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Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
This “straw” hat was part of a large purchase I made at the end of last year. The hat is unbelievably lightweight! It’s made of “genuine Baku.” It’s very thin and feels delicate. The brim is 2 ⅝” wide. The sweatband is some sort of ribbon. It’s a US size 7 or 56cm.

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mark_m

New in Town
Messages
21
I hope I'm learning. Bought three 7 1/4 hats off eBay and they are all shrunk down to between 7 and 7 1/8. Next time I'll have seller measure the circumference. All of them really great hats though. One, a Wormser I posted earlier, fits my #1 son perfect and suits his face perfectly. His birthday coming up. Another, this Churchill, is going back to the seller. Marked 7 1/4 but measures 56 cm. Such nice felt I hate to let go of it:)
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The Shoe

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,158
Location
Wakayama, Japan
I hope I'm learning. Bought three 7 1/4 hats off eBay and they are all shrunk down to between 7 and 7 1/8. Next time I'll have seller measure the circumference. All of them really great hats though. One, a Wormser I posted earlier, fits my #1 son perfect and suits his face perfectly. His birthday coming up. Another, this Churchill, is going back to the seller. Marked 7 1/4 but measures 56 cm. Such nice felt I hate to let go of it:)
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I wouldn’t feel confident I could measure the circumference of a hat accurately. I know Brent @deadlyhandsome has a tool (I forget what it’s called) for measuring hat size, but says it measures slightly under the actual size (he’ll correct me if I’ve got that backwards). So what I’m saying is that in my limited experience it is likely to still be a bit of a lottery.
Maybe length and width measurements, or photos with a ruler would give you a better idea. I’m sure others with more experience will chip in with advice.
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,838
Location
Central Texas
I wouldn’t feel confident I could measure the circumference of a hat accurately. I know Brent @deadlyhandsome has a tool (I forget what it’s called) for measuring hat size, but says it measures slightly under the actual size (he’ll correct me if I’ve got that backwards). So what I’m saying is that in my limited experience it is likely to still be a bit of a lottery.
Maybe length and width measurements, or photos with a ruler would give you a better idea. I’m sure others with more experience will chip in with advice.

Agreed. I'm generalizing but vintage felt seems to swing +/- one size with about 75% to 80% being true to size. Only once have I had a hat where the Long Oval made any difference. That said, modern felt may have the same kinds of variation, I just don't know of many here on TFL who deal enough with modern production hats to respond.
 
Messages
19,409
Location
Funkytown, USA
I wouldn’t feel confident I could measure the circumference of a hat accurately. I know Brent @deadlyhandsome has a tool (I forget what it’s called) for measuring hat size, but says it measures slightly under the actual size (he’ll correct me if I’ve got that backwards). So what I’m saying is that in my limited experience it is likely to still be a bit of a lottery.
Maybe length and width measurements, or photos with a ruler would give you a better idea. I’m sure others with more experience will chip in with advice.

I prefer asking for the LW measurements over any circumference measurement. Not only is it easier for the seller to accomplish, but you get a better sense of the ovality (is that a word?) of it and how it will fit your head.

Oddly enough, over the several years I've been purchasing vintage hats, I've never gotten a tagged 7 1/4 that doesn't fit me Some are a little snug, some a little loose, but they've all been wearable. So many Members have had that experience I find it weird it hasn't happened to me.
 

Yamahana

One Too Many
Messages
1,045
Location
Buckeye, Arizona
I prefer asking for the LW measurements over any circumference measurement. Not only is it easier for the seller to accomplish, but you get a better sense of the ovality (is that a word?) of it and how it will fit your head.

Oddly enough, over the several years I've been purchasing vintage hats, I've never gotten a tagged 7 1/4 that doesn't fit me Some are a little snug, some a little loose, but they've all been wearable. So many Members have had that experience I find it weird it hasn't happened to me.
I do the same thing and usually attach an example pic for reference. It's astounding some of the replies and pics I get in response without providing an example.
 

mark_m

New in Town
Messages
21
I just measured a newish Stetson and a new Mayser, both marked 58. I measured 57.8 and 58.5 respectively. And the Stetson does feel a bit more snug than the Mayser. So I think it's possible, just walking your thumbs a half inch at a time along a cloth tape measure. That said, it is tedious (and painful for me with my arthritis!) and I can imagine it would be very unlikely to get hat sellers to do this... So I'll try length and width next time around:)
 

mark_m

New in Town
Messages
21
I prefer asking for the LW measurements over any circumference measurement. Not only is it easier for the seller to accomplish, but you get a better sense of the ovality (is that a word?) of it and how it will fit your head.

