This Stetson has nice lines, but showed up with a wrecked sweatband. Oh well- that’s not too expensive or a thing to replace.
Stetson Panama
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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Cheap Summer Straw
This one was relatively modern, and definitely cheap to begin with. The auction started appropriately low, and then a bidding war started, sending the end price skyrocketing. I like making money, but it always makes me nervous when people over pay.
Pedigree Boater
This boater has seen better days. The suspended bon ton ivy style sweatband is long since rotted away from the hat body. The hard straw is chipped.
Levine Panama
I have much worse luck buying vintage panamas than I do vintage felt. Felt holds up better. I frequently get lied to about condition when it comes to older panama hats. Excellent condition says the ad, then it shows up cracked and torn. I can’t wear it, and I can’t resell it for anywhere near as much in that kind of condition. *Sigh*
This one was originally sold by St. Louis, MO by the Levine Hat shop.
Pith Helmet
Nothing says tropical adventure quite like a pith helmet. This early 1900s example has a beautifully patina-ed sweatband, and wine colored pleated liner. It was originally purchased from William H. Sands in Nassau N.P. Bahamas.
Borsalino Homburg from Brodt’s
This homburg is as soft as butter. Brodt’s used to be a great hat shop in Washington, DC. It closed before my time, but I’ve had several hats that they’ve sold, and they were all phenomenal.
1970s Tyroleans
There are some hats that come with other hats I buy. Parts of big lots, freebies thrown in with ones I really want. I get them, half-way against my will, and then what do I do with them? These hats stick around longer than anything else- people won’t pay me for them, and even when I try to give them away, it’s a distinct challenge.
5X Resistol cowboy hat
I got this big 5X Resistol at a yard sale at a horse farm in Maryland. It’s not the style I generally go after, and not from the era I generally do, but the price was right.
Resistol Beaver 30
This Resistol cost $30 new. It dates from the mid ’60s-1970s
Pumpkin Mallory
I believe this “Classic Quality” Mallory dates before the Stetson buyout of the company, so that puts it in the 1940s. The sweatband construction is consistent with that dating. The pumpkin colored ribbon on this one makes it special.
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