Tricks to restoring shape to aThird Reich peaked cap?

[Larboard]

Got an artillery hat that was probably stored somewhat improperly for decades, it's pooched out at the chinstrap buttons and sagging a little bit a the top. Instead of having a nice eggshape from front to back, it's more egg shaped from side to side. I'm not seeing anything on the web for something you can stick in a hat to restore or keep shape like a shoe stretcher?

[bigmacglenn]

This doesn't appear to be a "Sattelform" with the pronounced crown...it appears to be the earlier Wehrmacht Visor if I'm judging the photo correctly...In that case, it's just as it should be -before taking age, storage, and the realities of life for a used visor into consideration, lol...I usually put them on display with a soft-towel inside to maintain the desired form without stressing the material...
cheers, Glenn

[MAP]

Agree Glenn. Looks like a teleform style to me.

But do you have top down shots of the underside? I have a visor or two that are also oblong (side to side) from poor storage. I take a piece of open cell foam (i.e. 2 inch thick seat foam, etc) and cover with an old cotton shirt. I cut it in a round shape to just fit with the slightest pressure to put it back to its original shape. You can also buy a hat shaper or some glass mannequin heads but I prefer the foam because you can cut it to fit the hat perfectly. Also is very inexpensive.

[Larboard]

Yes, it is the older, slightly more boring shape, dated 1939 inside. It's a contract cap, but actually fairly decent quality, real soft leather sweatband. I'll get some decent pics up tomorrow. The hat doesn't need a lot of help, just a little bit. A head shape would be best for it, but I don't leave things out for display so that takes too much room.

I've got a plastic bag bunched up front jacking it up a little for now. I tried other things, paper, bubble wrap, but they were pushing in the top to that wouldn't work. When you stick something in the hat from front to back, a shoe brush with a bubble wrap spacer in the front to eliminate that sagging in the middle, it really perks the hat up.

[MAP]

Is this what you are looking for?

Village Hat Shop Hat Jack Stretcher - Small Featured Accessories

Some people love these, but as said, I like the foam (covered in cotton) to reshape the sweatband portion. If I need to prop up the cap (I have one with a broken stiffener - the cardboard part that creates the peak) I just add some old cotton cloth or bags.

[Larboard]

Yes, something like that might just do the trick!

[MAP]

Just be careful to buy the right size. I bought one and it was too small.

[Larboard]

Definitely on the right track, found some awesome period appropriate ones on the Bay, thx MAP ;-)

Check this one out, I think you could restretch helmets with this one!




Domke ULM Hat Stretcher Blocker Millinery Elec Steampunk Industrial | eBay

[Larboard]

I'll see if I can find one that's just right for this hat. I can't stand that graduation cap look to the upright part, otherwise it's a pretty nice lid! ;-)

[MAP]

Is the stiffened behind the eagle broken? If so, nothing you can really do as far as I know except stuffing it with some bags or jury rigging a popsicle stick, but these style hats never had a high peak anyway.