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

[carouselvic]

Mid-April 1968

 

[GWD]

Mid-April 1968

Thanks!

 

[bolthead]

A Stingy Boater....

I don't think I've ever seen a Stingy Boater before, has anyone here?

Here's the Link.

Very cool Lid. :eusa_clap

 

[Lefty]

yesterday's win

 

[GWD]

Wow, I love those fuzzy critters! I'm wearing my fuzzy Marathon Porkpie as I write this!

 

[jimmy the lid]

Very cool, Lefty. Looking forward to seeing more of that one... :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Brad Bowers]

Wow! I've got to say it again, wow, Lefty, that's quite a fantastic score! An early-1930s (at the newest) long hair finish hat in pristine condition, and 7 3/8 to boot! :eusa_clap

Brad

 

[Lefty]

Thanks guys.
It's a little out of my hat comfort zone and looks like it needs a little brushing for that nice swirled look, but I've never seen that maker and the sweat seems to indicate that it's a pretty old hat.

Edit: wow - early 30s? That's great. I'm a 7 1/2, but couldn't pass this one up. I hope I can make it work.

 

[Brad Bowers]

By the late-'30s most hat companies had switched to a taped-and-reeded sweatband, and were stitching the rear seam closed, rather than an adhesive tape.

I haven't heard of Hat City Hat Co., but their hats were probably made at one the big factories in Danbury and branded for their shop, rather than this being a separate manufacturer.

Edit: I wouldn't stretch the hat to try and make it fit. That adhesive tape on the sweatband seam will split right away because of its age. Heck, it may even split folding down the sweat to look for labels.

Brad

 

[Tango Yankee]

yesterday's win

Nice score, Lefty! I see that two people wanted it more than I did.

I bid on three hats at the last minute last night, and lost all three. On two I was the second-highest bidder. Just as well... I'm running out of room! :eusa_doh:

Cheers,
Tom

Oh, here are the others, a Hippodrome Hatters and a Dobbs Gay Prince

 

[Lefty]

It's the size tag that throws me. For some reason, it indicates a newer hat to me, while the unreeded, non-stitched sweat signals an older hat. Of course, I've seen far more Stetsons here than anything else.

I hope the underside of the sweat reveals more info. as to the manufacturer, because a quick Google search gets me nothing on the marque.

 

[Lefty]

Oh, here are the others, a Hippodrome Hatters and a Dobbs Gay Prince

Thanks TY.

I saw the Gay Prince, and loved this:
"As in the fotos the hat is wrinkled from storage which is the way it is suppose to look."

The Hippodrome looks like a new one. Do you have any more info. on the maker?

 

[Tango Yankee]

Thanks TY.

I saw the Gay Prince, and loved this:
"As in the fotos the hat is wrinkled from storage which is the way it is suppose to look."

The Hippodrome looks like a new one. Do you have any more info. on the maker?

Yeah, I got a kick out of that description as well!

At the time I bid on the Hippodrome all I knew was that the name sounded familiar, which may mean I've got one in the basement. A quick search on the name and I found the their web site. I recall seeing it before, so I must have searched for them previously. Might have been a mention of them elsewhere here, or, as I said, I may have one downstairs. They're a "full-service hatter" in Baltimore, MD.

Cheers,
Tom

Added: There's a number of threads on them here. Google Advanced Search strikes again!

 

[Belegnole]

Thanks guys.
It's a little out of my hat comfort zone and looks like it needs a little brushing for that nice swirled look, but I've never seen that maker and the sweat seems to indicate that it's a pretty old hat.

Edit: wow - early 30s? That's great. I'm a 7 1/2, but couldn't pass this one up. I hope I can make it work.

Now I know who was bidding against me....

 

[Dreispitz]

yesterday's win

What a Poodle! That one was also on my watchlist.

Dating? Glued rear swetaband vs. newer apearing price tag. Hm, there are later sweatbands that feature the same connection (bowlers!). Do all post 30ies feature a sewn rear connection rather than a glued paper joint? Is there proof of ohter early tags of this style?

 

[ScottF]

Refurbished Cavanagh

Very nice hat, Lefty! I was watching it as well, but did as much digging around as I could on the net, and couldn't find any references to that Hat company. But that has to be a bargain regardless of when it was made.

Question - what was so special about the following Cavanagh? If it were in the same condition but not restored, how would that have affected the price?

Cavanagh restored by Optimo

 

[Lefty]

To me, a rebuilt hat has far less value than an original, so I think the price is crazy. I like the markings on the sweat, the old ribbon, etc.

However, the buyer probably saw one of the best names in hats, in a large and long oval size, with a sweat and ribbon that were certain to be in great condition.

 

[Bob Smalser]

...However, the buyer probably saw one of the best names in hats, in a large and long oval size, with a sweat and ribbon that were certain to be in great condition.

The buyer is also from Finland, looking at his feedback, and probably knows exactly what he's doing.

For example, if you've ever wanted a fine, vintage English shotgun.....now is the time to import one.

 

[ScottF]

Bob and Lefty - thanks for the responses. The Cavanagh auction really surprised me - I saw a very similar Cavanagh (same label) with a mint sweatband and mint box, priced quite a bit under that, but still more than I like to pay. Now I'm thinking it might have been a deal.

 

[rlk]

To me, a rebuilt hat has far less value than an original, so I think the price is crazy. I like the markings on the sweat, the old ribbon, etc.

However, the buyer probably saw one of the best names in hats, in a large and long oval size, with a sweat and ribbon that were certain to be in great condition.

If you want a hat to wear and value quality its quite reasonable. Museum value is a different issue. Try to buy a modern hat with that felt quality for the price. Its really lost just the sweatband. The Cavanagh ribbon is not special except for the fraying(feathered edge). An Optimo with modern felt is 3 times the price.