Oddly enough, over the several years I've been purchasing vintage hats, I've never gotten a tagged 7 1/4 that doesn't fit me Some are a little snug, some a little loose, but they've all been wearable. So many Members have had that experience I find it weird it hasn't happened to me.
Either your luck is better than mine, or your head is more adaptable:) I'm 0 for 4 now, one of them just being my mistake in not reading the size correctly in the listing...
 

Mighty44

One Too Many
Messages
1,998
I just measured a newish Stetson and a new Mayser, both marked 58. I measured 57.8 and 58.5 respectively. And the Stetson does feel a bit more snug than the Mayser. So I think it's possible, just walking your thumbs a half inch at a time along a cloth tape measure. That said, it is tedious (and painful for me with my arthritis!) and I can imagine it would be very unlikely to get hat sellers to do this... So I'll try length and width next time around:)
In my experience, vintage hats are far more accurate in sizing than modern hats. I’m with Jim, almost every vintage (1940s-60s)hat I’ve ever bought in my size has fit me. New Stetsons are all over the place—my straw stratoliner is a full size down from my usual size.

David
 

mark_m

New in Town
Messages
21
Here's one of the other hats that's going back to ebay, but it's a beauty. I think this one has made some rounds here if I'm not mistaken. Gorgeous dark chocolate McAndrew. It does measure close to 58, as marked, about 57 1/2, but a little snug on me. I've no idea the actual ages of any of the hats I'm buying:)
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Randall Renshaw

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,087
Location
Nahunta, Ga.
EMKO in the house!
It made the size and half stretch from 7 1/8 to 7 1/4+ with absolutely no problems, thankfully. This is one great, old piece! Can’t give an exact date, but from all its clues we’re guessing early 1900s, maybe as late as 20s. Not much to find out on this brand and Mike from Rome has searched hard, since he ended up buying that other one (6 7/8) from the same eBay seller that I got mine.
His doesn’t have a liner, too, so maybe these hats didn’t come with one.
Was all I could do to not steam in my favored crown crease for westerns, but for this’n I wanted to put in a crease that likely most men had put in em. Middle crease a bit low in front and high in back with a long pinch.
Was able to keep the kettle curl completely in tact in the wet felt blocking process. Not easy, but doable.
The scarce hat looks and fits like a dream and I’ll be giving this old beaut plenty of head time!
4 1/4” in front. 4 3/4” rear.
1/2” ribbon and campaign bow.
3 5/16” brim in front and rear. 3 1/8” on sides.
It was a bit wider and during blocking I wanted the brim to lose some width, so let it go into the now 5 3/4” open crown.
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Messages
11,659
EMKO in the house!
It made the size and half stretch from 7 1/8 to 7 1/4+ with absolutely no problems, thankfully. This is one great, old piece! Can’t give an exact date, but from all its clues we’re guessing early 1900s, maybe as late as 20s. Not much to find out on this brand and Mike from Rome has searched hard, since he ended up buying that other one (6 7/8) from the same eBay seller that I got mine.
His doesn’t have a liner, too, so maybe these hats didn’t come with one.
Was all I could do to not steam in my favored crown crease for westerns, but for this’n I wanted to put in a crease that likely most men had put in em. Middle crease a bit low in front and high in back with a long pinch.
Was able to keep the kettle curl completely in tact in the wet felt blocking process. Not easy, but doable.
The scarce hat looks and fits like a dream and I’ll be giving this old beaut plenty of head time!
4 1/4” in front. 4 3/4” rear.
1/2” ribbon and campaign bow.
3 5/16” brim in front and rear. 3 1/8” on sides.
It was a bit wider and during blocking I wanted the brim to lose some width, so let it go into the now 5 3/4” open crown. View attachment 507610 View attachment 507611 View attachment 507612 View attachment 507613 View attachment 507614 View attachment 507615 View attachment 507618
That is one formidable hat, Randall. Well done
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
EMKO in the house!
It made the size and half stretch from 7 1/8 to 7 1/4+ with absolutely no problems, thankfully. This is one great, old piece! Can’t give an exact date, but from all its clues we’re guessing early 1900s, maybe as late as 20s. Not much to find out on this brand and Mike from Rome has searched hard, since he ended up buying that other one (6 7/8) from the same eBay seller that I got mine.
His doesn’t have a liner, too, so maybe these hats didn’t come with one.
Was all I could do to not steam in my favored crown crease for westerns, but for this’n I wanted to put in a crease that likely most men had put in em. Middle crease a bit low in front and high in back with a long pinch.
Was able to keep the kettle curl completely in tact in the wet felt blocking process. Not easy, but doable.
The scarce hat looks and fits like a dream and I’ll be giving this old beaut plenty of head time!
4 1/4” in front. 4 3/4” rear.
1/2” ribbon and campaign bow.
3 5/16” brim in front and rear. 3 1/8” on sides.
It was a bit wider and during blocking I wanted the brim to lose some width, so let it go into the now 5 3/4” open crown. View attachment 507610 View attachment 507611 View attachment 507612 View attachment 507613 View attachment 507614 View attachment 507615 View attachment 507618


