Post New Hats Here!

[Mighty44]

Dear Doctor—

I write to report that the symptoms have returned full force and that I have — once again — purchased a gray fedora.

This one is a Barbisio refurbished by Fine Vintage Fedoras. I have attached photos for your case notes. You will say that this looks like all of the other gray fedoras I have felt compelled to purchase over the last few years. In my defense I would point out the dark brown ribbon and overwelt brim that set this apart from the rest.

This relapse has caused me to think a lot about what you said—that I will never be cured until I want to get better. The truth is that I’m not sure I do want to be cured—at least not yet.

Yours,

David

 

[Steve1857]

Dear Doctor—

I write to report that the symptoms have returned full force and that I have — once again — purchased a gray fedora.

This one is a Barbisio refurbished by Fine Vintage Fedoras. I have attached photos for your case notes. You will say that this looks like all of the other gray fedoras I have felt compelled to purchase over the last few years. In my defense I would point out the dark brown ribbon and overwelt brim that set this apart from the rest.

This relapse has caused me to think a lot about what you said—that I will never be cured until I want to get better. The truth is that I’m not sure I do want to be cured—at least not yet.

Yours,

David

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I think any doctor would have had you certified as insane if you'd walked away from that one, David. Looks a Barbisio beauty.

Nice liner, too. Don't recall having seen one like it in a Barbisio before.

 

[Steve1857]

Brown Mallory 7 1/8 homburg:

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More in the The Mallory Mile thread.

I really like that Mallory, Brent. Has a touch of Michael Corleone's Homburg in Godfather II about it.

I'm tempted

 

[Mighty44]

I think any doctor would have had you certified as insane if you'd walked away from that one, David. Looks a Barbisio beauty.

Nice liner, too. Don't recall having seen one like it in a Barbisio before.

Thanks, Steve—the liner is new except for the tip liner—part of the restoration.

Cheers,

David

 

[Blare]

Dear Doctor—

I write to report that the symptoms have returned full force and that I have — once again — purchased a gray fedora.

This one is a Barbisio refurbished by Fine Vintage Fedoras. I have attached photos for your case notes. You will say that this looks like all of the other gray fedoras I have felt compelled to purchase over the last few years. In my defense I would point out the dark brown ribbon and overwelt brim that set this apart from the rest.

This relapse has caused me to think a lot about what you said—that I will never be cured until I want to get better. The truth is that I’m not sure I do want to be cured—at least not yet.

Yours,

David

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Very much know the feeling David. Great hat!

 

[Zombie_61]

Dear Doctor—

I write to report that the symptoms have returned full force and that I have — once again — purchased a gray fedora.

This one is a Barbisio refurbished by Fine Vintage Fedoras. I have attached photos for your case notes. You will say that this looks like all of the other gray fedoras I have felt compelled to purchase over the last few years. In my defense I would point out the dark brown ribbon and overwelt brim that set this apart from the rest.

This relapse has caused me to think a lot about what you said—that I will never be cured until I want to get better. The truth is that I’m not sure I do want to be cured—at least not yet.

Yours,

David

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I do think it would look better on me, but...okay, that's a lie. That one in particular really suits you in my opinion, so enjoy!

 

[Mighty44]

I do think it would look better on me, but...okay, that's a lie. That one in particular really suits you in my opinion, so enjoy!

Ha! Thanks

 

[Granville]

After being lost in the mail, my Royal Coachman finally arrived. I cleaned the sweat with alcohol until it stopped coming off black on the rag; brushed it but didn't see a lot of dust come off. I'm thrilled with the gold color, although that's not coming through in the photos, I'll try again after its spent a couple of nights in the freezer. I'll see if I can dab the felt with a damp rag to take off the black marks (any other suggestions for cleaning the felt?). The liner is also soiled, with the 'by Dobbs' faded. No sign of any tip protector, if it was removed it was done very thoroughly.

Don't know why the pics are coming out sideways.

Can anyone help dating this off the factory tag? or price of $22.50? Another clue may be the lack of "by Dobbs" on the sweat - every other example I've seen includes it as part of the Royal Coachman logo.

Also has a Baskin's logo and owner's initials embossed on the sweat. The Guild Edge logo is very faded, too.
Final note: Deep center crease, maybe a tad off-center, with no evidence of side dents/pinch. Looking at other on-line examples of Royal Coachman's, this seems to be the style of blocking for this particular hat.

 

[Granville]

somewhere in the range of 1940 to 1952 (as far as I know ... basing this on the single-celled red/white factory sticker)

Okay, found this recent quote about factory tags. Pretty stingy brim for a hat of such vintage, does the price indicate same? $22.50 would be a pretty expensive lid for that era, no?

 

[BobHufford]

Okay, found this recent quote about factory tags. Pretty stingy brim for a hat of such vintage, does the price indicate same? $22.50 would be a pretty expensive lid for that era, no?

My quote above about the red/white tag was specific to Stetsons from about 1940 (they were 3-celled before then) to around 1953 when they went to a pretty plain white label with little pre-printing.

This is similar to the one that spawned the original quote.

