Okay, my first hat was a PB custom, which I got about a 1.5 years ago and loved dearly. It was my first REAL hat; my first hat that wasn't a Dorfman. When I got my AB about 3-4 weeks ago I put my PB custom in the box my AB came in, hoping to eventually get around to sending it to Fedora for a reblock. Just a few minutes ago I casually decided to take the two hats out and compare them. My first reaction...
Oh. My. God. I looked at my PB and noticed how monotoned it looked; it looks like the ribbon and the felt are almost the same color! The second thing I noticed was how bland it was color-wise when compared to the AB. Lastly, there's the felt: After being exposed to nothing but fine beaver fur, the PB custom's felt seemed WAY too course.
The moral of this story: Buy an Adventurebilt! :junior: -IJ
I agree with j_weaver pics please. i also bought a peters brother first around the same time you did and now own a adventurebilt. the adventurebilt wins hands down ( I agree with you discription of both ). Have you ever gotton your peter brothers wet and how often in that year and a half did you wear it? Mine lost some color and ribbon looks awlfull. I sent it to be reblocked around 3 1/2 months ago and still don't know if I'll ever get it back ( wish I knew about steve before buying it or sending it to them for a reblock).
Very good comparisson. It really shows, how something that has been loved so dear for a long time, has to step back when you get something better.
One develops a feeling for quality and craftmenship by seeing and wearing better products. Like the guy who always drove a Volkswagen Beetle and alway was happy with it, since it kept running and was easy to repair when it didn't. But once he came to drive a brand new Mercedes, he came to realize that even though the Beetle has its qualities, the Mercedes just is worlds appart.
So in the end; if you haven't seen one, you can't judge neither its quality NOR the one of what you've got in comparisson to other possibilities.
Brilliant analogy, Marc. Now that I think about it, the felt of the PB feels almost as bad as the Dorfman when compared to beaver (Not trying to be too extreme). And you're right, our perceptions do seems to change soooo much once we have something of higher quality. This makes me wonder how good a 500X beaver would feel. :junior: -IJ
What are the differences as far as the block and shape? From their website, the Peter's Bros _ looks awesome:
When I look at the adventurebilt, especially in this pic, I don't se much difference:
Perhaps you all can comment on the difference in shape. I am truly interested in getting an adventurebilt, but I am skeptical about getting what I want, which is the reverse taper stovepipe look with a cairo bash. I am also having trouble getting Steve to reply to my inquiries.
Probably because Steve is burried in orders. If you have questions about his product, just let me know and I'll try to give you the same answer as the man himself.
I've been a big fan of the PB myself, but the block from Steve is really worlds apart. So is the shape. A couple of years ago, I thought that the PB had the best bash possible, but I have tried "the Mercedes" and it truly isn't. It just can't be, since it's impossible to get a REALLY good shape into that stiff felt! What else do I prefer on the AB? - The sweatband, the color, the felt, the ribbon, the liner and the way the sweatband is put together and into the crown. Other than that the PB IS a fine hat. Seriously. But so is the Beetle a fine car
am also having trouble getting Steve to reply to my inquiries.
Sorry guys. Some enquires fall through the cracks, but please, do not give up, and try again. I just responded to your pm TJ. I basically spend just few minutes a day on the pc, and then the rest of the time making hats. If you do not hear from me, it is either because I read it, and forgot to answer, but it is never intentional. . But, if brought to my attention, I will get back up with you. Thanks!!! Fedora
I had to add one more thing, cusomer serves is so much bettr with steve and the adventurebil than the peter brothers. They have highlacked my fedora and don't respond to e-mail or phone calls.
TJ, as far as shape goes, I can't comment very much, as my PB is styled after the opening sequence and the AB is styled after the Cairo fight sequence. From what I can tell (just by eyeballing the two of them) the PB custom's centerdent is much broader than the AB's while the dent's that form the pinch reach much farther towards the back of the hat (about half way to the back). It actually has held up well considering the fact that I never scotchguarded it.
Beyond these discrepancies, I can only reiterate what Marc said: The PB has much thicker felt, which limits how good a shape it can get. (ie. Its gonna be harder to get a good Raiders pinch) The last thing (which isn't really related to shape) that inhibits the PB is that its ribbon is too narrow (by about 1-2 milimeters) :junior: -IJ
To be honest, I never cared much for the PB, in my eye it just looked more like a restyled cowboy hat. Sorry but that's just my own personal opinion. It just never looked right when compared to the Indy fedora. Also the custom PB is made from 5X felt, a low to midrange quality felt when compared to 100% beaver. The block was never right and would usually show a taper when shaped and worn like a true Indy fedora. People that had them usually said it was a bullet proof hat because it was extremely stiff with all the felt stiffner in it.
fedoralover
Last edited by fedoralover on Mon May 23, 2005 5:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
michaelson, sent my PB to them before there busy season, couple months droped them a e-mail ( got a e-mail saying backed up they get to it soon ). A month wen't by and sent another e-mail got nothing, then called a couple of day's ago ( they sayed they woulde call me right back and now nothing. I just get the fealing that some poor soul is in a basement slaveing away and calling or sending a e-mail is going to get them 10 lashes with a whip.
texas-girl, after three to three and a half months I don't know how more patient I can get. At this point I just would like to have them send it back as is.
Just to clarify: I got my hat about a year ago at PB. It's a pure beaver Borsalino blocked with the same block and formed the same way as the custom. So you were able to get the custom look and get a higher grade of felt too. You did not have to settle for their poopy wool. You can still get a higher grade of felt and have them shape it the same way as their custom. The problem I am having is that where the quality is easy to find...it's the SHAPING that I am concered with. So to clarify my question, who does a better job at blocking and shaping to get that true Raiders look?
By the way, I just ordered my Adventurebilt because it seems to me if you want the right look, it's the way to go. I talked to Joe at PB about reblocking my hat and get them to shape it just the way I want (like the pics above), and he told me it depends on who shapes it. The guy who used to do them named Jimmy is no longer there. So, it's going to be someone trying to copy those great bashes. Frankly, most of us can do that ourselves, so I decided that PB isn't the way to go. So, long story short, I decided to go with the true "master," Steve aka Fedora. I will definately post a review when I get it.
TJ, I'm sure that the AB will be just what your looking for. The soft felt of the AB lends itself to the Raiders look better than the 'bullet proof' felt of other vendors IMO.
If I might add this, to get the shaping right you need the right block to start with. Having followed this development for the last 5 or 6 years now, that has always been the elusive factor. One vendor might get the look right when you see the hat straight on, but then when viewed from the side there would be an inward slant either on the front or the back and in some instances both. Also, if the transition from the sides to the top wasn't right, then when you put the center dent in, it would **** the sides in and make the hat tapered. A definite no no for a Raiders hat. Fedora, through experimenting on his own finally got a block that looks right from all angles and when bashed won't **** in the sides. Not to critisize the other venders, but this is one area they always came up short in. That's why the Adventurebilt surpasses all the others, not to mention the 100% beaver will give you a hat that will last a lifetime.
:junior: -IJ
I really wish I had the technological ability to, the difference is staggering! :junior: -IJ
:junior: -IJ
I basically spend just few minutes a day on the pc, and then the rest of the time making hats. If you do not hear from me, it is either because I read it, and forgot to answer, but it is never intentional. . But, if brought to my attention, I will get back up with you. Thanks!!! Fedora
