I got it - Adventurebilt pics

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:05 am

Just got my hat yesterday. After spending some time steaming and shaping it - here's the final result. I wish I could get rid of that taper, I think it's just my head shape. I am going to try to bulge out the top tomorrow - but all in all it looks great!

Let me say that the hat doesn't look quite right when you pull it out of the box, but a little steam and shaping does the trick if you know how to do it right.

Kudos Steve, as this is a great hat.

Regards,
TJ

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:20 am

Hey man looking good there, u could have been wearing some of your stuff too, u know a bit of publicity

nah just kidding great looking hat you got there

regards from Spain!

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:20 am

Looks good!

Sometimes just the angle you view a hat can make it look tapered, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:20 am

Congrats on your new Adventurebilt. I think it looks great , wear it well.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:51 am

Jpenman wrote:I think it looks great , wear it well.

Not to be a jerk, but I do not think it looks great. At least not compared to the other Adventurebilt's I have seen. It does have taper. Sometimes it is just the angle, but this has taper head-on and from a distance, so there is no lens distortion either. That is my honest opinion, but take that for what it is worth.

I am curious. Why did you feel you had to steam it? The beaver fur hats are usually pretty easy to shape without steam.

Too bad, because with a little stubble, you would look like you were born to wear the hat. Many people do not.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:05 pm

I was under the impression that the hat was supple, but ridgid enough to shape without steam?

Why the steam?

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:08 pm

Is it a Last crusade or Raiders? Looks to me to have more of a last crusades brim to it , in that case it looks great. For a Raiders it might be just a tad tappered but always hard to tell in photo's. That's my honest opinion.

Baggers · Post by **Baggers** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:08 pm

Hmmm, as someone who is currently waiting for his AdventureBilt to arrive, I find this thread a little unsettling. I thought Steve's hats were supposed to be ready to go out of the box? What's with the steaming and rebashing?

Between this and the other thread about the AB that tapered after getting soaked, I have to admit that I'm a bit concerned. Believe me, I'm a realist. I'm not looking for a bulletproof hat, but I'd like one that will look right when I take it out of the box and stand up to a little punishment. Am I expecting too much?

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but these two threads this morning have left me feeling a wee bit nervous.

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:11 pm

Rick are u sure its not the camera angle?? It looked tapered at first but i thought it was the angle

Baggers dont worry they ARE ready to go when they come out the box, and dont worry ull be satisfied with the result

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:25 pm

OK, I'll shut up now

Please do not. We need more people who are willing to point these things out instead of the knee-jerk "that looks great!" comments. Fedora's hats are the best out there for the cost in my opinion, but hats are not one-size fits all. Head shape and other factors affect the shape of a hat and without being there in person there is only so much Steve can do.

Rick are u sure its not the camera angle??

The first shot is virtually head-on. There is no angle. Often as you move slightly to either side the hat appears tapered, and if you get too close to the camera the hat looks funky. That is usually the case when people hold the camera at arms length and snap the picture when it is on their head. I do not see any indication of this.

The hat does not look bad, it just looks tapered. Some folks do not mind.

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:27 pm

Ok cuz i dont really get it and id like to understand it whats the difference between that hat and this one:

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:36 pm

Rick5150 wrote:That is usually the case when people hold the camera at arms length and snap the picture when it is on their head.

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:44 pm

Sorry... and sry for the look not been sleeping well

Plz Rick or someone explain it to me

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:10 pm

Sorry... and sry for the look not been sleeping well Plz Rick or someone explain it to me

Insomnia: Chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.

Now it is my turn to apologize. Too many hours of watching Leslie Neilsen movies. Seriously, I think that there is a small amount of taper there, but not nearly as much as Texas Jones' hat. I think your hat looks good. Surely, no more taper than a LC fedora, to my eyes.

(I left the Airplane! joke hanging. Anyone?)

Baggers · Post by **Baggers** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:12 pm

Pagey wrote:My hats came open crown so I styled them myself. It all depends on how particular you are. Steve's hats are the best option at the moment. But that's not to say I like all the pictures I've seen. Only very few have had the sort of look I'd be happy with. Neolithic's is fantastic and indy1936 (?) also has a wonderful one. Most of the others, I (and that's just MY taste) would rebash. BUT - I would not use steam. These hats only need a little playing around with and a bit of pinching. You don't even need water - they dry bash, and hold that bash very easily.

