Hat Restoration

[gtdean48]

Me, too!

Major Mike did an edge binding on a Stetson Pinnacle for me a while back. Totally made it a different looking lid! Very reasonable. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[azhiker]

Ok, now I'm at wits end! I called Optimo today to see if I ould get them to finish the conversion I started. I had Henry the Hatter trim the brim on my felt Stetson to 2 1/2, and I recreased it into a diamond bash, but the hat needs alot of work still. The 'gentleman' I talked to at Optimo was very short with me, and asked me to 'get to the point' when I ask him questions about what I would need done. He then told me I was probably 'wasting my time' with shipping, renovation, etc, and was just better off junking the hat! Wow, after eveyones alocades about these guys, I was really floored after talking to him. I am looking to have this hat erblocked into a 'c crown', new sweat, full cleaning, maybe brim welt and ribbon hat band. If I had a block, I would just do it myself So far, hatter in Detroit is 'not confidant' and hatter in Chicago is a j**k! Opps, did I just say that. oh well, I'll never set foot in their store. That's for sure. Anyones help would be appreciated!

 

[danofarlington]

Ok, now I'm at wits end! I called Optimo today to see if I ould get them to finish the conversion I started. I had Henry the Hatter trim the brim on my felt Stetson to 2 1/2, and I recreased it into a diamond bash, but the hat needs alot of work still. The 'gentleman' I talked to at Optimo was very short with me, and asked me to 'get to the point' when I ask him questions about what I would need done. He then told me I was probably 'wasting my time' with shipping, renovation, etc, and was just better off junking the hat! Wow, after eveyones alocades about these guys, I was really floored after talking to him. I am looking to have this hat erblocked into a 'c crown', new sweat, full cleaning, maybe brim welt and ribbon hat band. If I had a block, I would just do it myself So far, hatter in Detroit is 'not confidant' and hatter in Chicago is a j**k! Opps, did I just say that. oh well, I'll never set foot in their store. That's for sure. Anyones help would be appreciated!

Those guys at Optimo seem to sell high-end hats, with real markup involved, and that's where their money is. A lot of labor on a hat for not much money is probably not what they are looking to do. I would send your hat to Greeley Hat Works in Greeley, Colorado (www.greeleyhatworks.com I believe), and talk to Jay. I think he's your man.

 

[rlk]

Ok, now I'm at wits end! I called Optimo today to see if I ould get them to finish the conversion I started. I had Henry the Hatter trim the brim on my felt Stetson to 2 1/2, and I recreased it into a diamond bash, but the hat needs alot of work still. The 'gentleman' I talked to at Optimo was very short with me, and asked me to 'get to the point' when I ask him questions about what I would need done. He then told me I was probably 'wasting my time' with shipping, renovation, etc, and was just better off junking the hat! Wow, after eveyones alocades about these guys, I was really floored after talking to him. I am looking to have this hat erblocked into a 'c crown', new sweat, full cleaning, maybe brim welt and ribbon hat band. If I had a block, I would just do it myself So far, hatter in Detroit is 'not confidant' and hatter in Chicago is a j**k! Opps, did I just say that. oh well, I'll never set foot in their store. That's for sure. Anyones help would be appreciated!

While no awards should be given for diplomacy-- that sounds like a $100.00 job + your cost of shipping to them--You could definitely find as good or better hat that is what you are trying to create for less money--but if you want to do that despite the expense they should be willing anyway if you are.

 

[danofarlington]

hat restoration method

I really hate the search engine here on Fedora Lounge, and cannot find a thread on hat restoration sources without going through 500 threads, So I decided to start a thread on the subject.:rage:

I was misled! When I started reading this thread, I thought we were going to talk about hat restoration using Rogaine. That's my go-to method.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Those guys at Optimo seem to sell high-end hats, with real markup involved, and that's where their money is. A lot of labor on a hat for not much money is probably not what they are looking to do.

I'd have to disagree with that. They said on a recent TV report that they do work on thousands of hats a year. Whether just a clean and block or a full restoring they do a ton of work on hats that they didn't make. I'd say that income from work on hats that customers bring in for repair and cleaning is a big part of their intake.

 

[hatophile]

I was misled! When I started reading this thread, I thought we were going to talk about hat restoration using Rogaine. That's my go-to method.

Heck, that's part of the reason I started back wearing hats to begin with!

 

[mayserwegener]

I have had good results with Optimo but I just put a note in the box telling them what to do and they end up calling me. Resizing will require a new sweatband and ribbon. Also I am not sure if they will fix old ribbon/bow work. I did have them work on a old Derby sweatband one time but they tend to want to replace rather than fix old parts. I have found a local seamtress that will do that type of work for me if needed.

 

[basbol13]

I've got an Imperial Stetson I'd like restored.. need recommendations

I've got an Imperial stetson that needs cleaning, blocking, new lining etc. Can someone give me some recommendations on who I should use?

 

[g.durand]

Since you're in Illinois, Optimo in Chicago may be your closest option. Art Fawcett at Vintage Silhouettes does refurb work, and others here on the Lounge have had good results with Black Sheep Hat Works.

 

[Strapped-4-Cache]

I'll second Art's work. He turned around my clean & block in no time, and at a more than fair price.

 

[basbol13]

Thanks will check them out. Do you have a website or phone #?

 

[g.durand]

Here you go:

http://vintagesilhouettes.com/

http://optimo.com/

 

[Bob Roberts]

Mike at Northwest Hats also.

 

[jlee562]

http://www.blacksheephatworks.com/

http://northwesthats.com/

 

[DonJuan]

I've gotten a custom fedora hand made from www.thebrassrooster.com in milwaukee. They do it all. www.brassrooster.com

 

[basbol13]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll go with Optimo they are not far from where I live.

 

[orangehero]

Anyone have experience with Delmonico Hatter doing work on hats?

 

[DOGMAN]

This is a Mallory I found about a year ago.The hat was very dirty,stained,ribbon faded,sweatband crumbling.Finally got around to refurb this hat.1st a naptha bath,it helped some.Then a bath in cold water woolite,looked better.Next I put it on a 7 3/8 #52 block.When dry still had something on the brim I pounced with 220 sand paper.Got most of it off,the felt is very thin didn't want to pounce it to much.Waiting on a sweatband and have to decide on the ribbon I will use.

 

[DOGMAN]

Here it is on the block.The trashed sweat,and showing the faded ribbon.