Post your Adventurebilts here!

Modern Jones · Post by **Modern Jones** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:02 pm

G-MANN wrote:Modern Jones,

I really like the new photos as well as the photos on the 1st page of the thread. The photo of you and your son in the snow is fantastic. There are a lot of amazing ABs on this link but yours is my favorite. I even talked to Steve about getting the exact same color as yours but he explained about yours being a vintage felt that he had back then.

You wear it well!

Thank you very much G-MANN! Is that an AB in your avatar?

Yeah, the vintage felt that Fedora had only made a few. Bink has the sister hat to this one. After a Federation and a bunch of other hats, I finally figured out the dimensions an sizes that fit my noggin. I'm sure others went through those trials too. I remember Sergies last fedora he got. The dimensions fit him to a "T"

My son continues to eat vast amounts of snow this year too!

I think I'll use him to clear the NorEaster New England is going to get plastered with tonight!

Rusty Jones, you are correct I think, about the felt thickness. I haven't gotten a newer AB yet, but I can tell by a couple of other photos that mine is a smidge thicker. It is thinner that a Federation deluxe though, as a point of reference.

And Strider, it's nice to finally see your mug too. You had that other avatar for the longest time. It's always good to put a face to the name!

If Bink is around, it'd be nice to see an update on his lid too!?

Again, thanks guys!

MJ

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:08 pm

MJ,

I have an 2 ABs on order but the one in my avatar is a locally made Fedora by a Hatter in Chicago, here since 1948, I have 3 other of similar nature made by him. My oldest one is very close to yours in color but so beat up that is not able to be reblocked.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:17 pm

I have a vintage Adventurebilt as well. It is 100% Beaver and from a stock of dead stock hat bodies from the 1930's, blocked and styled by Steve. He had a few and a few are around. The felt is very soft and very smooth.

Modern, you know I love your hat, and it is always good to see you around.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:21 am

Modern Jones

compliments for your goodlooking hat!

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 3:42 pm

Good lookin' hat, Modern. Can't beat the AB.

Modern Jones · Post by **Modern Jones** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:42 pm

Hemingway Jones wrote:I have a vintage Adventurebilt as well. It is 100% Beaver and from a stock of dead stock hat bodies from the 1930's, blocked and styled by Steve. He had a few and a few are around. The felt is very soft and very smooth.

Modern, you know I love your hat, and it is always good to see you around.

Same here HemJ! I have been elusive this last year to say the least. Seems you've put together quite the stable of suits and a LCAB too?!

Thanks erri_wan! I have gone through some of the other posts and I've seen yours get better and better with each tweak of your brim & bash!

Thanks PrairieJones, I can tell yours has worn in too! I can't wait to muster enough cash together for a new one. I want to compare the felt thickness and see how the newer felting differs.

MJ

Arkansas Russell · Post by **Arkansas Russell** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:42 pm

Here are a couple of pics from this past week when I was in Texas and Mexico. The scans did not turn out as well as I hoped. They seem to dark. Sure enjoyed my AB.

Stay Well,
A R

Modern Jones · Post by **Modern Jones** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:56 pm

Hello Arkansas Russell,

I think the grain in the pictures look great. Our eyes don't see in perfect digital crispness. And I, for one, think it looks very real and ROTLA!

That lid fits you very well!

Regards,

MJ

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:16 pm

Russell, thanks for posting these pics. It allways good to see people out and about wearing their gear.

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:47 pm

My first AB from Steve arrived last Thursday. Man what a great Indy Fedora this guy can make.

Thanks Steve

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:58 pm

Good job bashing that hat John!! You know, when I turn and crease the hat here, it just does not look as good as when the customer orders it open crown, and does the turn and creases themselves. Part of the reason is each individual head shape requires, more or less of a turn to get the correct brim distortion. My default turn is around 3/4 of an inch, but many folks have to have more than this. To really nail it, you have to put the hat on your head, open crowned, turn the hat until the distortion is dead on, and then crease the hat. Works every time.

