I picked this fedora up on Ebay recently... I paid a little more than I wanted to, but a vintage fedora in my size, (7 1/2) and this fine of condition rarely comes around...
The condition is excellent. The sweatband has a plastic liner inside to keep sweat from soaking through.. The color is fantastic for an Indy-style fedora IMO... The brim is bound, but I think it adds to the hat's character.. Check-out The reverse taper this hat has...
I am hoping this hat is able to be blocked on Fedora's Raiders block... It looks good now, but I think Fedora can make it more like I want it... Here are some pics:
I watched that hat and almost bid on it. Congrats. I was thinking that I would take the binding off of the edge if I got it. I don't think that you'dbe able to tell it was ever there. But, if you leave it, it still looks great.
Captain Ron Solo wrote:I watched that hat and almost bid on it. Congrats. I was thinking that I would take the binding off of the edge if I got it. I don't think that you'dbe able to tell it was ever there. But, if you leave it, it still looks great.
JKL
Ron
Well, I'd say proceed with caution on that one. I've been collecting vintage fedora's for about 8 years and I've taken a few edge bindings off for various reasons and almost without exception you will definitely know it used to be there. The problem is the age, the felt under the edge binding has not been exposed to the elements and hasn't faded along with the rest of the hat. It will be a different color and will look bad.
That is one fantastic looking vintage fedora, why change it? Having some variety in one's collection is a good thing. The shape of the crown already looks great IMHO. The edge binding adds to it's uniqueness. I'd say keep it as it is, it already looks great.
Captain Ron Solo wrote:I watched that hat and almost bid on it. Congrats. I was thinking that I would take the binding off of the edge if I got it. I don't think that you'dbe able to tell it was ever there. But, if you leave it, it still looks great.
JKL
Ron
Well, I'd say proceed with caution on that one. I've been collecting vintage fedora's for about 8 years and I've taken a few edge bindings off for various reasons and almost without exception you will definitely know it used to be there. The problem is the age, the felt under the edge binding has not been exposed to the elements and hasn't faded along with the rest of the hat. It will be a different color and will look bad.
That is one fantastic looking vintage fedora, why change it? Having some variety in one's collection is a good thing. The shape of the crown already looks great IMHO. The edge binding adds to it's uniqueness. I'd say keep it as it is, it already looks great.
fedoralover
Thanks everyone...
No, I won't mess with the edge binding. It is part of the hat's character.
Appreciate the compliment fedoralover... I don't think it would take away from the hat having it thrown-on Fedora's block. He might NOT be able to do it anyway. :
I know that I DO want to keep the killer reverse-taper though... Maybe Fedora will pop-in, and give his opinion...
BTW: Does anyone know ANYTHING about Royal Scot? I cannot find a thing on Google regarding a Royal Scot hat company... I guess it is not a common hat.
Techno, I've never heard of that brand either, but it appears to be an excellent quality hat. Upon closer examination of your pics I noticed that the sweatband is top stitched in. Typically when a hat is reblocked the hatter removes the sweatband, if you have that done on this hat you will not be able to have it stitched back in. It takes a special machine to do that type of stitch. I think JPdesign just bought one, but they are very hard to use and to get to function correctly.
I agree with Russ. Don't you dare change that hat! (OK, that was presumptuous). Anyway, it looks too nice the way it is - I've been dieing to find one just like it. If you don't want it, I'll take it!
NB
Russ wrote:That's a great hat and it looks good on you.
I wouldn't change a thing! Let it be you hat for non-Indy days.
Well Russ, you can tell that I'm a little "hard-headed" by looking at my pic huh?
Chewbacca Jones wrote: I agree with Russ. Don't you dare change that hat! (OK, that was presumptuous). Anyway, it looks too nice the way it is - I've been dieing to find one just like it. If you don't want it, I'll take it!
Well, from what I have just been told about the top-stitching on the sweatband, it seems like it will stay the way it is...
Don't get my wrong, I just thought it would be even better with Fedora's Raiders block... I'll keep you in mind if I ever want to let the hat go Chewbacca .... It may be a good while though... Hey, one of these look familar to you Chewbacca ?
