What hat are you waiting for today?

[jeffgarf]

Great news! I found someone who may be able to feed my hat addiction locally. They sell on the 'bay and, in fact, do not ship to Israel (they are in Haifa and I am in Jerusalem). They are sending them and refunding shipping to get around whatever restriction was in place and will give me first crack at other finds that come in.

I picked this one up having never seen the crown medallion or the possible brand on the sweatband. I am curious if there are others like this out there.



It look like it says "Selection" or "Selecton" and Chabets Hats. We'll see what we have when it comes. I also picked up a Tonak in brown from the seller and I suspect that maybe this is Czech-made, as well.

 

[Edward]

Been trying not to make an impulse purchase this week, having splurged a bit on a few hats of late. Came into some good ebay deals on a Drizabone oilskin (for hefty rain days in warmer weather), and an Akubra Cattleman which have arrived. Waiting for a Dobbs Rosebud in the post from the US. I spotted those online a while back Not yet handled one in person, but a lilac one that appealed to me as something different cropped up at a good price last month, so....

Today, however, I cracked when I saw that Hats Direct are currently offering a free-shipping deal if you spend over a certain amount. Worht jumping on if you want an Akubra of any sort from them, given the price - if I'd not got quite a few other expenses coming up in the next few weeks I'd be all over a grey Cattleman and/or a Bluegrass Campdraft. I've been looking for a while though at the new straw-types (an own-brand if I picked this up correctly) they have under the Wentworth Hat Company label.

I've had half an eye out for a midnight blue straw of some sort for a few years. Stetson do a beautiful hemp Stratoliner deluxe in navy (with silver trim), but I have two straw Strats already, and they're kinda pricey by the time I get them here (Stetson Europe don't do them, so they have to come in from the US. Shipping is a killer for there to the UK these days, on top of the weak pound). The Wentworth Hat Company Townsman in what they call a "Summer braid" caught my eye. The blurb has it as a 'late 40s', 'sporty' style.

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I resisted for a week or two, then cracked today... The hat itself was about £30 below the £100 miniumum for the current free shipping offer. Didn't want to get carried away, but ended up ordering the Navy plus a second one in the natural straw colour (with brown ribbon and trim), which, given I'd otherwise have been paying at least £30 shipping, was more or less half price. Sort of.

I would see me wearing these the way I wear my old Akubra Capricorns. The big plus with these though is a cloth sweatband. The Akubras had a pleather one, which would eventually crack and then had to be removed (fortunately the hats are perfectly wearable without it) as otherwise it left flakes of surface finish where it touched my head).

These are an interesting new line for HD. Not quite the straw version of the Federation I've had my fingers crossed for for years (when you do that one, Katoomba, do it in dark brown and sign me up for your first international order!), but interesting to see them developing this. They're also doing a few caps under the brand name, but no furfelts as of yet.

I will of course report back here when they arrive; interesting development from a popular hatter in these parts, though.

So these have now arrived from Aus. No pictures yet (I'll try and get some shots of them in the wild when I can), but very pleased. To my eye that have that late 40s sporty shape they were shooting for. Those who enjoyed the old Akubra Capricorns will find these a nice hat - and, imo, something of an upgrade. The cloth sweatband is lovely. I'm still not entirely clear of the make-up of the 'braid' these are made from, but it feels very much like the hemp of my olive Stratoliner - that same, matte finish that isn't *perfectly* smooth. I like them very much. The crown is definitely stiff; it'll be interesting to see how that breaks in over time. At this point, however, well worth a dabble if you're looking for a new straw for the incoming Northern Hemisphere Summer without breaking the bank.

 

[The Shoe]

So these have now arrived from Aus. No pictures yet (I'll try and get some shots of them in the wild when I can), but very pleased. To my eye that have that late 40s sporty shape they were shooting for. Those who enjoyed the old Akubra Capricorns will find these a nice hat - and, imo, something of an upgrade. The cloth sweatband is lovely. I'm still not entirely clear of the make-up of the 'braid' these are made from, but it feels very much like the hemp of my olive Stratoliner - that same, matte finish that isn't *perfectly* smooth. I like them very much. The crown is definitely stiff; it'll be interesting to see how that breaks in over time. At this point, however, well worth a dabble if you're looking for a new straw for the incoming Northern Hemisphere Summer without breaking the bank.

Made in New Zealand. Now I’m tempted!

 

[Edward]

Made in New Zealand. Now I’m tempted!