Fedora

Arkansas Russell · Post by **Arkansas Russell** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:31 am

Modern Jones wrote: That lid fits you very well!
Regards,
MJ

Thanks MJ,
I think this goes to show what a artist Steve is. To make a hat that does not fit everyone the same, but still looks as good as it does on each person when they wear it.
When I recieved mine, it was a little tight. Steve told me how to streach it some and if that didnt work he would fix it. Well after wearing it this weekend I dont see how it could fit any better. {thanks Steve}
Also thanks to all here at COW for all the kind words and even better advice.
Stay Well.
A R

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:06 am

G-MANN your bash is very good looking, i hope you'll post more pics of the new hat

:D:D

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:32 am

Erri,

Thanks for the compliment. I am waiting to take some photos outside but it has just been too cold here in Chicago. Since I have buying open crown Fedoras for about 35 years bashing has them become almost instinctive to me. You have to hand it to Steve though, he makes ONE FINE FEDORA. Just as Michaelangelo would tell you you need an excellent block of marble to make a beautiful statue.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:46 am

good comparation

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:50 am

Erri,

I thought so...only in this case I would be the guy that only cleans up the little left over pieces of marble and sharpens the tools. Steve is the craftsman.

By the way, I hope you have decided to keep your AB, I know at one point you mentioned that you were thinking of selling it

John

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:56 am

mmh i still don't know... maybe i will just reblock, Steve is a good man and offered me another free reblock, i might do it... but one of the two hats has to go

i'll explain this choice in a month probably

ok so ... for someone's pleasure... here's me with my famous Pagey's hat which i thought of selling at some time but, as i said, probably i'll send it for a reblock and keep it.

...mmh my face at morning is not great...

it's not the raven bar but my kitchen... i hope it works aswell

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:13 am

Hemingway Jones wrote:I have a vintage Adventurebilt as well. It is 100% Beaver and from a stock of dead stock hat bodies from the 1930's, blocked and styled by Steve.

Actually, the date I heard was 1919. Either way, really nice and VERY pliable felt. I have one as well.

Regards! Michaelson

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:55 am

That's what I was thinking, too, Michaelson. I always touted mine as 1919, but somewhere along the way I think I mixed the number up. Either way, to say circa 1920's should be correct, though Steve should probably chime in and confirm the date. The PM's I had which told me the actual year are long gone.

I'm wearing my vintage AB today. It's an incredible hat!

bink

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:00 pm

I guess I am all discombobulated abouot the dates. Whatever it is, it's nice. And to think I was kidding bink about this.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:24 pm

Either way, to say circa 1920's should be correct, though Steve should probably chime in and confirm the date. The PM's I had which told me the actual year are long gone.

Those bodies came from the 1920's, and were a high beaver content fur felt, mixed with mink and wildhare. I have one myself, and will never, ever, sell it. I made Pagey one, and he gave me dibs on it when he listed it on ebay. At the time, I could not afford to buy it back, but wish that I had of sold one of my guitars just to get it back. You just do not see old hat bodies like these, still in the raw state, mercury processed and very taper resistent too. I have one that I have not babied at all, and it never tapered, even when I tried to get it to do so. I am convinced that the taper resistent old felt is nothing more than the age related effects. The older a felt becomes, the less it reacts to the enviorment. Normally, if a new felt body will stretch like the dickens when you block it, it will also taper quicker. If a felt body resists stretching, it is a tighter felt, and will also resist shrinking to taper. Some of these vintage bodies that I used would stretch literally out to 12 inches. But, the once live fur seems to have died and therefore no reaction to the elements. I venture to say, put your new AB up in a box, protected from the moths, and in a few decades, it will not taper either.

The felt needs to die. Fedora

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:32 pm

G-MANN, you got some great brim distortion out of that turn. Excellent job!!

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:35 am

prairiejones wrote:G-MANN, you got some great brim distortion out of that turn. Excellent job!!

Prariejones,

I consider that VERY HIGH PRAISE after admiring your avatar for so long.
I think your Fedora is fantastic.
Cheers,
G-MANN

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:05 am

Fedora wrote:
Either way, to say circa 1920's should be correct, though Steve should probably chime in and confirm the date. The PM's I had which told me the actual year are long gone.

Those bodies came from the 1920's, and were a high beaver content fur felt, mixed with mink and wildhare.

Wow, I didn't realize there was mink in the mix! I wonder if that helps account for the feel of this hat. I'm wearing mine again today. I will never sell this hat, either -- it's a beaut!

bink

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:16 am

It's one of my favorites, and gets worn often in the rotation....when it's nice....and not raining....

Regards! Michaelson

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:50 am

Same here. I bet it could withstand the rain, but I just can't bear the thought of doing it with this hat!

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:53 am

Agreed. It's just a personal thing...I'm sure I could make it a daily, 'what ever the weather' hat with no problem. I just have other hats that can do that job rather than treat that one that way.

