Vintage Whippets

[Hurricane Jack]

THe problem when looking for a whippet is that the demand and the prices have skyrocketed, I can't really explain why its THE hat for many, but what is leads to is every Tom, Dick and Harry posting on ebay "whippet like" or "whippet esque" which brings more eyes to the auction and inevitably more bids

Just wow!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Roy...515245?hash=item3d0a66d06d:g:LAEAAOSw0JpV7Nhj

 

[Frunobulax]

Just wow!

We've seen them go for ~$500 recently. That one looks a little beat (stained), and the seller describes it as "near mint" and "very clean." Every time I put mine on, I thank the hat gods for my luck in discovering a BIN on a Saturday morning.

Who is the patron saint of hats, BTW?

 

[Blackthorn]

View attachment 39558

Yes, as in so many things in life, you have to know something about the product before you spend money on it.

 

[Andykev]

Just wow!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Roy...515245?hash=item3d0a66d06d:g:LAEAAOSw0JpV7Nhj

Not to bad mouth someone trying to sell...but look at this example. Water stained brim edge..and numerous spots due to ?? The bead (trim around the sweatband) is worn. You can tell the "use" of a hat by the bead, for starters. This is where a hat has for years been set down on a table, or bar, etc. and they wear. On and off the head too!. And the price, oh the price, is somone dreaming? That price is for a much cleaner example, but I have seen "vintage" junk in an upscale hat store in Carmel, CA which looked like a garage sale "pass"...for $750 !! (not joking).

I have poste over the years, in buying a vintage hat, the felt is the main thing. If creased, or moth bitten, it's toast. I had one lady years ago describe a hat as "wonderful"...yes it was. A wonder how many generations of moths have that hat to thank for sustaining their offspring!

You can replace the liner (or have it cleaned if just dirty), and of course the ribbon trim. The sweatband is easily replaced as well. Often, these are worn and brittle. Yes you get a much higher quality replacement, but you lose the vintage "stamping" and labels. But if you don't have the solid foundation of the felt, it's a "pass".

All in all, finding a vintage hat that is clean and complete, in the color you prefer, and in a wearable size is getting to be a chalalenge. Add in any provenance, or the original papers and box..that adds to the value.

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Just wow!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Roy...515245?hash=item3d0a66d06d:g:LAEAAOSw0JpV7Nhj

Jack, I see your post, and raise you an additional $217!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231761998497?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

My absolute dream bucket: 40s Whippet (and yes Andykev, it actually was clean). I was ready to sell the house, dog, and guitar collection yesterday in pursuit of this. I was in the running until it hit above $500, but it fetched SIX HUNDRED SIXTY SEVEN DOLLARS! At what point should sanity kick in?

- m

 

[moontheloon]

Jack, I see your post, and raise you an additional $217!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231761998497?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

My absolute dream bucket: 40s Whippet (and yes Andykev, it actually was clean). I was ready to sell the house, dog, and guitar collection yesterday in pursuit of this. I was in the running until it hit above $500, but it fetched SIX HUNDRED SIXTY SEVEN DOLLARS! At what point should sanity kick in?

- m

that hat was sold by a prominent lounge member
and that hat is legit

a hat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and folks obviously felt that Whippet was worth what they paid because they bid on it

that cat is a legit seller with only legit hats

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

that hat was sold by a prominent lounge member
and that hat is legit

a hat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and folks obviously felt that Whippet was worth what they paid because they bid on it

that cat is a legit seller with only legit hats

Settle down, now. Don't confuse my sanity comment as directed to the seller (good for him/her). Let it be known that I am questioning the purchaser's, however, as I am my own in retrospect.

 

[hatophile]

Miles (great name by the way)
You may want to consider Etsy, as the prices seem a little more reasonable than Ebay. Dobbs, Adam, and other old time hat makers all have similar versions to a Whippet that will give you the same look. You might want to try some Flea Markets and antique stores as well.
I agree with other posters that at prices north of $300 you can get a very nice replica of a Whippet.
I was fortunate enough to find some Whippets before the prices went stratospheric. I also found a very nice one from a local antique store.

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Miles (great name by the way)
You may want to consider Etsy, as the prices seem a little more reasonable than Ebay. Dobbs, Adam, and other old time hat makers all have similar versions to a Whippet that will give you the same look. You might want to try some Flea Markets and antique stores as well.
I agree with other posters that at prices north of $300 you can get a very nice replica of a Whippet.
I was fortunate enough to find some Whippets before the prices went stratospheric. I also found a very nice one from a local antique store.

