Lee Keppler Fedora

One_Tin_Soldier · Post by **One_Tin_Soldier** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:11 pm

I'm new here and I am looking at getting a Indy hat. I think I may get one from Lee keppler. Does anybody know of his hats? wait time ect?

Magnum Jones · Post by **Magnum Jones** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:32 pm

I ordered a hat from Lee around Thanksgiving.
He said the wait time is about six weeks if he has to order it. He may have it in stock.
I have not got mine yet but expect it any day now.
I am fairly new here as well so can't say anything about the quality but I hear alot of good things about kepplers hats. Not as much as the ABs but still good feedback.
If I ever get a digital I will post pics when it arrives.

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:37 am

The Keppler hat is great. but be prepared to wait, although if Lee has your size in stock, get it while you can.

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:28 pm

Soldier,

Here's some pictures of my Keppler.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/michaelgarc ... 2382701980

One pic shows it next to my AB for color comparison. Anyway, the Keppler is a nice hat, and pretty accurate. Mine is a bit too stiff for my taste, but I understand that Lee will make it as soft or as stiff as you like. Mine was second hand. I think of it as my Whip Cracking helmet!

I can't say how it handles bad weather, though. I've only worn it on dry days.

Chewie

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:54 pm

Hey C.J. I only see a turtle in the photo....Is that representing the way the hat gets to you ? Just kidding of coarse..........

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:01 pm

Me too, but it IS a nice looking turtle.

Regards! Michaelson

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:23 pm

Oh I agree....nice coloring of green on the shell.............

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:28 pm

Must be an Akubra then.....

Regards! Michaelson

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:32 pm

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:55 pm

I got a Keppler hat as my first Indy hat and i like it a lot. But don't wear it in the rain...mine had major taper after it got wet.

It just doesn't compare, however, to my Adventurebilt. Beaver fur felt is so far and away better than anything else. It is soft and yet does very well in the rain...KC

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:43 pm

Hmmmm..... "Turtle surprise"

Regards,

Marc

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:03 pm

I did say the hat was a bit stiff....

T.E. Lawrence · Post by **T.E. Lawrence** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:39 pm

Mine took 11 months to get - Nice Hat thought - I now go with Adventeure Built Beaver (See avita) This one got stolen ------- Just ordered another.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:51 am

I have bought/horse traded Lee for a couple of his 5x hats in the past few years. I think they are worth what he charges for them. I think he currently upgraded to a 6x felt that is probably a better felt than the 5x. Although, I never saw anything wrong with the 5x felt. Beaver Brands makes these for Lee, so he has to place his order and then wait for them to get it it. This can take some time. I think he probably installs the ribbon and I know he does the style job. Lee is a great stylist. What I love about Lee's offering is the color he is able to get from Beaver Brands. It is a lighter brown than the other offerings. Very, very nice.

The hats do tend to taper faster than pure beaver hats, but add some age and a fresh reblock later on and the taper problem would solved. Felt has to get aged in order to completely stabilize, and this takes time. The felt Lee is using is good enough to last into the ageing deal. That is important when you are considering buying any hat. My own personal experience says, a few hats won't last long enough to make it into middle age. Like Stetson for instance. Such a fine old name too. I think the current holder of the license should be hanged for allowing that name to sink to what it has among folks who know hats.

Beaver Brands has been around for a long, long time. An old company. I don't think you can go wrong with that brand. Fedora

Raider · Post by **Raider** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:43 pm

Fedora, you are a master of objectivity, considering you are a vendor of the similar "item"

I know it's just how it should be but I also realize, few can do this as smoothly, while talking about "competition".

Cheers,

:junior: Raider

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:18 pm

Fedora, you are a master of objectivity, considering you are a vendor of the similar "item"
I know it's just how it should be but I also realize, few can do this as smoothly, while talking about "competition".

I have a precarious road to walk here. See, I was a member here long before I started making and selling my own line of hats. I still want to post like a regular fan, and the older members here will tell you I never minced words and got into trouble years ago due to that. I want to post like I used to do, but can't always do that, since I am a vendor. So, basically if I really think another vendor's hat is @#$%, I will not say it. I won't say much at all. If I praise a hat, heck, I praised it BEFORE I was a vendor, so nothing has changed. Nothing has changed towards Lee's hats or the Akubras, and I don't mind telling you guys my own personal feelings towards, these other hats. But, I have to own one before I judge. I can't judge just by looking at pics of any hat.

Lee and Akubra was around long before I ever dreamed of making hats. Lee Keppler was the guy who started the gear quest and has been involved in this gear thing for a long time. He has my upmost respect, and anything that Lee chooses to sell, is good stuff. It may not be the best money can buy, but it is worth the price, and is good quality. He planned it that way. He knows what folks are willing to pay, and he goes from there. That is smart business. You will never hear a bad word from me about Lee or Akubra. I just try to be honest in my evaluation of hats, regardless of who makes it. If it is a bad hat, I just won't say a word. Works out better that way. I will leave those evaluations up to the fans here. Fedora

Magnum Jones · Post by **Magnum Jones** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:30 pm

Unless its a stetson

But like I have told you before fedora. I feel you have as much integrity as anyone and will not ever hesitate to do business with you.

I'm sure you have forgot more about fine felt hats than most of us know.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:36 pm

Unless its a stetson

My pet peeve. My favorite brand of all time is Stetson. Just not the new Stetsons. Plus, no one is crazy enough to vend them here.

Fedora

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:02 pm

So, I just became a licensed Stetson dealer and thought I'd....

