Side By Side/ Hat Comparisons

[Short Balding Guy]

Thanks for sharing these Tom.

For the life of me, I can't understand why they've opted to use a staple gun to attach the ribbon to the hat body... a very noticeable and wrong place to remove skilled hands from the process IMO.

+1.

 

[gtdean48]

Thanks for sharing these Tom.

For the life of me, I can't understand why they've opted to use a staple gun to attach the ribbon to the hat body... a very noticeable and wrong place to remove skilled hands from the process IMO.

My pleasure Alan.
I'm going to put this new Premiere in an original Stratoliner box & see how the brim reacts....

 

[alanfgag]

The Count of Montecristi

Fino, Fino Fino, Fino Shmino... it takes more than a ruler to define a beautiful panama hat. This comparison is a look at 6 montecristis, from a distance and close-up. They date from the 1920s to the 1950s, with weave crossings per square inch from 350 to 900. The hats are shown in order from the coarsest weave to the finest. Close-up photos are taken using an iPhone and a standing magnifier. They show the weave at the brim - not the finest or most evenly woven part of the hat, but the easiest to flatten. Lastly is a finely woven buntal thrown in for contrast.

Enjoy!

 

[alanfgag]

 

[alanfgag]

 

[moontheloon]

what a great thread .... I just killed an hour when I was supposed to be doing something far less interesting

thanks gentlemen

 

[Bob Roberts]

Nice presentation Alan. Thx.

 

[mayserwegener]

Alan, Really fantastic!

 

[hatsRme]

Super presentation, Alan! Eye candy!!

 

[mikespens]

I just wet myself

 

[alanfgag]

Thank you guys. Mike, sorry about the pants.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Thanks Alan for the job.
I really improve my knowledge about Panama.
I have a question on the last, may I see the interior?
Where it was made?

 

[alanfgag]

Hi Daniele,

This buntal hat body was purchased at auction still rolled in its bamboo tube. Its age and source are unknown - Asian, I believe, but whether from the Philippines or China... I do not know.

The body is very light - just over one ounce. I experimented with blocking the hat,

but was inspired by a hat that Carouselvic had posted and sent it to Optimo in Chicago for finishing. They did a nice job.

With sweatband, it weighs less than 2 ounces... the lightest hat I have handled. There are additional photos posted on this thread.

best wishes,
Alan

 

[RJR]

Great pics and information.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Thanks Alan for your courtesy.
The link you posted has been very useful to better understand the making of buntal.
He is very charming and looks like straw hats I remeber, which are no longer produced or finished in Italy.
I have memories of some in my family, could be buntal or leghorn (more probably), for females than males.
I went to look for them in the house of my father, now uninhabited, but no trace of them.
Those buntal you've shown are really phenomenal and I think, maybe just in my imagination, they were of extraordinary quality.
Too bad not having any more.

 

[alanfgag]

Still much to be learned about the history of these woven beauties from around the world. I do think much of the trade in the past and present was for women's styles. The buntal bodies still appear for sale on eBay, Etsy and other places. We need a Brad or Steve to take up a comprehensive study of these wonderful straws.

 

[hatophile]

All real beauties, Alan. I especially like the rolled brim one.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Still much to be learned about the history of these woven beauties from around the world. I do think much of the trade in the past and present was for women's styles. The buntal bodies still appear for sale on eBay, Etsy and other places. We need a Brad or Steve to take up a comprehensive study of these wonderful straws.

You are right Alan.
I have planned a visit to Lastra a Signa to see the Museo della Paglia http://www.museopaglia.it/sezioni/museo.php/
I'm curious to see where I can find an Italian straw hat and learn more about this old tradition that seems disappear.

 

[alanfgag]

Our former member Zetwal once said that he thought the vintage straw hats that we see here are the tip of the iceberg... rarely showing the highest quality examples of this almost lost craft. I remember seeing here only a few very finely woven old straws - and there were many varieties - Ecuador, Tuscan Leghorn, Baku, Buntal, etc. If the price of fine hats at Optimo are any indication, they were affordable to very few and probably were sold in much smaller numbers than the highest quality fur felt hats (which in pre-war vintages are also rare).

I'll look forward to your report from the museum, Daniele.

 

[daizawaguy]

I cannot see the photos~ Are there supposed to be photos?