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

[ManofKent]

Lovely Melone.
Great finds Brian

 

[mayserwegener]

Justin, ManofKent, Thanks!

 

[Chepstow]

Steve, that's a super Melone! A fantastic find. Looks like in best condition, congrats my friend!

 

[Rick Blaine]

Just stole this

...reminds me of several Mr. J. Phi had some years back.

 

[splintercellsz]

Rick, I hope to see more photos! That felt color is fantastic!

 

[randooch]

That's a beauty, Rick! I have a cousin hat that is one of my faves.

 

[randooch]

That's a beauty, Rick! I have a cousin hat ( from J. Phi.), but mine has matching grosgrain. Yours is awesome. Does it fit you well?

 

[Monte]

Rick, love that Lee!! Love it when the price is right, too.

 

[Nick D]

I got that brown Mallory homburg today. It was described as no damage, but the sweatband is split, fragile, and almost entirely detached. But the hat's a beauty and fits great, so I've treated the leather and am going to try to repair the band. I just need to find a black one in my size now.

 

[splintercellsz]

Nick, sorry to hear about that Mallory. Great looking hat for sure. If you get the chance, you should drop some photos into the Mallory Mile.

 

[John Galt]

Received today, a Dunlap Excellent Quality beaver topper in very good condition. I haven't measured the height yet, but it is about 7-7 1/2 inches tall. It is a size 7, I believe, and just a bit tight on me. It has an amazingly fine finish, but knapped up when I reverse brushed it to remove dust. I don't know anything about top hats, but the price ($88) was unbelievable given the overall excellent condition. I've rarely seen these at any price without bare spots on the edge of the crown.

My best guess is civil war era to 1890's based on the shape, curl, ribbon and brand, but I need to look Dunlap up again. Any insights from those in the know? Also, any storage suggestions? I really don't want this one to sustain any more damage.













John

 

[alanfgag]

Great find! I will be curious to know the crown height when you have a chance to measure it - 7" would be very tall and suggest an earlier date. I am guessing it is shorter (6 - 6 1/2") silk plush rather than beaver and from the first two decades of the 20th Century.

 

[splintercellsz]

I know nothing about toppers, but wow, that one is stunning!! Take a look through the Toppers Unite thread, some great examples in there. For storage, maybe look for a top hat box?

 

[Garrett]

agree with alan on this one - almost positive its not 19th century.

 

[John Galt]

For storage, maybe look for a top hat box?

;-)

 

[splintercellsz]

 

[John Galt]

Great find! I will be curious to know the crown height when you have a chance to measure it - 7" would be very tall and suggest an earlier date. I am guessing it is shorter (6 - 6 1/2") silk plush rather than beaver and from the first two decades of the 20th Century.

To the gentlemen in the know:

Please advise if these change or confirm your impressions. The first three photos are of the purported beaver topper (measuring exactly 6 5/8 inches tall with a seamstress' tape measure, not pictured here) before and after reverse brushing to show the knapp. I've never seen silk plush before, but if this is it, it surely fooled me.

The second set of photos is my silk (not plush) opera Rogers Peet topper, which I figured was a 1930's hat.

Beaver (?) topper:







Pop topper (also under $100, btw):

 

[splintercellsz]

I am not sure on the date of that Beaver topper... but boy do I want one now (not to wear, I could never pull one off, but just to have).

 

[John Galt]

I am not sure on the date of that Beaver topper... but boy do I want one now (not to wear, I could never pull one off, but just to have).

Yeah, I giggled like a little kid at Christmas when I opened the box & put it on ..

 

[John Galt]

I would need a longer coat to wear with it. I was in a full (black) suit & tie today, but it still looked pretty silly. It really looks a lot taller when it is on, incidentally - you would swear it is a foot tall.