It'd be interesting to know more about the manufacturer; I think these might well be my first Kiwi-made hats. (I've bought some berets from South Pacific Berets, but I don't think any of them are specifically Kiwi-made?) It'll be interesting to see where the Hattery takes this brand henceforth. I've been saying for years I'd love a straw version of the Federation. Having handled these now, if they made one of these in a Federation shape, it's be a cracking Summer hat. Scrolling down this page - https://hatsdirect.com/collections/wentworth-hat-company - they clearly have big ambitions, with "our very own felt hats coming in 2026". Could be a big fillip for their international market as well, given it's gotten that little bit harder to sell Akubras online. Not impossible, but the added hassle of having to deal with sales individually by email owing to Akubra's "new" rules about putting pricing online must have hurt with impulse purchases. I'll be really interested to see what they can do with furfelt. I've long had half an eye out for a hat made to Aussie military slouch hat specs, but I am looking for one in bottle green. If that sort of thing became an option with Wentworth, I would jump on it.

 

[MikeinRome]

Looks like about a 1930's or so Stetson Nutria Quality hat, with 4 inch finished brim. This hat is something of a gamble because it's telling me 2 different stories. If the paper tags belong to this hat, it seems about a 30's hat, but the sweatband, best I can read it, looks like it's from about 1953 or later. Perhaps this is a later replacement. The final verdict awaits the hat's arrival. The seller was calling this a 40's hat. I'm not altogether sure the hatband ribbon is original, either.

 

[BobHufford]

The Sovereign Stetson Twenty Mode Edge. I had placed a $5 place-holder bid and then forgot about it. I was shocked to get the notice that I had won!

 

[jeffgarf]

The Sovereign Stetson Twenty Mode Edge. I had placed a $5 place-holder bid and then forgot about it. I was shocked to get the notice that I had won!

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Dang! I bet the seller was more surprised than you.

 

[steur]

The Sovereign Stetson Twenty Mode Edge. I had placed a $5 place-holder bid and then forgot about it. I was shocked to get the notice that I had won!

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Sometimes you shoot the bear without even aiming! Cool win, Bob.

 

[BobHufford]

Dang! I bet the seller was more surprised than you.

Sometimes you shoot the bear without even aiming! Cool win, Bob.

Ha! Thanks guys.

 

[RickP]

The Sovereign Stetson Twenty Mode Edge. I had placed a $5 place-holder bid and then forgot about it. I was shocked to get the notice that I had won!

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sometimes you just live right!

 

[steur]

Waiting for these (just can't help myself).

 

[BobHufford]

sometimes you just live right!

I don’t think that was it.

 

[Steve1857]

Waiting for these (just can't help myself). View attachment 775504 View attachment 775505 View attachment 775506 View attachment 775507

It would be a no brainer not to help yourself with those beauties, Stefan.

Two really nice finds. Congrats.

 

[steur]

Thanks, Steve. Could be just me, but it seems like the nice ones are getting harder to find.

 

[Steve1857]

Thanks, Steve. Could be just me, but it seems like the nice ones are getting harder to find.

Not just you, Stefan. They are indeed getting harder to find. At least in our neck of the woods.

 

[Blare]

Waiting for these (just can't help myself). View attachment 775504 View attachment 775505 View attachment 775506 View attachment 775507

To be fair…. Who could?

 

[Dan718]

Placed and order for an Akubra Campdraft in sand and a stylemaster in Loden. The former I’ve had my eye on as I can’t resist an open crown, although I’m not sure how I’ll shape it. The latter I think will make a great daily wear fedora and will be a little less conspicuous. I think shipping takes about a week so the weekend at the earliest.

 

[suitedcboy]

I'm waiting for a Western 100% beaver silver belly 4 3/4 brim 5 3/4 crown. It has been 11 months so I should be on the block soon. Excitement has reached the level of anxiously opening email every day to see if I have gotten THAT email asking for liner a and sweat color.

 

[Cuvier]

I have a feeling that it's going to be a hot summer for us here in Texas. I need to up my straw hat game.
Therefore I just bought a Stetson Hemp Stratoliner in their wonderful sage color. If I like it I'll grab one in either blue or natural.

 

[RickP]

I have a feeling that it's going to be a hot summer for us here in Texas. I need to up my straw hat game.
Therefore I just bought a Stetson Hemp Stratoliner in their wonderful sage color. If I like it I'll grab one in either blue or natural.

Be careful... hemp stratoliners and open roads tend o multiply in Texas warmth