 

[Granville]

My quote above about the red/white tag was specific to Stetsons from about 1940 (they were 3-celled before then) to around 1953 when they went to a pretty plain white label with little pre-printing.

Swing... and a miss. Gotta be sixties or later with that stingy brim. and the price. Hey, I'm trying. Wait 'til I get a picture of it in the sun. It glows.

 

[Mighty44]

This is a pretty exciting one -- my first Vita-Felt, a Stetson Diplomat in my favored color gray. Missing the liner and could definitely benefit from a good steam and brush, but it fits great, the shape is beautiful, the felt is soft and thick and malleable, classic looking overwelt brim and the sweatband is in decent shape. Very happy to have this!

The tag looks a lot like the others @deadlyhandsome and @BobHufford have recently posted -- do you all think 1940s for this?

Cheers,

David

 

[Steve1857]

This is a pretty exciting one -- my first Vita-Felt, a Stetson Diplomat in my favored color gray. Missing the liner and could definitely benefit from a good steam and brush, but it fits great, the shape is beautiful, the felt is soft and thick and malleable, classic looking overwelt brim and the sweatband is in decent shape. Very happy to have this!

The tag looks a lot like the others @deadlyhandsome and @BobHufford have recently posted -- do you all think 1940s for this?

Cheers,

David

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Nice find, David.

I'm no Stetson expert, but the shape sure looks 40s to me. Looking forward to hearing what the true connoisseurs have to say.

 

[steur]

This is a pretty exciting one -- my first Vita-Felt, a Stetson Diplomat in my favored color gray. Missing the liner and could definitely benefit from a good steam and brush, but it fits great, the shape is beautiful, the felt is soft and thick and malleable, classic looking overwelt brim and the sweatband is in decent shape. Very happy to have this!

The tag looks a lot like the others @deadlyhandsome and @BobHufford have recently posted -- do you all think 1940s for this?

Cheers,

David

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Nice find, David.

I'm no Stetson expert, but the shape sure looks 40s to me. Looking forward to hearing what the true connoisseurs have to say.

+1 !

 

[BobHufford]

The tag looks a lot like the others @deadlyhandsome and @BobHufford have recently posted -- do you all think 1940s for this?

Looking forward to hearing what the true connoisseurs have to say.

Bee-yoo-tee-full hat David! I'd be comfortable saying 1940s, but I'm right about as often as a stopped clock.

I'll defer to @alanfgag , @carouselvic , @buler , etc.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/dating-30s-40s-stetsons-by-manufacturing-label.61678/

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is a pretty exciting one -- my first Vita-Felt, a Stetson Diplomat in my favored color gray. Missing the liner and could definitely benefit from a good steam and brush, but it fits great, the shape is beautiful, the felt is soft and thick and malleable, classic looking overwelt brim and the sweatband is in decent shape. Very happy to have this!

The tag looks a lot like the others @deadlyhandsome and @BobHufford have recently posted -- do you all think 1940s for this?

Cheers,

David

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Beautiful hat, David. There is a lot of variation in the 1940s Vita-Felt hats and yours looks to be exceptional! Great find.

 

[carouselvic]

- do you all think 1940s for this?

Cheers,

David

40’s for sure

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is a pretty exciting one -- my first Vita-Felt, a Stetson Diplomat in my favored color gray. Missing the liner and could definitely benefit from a good steam and brush, but it fits great, the shape is beautiful, the felt is soft and thick and malleable, classic looking overwelt brim and the sweatband is in decent shape. Very happy to have this!

The tag looks a lot like the others @deadlyhandsome and @BobHufford have recently posted -- do you all think 1940s for this?

Cheers,

David

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Can you add it to the Vita-Felt thread?

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stetson-vita-felt.2822/page-20

 

[Granville]

Here are some pics of the Royal Coachman in the sun. I found a video by Kevin from JJ Hat Center about cleaning with sandpaper and sandpaper blocks, also white erasers. I used the white eraser; it didn't take the stains/marks out completely, but lightened 'em up pretty good. gently rub and then brush.
5.5" open crown, 1.5" brim, 2" ribbon.
I'd say the crease was put in at the factory or Baskin's store, very established, albeit a tad off-center. No side dent or pinch; I can "pinch" it but only because the felt is soft, there's no "memory" of a pinch.




Here's a side by side with my Warwick, shows the difference in color. Still not great reproductions, the Coachman being gold, the Warwick an olive tint. But even without being true to the color, the pic shows that they are very different. The Warwick has the same open crown of 5.5", but a slightly wider brim (1 3/4") and slightly smaller ribbon (1 3/4"). I had to steam and stretch the Warwick (again using one of Kevin at JJ's videos for instructions on "how to...") -- it had no size tag and I bought it on hunch -- thisclose!). It's still a little stinky, too, but leaving it in the sun has helped.

Funny how the 'gold' reads greenish in the pics (it's not) and the olive just looks gray.
Here's the obligatory Selfie shots.


And little love for the funky coachman pin.

Okay, back in the freezer for another day, just to be safe.

 

[Mighty44]

Can you add it to the Vita-Felt thread?

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stetson-vita-felt.2822/page-20

Will do.