How old is my hat, part II

[Lorne]

Hello all,

Just wanted to show off my handy-work. This is the hat I bought on Ebay. When it arrived I found out that the hat which was the "hat in great condition, just needs a light cleaning", had been crushed 2" flat in the shipping box. It was also so filthy it turned by fingers brown when I handled it. Oh yeah, and the stitching was dry rotted, and the lining and head band had popped out.

Here are the steps I followed in fixing the hat up:

1. Strip the hat to the felt.

2. Wash in woolite

3. Wash in woolite again to get the cigar smoke smell out

4. Block on a flower flower pot (Art, when you are an amature you can get away with stuff like this)

5. Replace the ribbon (thanks Dalexs!)

6. Stitch the thing back together

7. Stiffen with my wife's hair spray (smells purty now...)

8. finis!

The end result is:

So what do you guys think, and how old is it?


Lorne

 

[BellyTank]

Looks great!

You look like you're waring a Union Suit in the last pic...

B
T

 

[Lorne]

Huh?

It takes me three days to figure out how to post a picture of my hat, and the first comment I get is about my shirt.

Some days, it isn't even worth chewing my way out of the the leather restrains.


Lorne

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Looks brand new.

LOL,
You did a great job on your hat. :eusa_clap

 

[Magus]

Ummmm...pssssst....Lorne...he said "Looks Great!" I am guessing he meant the hat...and I agree!

BTW...did you use spray starch you have pictured to stiffen it? Or the hair spray you mentioned?

M

 

[BellyTank]

The Hat of Course!

But I wouldn't use spray starch on my Union Suit.

B
T

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Brilliant!

:eusa_clap



Looks great compared to what I imagine it must have looked like before.

Was it hard to do?

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Great job on a sharp looking lid. :eusa_clap

Why would you want to get rid of the cigar smoke smell, though? It's part of the hat's character. People pay extra for that.

 

[Fortino37]

Dating Lorne hat

Lorne, you really did a great work, it looks like new, because of the style and price I guess your hat is from the early 40's, I have an Adam Executive with the price $7.50 under the sweatband probably form the early 50's

Will be great to see a "before restoration" photo of your hat.

Thank you for the post.

Fortino

 

[Lorne]

Before picture

For those who were asking, here is a "before" picture of the hat:

To answer all other questions:

1. The rebuild wasn't hard to do at all. It only required basic "needle and thread" skills, and the advice of the wise here as to what to do.

2. I didn't use spray starch on the exterior of the hat. To stiffen the hat I used hair spray. I did use spray starch to stiffen the liner, which went as limp as a hanky after I washed it.

3. Cigar smoke is a lot more appealing if you smoke cigars, or burn dog droppings on a regular basis.

4. And Bellytank, its not a Union Suit, it is my shirt. I did not starch it. Enough said?