M Hatman
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,541
Could not have said it better!!!! I would never buy a suit of George Washington's and tear it apart to add fabric so I could wear it around and say "look at me wearing George's suit" for it would no longer be his suit but rather scraps of fabric he once had. The object and the history is TOTALLY destroyed!I consider many of these rare vintage hats to be works of art. I would no more alter one than I would a 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army or a Picasso.
If I want custom work on a revolver, I'll use a ubiquitous Ruger as a base gun. If I want something homey for my living room wall I'll buy something from Thomas Kincaid's line.
The hat I posted today is your basic Royal Stetson, but in a nice taupe color with unique ribbon colors. I over paid for this hat because it was unique. It is also my very first Royal Stetson. The felt is amazing for a late 50s hat that sold for ~ $12.50.
When I asked Bob Jesse to refurb the hat I told him I wanted it to remain as original as possible. Apparently, the liner was replaced previously with a sample that was too small which caused the front crown to buckle when the hat was placed on your head. Bob had a replacement liner but it is not period correct. I am looking for a correct liner to add to this.
Now, I could have had a new liner added, and new, more colorful ribbons for the crown and brim binding. But I want it to remain original, and therefore more period correct. It means something to me.
I also wanted something newer to compliment this style, so I commissioned a hat from Michael Gannon that has the colors and the taller crown and wider brim that I prefer.
Of course, absolutely, the owner of personal property can do whatever they want with their property. But I have to agree that cutting, shrinking and customizing works of art falls under the definition of heresy as you, @hatsRme , @M Hatman and others have indicated.
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And as for any comparison for the wonderful work TJones does, THAT is an entirely spurious way to justify ones actions for destroying truly historic hats. TJones uses common, readily available and dare I say "cheap and unwanted" newer westerns for his artful conversions. He does not destroy history. I deal with historic garments, books, documents, etc. every day, I would no more, clip, edit, rebuild any, but rather try to be the best caretaker I can for future generations to discover and share. In the end if we alter Lincolns hat for our own use or refelt, shrink, reblock on the wrong block, etc a fine vintage Marathon, Stetson, Fletchet, et al. anything about that hat thst we could learn from....is LOST! Again, having a name in a hat DOES NOT make it THAT HAT, or even a poor example......
YOU MAY AS WELL GO CUSTOM!! and sew in what ever name you want. For it will also no more be that hat than the ones altered........but at least you will have a nice hat! SO, lets not buy a historic home to tear down, and use the bricks for a new home......for it will no longer represent the old home than the hat conversions do......
Sorry for the rant.......I am tired of seeing history destroyed.
M
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