a Robert Hall fedora to hold me over. (Pix added!)

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:12 pm

I was in the antique district today and though I asked my girlfriend to help me not buy a fedora, I came out of The Pendulum vintage clothing store with a new Robert Hall lid for $60.

I used the steam setting on my iron to ditch the teardrop bash and put in a more Indy style one, and crease up the pinch in front and, holy moley! It was surprisingly easy! If it was a more expensive hat, I'm not sure I'd have tried it, but now I think I feel confident enough to custom up a really good hat... like that Fortune and Glory one we've all been so excited about.

Anyway, this is my first real wide brimmed fedora and I'm awfully durn happy about it and it looks real swell on my mellon. It'll do nicely as a dress hat and a proper replacement for my beat to heck Tilly Safari fedora, which was the same price but had no silk lining, nor leather sweatband like this Robert Hall job has.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:33 pm

...you bought a new hat at a vintage store? Wow... now...PICS

And is it fur felt, or wool felt?

Regards, Daryl.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:55 pm

It says it's fur felt - but it could be rat fur for all I know. I'll take pix, but it may be tuesday before I can get 'em developed.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:57 pm

Well, tuesday ain't that far...so take pics

and make sure you're in at least one of them, so we know how good it looks on ya

Regards, Daryl.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:39 pm

The pix I took yesterday had a ribbon trim around the edge of the brim - I removed that during my lunch hour. It's lookin' good. I think I'll get a black hat band ribbon for it tomorrow. Though on my old Tilly, I affixed a the hatband from my departed Gran'pa's 1950's fed, it's sun faded and battered, so I figure a new one is for the best.

Look what you guys are doing to me!! I'b obsessing over a hat!!! Durn you good folk.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:42 pm

Hummm. Real rat fur. Don't let Fedora hear you. He may try to spec one out!

I've never heard of that brand. I'll be interested in seeing one too!

Regards. Michaelson

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:57 pm

I hear the rat blend smells like cheese...

bink

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:57 pm

Apparantly, Robert Hall was a prominent clothier store and haberdasherie in the first half of the last century and by many accounts (google researched) they had very memorable jingles and TV ads.

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/ADS/clothin ... aberd.html

Kinda cool that this link ties in with another of my hobbies, urban exploration.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:00 pm

I think even the high end beaver fur feds could smell like cheese depending on the hygiene of the wearer.

Likewise, they could smell like papaya and jojoba.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:02 pm

So, the name is the store that sold it, but not necessarily the one who made it, right? I vaguely remember a Robert Hall being located in my hometown when I was growing up, but it was selling fairly pedestrian clothing when was old enough to wander in it's doors, and closed back in the early 70's. Man, I hadn't thought of that store in decades!

Regards. Michaelson

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:12 pm

Well, I guess there hasn't been an actual Robert Hall store since the 60's but that's the name on the liner of my hat. I've seen the Robert Hall advertised in retro clothing websites too. Notably Edie's hats. As for rat, cat, beaver, rottweiller content in the hat... I dunno - perhaps it's made from the hide of a 'genuine', whatever kind of beast that is... because the liner is gold-stamped "Genuine Fur Felt".

The lady who sold me this lid said they mail order them - from where, I dunno. She also commented that they only make certain colours available at certain times of the year. I coulda got me a more Indy colour one if it were spring and not fall. In fall and winter most haberdasheries only offer darker colours, according to this lady, who had hats from about five different companies.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:20 pm

Interesting! By the way, THANK you for supplying that link. I've found some of the things in there absolutely fascinating, especially the 'forgotten cemeteries' area!!! High regards. Michaelson

Kit Walker · Post by **Kit Walker** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:23 pm

did a search for a "genuine" here is what I came up with

..............

don't get that hat wet.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:32 pm

...when them Genuine things popped out while I was steaming the hat, I just ironed them flat before they fully hatched.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:40 pm

Puts a whole new wrinkle in the 'demon roll' discussion, doesn't it?

Regards. Michaelson

Indiana Jess · Post by **Indiana Jess** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 pm

Better that kind than this kind ...

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:09 pm

I almost bought one of those new off the lot back in 75!

Regards. Michaelson

Indiana Jess · Post by **Indiana Jess** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:14 pm

They don't get any closer than that!

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:41 pm

I should've taken a photo of the teardrop bash on the Robert Hall before I reshaped it.. although, I should have a few photos to share this evening regardless.

If I remember to pick them up...

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:42 pm

Snakewhip, let me thank you for the link you provided with the photos. I've enjoyed the heck out of that site and related links for the past couple of days.

High regards. Michaelson

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 7:02 pm

Whoa, geez, then I better not tell you about the web-ring then.

That's time you'll never get back.

Incidentally, if anyone visits my site, THE VIRUS IS FAKE, so relax a bit and enjoy it.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 7:04 pm

I did stumble into it, I think, and you're right...took a while to get myself free. TO much to read and see!

Regards. Michaelson

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 8:51 pm

GREAT site! But I think I killed it

I love it

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:30 pm

Nah, you didn't kill it. I'm a 'thrifty' sort, so I use the free, but bandwidth limited geocities to host my sites.

Here's the pix I promised:

Edward Hathands displays the new bash on the Robert Hall which previously had the teardrop bash like the beat-to-hecccck Tilly on the right.

Tilly Safari from the front.

Tilly Safari from the side. Note the colour it originally was is the same as the new Robert Hall. Kind of a dark chocolate brown. The sun has faded it dramatically. I'll have to retire my Gran'pa's old hat band too.

the Robert Hall from the front.

and from the side.

It has a slightly shorter brim than an Indy hat. I removed that ugly brim trim after taking the pix and I'm going to get a much wider hat band for it.

Overall, I'm pretty durned happy with this hold-over lid and will probably still wear it for more formal occassions even after I get my Fortune and Glory one from Mr. Fedora.

Mola Ram · Post by **Mola Ram** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:51 pm

Sable,
That hat looks nifty!
i think the band fits the profile of the hat well.
Adam

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:59 pm

Y'think, Adam/Molorom? Maybe I'll just lay a wider band on it to see how it looks before committing.

I really like the snap bim at the back. I like a fed to curve up at the back.

These pics also show how desperately I needed a haircut.