Is there anything wrong with allowing this old soldier to carry on it's adventure? Or is this not a good image? Cos I'll be honest... I'm still gonna wear it... but a small part of me will worry people think I'm unwashed and backward. But that ain't gonna stop me! Is anyone else in my camp on this issue?
Nothing wrong with this. It reminds me of the old cowboys who would literally wear their hats until they fell apart. And that is the reason, non of these old western hats survived for museum display. I read that in the Stetson Book, by the way.
And, it seems you have already made your mind up anyways.
But, were looking for how we feel about it. Fair enough.
Would you look unwashed and backward, or even homeless? Probably so. But, if you don't care, I am not the one to care either. But with that said, I do have hard time throwing an old friend away as well. But, I have done it. At least once. I am blessed with higher than normal quality hats, so I don't expect to be throwing anymore away, in the years that I have left. And the hat that I did chunk in file 13 was rabbit, and an old one, originally a western hat, that I made into an Indy fedora way back before I started selling hats. It developed a hole in the top of the front pinch, which is why most hatters advise against using a tight pinch. It will eventually break the felt, unless you are wearing pure beaver. And even then, 20 years down the road, it could develop a hole as well. Might take even longer than that.
This is a good case for buying the best felt you can afford, so that the hat can indeed become an old friend, but intact. Many hat wearers don't consider this until they do develop the holes. Experienced hat wearers generally come around though, and spend the extra bucks now.
My hats come with a guarantee, that if you ever wear a hole in it, I will replace it free. But, it has to be due to the front pinch causing the hole, and not damage created by rolling down a hill of knives or other like items.
My ABs are unusual in that I guarantee the hat for the life of the wearer, or until I die. Hard to replace em' when you are dead!!! Who else does this? Nobody to my knowledge. I am that confident in the felt that I use. Now, this does not cover the rabbit abs I have made in the past, just the pure beaver. So, you only have to buy an AB once. But, I did not get into hatmaking to get rich, I got into it for other reasons. And sorry for the advertisement, but this was a good place to bring it up. I really do stand behind what I make, and I expect that from others(not talking about just hats here) Way back, if you bought many items, you got this sort of guarantee. I used to send back Zippo lighters for new ones way back. They probably no longer offer this though. With most stuff being made in China, it has been my experience, you are buying a disposable item, regardless what it is. I have been through 9 cappuchino makers in 5 years! I have been though countless hand steamers that I use to style hats with. Most last a couple of months before they burn out. Today, I buy only vintage steamers and irons from ebay. They outlast the new stuff expoentially. I am all about quality, regardless of what item I buy. But as most know, this idea of something lasting is a relic today. So ebay gets all of my money. More than you wanted to know, but that's me! Fedora
I'm all for the old friend school of thought. While, no it wouldn't be suited for an evening on the town, casual wear I'd be all over that hat.
May I ask what it is?
Mercury? I always thought Bink was the only one who got one of those babies...
Which is a win.
-M