I don't see how you can expect a hat to be perfect out of the box - you weren't there at the fitting. And I also think people should start being as picky about hat details as they are about jacket details. How many of us say to Peter - "a 42 Wested Indy please". Yet that's pretty much what we say about hats. Get involved in the details - get critical. The hats will get better and better - just as the jackets have.

OK, I'll shut up now

I can see your point in regard to fit. To compensate for not being able to be there for an actual fitting, I gave Steve my stock hat size along with an actual measurement in inches taken off my head, AND told him about a occasional fit problem I had with headgear that leads me to believe that I may be a long oval head shape. In spite of all this, I'm still not expecting a perfect fit when I place it on my head the first time. I'd be foolish to do so ordering it "long distance" as I did. However I also ordered my hat with a specific bash, so I'm expecting it to arrive ready to go in that department. But, with the shape perhaps it's all relative to a degree. My idea of the perfect "Cairo Bash" may not be the same as yours or Steve's. But I think I can live with his interpretation judging from the photos I've seen. As long as it doesn't taper, odds are I'll probably be happy.

As for durability and maintaining a certain amount of shape, while I won't be getting dragged behind truck or tramping through a jungle during a monsoon while wearing it, I am expecting it to endure a moderate amount of abuse without having to send it back for a reblock every time it gets wet.

And regarding being picky about the details, I'm new at this. I'll leave that up to the experts here on the forum. I don't feel quailfied (yet) to stick my head into that buzzsaw!

Cheers!

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:15 pm

Hey this wasnt about how much taper my hat has, its got no taper who said it was tapered, i dont see no taper (frenetically moving head from one side to the other)

lol now seriously i can see a bit tapered my hat, but that´s inevitable and with time it will grow more, i love my hat how it looks now and when it comes to a time (long time) in which it looks so tapered that i dont like it ill just send it for a reblock.

now speaking of Texas´s hat i still dont see that much taper sry i must be blind or something

Baggers · Post by **Baggers** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:16 pm

rick5150 wrote:(I left the Airplane! joke hanging. Anyone?)

Where did you leave it?

Surely you can't be serious?

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:19 pm

I am. And don't call me ...

Oops! Almost did it.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:31 pm

Nice hat texas, the front view looks perfect i think, and very interesting topic... i got worried! LOL

I ordered my Adventurebilt from The Man (Fedora), i guess he's working on it right now or anyway a day it will arrive lol and... well i wish i could take it off of the box in perfect conditions, i never thought to this topic

We will see when my hat arrives... it's not useful to get worried right now

Anyway if i have any problems i will ask to Steve for a help.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:34 pm

Texas Jones wrote:Just got my hat yesterday. After spending some time steaming and shaping it - here's the final result. I wish I could get rid of that taper, I think it's just my head shape. I am going to try to bulge out the top tomorrow - but all in all it looks great!
Let me say that the hat doesn't look quite right when you pull it out of the box, but a little steam and shaping does the trick if you know how to do it right.
Kudos Steve, as this is a great hat.

Regards,
TJ

TJ,
Was the taper there before you steamed it? I'm just curious. Personally, I don't understand everyone's fascination with steam. Like Pagey, all the changes I make are done dry, even on my Panama hat. On an AB, the adjustments will stay. It's like working in clay. I leave the steaming to the professionals.

Also, when I judge taper with a hat, I never use a photo. I mean, look at MK's page here. There are a lot of great looking hat shots there and not all of them are stovepipe; quite a few are tapered, some drastically so. I judge taper with two rulers, one on each side of the hat. If the lines they form look like they are going to converge somewhere just above the hat, it is tapered. If the lines look like they might converge eventually, but not for many many feet, then it isn't. If the lines are perpendicular, then you really have a problem!

TJ, I am curious as to what didn't look right to you out of the box? Did it shift, or did the bash pop out in transit?

Luisiana Jones wrote:Hey this wasnt about how much taper my hat has, its got no taper who said it was tapered, i dont see no taper (frenetically moving head from one side to the other)

There is no taper on that bottom photo to speak of. Don't worry about it.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:47 pm

Hemingway Jones wrote:Personally, I don't understand everyone's fascination with steam.

Well, I guess I found the answer to my question right here.

Don't I feel silly!