Regards! Michaelson

IndyTaz · Post by **IndyTaz** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:23 am

Hey Erri...one of my sisters dropped by,noticed me reading this thread, and wanted to know if you were single? She said if you aren't you shouldn't post pics like the one on this thread

I said you were taken...with gear

Regards
TAZ

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:50 am

IndyTaz wrote: Hey Erri...one of my sisters dropped by,noticed me reading this thread, and wanted to know if you were single? She said if you aren't you shouldn't post pics like the one on this thread

I said you were taken...with gear

Regards
TAZ

Taz! LOL, these things only by PM please ! LOL

I'm flattered but I'm not single.

EHM ... weren't we talking of hats here?

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:49 pm

Same here. I bet it could withstand the rain, but I just can't bear the thought of doing it with this hat!
_________________

I agree. If you find a raw vintage body from that era, and make a hat out of it, treat it with the proper respect!! It is rarer than chicken teeth, as most vintage hats you see sold on ebay are 40's, 50's and 60's hats. These 1920 era bodies were selling for 350.00, and that was just the raw body. I lucked upon being able to acquire a few of these, and they are all here, owned by COW members. The only one that got away was the one Pagey got, and sold.

I swapped a vintage formillion that I practically stole from ebay. I found out later, it was worth 50 times what I paid for it, after I swapped it for these bodies. I got the short end of the deal, but a few of us benefited from it, so that made it easier to swallow!!

Fedora

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:39 pm

Those of us who were in the right place at the right time salute you, old friend!!

High regards!

Michaelson

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:24 pm

G-Mann, that is one incredible looking lid. You have an excellent brim and a nice transition from the brim to the crown. It looks very SOC. Well done.

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:37 pm

Hemingway Jones wrote:G-Mann, that is one incredible looking lid. You have an excellent brim and a nice transition from the brim to the crown. It looks very SOC. Well done.

HJ,
Many Thanks! I have had 30 some years of practice bashing Fedoras and after going through about 8 Indy hats in my day I have a slight edge.

However Steve's AB is the ONLY ONE that after 1 day could I acheive that SOC bash without going to extremes.

You really have to hand it to Steve though. He is a true craftsman/artist.
Cheers,
G-MANN

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:56 pm

Ken,

Great Fedora, nice bash. Looks excellent on you. I'll bet that hat made your whole day!

Cheers,
G-MANN

Rusty Jones · Post by **Rusty Jones** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:48 am

Well, I finally got a (working) digital camera, so here's a new pic of my AB:

Best. Hat. Ever.

I think I'll be sending a testimonial to Fedora soon...

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:18 am

Michaelson wrote:Those of us who were in the right place at the right time salute you, old friend!!

High regards!

Michaelson

INDEED!!!

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:59 pm

It's not the Raven Bar, but close enough.

[/img]

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:43 pm

Hey, good to see you, PJ - you've been a bit scarce.

Nice pic, by the way...is that swoop all real, or is it distorted by the camera angle?

(Boy, that mural looks familiar...what city was this in?)

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:12 pm

Excellent!

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:17 pm

That swoop is the real deal.

Boy, that mural looks familiar...what city was this in

KC

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:09 am

Okay...where did I go last time I breezed through KC...hmm...I'll think of it.

G-MANN · Post by **G-MANN** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:31 pm

Great day for breaking in the AB.

Cheers,
G-MANN

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:52 pm

Blues,

Your hat looks a little slanted from right to left. It looks kind of off to my eyes. Does anyone else see what I see? Glad you got your hat, pal.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:41 pm

It looks good in the pics on your site, but I see the same phenomenon every other few pics. Did you shape the hat yourself?

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:13 am

Great shot John!

Plus I like the lamps in the garden...

Regards,

Marc

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:16 pm

VP · Post by VP » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:20 pm

Is that Langpuss's hat?

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:22 pm

Yep, the ex-pagey's hat

a picture i took today

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:02 am

Nice. You can see the little valley just to the left of the pinch. Did that hat just come back from a re-block?

G-MANN, weren't you freezing?

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:30 am

Strider wrote:Nice. You can see the little valley just to the left of the pinch. Did that hat just come back from a re-block?

Well more or less. It was reblocked some months ago by Steve and he sent it back open crown then i worked on it. It still needs a little reblock that Steve, kindly, offered me for free.

Post your Adventurebilts here!

Ab