Posts
Here are some more photos of a few of the items that will be on sale.
A few overview shots of the set-up. I'm going in early tomorrow morning to lay out even more things that are still in boxes!
Some of the blocks and tools.
Trims, veiling, feathers, buttons etc. in the foreground, and a huge pile of felts, really nice wooden hat boxes and a steam generator iron in the background. You may have heard that Elwyn of O'Lover Hats is retiring the brand to go back to school and broaden her career in accessories design. She's selling off tons and tons of hat stuff!
Sewing machines. On the left, two Husqvarna Viking sewing machines. Both are in excellent working condition, have been recently serviced, and come with cases, manuals and tons of extra parts, accessories, etc. for both machines including embroidery frames, bags of extra bobbins, all kinds of manuals and catalogs, super useful walking feet and lots of other feet, etc. etc. etc. They usually go for the prices given below (at minimum) without all the extras, but I'm throwing them in for free.
Rose- a great basic machine with some embroidery functions: $400
Designer 1- Advanced sewing plus deluxe embroidery: $700
And on the right, an antique straw braid set-up machine. These usually go for around $300 or more and are hard to find. This one needs a bit of cleaning but is otherwise complete, so I'm selling it for a song.
Kingsley foil stamping machine. This is sought-after by mens hatters, who use it to stamp things on leather sweatbands. An antique machine, recently refurbished. $175. I'm throwing in a full set of type and a case for the type, and a roll of silver foil, for free.
And now for the blocks.
Block 3, a one-of-a-kind brim custom made by Guy Morse Brown Hat Blocks in the UK. If you've heard of them, you know that their quality is *superb* and their prices are high, but totally worth it. They are the *only* company that I will buy new blocks from. This curvaceous brim is asymmetrical and looks great with a fedora crown. I used it only a few times and it is in like-new condition. If you buy it and you like it and want to order more sizes to make a set, just contact GMB, reference the style number written on the block, and they can reproduce it for you in any other sizes you want. Size 21". $100.
Block 5. Another great style from Guy Morse Brown. This is a top hat brim shape in a mini size that is compatible with their 'midi' size range. Very good condition. $100.
Yet another custom beauty from Guy Morse Brown. This is a classic Victorian-style full size top hat crown. Puzzle block construction, used only once or twice so it's still like new. Size 24. $300.
Blocks 12 and 13. These are actually spinners. I love this shape, they are slender so there is not a wide base to get in the way of your hands when blocking. These are my favorite kind to use when blocking mini hats that have small crowns. I've priced these low because the peg at the top, which fits into the hole in the bottom of a crown, is a little bit on the wide side, so it will work with some crowns better than others. $25 each.
Block 15. Can't you just see Rosalind Russel wearing this hat style in "His Girl Friday"? This kooky fedora-esque 1940s ladies block set has a pointed crown, a scalloped shape to the brim at the front, and a roll line to snap the brim up in back. The headsize line is flatteringly curved (convex on the bottom of the crown, concave on the top of the brim). This was very typical of blocks from this period, so both pieces will be compatible with many other blocks from the time that were made with a curved headsize. Use them together or separate to combine with other blocks in your collection! Size 22. $300.
Block 9. Ok, so this one is not a beauty at the moment. But it is a very hard-to-find pupee shape- it's a balsa utility block with a full face on it. I have a big set of these in many sizes, they're super useful for trimming hats, especially, because it's easier to know where to put veiling and other trim when you have a sense of where the facial features are in relation to the hat- eyebrows, nose, chin, etc. In this article, Stephen Jones says that his most essential tool is his pupee, and I agree, I use mine everyday for making hats and for display, they're so versatile. Here's another interesting article about pupees. All this one needs is a light sanding and a couple of coats of new varnish for a new lease on life. Size 21.5. The size is on the small side, but I find that the 21.5 in my collection gets more use than any of the others, it's especially good for working on mini hats and fascinators. $25.
Block 11. This is another kooky one, with a built-in brim, maybe from the 1960s-? The style is so unusual, it's really hard to tell when it was made. Its kind of part way between a fez, a bonnet, a jockey cap, and who knows what else, but it's awesome. Size 22. $150.
Block 8. An authentic Art Deco-era balsa cloche block. This one has seen some use but has lots more life left. I forgot to note the size (it's not tiny, at least a 22 or larger), let me know if you're interested and I'll check. $25.
Block 10. Another balsa cloche block in very good condition. Size 23 1/2. $80.
Blocks 1 and 2. Good basic fedora brim flanges in great condition. I forgot to note down the sizes so let me know if you're interested in one or both and I'll get back to you with their size. $25 each.
And now some sewing and related tools.
A collar mangle. This tool is used to squeeze excess starch from detatchable collars during laundering. Rare and very cool accessory for the dandy dresser. $25.
A Greist brand zig zag attachment made to be compatible with Singer Featherweight machines. Comes with the original box and manual. A corner of the plastic insert that holds the attachment inside the box is cracked, but otherwise it appears to be unused. $20
A vintage electric egg iron, working and complete with original cord still in excellent condition. Note the unusual flat hockey puck-like shape. Built-in vise grip to clamp to a table for hands-free use. $125.
More electric egg irons. These do not have their original cords, but maybe you can have them replaced by an electrician like Universal Electric in San Francisco (where I have all my vintage lamps etc. rewired). Or you could always use them without heat. Note the unusual football shape of the one on the right. The one on the left is shaped like a teardrop, and has a strange wooden piece on a hinge that can be positioned at a right angle to the post (as shown), or put down and flush with the post. I'm not sure what this was for, but it's out of the way in the down position anyway. $75 each.
Finally, the hatter's tools.
Hat sizers. The scissor-style one on the left is $75, the one on the right is $50.
A rare Victorian-era heart-shaped tolliker. Note the crack in one end, but it is still sound. Not perfect, but still totally useful. $100.
Wooden foot tollikers, $75 each.
Brand new iron curling shackles made by JW Hats. This is a set of three shackles used to make round brim curls on top hats or bowlers, in sizes 1/8", 3/8" and 5/8". These had a small amount of superficial damage to the handles and heat shields in transit when I received them, but the actual tool part is unaffected and it does not effect their use. They are otherwise brand new, clean and ready to use. $450 for the set, or $150 each.
One of the gems of my collection- a very rare electric curling shackle. Fantastic condition, works great. In 5 years of searching, I have only seen two of these for sale, and this was one of them. $300.
Antique brim iron tools. In the photo below, from left to right:
1) Super rare and very old, small D'Orsay (flat, rather than round) curling shackle. It's got some rust and the wood handle is a bit torched. $200.
2) Iron tolliker with yellowish wood handle. Excellent condition. $150.
3) Iron tolliker, black cast iron. Super excellent condition. $175.
4) Curling shackle. Rare small size, unmarked but looks like 1/8". $175.
Antique rounding jacks. Take your pick, $75 each.
Here are a whole bunch of tools by Mark DeCou of DeCou Studio. He is a talented woodworker and has been faithfully reproducing antique hatter's tools in hardwood.
Foot and groove tollikers. The following are $75 each. They are all unused / like new. Note the sizes (depth and width of the groove) written on each.
Curling shackles. Note the sizes written on the side of each. These are also unused and like new. $150 each.
Runner downers. These have been used. The two made by DeCou Studio on the left are $25 each, the one on the right is $10.
