seeking a top hat

[holmesidepi]

Hello,

I am a new member, with long term interests in fedoras, but currently in need of a decent looking but not top of the line (e.g., relatively inexpensive) top hat, size 7-1/2, or approximately 23.5 inch inner circumference. I need it for my character in a play beginning in late January 2012. Prefer not to have to settle for one of the ubiquitous cheap wool felt knockoffs unless I cannot find a real one, because I would like to keep it for future use as well. It appears nearly all that are for sale on ebay are <7 size, which I would have to glue onto my big head.

If you, or anyone you may know, is interested in selling one, please contact me on the forum with the details.

Thanks

Holmesidepi

 

[newturnofphrase]

I'm the same size as you, and I've been searching for one for a while. Silk top hats in 7 1/2 are really hard to find, and when they do turn up they tend to go for several hundred dollars on ebay. Your best bet is to buy a new fur melusine topper, which is what I finally gave up and did, and I'm quite happy with it. Christys hats makes the best looking/least expensive, and the cheapest place to get them is here: http://www.thehatcompany.com/. You can buy on their online store or on their ebay store (depends where you are). Cheap shipping without the box, and they discount/refund their list price by 30+ pounds because there is no VAT in US/Canada.

 

[filfoster]

see this site and email Ton Meeuwis at

http://www.silktophats.eu/tophats

 

[newturnofphrase]

Ton makes beautiful hats. The only problem with Ton's hats is they'll set you back about $900-1000 used, and $1600 new.

 

[holmesidepi]

Thank each of you for the quick replies.

Not what I was hoping for, but more than I expected. I will look into each of these. However, for my limited usage, appear a bit out of range. Were I attending Ascot every year.... (I probably would not have had to ask the question in the first place.)

 

[Not-Bogart13]

If you need a hat on a budget, don't be so eager to discount a wool felt. I picked up a victorian style topper that, with a regular de-linting, looks great and gets loads of compliments.

 

[Wconly]

Here is a link that might help. Fur Felt...lined and under $200 plus they go up to 7 3/4! Might be worth looking into. www.felthats.com I am not sure why this doesn't want to take you to the site, but simply type the address into your browser and search for fur felt top hats and this should pull up. I believe this is part of Miller Hats in Texas. Good people to work with. W>

 

[undertaker]

I had the same trouble finding a vintage top hat in a 7.5. I finally found one on Ebay and it went for around $400.00 and I was outbid in the final seconds so I bought a polished fur melusine made by Christy's of London on Ebay and have been fairly well pleased with it although the brim is a bit narrow. I think it was around $300.00.

Regards,
J.S.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Not quite a proper silk topper, but there's always Akubra:

http://hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?view=52&returncat=Fedora+Hats&returnpage=1

And Miller, as already mentioned:

http://www.millerhats.com/top_hats/tophats.html

 

[carouselvic]

I just bought this 7 1/2 for $140 delivered.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260918485445?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[undertaker]

I had a Miller in Fur felt but it just did not have the right look, the crown was a tad too short and the brim had the wrong curl. That is why I paid a little more and went with the Christy's.

http://christys-hats.com/fur-taller-top-hat-3598.htm

Regards,
J.S.

 

[newturnofphrase]

Beautiful hat, and I didn't know borsalino made toppers! However, that's a 6 1/2... but that seems to be a different kind of measurement, as given the circumference measurement it's about 7 1/8 US size or maybe a half size larger.

 

[carouselvic]

it's a 7 1/2 American

 

[newturnofphrase]

If that's how it fits, then that's a great find, and if you ever resell it you'll probably get a huge profit! I was just going by the hat description, which says it's 22 1/2 inside, which is a 7 1/8-1/4.

 

[filfoster]

I have a couple of fur felt hats and they are fine but nothing looks as shiny and sleek as a silk plush top hat.
The felt ones lack that lustre and the sharp edge where the 'body' of the hat meets the horizontal crown top. Ton's refurbished ones are very nice but John McMicking's silk plush ones are as sturdy as a tank and really nice 'period' looking. My three vintage toppers sit most of the time in their boxes but John's see a lot of daylight.