The Conversion Corral

[bond]

Jealous this isn't mine!

Me too as it’s a 7 1/2 as well!


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[T Jones]

Finished sizing up and re-configuring this black Borsalino. This is a lot of hat for a fedora with its 3 inch brim and nearly 6 inches tall open crown. The crown was really tapered but I took care of that. Before pictures on previous page. The crown is now tall and straight and is creased to 4 3/4 at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 inches tall in the back. The 3 inch brim has been flanged and I re-used the original 3/4 ribbon and the brim binding. Since it was sized up a little I had to sew in a new sweat....

 

[RJR]

Finished sizing up and re-configuring this black Borsalino. This is a lot of hat for a fedora with its 3 inch brim and nearly 6 inches tall open crown. The crown was really tapered but I took care of that. Before pictures on previous page. The crown is now tall and straight and is creased to 4 3/4 at the pinch with a rake sloping to 4 inches tall in the back. The 3 inch brim has been flanged and I re-used the original 3/4 ribbon and the brim binding. Since it was sized up a little I had to sew in a new sweat....

Nice job,Terry.

 

[T Jones]

Nice job,Terry.

Thank you, Bob!

 

[T Jones]

Here's another project I've been wanting to finish. This is a late '40s - very early '50s Stetson Nutria Quality Western that a friend gave to me. He was the one who did the first conversion on it. It originally looked like a hat that J. Roger Oppenheimer wore with its flat 3 inch brim and porkpie crown crease. There was an issue with brim weakness in one spot. The hat was converted and turned around on the block to put the weak spot in the back. I took it apart again and converted it for a second time, giving it a little size up and a new sweat. Anyway, the weakness in the brim is still there and it's a little floppy to boot. I think I have that issue solved. I'm going to sew on a thin brim binding. After putting the binding in place around the brim, (not sewn on yet), I tested it out and it's holding up nicely with plenty of support and no floppiness. Also, I wasn't too happy with the bow on the ribbon work so I'll be redoing that as well. I think this is going to be a resurrected old classic with a long life ahead of it. More later when I finish....

 

[T Jones]

...and yet another project in the works. I just acquired this Silverbelly Resistol Western. I already took it apart and its on the block. I'm going to try a thin ribbon 'Stratish' Longhair conversion with this one. Everything that came original with the hat will go back on it, except for the sweat and hat band. Those will be changed out. I'll have more later as I progress along with it...

As received...

On the block

 

[T Jones]

Yet again, another hat project going on the block tomorrow. This one will make three hat projects I have going on at the same time. Brim binding to sew on my Stetson Nutria, a Longhair Silverbelly Resistol Western conversion to come off the block tomorrow, and this Dobbs Fifth Avenue that a Lounger sent me who wishes to remain anonymous. It's a size 7 and I'm going to have to size it up to a 7 1/4. I won't be increasing the crown height but I'm still somewhat concerned about losing some of its 2 5/8 welted brim width with the size up. I'll see. I want to try and reususe as much as I can to put back on the hat. I hope I can use the original ribbon but I'm not so confident. I'll have more when this one's finished. First things first, though. Gotta finish the other two that are already in progress.

 

[T Jones]

Dobbs Fifth Avenue on the block. As expected I believe I'm going to lose a little brim width in this size up, (from 2 5/8 down to 2 1/2. I'll be able to know more once it's off the block). I'm going up two sizes from a 7 to a 7 1/4. I don't think I'm going to be able to reuse the the ribbon, either. I'm a little bummed about that. But it's not like it was unexpected. Anyway, it's going to have a nice straight sided open crown shape. One thing I can say about the felt quality on this hat, "They don't make 'em like they used to." Modern day felt quality and modern day dyeing quality doesn't come close. Felting is a lost art. The felt quality on this Dobbs is really nice. I'll have more later...

 

[jswindle2]

I know this has probably been answered here before but I've gotten lazy in my old age. Where do all you guys buy your sweatbands? I need to replace a couple on my conversions.

