Quality Of A Herbert Johnson

Indiana Jimbo · Post by **Indiana Jimbo** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:49 pm

Hello,
I have the privledge of going to England this summer. I plan on definitely picking up a Wested there and I have a question about the Herbert Johnson Fedora. Are they worth the money? When it comes to Indiana Jones, I am a perfectionist, and because Herbert Johnson made the original, I am inclined to buy that one as opposed to others. Thanks. Hows the durability and will it survive a few "adventures?"

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 6:08 pm

Hi - I'll be perfectly honest and give you my experience, since you ask:

They are not worth £150. The felt, lining and so on is OK but not the best quality. My HJ didn't hold up well at all - a little bit of rain and it tapered to the point where I just couldn't wear it - I don't own that hat anymore.

The Akubra federation is a much better hat for adventures, IMO.

I hear the adventurebilt has lots of happy owners too.

Others experience of the new HJ's may be different to mine, of course.

Regards

Al

IndyBlues · Post by **IndyBlues** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 6:09 pm

Well, I guess it depends....are you a "perfectionist", as you say??
OR a "purist"??
If you are a purist, you'll want the HJ, because it is what was used in the film. Sadly, the ones made in the shop are a far cry from the ones in the film. There ARE a few folks selling HJs that do their own shaping to make it alot closer to waht we see in the films.
Now, if you are a perfectionist, get yourself an Adventurebilt. Our resident "hat-ologist" Fedora aka Steve Delk makes a great looking, and great quality Indiana Jones fedora. You won't have to search far to find many a happy customer of Fedoras. Just look round the fedora section, and it's everywhere.
Good luck!
'Blues

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:10 pm

I concur with Mr. Blues here. Being a hybrid purist/perfectionist (yes, there had to be one), I'd really, really-really want a good-looking HJ. The "Cambridge version" sold by Indyfedora.com in Germany and our own Todd (toddscostumes.com) are the ones to get. Pagey's hats were uncannily Raider-esque, and Todd offers custom styling of his hats.
Steve's Adventurebilt seems to be the way to go, though. The quality and craftsmanship of Fedora's hats is way better than anything present-day HJ can offer.
As for the St. James Street shop - visit it, by all means. Give the clerk a friendly smile, look at their HJ offerings with a polite straight face and leave when you're done. Keep your money in your pocket book - unless you're going to buy one of those nifty Herbert Johnson logo-embossed hat brushes...

Indiana Jimbo · Post by **Indiana Jimbo** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:32 pm

Thanks for your help, do you think you guys could give me alternative hats that are screen accurate and durable, not to mention great looking. If you could please provide links. Thanks.

James

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:43 pm

Are you asking for further options than the ones listed above? If you want screen accuracy in an Indy hat, then Fedora's Adventurebilt is the way to go. It's a top notch hat created by a top notch Indy fan for other Indy fans. He will style and shape it to your specifications, or provide it open crowned (unshaped) for you to transform how you see fit. You can contact him one of two ways. You can log onto www.adventurebilthats.com or you can just yell "HEY, FEDORA!!!" and he'll answer you right here in these forums. However, if you just yelled out loud, the people near your computer may give you a funny look.

Either way, the Adventurebilt is worth the money and a far better quality hat than the current Herbert Johnsons. Good luck!

bink

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 10:22 pm

I would love to own one of those knifty Herbert Johnson embossed hat brushes. If anyone from the States ever plans to visit the HJ shop in London, I'd be more than willing to pay, should you be inclined to pick one up. Myself and two others (who are not members of this board) were involved in a shipping error of grand proportions back in the spring of 1999, when HJ shipped all of our hats together in the same box! I made sure the other fellows received their fedoras, and one of them contacted the company and made them aware of the situation. We were all promised a 'free gift' from the shop for our inconvenience (presumably one of these hat brushes), and I eagerly looked forward to it. Unfortunately it never happened, and we all came up empty-handed, save for our Poets. Anyway, I'd appreciate it if somebody would be kind enough to pick one up on their next hop across the pond. Thanks for reading!