Fantastic work, Randall. What a glorious old hat!

I’m glad to see that you’ve been posting more lately: we were lessened in your absence.
 
Messages
18,401
Location
Nederland
EMKO in the house!
It made the size and half stretch from 7 1/8 to 7 1/4+ with absolutely no problems, thankfully. This is one great, old piece! Can’t give an exact date, but from all its clues we’re guessing early 1900s, maybe as late as 20s. Not much to find out on this brand and Mike from Rome has searched hard, since he ended up buying that other one (6 7/8) from the same eBay seller that I got mine.
His doesn’t have a liner, too, so maybe these hats didn’t come with one.
Was all I could do to not steam in my favored crown crease for westerns, but for this’n I wanted to put in a crease that likely most men had put in em. Middle crease a bit low in front and high in back with a long pinch.
Was able to keep the kettle curl completely in tact in the wet felt blocking process. Not easy, but doable.
The scarce hat looks and fits like a dream and I’ll be giving this old beaut plenty of head time!
4 1/4” in front. 4 3/4” rear.
1/2” ribbon and campaign bow.
3 5/16” brim in front and rear. 3 1/8” on sides.
It was a bit wider and during blocking I wanted the brim to lose some width, so let it go into the now 5 3/4” open crown. View attachment 507610 View attachment 507611 View attachment 507612 View attachment 507613 View attachment 507614 View attachment 507615 View attachment 507618
Cool hat and great work, Randall.
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,838
Location
Central Texas
EMKO in the house!
It made the size and half stretch from 7 1/8 to 7 1/4+ with absolutely no problems, thankfully. This is one great, old piece! Can’t give an exact date, but from all its clues we’re guessing early 1900s, maybe as late as 20s. Not much to find out on this brand and Mike from Rome has searched hard, since he ended up buying that other one (6 7/8) from the same eBay seller that I got mine.
His doesn’t have a liner, too, so maybe these hats didn’t come with one.
Was all I could do to not steam in my favored crown crease for westerns, but for this’n I wanted to put in a crease that likely most men had put in em. Middle crease a bit low in front and high in back with a long pinch.
Was able to keep the kettle curl completely in tact in the wet felt blocking process. Not easy, but doable.
The scarce hat looks and fits like a dream and I’ll be giving this old beaut plenty of head time!
4 1/4” in front. 4 3/4” rear.
1/2” ribbon and campaign bow.
3 5/16” brim in front and rear. 3 1/8” on sides.
It was a bit wider and during blocking I wanted the brim to lose some width, so let it go into the now 5 3/4” open crown. View attachment 507610 View attachment 507611 View attachment 507612 View attachment 507613 View attachment 507614 View attachment 507615 View attachment 507618

Looks like a keeper, Randall..
 

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