To Oval or Not to Oval?

In-depth discussion of the Fedora of Indiana Jones and all other hats appearing in the Indiana Jones movies

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Harrison_Davies
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To Oval or Not to Oval?

Post by Harrison_Davies »

Hi Guys,

Just thinking is it important to order your hat to fit your shape, I think I have a slight Oval to my head shape...

Thoughts...?

Cheers,
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Kt Templar
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Post by Kt Templar »

How do you work out what shape your head is? I mean I have no idea, As I have never seen my head in the 3rd person!!

You could get someone to photograph your head from the top down, like those Regaine before and after pics!

Or you could do a plaster cast of the top of your head and send it to Fedora (NOTE: wrap hair in clingfilm BEFORE applying plaster!

:) Sorry quiet sunday evening here. :-
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Post by Dalexs »

You could just take a look at the shape of your current hat and what it does when you put it on.

Does the hat appear mostly oval and does it seem to squeeze out a bit when you put it on?
If you pull on the front and back of the hat when it is on your head, does it feel like it fits better?

I think it's Peter Bros that asks, but one good way to really tell is to wrap a white towel around your crown (of your head) and photograph it.
If you can't get a loved one to do it, try a self timer.

I know my Akubras have always come basically oval, and the first thing I do is re-steam it and try to force it to a long oval as much as possible.

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Hoosier
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reg or long oval

Post by Hoosier »

Here is something Fedora e-mailed to me when I was trying to decide on the shape.

differential=front to back, minus side to side measurements

The reg oval is 1 3/8 differential, the long 1 3/4.


If you have a well worn hat, you may check this differential there. . . or something I tried with varying results was to form a piece of wire around my head (not too tightly) and double check this measurment. :o

I had worn a long oval in the past, but probably had not needed too. At least for sure with Fedora's soft, self-conforming hat my regular oval fits fine.

Regards,
Hoosier
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Russ
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Post by Russ »

Hmmm, if the AB is that soft, then maybe a round hat would look better on an oval head since it would take on that sought-after mushroom shape plus the exaggerated swoop. I don't have an AB -- yet -- so I'm just talking out of ignorance.
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oval

Post by Hoosier »

Russ,
It is my understanding from talking with Fedora that YES a more long oval head shape may accentuate the "swoop" in a regular oval hat; however, I think he may have posted something recently which showed a possible taper in back under the same condition. . . Fedora is the one to ask for sure!
Best Regards,
Hoosier
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Kt Templar
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Post by Kt Templar »

How do you work out what shape your head is? I mean I have no idea, As I have never seen my head in the 3rd person!!

You could get someone to photograph your head from the top down, like those Regaine before and after pics!

Or you could do a plaster cast of the top of your head and send it to Fedora (NOTE: wrap hair in clingfilm BEFORE applying plaster!
Joking aside. How do you work out what shape your head is, especially if you do not already own a hat.
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Erri
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Re: oval

Post by Erri »

Hoosier wrote:Russ,
It is my understanding from talking with Fedora that YES a more long oval head shape may accentuate the "swoop" in a regular oval hat; however, I think he may have posted something recently which showed a possible taper in back under the same condition. . . Fedora is the one to ask for sure!
Best Regards,
Hoosier

Regarding this topic, you might be interested in having a look at this thread.

Raiders hat - reverse taper & deep backtilt
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Russ
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Re: reg or long oval

Post by Russ »

Hoosier wrote:differential=front to back, minus side to side measurements

The reg oval is 1 3/8 differential, the long 1 3/4.
Somehow this went over my head. I don't know what a differential is, or if this refers to inches (I live in a metric world). I placed my head against the wall and measured it with right angles. It seems my head is 20.5 to 21 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide. Am I a long oval, or am I just pretending to be one?
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Post by Last Crusader »

In inches your head is 8 long and 5 7/8 wide. The differential between the two measures is 2 1/8. So your head is a very long oval.
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Re: reg or long oval

Post by Erri »

Russ wrote:
Hoosier wrote:differential=front to back, minus side to side measurements

The reg oval is 1 3/8 differential, the long 1 3/4.
Somehow this went over my head. I don't know what a differential is, or if this refers to inches (I live in a metric world). I placed my head against the wall and measured it with right angles. It seems my head is 20.5 to 21 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide. Am I a long oval, or am I just pretending to be one?
With those measure my friend, you'll get a wonderful reverse taper if you order a regular hat!!!
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Post by Harrison_Davies »

mine is 19cm x 14.5cm minus = 4.5cm differential. how the heck do you work it out whether you are oval or long oval...?
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Post by Last Crusader »

Harrison_Davies wrote:mine is 19cm x 14.5cm minus = 4.5cm differential. how the heck do you work it out whether you are oval or long oval...?
Here is something Fedora e-mailed to me when I was trying to decide on the shape.

differential=front to back, minus side to side measurements

The reg oval is 1 3/8 differential, the long 1 3/4.
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Post by Russ »

Last Crusader wrote:In inches your head is 8 long and 5 7/8 wide. The differential between the two measures is 2 1/8. So your head is a very long oval.
I Guess I got my head stuck in too many elevator doors. Won't let it happen again. Thanks for the enlightenment!
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Post by Russ »

Harrison_Davies wrote:mine is 19cm x 14.5cm minus = 4.5cm differential. how the heck do you work it out whether you are oval or long oval...?
I'll turn around and apply my new found knowledge here. 4.5 cm is just over 1 3/4 inches, making you a long oval. Welcome to the club!
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Harrison_Davies
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Post by Harrison_Davies »

that's fantastic, thank you. im really lookong forward to getting my ab. do i need to tell steve im a long oval, or should i leave it and wait for the glorious reverse taper and exaggerated swoop?
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Russ
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Post by Russ »

I just told Steve my measurements and he confirmed I was a long oval. I asked him to go ahead and make my AB a long oval as well. I have plenty of regular hats to play with and get that reverse taper and swoop, so I want this one to be special. It only seems to make sense to buy a custom hand-made hat that also comes in a customized shape.
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Post by Ark Hunter »

Kt Templar wrote:How do you work out what shape your head is?
I sent Steve a picture of my face and he said he could tell by the shape I was a long oval. He shure knows his stuff.
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