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:07 pm

Thanks Hemingway, you know that just for that ill sleep better tonight

Regards.

Indyjim · Post by **Indyjim** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:05 pm

If you go to MK's Raider's Hat Page, look at the 7th photo down on the left
hand side and compare it to Texas Jones 2nd picture. (I opened 2 windows at once to compare side by side). Its the same angle, same tilt. Both hats look almost identical to me. I don't think it's a taper issue. I have also observed in a lot of old movies with a lot of fedoras, that same look ocassionally occurs with an otherwise nicely bashed hat.

And don't call me Shirley!(':lol:')

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:29 pm

Alright, let's see what I've got going on here.

Texas: I think that brim looks very good with your face shape. If you shaped it that way, way to go. The crown does appear slightly tapered to me, but it's not tapered a ridiculous amount. For your face shape, I think the overall look of the hat fits you very well. Though, I can udnerstand how others may not. The main point here, my friend, is whether or not you are happy. It seems as though you are, and if that is so, then you have a wonderful hat, and I am happy that you have acquired it.

Rick: Little harsh, don't you think? Probably could've found a more tactful way to say things. "Do I detect a rebuke?"

As per the steam question, the Adventurebilt does shape rather nicely in my hands, but I must say that it is not always "like clay" when I do it. One of the things I was considering using steam (and possibly a touch of felt stiffener) on is the very center of the apex of the pinch. It pops up slightly, and as such, I can't get that heart shaped crown look out of it that I want. It won't stay down when I push it down. I've noticed some other Adventurebilts having this happen, too. The most recent that I've seen it on is Louisiana Jones' hat and Jpenman's, but in Texas' pic, I don't see it. Hmm. Maybe this is something he saw and got rid of. Texas?

Regards,

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:44 pm

I'm going to go out on a limb on piping in here, but some people actually prefer the TOD look and like a little taper on hat. I know most of us perfer an untapered hat (myself included). However, many of the responses make it seem like taper is a bad thing. But for some, it's desired. It's really a matter of opinion (personally I'm not a fan of taper on a hat).

TJ, what I'm wondering is were you going for more of a TOD or Raiders look? (I'm guessing Raiders.) I do want to say that the hat looks really sharp on you and if you don't mind a little taper, then that's what is important. If you ordered it without taper, I would cantact Fedora. I agree with Strider on the brim. It looks fantastic and really goes well with your face shape. That was one of the first things I noticed.

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:05 pm

Thank you all for the insight. Here's a couple of clarifications:

The style: I wanted it to be a cairo bash. I got it to look that way as in the picture myself, it didn't look at all like that when I received it.

The taper: No, the hat was tapered more out of the box. I pushed out the top corners a bit to get it a bit more squared, and heightened and pushed forward the front of the hat, as it was dented in from the pinch so bad I couldn't stand it. I really like the look of the crown and pinch, but definately want the taper to go away. With the magic of PHOTOSHOP, here's a picture of how I WANT it to look, with the original picture on top for comparison:

Fedora would like me to send it back for a reblock, and I hope he can make it look like the bottom pic. But the feeling is, that if I get it back and it looks just like it did before I put 4 hours of steaming and forming into it, I won't be a happy camper to say the least. If it comes back looking like the bottom pic, I will of course bow down to a true Indy Fedora master.

As for the brim, I really like my forming job. I guess it kind of took away from the look of the "turn," but in my opinion the brim is the least of my concern.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:11 pm

I wonder if shipping can cause the hat to taper?

I'm sure that while in route the hats are exposed to some adverse conditions.

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:16 pm

Okay I just emailed Steve and told him that if he could make the hat look like the bottom pic, then I will send it back for a reblock. If not, and I get the hat back looking the way it did when I first got it, then I'm going to pass. Hopefully he can do it. Otherwise, I agree with Rick. At the price, I just don't think I can live with that taper. I surely don't want to be the FIRST to return an Adventurebilt!!

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:23 pm

When I first contaced Fedora, I wanted a hat to match this one (Dan North's):

I love the look of this hat, but was sad to find--after I opened the box--a hat that looked nothing like it. This hat obviously has no taper at all.

My hat out of the box looked alot like Luisiana Jones' hat. No offense at all, but that hat does not look right at all. Especially if you want it to look like Dan's. Does anyone else see the drastic difference? How about that pinch? It doesn't look even close to Dan's. Would you want one like dan's or like Luisiana's?

