My Adventurebilt - 1st Birthday Update

[IndyFrench]

As one of the "old-timers" around here from back in the Indyfan days and an "obsessee" of the Raiders fedora, I know I have voiced many times what i consider to be Steve's miracle of millinery, the Adventurebilt. I've been through them all - The JC Penny's Last Crusade, the Dorfman (turned green), the Disney Dorfman (shrank and ugh), the Stetson Indy (tapered badly), the Peters Bros. (I rue the day it came into my life), and the Akubra Fed (a good hat all around, but not the Raiders hat).

I received my Federation around February 2005 from Steve, whom I had then known through the internet for around five or six years. Having gone through six other hats since 1989, I was a hard customer by nature and I am , as Michaelson knows, from the school of natural weathering - rain, sleet, snow or shine I am wearing my hats - so the AB had a lot to live up to.

After six months, it was still in impeccable shape, even after Steve convinced me to sit on it a lot. Now it's been a year. Ladies and gentlemen - this is the BEST hat I have ever owned. This is the hat I dreamed of in 1982 when I was sitting in the floor watching the Cairo basket chase and the airplane fight. A hat so soft and yet so dynamic - One you can slap on your head with one hand and take off running.

On top of that - no shrinkage, no discernible taper and it gets more comfortable with time rather than less comfortable, which is what all of my other hats did.

I put my hat ON to Steve Delk, and may I never take it off.

Sincerely,
Mike

P.S. - Steve, I read in a recent post that when you do Cairos, you tighten the ribbon a lot, to the point that the sweat "crinkles." Is this a new method you are using? I only ask because my "Cairo" has always had an immaculate sweatband and the ribbon doesn't seem "tight" or anything. Would a ribbon tightening enhance that Cairo look? If so, would you recommend a reblock and rebash?

[Michaelson]

Having gone through six other hats since 1989, I was a hard customer by nature and I am , as Michaelson knows, from the school of natural weathering - rain, sleet, snow or shine I am wearing my hats - so the AB had a lot to live up to.

YOU bet cha, Mike. One of my staunchest allies in the belief of natural weathering. WE fought worked shoulder to shoulder preaching the word!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

[binkmeisterRick]

The best thing you can do with Steve's hats is to wear them, and wear them often!

[Fedora]

Would a ribbon tightening enhance that Cairo look? If so, would you recommend a reblock and rebash?

Thanks for the good words!! I was not doing the extra tight ribbon at that time, but added it later on. I think that it does add a bit to the final look, especially after wearing the hat has softened it up quite a bit. While the hat is still new, it does not add much to the look though, and I do it for a later date in the hat's life. If you need a reblock, though, I will be glad to do it. I have not reblocked many ABs, but each one always looked better on the second go around with the reblocks. Regards, Steve

[IndyFrench]

I think I will send it in for some TLC Steve. Just one more question - will the ribbon tightening make the hat too small? I only ask because it would definitely be counterproductive for me to send it in only to find that my want for a tighter ribbon produced a hat I couldn't wear.

Mike

[Fedora]

think I will send it in for some TLC Steve. Just one more question - will the ribbon tightening make the hat too small? I only ask because it would definitely be counterproductive for me to send it in only to find that my want for a tighter ribbon produced a hat I couldn't wear.

Normally it would, but if I rebock it and add just a bit of circumference, then take that extra in using the tight ribbon, it should work out ok. But, many times this can be a @#$% shoot, although I am getting better at craps. I normally add around 1/4 an inch to the given size, and then take this back with the ribbon. Works most of the time, but not always, to be honest about it. My ribbons are generally really tight regardless of the scene the customer wants. I just cinch it up more for the Cairo hat, and normally put the little crease you see on the film hat, on the right side of the pinch up front. You almost have to put that little crease in to get the ribbon tight enough to actually cinch the hat. Fedora

[Renderking Fisk]

I'll throw in with French here. I've had mine for almost a year and it's held it's shape. I've seen pix of the fedora that I took when it first arrived, and again at pix that were taken last month. No diffrence.

[IndyFrench]

Yep Fisk - This is a "swell" hat to use a period term.

Steve - if the ribbon cinching doesn't work, can you tell right there in the shop or does it take me wearing it to find out? Also, the 1/4 inch circumference increase...does that affect the profile of the crown? Is that reversible if it doesn't work?