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

[Frunobulax]

A little help, guys. I fished another fixer-upper out of the Bay last night. Berger of Hollywood. It's going to need a re-block to my size and a new sweat - possibly a bath as well. Searching around here I only found one reference to a "Berger of California" boater from the 1920s; however, the photo link is broken so I can't compare tags or anything. The seller states the felt is in good condition, but that's always hit or miss. It looks like a nice high straight crown and I think with a little effort will make a great hat. Picked it up for $35 with shipping, and budgeting $20 for a sweat from Bond. The following are a couple of the seller's pictures. Any ideas on dating this bad boy?

Thanks in advance!

 

[hatophile]

I can't tell you much about the date Jim but that looks like a cool old hat that will clean up very nicely.

 

[moontheloon]

A little help, guys. I fished another fixer-upper out of the Bay last night. Berger of Hollywood. It's going to need a re-block to my size and a new sweat - possibly a bath as well. Searching around here I only found one reference to a "Berger of California" boater from the 1920s; however, the photo link is broken so I can't compare tags or anything. The seller states the felt is in good condition, but that's always hit or miss. It looks like a nice high straight crown and I think with a little effort will make a great hat. Picked it up for $35 with shipping, and budgeting $20 for a sweat from Bond. The following are a couple of the seller's pictures. Any ideas on dating this bad boy?

View attachment 46541 View attachment 46542

Thanks in advance!

was watching that ... great old hat

glad you got it ... I love the look

 

[Frunobulax]

was watching that ... great old hat

glad you got it ... I love the look

Thanks. I didn't think anybody else would bid, so I threw some $$$ at it and started getting ready to hit the sack. Then my wife said, "Aw, you were outbid!" So I fought the sandman and stayed up, tossing my winning bid on it at about 5s before it expired.

Went to bed happy.

 

[moontheloon]

the dude with the gray late 50s playboy 7 1/8 keeps lowering his price ... will one of you just buy this thing so I don't have to look at it anymore

 

[40Cal]

the dude with the gray late 50s playboy 7 1/8 keeps lowering his price ... will one of you just buy this thing so I don't have to look at it anymore

i would make an offer on it but wouldn't want to " waste his time".

 

[moontheloon]

i would make an offer on it but wouldn't want to " waste his time".

just wait a few days and he will be down to 2 something

 

[40Cal]

just wait a few days and he will be down to 2 something

The tone of his listing makes me think I would prefer not to deal with him at any price. Looks like a nice hat though

 

[moontheloon]

The tone of his listing makes me think I would prefer not to deal with him at any price. Looks like a nice hat though

I read that tone as well

ripping other sellers and saying stuff like ... this won't last long bla bla bla ...

I hear you

 

[moontheloon]

it's funny that sellers don't take those things into consideration

I have definitely steered clear of some nice pieces simply because the seller sounded like a dry biscuit in his description

 

[40Cal]

it's funny that sellers don't take into those things into consideration

I have definitely steered clear of some nice pieces simply because the seller sounded like a dry biscuit in his description

Haha... "Dry Biscuit" ! That is spot on.

 

[Frunobulax]

Haha... "Dry Biscuit" ! That is spot on.

I am so stealing that.


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[Bob Roberts]

JUST NOW: $153.00 Who got it? Lol. Not me Wouldn't bid more then a buck 25. Supernatural Panama.

If it's one of My Bros wear it in good health and show us what it looks like straightened out and cleaned up.

 

[Bob Roberts]

the dude with the gray late 50s playboy 7 1/8 keeps lowering his price ... will one of you just buy this thing so I don't have to look at it anymore

I'm laughing!

 

[Rick Blaine]

STETSON AMERICAN ADIRONDACK



Anyone have one? Want to speculate as to the age?
Looks rather like a Moose River and a Three Forks had a baby, eh?

 

[Mm25]

JUST NOW: $153.00 Who got it? Lol. Not me Wouldn't bid more then a buck 25. Supernatural Panama. View attachment 46562 View attachment 46563 If it's one of My Bros wear it in good health and show us what it looks like straightened out and cleaned up.

I wish. I was out early on that one too, lots of cash floating around lately.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I wish. I was out early on that one too, lots of cash floating around lately.

Really. Opened at $25.00.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Almost worth it just for that pug'!

 

[RJR]

Almost worth it just for that pug'!

Yes,love the pug.

 

[Joshbru3]

JUST NOW: $153.00 Who got it? Lol. Not me Wouldn't bid more then a buck 25. Supernatural Panama. View attachment 46562 View attachment 46563 If it's one of My Bros wear it in good health and show us what it looks like straightened out and cleaned up.

This hat is much more special than many on the lounge realize. This panama has a very tall crown with a deep crease and side dents. Unreeded sweatband and stampings place this hat somewhere in the 20's/30's more than likely. Not only is the weave very fine, its extremely rare to find a panama from the 20's/30's that's not cracked or crushed. Many panamas are woven with short crowns and you simply cannot "raise the crown height" on a panama that easily. Panamas are woven on specific blocks with specific heights and with the exception of squeezing an extra 1/8 of an inch out of an already blocked crown...the height is pretty set. Unlike felts that can be raised using brim material. If you were to buy this same hat from Optimo today, pending they could source the oversize fine woven panama bodies (a handful of people in the world that can still weave fine bodies), its would cost between $1000 - $2500. At $150, it was a STEAL 10 times over.