DON'T CHANGE THAT HAT!!!!! Sure, it's yours to do with as you please, but I want to make a plea for this hat. How many good, true vintage hats like that are out there anymore in that condition? I think it looks great as is, with the current blocking and the bound brim. If you want another Indy-styled hat, why not just buy a an Akubra, JPD, or AdventureBilt? Variety is the spice of life! I think altering this hat would be like taking an original, screen-used Indy fedora and making a stingy-brimmed porkpie hat out of it. But that's just me.
fedoralover wrote: Upon closer examination of your pics I noticed that the sweatband is top stitched in. Typically when a hat is reblocked the hatter removes the sweatband, if you have that done on this hat you will not be able to have it stitched back in. It takes a special machine to do that type of stitch. I think JPdesign just bought one, but they are very hard to use and to get to function correctly.
fedoralover
What exactly are you talking about when you say "top stitched in"?
Does that mean that there is no reed on the lip of the sweat and the stitches go over the bottom of the sweat? Seems to me that with that many small stitches there would be an distinct possibility of accidently tearing the brim off the crown during a reblock...
I know you want it to look more like the one in Raiders, I thought exactly the same way when I got my first vintage hat, but please don't change the bash!
A reblock by one of the AB-makers sure would be great, because that straight-sided block is the same way most block style looked in the 1930s.
THOUGH, if you get the hat reblocked, please don't change the bash! I mean the crown is untapered and the front pinch nails the LC look. Looks much dressier than the rugged SoC-bash, which I personally love, too.
I'd say, see this one as your dress hat that you wear when you're back from the jungle.
"What exactly are you talking about when you say "top stitched in"?"
If you look at the edge of the sweatband you can see how the stitches actually go over the top. There is no reed, this makes for a smooth transition from the sweatband to the hat but it does make for a more delicate area on the hat. All vintage Borsalinos are done this way. Once you take this type of sweatband out you can't put it back, you'd have to put in a new one.
fedoralover
Last edited by fedoralover on Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Please leave it "as is" !! Seriously, if your crease it per Raiders specs, it is very close right now. And I would leave the brim binding on!! Keep it original.
I am very guilty of taking scores of vintage hats and doing the Indy treatment on them, in the past. I no longer do that to my own vintage hats. I mean, these vintage hats are finite in number, and never in our lifetime will that sort of felt be made again. And the materials used for those old hats cannot be replaced by modern liners, sweats, and ribbons. Heck most of the old parts used to make those hats were made by companies that went belly up when hats fell out of vogue. That is a piece of history you have there. Don't ruin it. Just my 2 cents. Fedora
Fedora wrote:Please leave it "as is" !! Seriously, if your crease it per Raiders specs, it is very close right now. And I would leave the brim binding on!! Keep it original.
I am very guilty of taking scores of vintage hats and doing the Indy treatment on them, in the past. I no longer do that to my own vintage hats. I mean, these vintage hats are finite in number, and never in our lifetime will that sort of felt be made again. And the materials used for those old hats cannot be replaced by modern liners, sweats, and ribbons. Heck most of the old parts used to make those hats were made by companies that went belly up when hats fell out of vogue. That is a piece of history you have there. Don't ruin it. Just my 2 cents. Fedora
You got it Fedora, I WILL leave it alone. I have a tendency sometimes to fool with things to make them "better"... then, I usually end up regretting it in the long run..
I liked this hat because it IS vintage, and looks like a hat that a "real" Indy-type would have had. Any idea how old it really is? The guy I purchased it from thinks late 1940's. I think it is a little older than that, just by the style.
Just a couple more pics that I thought show how nice this hat stands up.... I am NOT changing a thing. I now appreciate having a vintage hat that had a real Indy look so many years ago, and maintains it to this day. Must be very good felt.
Vitoscarlatti wrote:Change it...change it!......Get that orrrible ribbon off, get that front brim pointing vertically upwards, it'll look great....ha ha. only messing.. sunstroke sorry...
(listen...if we sneak up on Vito real quiet like, I'll go for his legs, the rest of you push him over, and then we'll see if we can get him to take his meds today..... 8-[ )
I paid a little more than I wanted to, but a vintage fedora in my size, (7 1/2) and this fine of condition rarely comes around... 
: 
Seriously, if your crease it per Raiders specs, it is very close right now. And I would leave the brim binding on!! Keep it original. 
8-[ )
