Post by Drum on Jul 11, 2024 11:59:49 GMT
I’m sure there are sales numbers kept somewhere that would verify my guess, but at any given time, it seems like 3 of every 4 Tilley hats offered for sale in the “pre-owned” marketplace are T3s.
Now, it is possible that this imbalance between the T3 and every other Tilley model may be skewed by a hat related version of what we historians refer to as the “tyranny of the unread” which is an attempt to explain why so many ancient, leather bound academic treatises still exist in readable condition while millions of much more popular books, periodicals and other publications were literally read to pieces. Perhaps the plethora of vintage T3s on the market is the result of some form of tyranny by the unworn. Maybe I am not the only one who sees the T3 as Tilley’s least attractive and wearable hat model.
In truth, I own three T3s (with another early one on the way) but I’ve only ever worn one that I actually like. I’ve bought these mostly for “colllector” reasons as a way of documenting the pre-Y2K Tilley Endurables output. One is way too small (I’m going to decorate it as a present for my Mom or someone) another is slightly too big and looks absolutely awful on my head with the brim assuming any sort of weird positioning it wants despite my efforts to the contrary. The last one, an early, 1987 era T3 fits surprisingly well and even looks good, but I’ve decided it might be too rare or unique to actually wear. Sigh. Hopefully the next one, another minty late 80’s T3, will play the same as this one and be wearable and without any conservator’s guilt.
My own experiences with and opinion of this model lead me to wonder, if the T3 IS the most popular Tilley hat… why for heaven’s sake? Was Crocodile Dundee really that popular? Or maybe the Crocodile Hunter? I suppose it could be actual sailors who appreciate the ability to snap their brims to their crowns in a heavy squall, but most of the “pre-owned” Tilleys I’ve seen do not seem to be as well used as I know sailors will use their favorite hats. Perhaps they were mostly given as gifts to people who mostly rejected them as goofy looking, as I have.
Post up your thoughts on the popularity of the T3 and I will maybe poll the Reddit and Facebook Tilley groups for the same opinions. Will post anything interesting that turns up there, here.
i will post up some pics of yet another unique and early T3 as soon as it arrives.
(I may need some professional help)
Now, it is possible that this imbalance between the T3 and every other Tilley model may be skewed by a hat related version of what we historians refer to as the “tyranny of the unread” which is an attempt to explain why so many ancient, leather bound academic treatises still exist in readable condition while millions of much more popular books, periodicals and other publications were literally read to pieces. Perhaps the plethora of vintage T3s on the market is the result of some form of tyranny by the unworn. Maybe I am not the only one who sees the T3 as Tilley’s least attractive and wearable hat model.
In truth, I own three T3s (with another early one on the way) but I’ve only ever worn one that I actually like. I’ve bought these mostly for “colllector” reasons as a way of documenting the pre-Y2K Tilley Endurables output. One is way too small (I’m going to decorate it as a present for my Mom or someone) another is slightly too big and looks absolutely awful on my head with the brim assuming any sort of weird positioning it wants despite my efforts to the contrary. The last one, an early, 1987 era T3 fits surprisingly well and even looks good, but I’ve decided it might be too rare or unique to actually wear. Sigh. Hopefully the next one, another minty late 80’s T3, will play the same as this one and be wearable and without any conservator’s guilt.
My own experiences with and opinion of this model lead me to wonder, if the T3 IS the most popular Tilley hat… why for heaven’s sake? Was Crocodile Dundee really that popular? Or maybe the Crocodile Hunter? I suppose it could be actual sailors who appreciate the ability to snap their brims to their crowns in a heavy squall, but most of the “pre-owned” Tilleys I’ve seen do not seem to be as well used as I know sailors will use their favorite hats. Perhaps they were mostly given as gifts to people who mostly rejected them as goofy looking, as I have.
Post up your thoughts on the popularity of the T3 and I will maybe poll the Reddit and Facebook Tilley groups for the same opinions. Will post anything interesting that turns up there, here.
i will post up some pics of yet another unique and early T3 as soon as it arrives.
(I may need some professional help)