Let me say that Steve is absolutely phenomenal on service. Not too many people provide that, especially to the nit-picky people like us! Thanks, Steve, for your generosity!!

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:46 pm

I would love to see that hat, shot from a higher angle, with it not tilted back on your head. regards, Fedora

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 2:24 am

No i sense no offense in there Texas but, i love my hat (everything about it i wouldnt change it for any other) and I didnt ask for a Cairo Bash and i didnt get a Cairo bash, thats why it looks different, it's just a matter of what you like, i mean a LC fedora isn´t going to look like that, nor the idol grab scene one, which is the one that i asked for. And if my hat doesnt look like the idol grab scene which i think it does look, well i wont care and i wont change it because i love it the way it looks now.

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:43 am

TJ, is there any way you can just photo-shop the real hat onto your head!? That one looks superb!

Seriously, though, I wouldn't be happy with that kind of taper out of the box either.

have a nice day.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:52 am

Luisiana Jones wrote:No i sense no offense in there Texas but, i love my hat (everything about it i wouldnt change it for any other)

That's the most important thing for everyone

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:54 am

Indyjim wrote:If you go to MK's Raider's Hat Page, look at the 7th photo down on the left
hand side and compare it to Texas Jones 2nd picture. (I opened 2 windows at once to compare side by side). Its the same angle, same tilt. Both hats look almost identical to me. I don't think it's a taper issue. I have also observed in a lot of old movies with a lot of fedoras, that same look ocassionally occurs with an otherwise nicely bashed hat.

Virtually all hats look tapered from that angle. It is the direct front view or the direct side view that tell few lies. Compare any of the straight-on shots to the first picture and tell me what you think.

And don't call me Shirley!(':lol:')

Finally! Thanks for that...

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:20 am

Strider wrote:Rick: Little harsh, don't you think? Probably could've found a more tactful way to say things. "Do I detect a rebuke?"

Why yes you do.

Texas Jones mentioned that he wishes he could get rid of the taper. It is no secret to him that the hat looks tapered. Then multiple members tell him the hat looks great. And it does look great on him (which I pointed out), but it is not what he wanted. Why does everyone try to tell him otherwise?

I would rather be honest and help members get exactly what they want and what they paid for. Fedora is not so thin-skinned that he cannot handle criticism either. He asks us for our opinions so he can get better. Maybe he can isolate QC problems to a specific run of felt or supplier and such. We all get better hats in the end and it sets Steve above virtually every other hatter.

I have seen some goofy-looking hats here that just do not look right on folks. And everyone says "The hat looks great!" But it doesn't. And even if that is the case, I would rather have a few folks tell me that the brim is too narrow/wide or that I look like a moron or whatever. Better to hear it from the people who know best than to have everyone so worried about hurting my feelings that I wear the visually unpleasant hats in public for months looking like a bigger idiot than I already do.

We are supposed to be Indygear experts here. We can point out the most subtle differences in each frame of every movie. Do you mean to tell me that we cannot tell give someone our honest opinion to help them attain the best gear for their lifestyle (and wallet)?

Texas Jones wrote:Hopefully he can do it. Otherwise, I agree with Rick.

See?

TJ, As I stated, the hat looks great on you. You have the right look for the gear. I wish you nothing but the best and hope you get exactly what you are looking for...you have my apologies if I came off harsh.

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:08 am

What's wrong, Rick? Don't you like the "Mutual Admiration Society" approach?

(me neither)

Honesty is ALWAYS best, even if it stings a little

have a nice day.

Indyjim · Post by **Indyjim** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:11 am

Texas Jones' doctored photo of the look he is trying to achieve looks great.
I see Rick's point, when comparing it to the Raider's photo page and would have to agree,
the out of the box fedora does not look like that. TJ's
photoshop photo actually looks better than the actual Raiders hat that looks
like the ribbon was pulled too tight to achieve that look. I personally don't
like that reverse taper on top look, but on TJ it looks fine. (My wife doesn't think tall crowns suit me)
I have 2 Akubra feds, one I was unsucessful in getting the bash I wanted and the other was a much better attempt.
What I have been trying to achieve is a ruler straight front, when viewed from the side.
But even the shots on MK's page show the front curve back at the top
when viewed from the side. I've seen many fedoras in movies that have that
straight front, but I don't know how they do it. Maybe it doesn't work with real tall crowns.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:29 am

I have seen a lot of C-dent and teardrop shaped crowns with loose front pinches achieve the look you are after. For example:

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:44 am

I said it looked great because i thought so

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:13 am

Don't get me wrong. You said it was a great-looking hat and it is. Just not what he was hoping for...