Thanks Hatophile, I'll add Etsy to my regular scrolling routine!

 

[moontheloon]

Settle down, now. Don't confuse my sanity comment as directed to the seller (good for him/her). Let it be known that I am questioning the purchaser's, however, as I am my own in retrospect.

settle down ?

 

[Frunobulax]

that hat was sold by a prominent lounge member
and that hat is legit

a hat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and folks obviously felt that Whippet was worth what they paid because they bid on it

that cat is a legit seller with only legit hats

Yeah, I think I know who I'm hitting up for spare change today...

 

[guitarmasta12]

What size Whippet are you looking for? You might post "wanted" in the classifieds... I have had several of these come and go. I think I have an almost NIB 7 3/8 somewhere...very brown. My least favorite color. The majority of hats I see now on Ebay are way too small. Size 7 or even smaller. Most folks today wear the larger sizes.

Perfect for me hehe

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[Andykev]

that hat was sold by a prominent lounge member
and that hat is legit

a hat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and folks obviously felt that Whippet was worth what they paid because they bid on it

that cat is a legit seller with only legit hats

The hat listed (SOLD) in this auction is what you (hopefully) can find. This IS the proper condition for that "treasured vintage". I also saw this hat, and if you look closely at the details I mentioned above, this nails it as an example of "excellent". Whomever got this hat did well. But, I have not bought a vintage hat in some time, so the prices are a shock, to me at least.

If hats are going for this amount, well I might have to start opening long forgotten hat boxes and see what's there

 

[guitarmasta12]

I have The Mallory Coast to Coast. I think it's Mallory's version of a whippey. In fact I have a fox and fox fedora and it looks like a whippet from the 40s. I'd say a lot of my hats have the whippet styled binding on the brim. It must have been sensational back then and even more so now to collectors.

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[Bob Roberts]

Plus ONE to our Fellow Lounger seller. Wonder who bought it... Reminds me of the Vintage Guitar frenzy of the mid/late 70's... The Japanese buyers drove up the prices rather quickly.

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Plus ONE to our Fellow Lounger seller. Wonder who bought it... Reminds me of the Vintage Guitar frenzy of the mid/late 70's... The Japanese buyers drove up the prices rather quickly.

Bob, I love the analogy and have to ask: what's your axe of choice? I'm a vintage tele and 335 guy. My guitar collection heavily outweighs my hat collection, so I'll gladly trade music knowledge for lid expertise.

Pics scattered throughout here: https://www.instagram.com/photog_matt_elder/

- m

 

[Frunobulax]

Plus ONE to our Fellow Lounger seller. Wonder who bought it... Reminds me of the Vintage Guitar frenzy of the mid/late 70's... The Japanese buyers drove up the prices rather quickly.

Yeah, eventually the bubble will burst. Then that $500-$600 hat will be on the market for $50-$60.

Frankly, for me, throwing $$ at a hat - if I had it - wouldn't be nearly as fun as getting deals. I've picked up most of my good gets by (as previously mentioned) lucking into BINs when the item has only been posted for 30 minutes, or finding it hidden in some obscure category. Most of mine come with good stories, and that's fun, too.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Bob, I love the analogy and have to ask: what's your axe of choice? I'm a vintage tele and 335 guy. My guitar collection heavily outweighs my hat collection, so I'll gladly trade music knowledge for lid expertise.

Pics scattered throughout here: https://www.instagram.com/photog_matt_elder/

- m

Thank you but my knowledge of vintage guitars is even less than my knowledge of vintage hats. During the mid to late 80's I bought n sold only 4 or 5 older guitars. An early 70' P bass, a '60's Gretsch, I believe it was a County Gentleman and a few more that I can't recall. Just sold my Mexi Tele cuz I wasn't foolin with it any more. Used to play Bass (just alotta simple 1/4/5's Chicago styles blues.) I liked the P Bass.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Yeah, eventually the bubble will burst. Then that $500-$600 hat will be on the market for $50-$60.

Frankly, for me, throwing $$ at a hat - if I had it - wouldn't be nearly as fun as getting deals. I've picked up most of my good gets by (as previously mentioned) lucking into BINs when the item has only been posted for 30 minutes, or finding it hidden in some obscure category. Most of mine come with good stories, and that's fun, too.

PLUS ONE on the deals. Vintage or not!

 

[Bob Roberts]

settle down ?

Lol!