 

[T Jones]

Finished up this '50s era over welt brim Dobbs Fifth Avenue that a fellow Lounger sent me, who wishes to remain anonymous. It was pretty rough and dirty to start with but the felt was sound. The quality of this felt is really something. Definitely a lost art from a bygone era. It started out as a size 7 and I was able to reblock it and change the open crown shape and size it up to a 7 1/4. As expected, the sweat was toast. I couldn't reuse the original ribbon like I would have wanted. It was badly stained and faded. Besides, it would have been too short anyway. The hat really cleaned up nice and revealed a Pecan like color. The amazing thing with the color is that it has some interesting undertones going on that changes colors to match the background it's in. It goes from grey, to green, to brown,...So, finding a ribbon to match the hat that would do the same have been a chore. Then I remembered some vintage and contrasting 6 ply mid ribbon I had that the same undertones. It was a perfect match. Here's what I came up with....

Before: As received

After....

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Finished up this '50s era over welt brim Dobbs Fifth Avenue that a fellow Lounger sent me, who wishes to remain anonymous. It was pretty rough and dirty to start with but the felt was sound. The quality of this felt is really something. Definitely a lost art from a bygone era. It started out as a size 7 and I was able to reblock it and change the open crown shape and size it up to a 7 1/4. As expected, the sweat was toast. I couldn't reuse the original ribbon like I would have wanted. It was badly stained and faded. Besides, it would have been too short anyway. The hat really cleaned up nice and revealed a Pecan like color. The amazing thing with the color is that it has some interesting undertones going on that changes colors to match the background it's in. It goes from grey, to green, to brown,...So, finding a ribbon to match the hat that would do the same have been a chore. Then I remembered some vintage and contrasting 6 ply mid ribbon I had that the same undertones. It was a perfect match. Here's what I came up with....

Before: As received

After....

Great job, Terry. Were you able to save the liner?


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[Tukwila]

Finished up this '50s era over welt brim Dobbs Fifth Avenue that a fellow Lounger sent me, who wishes to remain anonymous. It was pretty rough and dirty to start with but the felt was sound. The quality of this felt is really something. Definitely a lost art from a bygone era. It started out as a size 7 and I was able to reblock it and change the open crown shape and size it up to a 7 1/4. As expected, the sweat was toast. I couldn't reuse the original ribbon like I would have wanted. It was badly stained and faded. Besides, it would have been too short anyway. The hat really cleaned up nice and revealed a Pecan like color. The amazing thing with the color is that it has some interesting undertones going on that changes colors to match the background it's in. It goes from grey, to green, to brown,...So, finding a ribbon to match the hat that would do the same have been a chore. Then I remembered some vintage and contrasting 6 ply mid ribbon I had that the same undertones. It was a perfect match. Here's what I came up with....

Before: As received

After....

Another great job, Terry! Wonderful to revive an old felt like that.

 

[T Jones]

Great job, Terry. Were you able to save the liner?


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Thank you buddy. The liner's still up in the air. It has some bad foxing. I may try it and see how it looks. Then again, it may be too small now. I'll find out soon.

 

[T Jones]

Another great job, Terry! Wonderful to revive an old felt like that.

Thank you Tuk!

 

[BobHufford]

...finding a ribbon to match the hat that would do the same have been a chore. Then I remembered some vintage and contrasting 6 ply mid ribbon I had that the same undertones. It was a perfect match.

Nice work (as always) Terry. That ribbon is a stroke of genius. What a great looking hat!

 

[T Jones]

Nice work (as always) Terry. That ribbon is a stroke of genius. What a great looking hat!

Thank you Bob. I just did have enough of that ribbon to do this hat. I wish I could locate more of it. It definitely did the job here.

 

[DOGMAN]

Terry,super job on that one.

 

[hatophile]

Amazing work Terry. I enjoy seeing what you hat refurbers are doing here.

 

[RJR]

Amazing work Terry. I enjoy seeing what you hat refurbers are doing here.

+1

 

[T Jones]

Terry,super job on that one.

Thank you, buddy!