sucker for the high crowns

[Art Fawcett]

Why not JP? You can do a "before & after"

 

[jamespowers]

Ok, have a camera ready when I bring it in. It is a mess. Now I know what you mean about lighter color hats needing more frequent cleaning. The previous owner never thought of that I guess.
It was actually worse because I already vacuumed and brushed off the surface dust and dirt. I will not do any more to it until it gets to your hands. I don't think my cleaning made much of a difference anyway. LOL Oh, did I mention that the ribbon is probably a cheap replacement that is obviously not millinery quality?

Regards to all,

J

 

[havershaw]

Joe, what company turned out that work of art you just posted photos of?

 

[Matt Deckard]

That is a vintage ebay find made by a custom hat shop called Luca's.

I'll try to post the liner later

Very smooth, very soft and very tough with a big fat crown.

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Art Fawcett
Why not JP? You can do a "before & after"

Here is the picture off of the auction site but it is dirtier than the picture looks. I do not know if this qualifies as a before. I have since put the center dent and two front bashes back in. Not hard considering you could follow the dirt pattern. LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Andykev]

Luca

Matt, can you post a pic of the inside liner. I have never heard of the "Luca" brand.

Interesting. What year do you estimate the hat to be?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Here you go.
I havn't the foggiest why somone cut little triangles on the sides of the leather. The only thing on the other side is felt.

Custom Made Hats

Utica N.Y

Royal De Luxe

Thankfully the deeply entrenched golden era cigar smell finally came out after a few days sitting outside.

 

[Michaelson]

They look like self made ventilation holes to me. I wear a long oval hat shape, and those locations are EXACTLY where I'd put holes (if I ever wanted to do such a thing ) to give my head more air in hot weather! Regards. Michaelson

 

[Brad Bowers]

Either that, or somebody's way of attaching a stampede string to their hat to keep it from flying off in the wind! T'would look might silly, though.

Brad

 

[Andykev]

I guess this hat is a "cut above" the rest!

I agree with Brad. Remember, many of our vintage hats, during the forgotten top shelf in the closet decade(s), some hats were used in theater. Possible that some contumer used the hat in a show, and the cuts were to facilitate keeping the hat on some actor. Pure speculation. If someone wanted to use a chin strap to keep the hat on on windy days, it would have looked silly. Ventilation? Not with the felt and ribbon on the outside...who knows? It's a shame. However the sweat can be replaced, although it won't have the orig. stampings. Sad.

 

[Matt Deckard]

The original sweat has some nice printing and embossing too.

I'll change it if it decays.

 

[Wild Root]

All very good ideas. I have seen this hat up close and say that if the sweat band was falling apart because of the cuts, then I would replace it. But, since it's not and the sweat band is supple, soft and clean, it's not a big deal. It is sad, but it's still a killer hat!

Root.

 

[Matt Deckard]

By request.
Here is the fuzzy brown High crown one I bought from Art at the last vintage expo in Santa Monica.

It is a Dobbs with a "improved felted welt edge", which has embossed in the leather a patent dated May 19, 1931
Pretty thick fur felt. Very fuzzy. Thick cavanagh edge.

 

[Molorom]

wow,
that hat looks nice.
Wish i had one that looked that good.
Adam

 

[Matt Deckard]

Thanks.

You're hat in the avitar looks pretty good to me... and you look just like Harrisson Ford (anybody ever told you that?).

 

[jamespowers]

Very nice. How tall is the crown?

Regards,

J

 

[Wild Root]

Good to hear that you got that smell out of it. Matt tells me that he used lighter fluid. Any one got a match? LOL

Root.

PS, I love it! It's a lovely hat and oh, so, 30's!

 

[jamespowers]

Hey! Hey! Keep that lighter away from that hat. LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Wild Root]

Yeah, could you just see him out some where and some guy is smoking a big stogie and an ember just floats over and lands on his hat? Whooof! Gone! LOL LOL LOL .

No, that would really suck! If I lost any thing to fire, oh man my life would be over. :cry:

Great hat Matt! Just keep it way from any open flames!

Root.

 

[Matt Deckard]

What? a man can't wear a furry hat without getting "flamed"?

I've got that one with me today and it's shaped the way shown in the top pic. I'll try to keep it away from my buddies that smoke.