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Western, anyone?

Landman

One Too Many
Messages
1,751
Location
San Antonio, TX
Can anyone recommend a wide-brimmed straw Western? A brim over 4.25"? I'm thinking of it as a sun hat for hiking and UV protection. Hopefully it would have a brim that could lie relatively flat or down. I like the taco and George Straight brim shapes, but not so much for sun protection. Any ideas?

--Greg

I'd recommend Sunbody Hats. I like to buy the fine grade Guatemalan straw in open crown. Very easy to shape. Just dunk them in cold water, shape them the way you want and wear it until it dries and the fit will be perfect. Buy one size larger than you normally buy because they will shrink after getting them wet to shape. Here is a link to their open crown page. You can also buy them pre-shaped but that is no fun!

http://www.sunbody.com/index.cfm/category/17/open-crown-hats.cfm

Here are a couple of videos of people shaping them.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aKkyiaH_xMI

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SrGon_mOvto
 

Joao Encarnado

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,776
Location
Portugal
A Stagecoach offered to me by a lounger, it's almost a late birthday gift.
More pictures of it in the "new hats" thread.
cindy01.jpg
 

1961MJS

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,370
Location
Norman Oklahoma
In addition,SBs are tough as can be.

Hi

This is both true and untrue.

if you wet the Sunbody every month or so over the summer, and let it dry on your head, they are very hardy.

If you let the Sunbody get dried out it will crumble like a dried leaf (which of course it is).

Don't ask how I know that... :cry:
 

Joao Encarnado

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,776
Location
Portugal
Digging again through the lounge to get to this thread :)
My new latest addition, this chocolate brown Stetson Big Country.
More pictures of it in the new hats thread.
chocbig01.jpg


Don't ever think on trimming the brim on this one. I'm watching you ;)
 

g.durand

One Too Many
Messages
1,896
Location
Down on the Bayou
I just picked up this Stetson western. It has a square size tag. The embroidered "Last Drop" liner is spot-glued in place rather than sewn. The oil-skin lined sweatband is of a lower quality leather than '40s/'50s Stetsons. It's a bit too stiff and dry to risk folding it back for a photo, but there is a tag attached to the back side of the sweat that reads LOT/STYLE/PRICE and "Rawlins" "Silbelly" "$20"

Ca. '60s ?
western1_zpsd1b8ce2e.jpg

western2_zps9c6392f2.jpg

western4_zps0ba7c949.jpg

western5_zps1ec420ab.jpg

western3_zpsf47cd941.jpg
 

barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
Transition piece, G.D. Most of the embroidered last drop liners I have seen were in hats that had the older Stetson circular crest on the sweatband. Most, but not all, obviously. Looks to be in awesome condition!
 

barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
Stetson 3XB Chisolm in Mohave color (olive)

I picked this from ebay to experiment with - trying to get the stiffener out or diluted to the point where the felt is soft. I accomplished that, but with some unintended consequences.



Notice the brim swoops down in all directions (all around the hat) from the brim break - I would prefer a crisp 90 degree brim break but with the shellac depleted the thickly-felted 3 1/4 brim is so heavy it sags down. I was able to shape it ok, the felt will hold a shape (aided by steam), but there are limitations.




Other problem is inconsistent color. Apparently, in those thickly-felted 70s - 80s westerns, the dye is as much 'in the shellac' as it is 'in the fur' and when I diluted the shellac I inadvertently liberated some of the dye. If I had immersed the felt and soaked it in a 50% ammonia mix overnight maybe the ending color would be more consistent, but in this case I am saving the sweatband and therefore the ammonia solution dripped through the felt (painfully slow!) and left me with some splotchy color. The hat is dark and it is relatively difficult to see, but I would rather not have the inconsistent color. Final clean-up with white gas did not clear up the inconsistency.

I think it may have been Tony B that generally cautioned against substantial make-overs of cowboy hats, and I have proved him correct. I do have a very soft Stetson now and maybe I will tolerate these minor problems.

I should share something else I learned wtih this one - the only stitching is the sweatband. The silk-screened last drop liner and the leather hat band were glued in place (the ammonia solution liberated that glue also!). I did use some mineral spirits also, but the mineral spirits appeared to have less impact than the ammonia solution.
 
Last edited:

John Galt

Vendor
Messages
2,080
Location
Chico
BJH,

Ironing the foot to get a crisp break and spraying the hat with sizing will fix the droop. I have no suggestion for the fading...
 

Joao Encarnado

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,776
Location
Portugal
I just picked up this Stetson western. It has a square size tag. The embroidered "Last Drop" liner is spot-glued in place rather than sewn. The oil-skin lined sweatband is of a lower quality leather than '40s/'50s Stetsons. It's a bit too stiff and dry to risk folding it back for a photo, but there is a tag attached to the back side of the sweat that reads LOT/STYLE/PRICE and "Rawlins" "Silbelly" "$20"
Nice one and you wear it well!

I picked this from ebay to experiment with - trying to get the stiffener out or diluted to the point where the felt is soft. I accomplished that, but with some unintended consequences.
I too have a western that become floppy after I washed it with water and soap. Never tried anything you described but now it's very very soft. Don't know who once told me steam would reactivate the shellac but I never tried it.
 

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