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:42 pm

So, I just became a licensed Stetson dealer and thought I'd....

Ok, then no more trashing what Hatco has done to that grand old name.

We may see Stetson enter into the Indy hat business again. If so, look for at least a Stetson on Indy's head in a PR photo. Guess it just depends on what they offer Lucas Inc, that DP is not doing at the moment. Stetson had the licenseing until the volume dropped and then did no re-up on the contract, or so anecdotal accounts maintain. From what I understand though, DP has others make the current hats anyways. Needless to say, every hat factory will probably get in on supplying the next factory Indy fedora with the official tag on it. I think even Ken's factory that makes the Camptown made hats for the Indy market once upon a time, and sold under another banner. May have been Stetson. Fedora

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:55 pm

The vintage Stetsons are great!!! I love them! I've had quite a couple of them myself (one was given to me a couple of years ago and started the fascination) and wouldn't mind buying a good conditioned vintage Stetson again. Granted: they were mass produced (just imagine the amount of hats bought every year back than), but they had nothing in common with the mass produced hats of today.

Considering what they're making today however... well, since Steve said it already:

I think the current holder of the license should be hanged for allowing that name to sink to what it has among folks who know hats.

Regards,

Marc

Redinight · Post by **Redinight** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:01 pm

I loved my Keppler hat. My first fedora, and it was uber quality. The hat was also fairly accurate and fit well. I got caught in rain and it tapered badly. Now it sits there....I don't know were to get it fixed, but it does serve as a freddy Krueger hat I suppose.

It's really sad that my Krueger costume is more complete and accurate than my gear.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:44 pm

I don't know were to get it fixed,

That would be Jimmy of JP Designs. Art and I no longer do reblocks on hats other than our own, and Jimmy came online at the right time to help out on the refurbs. The Keppler would be worth saving as it is not a disposable hat. Have it reblocked. It will be even better this time around. The felt needs some age on it. Fedora

T.E. Lawrence · Post by **T.E. Lawrence** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:30 am

when new to the forum my wait for the kepler was frustrating to say the least however - there is a big BUT (everyones got a big butt) ..... The hat was worth the wait and it served me well on many adventures around the globe.

And Steve.... I can take some pointers from you on graciousness.....(Indy Ken Stay outta this)............... Steve I know the list long but cant wait for my new AB.

And you are right about Lee's gear - we all owe him respect and grattitude for his commitment to quality an accuracy.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:10 pm

And you are right about Lee's gear - we all owe him respect and grattitude for his commitment to quality an accuracy.
_________________

Yep, Lee started this deal with the gear, before the net. I wish he would hang out more here. He is the mentor of all of the Indy gear suppliers, well, most of them. Peter was around much longer.

Some of those hats Lee was getting from Swales in the late 80's and early 90's were indeed the real deal Raider fedora. Our administrator here bought one from him. He told me at the time, Lee had wished that hat would have been his hat size.

I got to see that hat, and although it had shrunk somewhat, it was so obvious that this was the hat we all love. I wish Lee would tell us what he saw in hats out of HJ at that time. I bet he saw some variations in block shapes. Like the Raiders block, and the LC block. Of course his memory may not be the best as I am sure he was a busy guy at that time. Another thing about Lee, and I remember this so very clearly. When he started offereing the Beaver Brands hat in place of the HJ(hard to get at that time), we had folks here saying his hat from Beaver Brands was not tall enough. I was one of them!!! Now, I don't know if he told me this privately, or if he said it publically, but he did say one thing. He said that we had it wrong in assuming the crown was as tall as we thought it was. His first hats were 5 1/2 open crown, and many screamed it was too short!!! As time has gone by, it has become accepted that Lee was right from the get-go. I noticed it when I first started making my hats at 5 3/4 open crown. I would see a pic posted of an AB on a guys head and I would cringe. Too tall for a film accurate fedora!! I noticed it right away, but could not see it on my own head when I looked. Lee sure had lots of patience with us guys, and never once got ill towards us. He just started having his hats made to meet our expectations. As he should have done, as it would have been impossible to convince many that he was indeed dead on in his observations. And I admit, I was one of the ones in the wrong here. I have eaten many hats in my days here. And don't feel bad about admitting I have been wrong.

So Lee has that crown height right all along. And why shouldn't he? He actually was buying some of those Raiders fedoras from Swales. He knew what those crown heights were!! Sometimes we are just too hardheaded I think.

Fedora

Post by **Michaelson** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:16 pm

We recently heard from Lee, and he's back on the road, so he does stick his head in here again from time to time, as he mentioned a few posts he had read recently, so hopefully he'll have time to post something.

Yep, Lee was the start of all this 'mess', so praise his name or curse him, he's the Adam of the hobby, and many of us had our first outside contact from our own small worlds of Indiana Jones with Lee from his magazine ads. Like Fedora said, the world wide web wasn't even on the horizon when all this began, so it was all phone call and letter writing when it came to searching for gear information.

Lee has been on the mark from the get-go.

HIGH regard! Michaelson

T.E. Lawrence · Post by **T.E. Lawrence** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:20 pm

So as One TinSoldier rides away may he buy the hat of his dreams. Ya might chec into his strap,holster, gun and bag too if your are so inclined.

ps
All Hail Lee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One_Tin_Soldier · Post by **One_Tin_Soldier** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:40 am

What's the current wait on the AB.

Redinight · Post by **Redinight** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:42 pm

I have been waiting since July 23, should be arriving soon. And I can't wait

T.E. Lawrence · Post by **T.E. Lawrence** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:44 am

I trust you will not be disapointed.......................post pics