whippet and Playboy if I can find the one I'm looking for. I'm not gonna jump unless I'm sure. I let a beautiful Choc Brown Strat go on Ebay (mint condition 7 5/8 LO) because it was not the color I wanted. Even the cheaper hats from the past have a better felt than most of the newer hats I've seen. I'm a "Vintage" kinda guy. I have a mint Supreme Fur Marathon that is as nice as any Stetson I've ever held but I bet it was a $7.00 hat in the 50's.

Hang in there, what you want is sure to come around eventually.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Anyone have any idea if this is a military Knapp-Felt cap? It will make a nice addition to my C&K collection, but I have no idea how to identify it or date it. We should have some experts on here that know about these things.

Brad

 

[red71veloce]

old Select Quality, $26 shipped - I don't think this had the BIN option when I spotted it this morning. Congrats to the winner.

Looks like a deal was cut.....and yes, congrats.

 

[buler]

Am I the only one thats sick of buyers making side offers and sellers accepting them?

B

 

[red71veloce]

Not if I'm the one that made the deal! I understand the feeling, but it seems to be part of the game these days. If it were a hat that I had been pining for and hadn't seen one.....well I would at least give it a shot. Doesn't seem to be a rule book on this.....just saying'......

T

 

[Jedwbpm]

old Select Quality, $26 shipped - I don't think this had the BIN option when I spotted it this morning. Congrats to the winner.

%&%$%&-- I was watching that one

Jeff