Luisiana Jones · Post by **Luisiana Jones** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:16 am

Ok m8 i get what you mean

,regards.

Indyjim · Post by **Indyjim** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:45 am

Yep, thats the look. Maybe you can't achieve the straight front and a front pinch, both at the same time.

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 10:54 am

Alrighty! After some work, here it is:

THIS pic matches Dan's pic right on:

Here is my hat, this time no photoshop - it's the real deal:

Managed to get rid of the taper. Whew!

I am finally happy with it, and maybe lost a little sanity in the process. Great hat...but should it take this much work?

Indiana Wayne · Post by **Indiana Wayne** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:00 am

Great looking hat! Did Fedora reshaped it or did you?

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:07 am

I don't know, maybe it's me, but it looks exactly like your first picture to me, exactly. I went back and forth and opened two different windows. It looks identical to how it always looked.

To compare it to Dan's, you really need to take the photo from the same angle.

crazylegsmurphy · Post by **crazylegsmurphy** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:32 am

I'm not sure if this has ever been suggested, but has anyone thought about creating vaccume formed plastic liners for the hats?

I'm thinking that if there was a plastic insert that was put in before the liner, it might help hold the stovetop shape a little longer. Holed could be drilled on the sides to lighten it up, and allow it to breath as well.

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:41 am

CLM, I think that would be a bit of an extreme measure to fight taper & not exactly authentic.

Don't know where the pics went, but I'd say TAG's hat looks better, with a bit of reverse taper/slight mushroom shape. Certainly better than it looked. Infact it looks more like the hat in the #7 pic on the right side (Cairo - just before the truck driver gets nailed

) - http://www.regular-guy.com/fedora.html - which I quite like

I won't say it looks stovepipe tho'

So TAG - what did you do, I NEED TO KNOW!

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:43 am

That pic that looks straight on is not straight on or you wouldn't see the underside of the brim. That first pic ( top veiw ) looks like the dan north pic. My AB has changed from the time that I got it. It looks better I From playing with it, tweaking it, handling it , and just wearing it. I still say it's a great looking hat and that first pic was not straight on. I don't think you are going to get exactly what you wan't right out of the box. Things are going to get banged around in shipping. My two cents for what it's worth.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:53 am

Let me mention again, that my hats carry a money back guarantee. If you open up the box, and the hat looks terrible, please just send it back and I will refund the money. I will always stand behind what I make. I am puzzled by the hat that this fan received, because I would never, ever send out a tapered hat, unless the customer specified it. Now, look at this generic Raiders fedora. http://public.fotki.com/Fedora/hats/as_sent2.html

This hat is going to a non COW member, who wanted it generic, with a 5 1/2 open crown and bigger brim. 3 x 2 3/4. After my intitial conversation with TJ, I did not know what was going on with the hat. My first thought was perhaps it was exposed to some high heat in shipping. What would happen if I exposed a new hat to hot humid Mississippi temps? So, I took this customers new hat and put it in a shipping box and left it in my hot garage for 2 days. As you can see, the hat is not tapered, or shrunk. So, I have no clue. Until I can discover the cause, you guys are still protected. You don't like the hat, you get your money back. I am one of a few that offers that.

That is all that I can do. I will even tell you where to go to get another beaver hat if you do not like mine. Baron's will sell you one for 450 that is tapered from the get-go, ###### will make you one for 550.00 and I think you can get a high content beaver from Optimo for 650.00. By all means, use these fine hatters, as you may get what you are looking for. regards, Fedora

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:19 pm

Steve, whilst it might seem like the COW/AB honeymoon period is over with all these threads appearing, I'll say this from a personal point of view;

Am I happy with my hat? Yes.
Will I be get another hat? Yes.
Will I be getting another AB? Yes.
Will I ask for changes to things about it to get it exactly as my fevered mind imagines it should be? Depending on the findings of research here...Yes.

Bottom line, you will have my return custom for as long as your making hats