)

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:13 am

I would like to add to what bink and others have said. I have worn many hats and seen many others, and, for my money, nothing compares to an Adventurebilt for quality and look. Here are some other testimonials: http://www.adventurebilthats.com/photos.asp
An HJ is just a label. For a true adventurer's hat, get an Adventurebilt, and then take it somewhere!

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:23 am

If you get an HJ from their shop in England it'll cost you over 300 dollars.
From Todd's Costumes it's $225. Fedora may soon have HJs for less than that.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:29 am

And THIS is how they keep their hats in the London shop. Not the best way to store them, really...

Regards,
Swindiana

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:22 am

My humble opinion is that is best to wait for Fedora to get those HJ in his collection, you will have them shaped with great accuracy, great customer service, and cheaper than in any other place

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:02 pm

Swindi, what are the white flecks on the hats the 2 guys are wearing? Was it raining outside?

Indiana Croft · Post by **Indiana Croft** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:41 pm

I bought one from a fellow COW member, had it reblocked by Fedora, and I've been lucky and have had no problems with it. Granted it hasn't been caught in down pour...yet. So we'll see. Mean while here's a couple of pics.

http://public.fotki.com/IndianaCroft/my ... wlost.html
http://public.fotki.com/IndianaCroft/my ... tle_2.html

Croft

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:42 pm

@ITG:
That's just two severe cases of dandruff. No, really.

Kidding! That's Ken and Al - wearing their Keppler and "German" HJ. Yes, the flecks are water droplets. It was raining - we were in London, Holly - that's the only kind of weather they have over there...

ij1936 · Post by **ij1936** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:28 pm

The only hat I have ever owned is from HJ. The first one I purchased through Lee Keppler back in 1990 or 1991. All the others I ordered myself and there is a big difference in the quality of the hats that I had in the mid 1990's and the one I'm wearing now. Thankfully, the hats I bought in 2003 are more like the one I bought from Lee. I have 2 spares which, if all goes as planned, I'll never have to buy another hat! I figure that if I live to be 100, and the three hats will give me a good 20 to 25 years each, my last hat will die with me!

Dr. Jones Jr. · Post by **Dr. Jones Jr.** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:49 pm

Just a question about Adventurebilt, is the 80/20 Rabbit Nutria blend good felt? I love the Indy hat, but im just not sure if i wanna drop 250 for thepure beaver, when the cheaper blend will do the trick. Thanks for any help

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 11:05 pm

Dr. Jones Jr. wrote:Just a question about Adventurebilt, is the 80/20 Rabbit Nutria blend good felt? I love the Indy hat, but im just not sure if i wanna drop 250 for thepure beaver, when the cheaper blend will do the trick. Thanks for any help

When you call to order your Adventurebilt 100% beaver, just mention my name and it will only cost you $225.

Weeeeeeell, actually you get the discount because you are a member of COW.

VP · Post by VP » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:30 am

Dr. Jones Jr. wrote:Just a question about Adventurebilt, is the 80/20 Rabbit Nutria blend good felt? I love the Indy hat, but im just not sure if i wanna drop 250 for thepure beaver, when the cheaper blend will do the trick.

I think that Fedora now offers just the beaver and rabbit. No blends.

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:38 am

And THIS is how they keep their hats in the London shop. Not the best way to store them, really...

Hmm.. I dont see the problem - on the top of the head on some Ian-and-Ken-look-alike.

I bet even Fedora dosen´t store his hats this way...

But seriously - the Adventurebilt is the best Indy-fedora around regarding both quality and price.
And if You really wanna go die-hard-Indy You buy a white liner from HJ
at stick it inside You Adventurebilt.

That way You got a hat that will stand the test of Indiana Jones and will be looking like the original from the inside as well..

Best regards

JAN

VP wrote:

I think that Fedora now offers just the beaver and rabbit. No blends.

Thats right, only rabbit and beaver (and You´ll pick the beaver..)

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:41 am

Or you can wait and pick the HJ from him when he gets it

Whipcrack · Post by **Whipcrack** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:07 pm

I agree with JAN

IMO the quality of the hat and how a hat looks on ones head is much more important than the liner. Nobody has ever looked inside one of my hats and said hey, thats a ........... They see it on your nogin and say "nice lid", or laugh and say "Smokey the Bear", whatever.

Thanks
Bill Walton