rlk
I'll Lock Up
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- 6,100
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Watch out! Bowler/Derby felt is stretched with a lot of tension and stiffness and old one's are easily split open which can't truly be repaired. Be sure the felt is still resilient and not dry--
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The Bowler or Derby Hat
- Thread starter carter
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Watch out! Bowler/Derby felt is stretched with a lot of tension and stiffness and old one's are easily split open which can't truly be repaired. Be sure the felt is still resilient and not dry--
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G. B. Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C.
G. B. Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C., size 6 1/2 Punti. Could be 1920s early 1930s. This one is in good condition and from the other Borsalino.
G. B. Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C., size 6 1/2 Punti. Could be 1920s early 1930s. This one is in good condition and from the other Borsalino.
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- Messages
- 15,081
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
What stunning craftsmanship... thanks for the detailed pictures!
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
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- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Early 1900s Stetson VENTED Bowler
Got this one a couple of weeks ago. Its my first vented bowler. I love these old Stetson sweatbands. They remind me of a pig skin football. Maybe they are pigskin and not cow or horse leather. I'm unsure. Its funny though how these pre 1930's sweatbands are still so flexible and pliable and will usually do so without cracking. Where many of my hats from the 1950's have cracked and rotted sweatbands that need replacing.
Got this one a couple of weeks ago. Its my first vented bowler. I love these old Stetson sweatbands. They remind me of a pig skin football. Maybe they are pigskin and not cow or horse leather. I'm unsure. Its funny though how these pre 1930's sweatbands are still so flexible and pliable and will usually do so without cracking. Where many of my hats from the 1950's have cracked and rotted sweatbands that need replacing.
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
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- 4,409
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- Chicago, IL
Early 1900s Stetson VENTED Bowler (cont.....)
- Messages
- 15,081
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
1950s Stetson bowler that came from the Kleinhans Company in Buffalo, NY.
I've had it for a couple of decades... first time wearing it out of the house.
I've had it for a couple of decades... first time wearing it out of the house.
- Messages
- 17,489
- Location
- Maryland
Alan, Looks great! I might wear one of mine tonight.
- Messages
- 15,081
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Thank you... that Borsalino you posted earlier on this page is a stunner... I hope that one fits you!
bolthead
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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- 3,905
- Location
- Pennsylvania, United States
Schobel
....just picked this beauty up.
....just picked this beauty up.
- Messages
- 17,489
- Location
- Maryland
Kurt, Fantastic F. Schoble & Co.!
Alan, Thanks! Yes it actually fits.
Josh, Your Stetson is Super!
Alan, Thanks! Yes it actually fits.
Josh, Your Stetson is Super!
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Thanks Steve!! I love the old Stetson sweatbands. They just seem to have held up so well through the years. The texture seems to resemble a pig skin football I own. I wonder if the old Stetson sweatbands from the teens-20's were made out of a different kind of leather besides cow hide.
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Josh, Probably sheep skin but probably not cow hide. In most cases Bowlers, Derbies, Melones were comformed to the owner resulting in some real strange openings 
. For example the G. B. Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. of mine has a very round opening. Stetson Derby sweats are self conforming so they usually don't have that type of problem.
. For example the G. B. Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. of mine has a very round opening. Stetson Derby sweats are self conforming so they usually don't have that type of problem.
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rlk
I'll Lock Up
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- Evanston, IL
Derbies for College 1929
Brad Bowers
I'll Lock Up
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Sad and fascinating at the same time!
Brad
Brad
Hi, new to The Fedora Lounge, and just found this great thread.
I recently bought a Christys' Bowler (my first bowler/derby) and love it -- am wearing it everywhere, at work and at play. I may eventually want to have one made to order, and I'm wondering if there's anyone out there who will fit it using a conformer -- the way Art Fawcett does for fedoras. Art suggested I contact Graham at Optimo (which I haven't done yet). Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I haven't read all 54 pages of this thread (yet), so maybe the information is already here; if so, apologies.
I recently bought a Christys' Bowler (my first bowler/derby) and love it -- am wearing it everywhere, at work and at play. I may eventually want to have one made to order, and I'm wondering if there's anyone out there who will fit it using a conformer -- the way Art Fawcett does for fedoras. Art suggested I contact Graham at Optimo (which I haven't done yet). Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I haven't read all 54 pages of this thread (yet), so maybe the information is already here; if so, apologies.
- Messages
- 15,081
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Welcome Viseguy!... I can't advise about a custom built bowler, but if you enjoy hunting vintage, there are many to choose from on ebay, often at very reasonable prices. Post a picture of your Christy's hat when you can.
Alan, thanks. Some of the vintage bowlers pictured in this thread are stunning, for sure. My hesitation about vintage, though, has to do with fit. It's a bit dicey, isn't it, online? When I bought the Christys' bowler (online), I ordered a 7-1/2, which is my fedora size, but it turned out to be too big, so I exchanged it for a 7-3/8. Easy enough with a new hat. How would that work with a vintage hat on eBay? I don't use eBay much; can you return things you've won on auction?
By the way, I bought the Christys' from Village Hat shop; there's a picture of the hat here.
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- Messages
- 15,081
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Bowler Derby
The beauty of these three Stetson bowlers is in the subtle differences: from top down, ventilated 1920s, a soft 1950s Royal Deluxe Stetson and a very rigid 1940s Royal Stetson DeLuxe.
From the side, the bows are more elaborate in the older hats:
The 50s hat is soft enough to crease as a homburg:
The 40s liner:
The 20s linerless inside with tin initials:
The 20s hat is in pristine shape... a little more difficult to wear than the later models though:
The beauty of these three Stetson bowlers is in the subtle differences: from top down, ventilated 1920s, a soft 1950s Royal Deluxe Stetson and a very rigid 1940s Royal Stetson DeLuxe.
From the side, the bows are more elaborate in the older hats:
The 50s hat is soft enough to crease as a homburg:
The 40s liner:
The 20s linerless inside with tin initials:
The 20s hat is in pristine shape... a little more difficult to wear than the later models though:
