Herbert Johnson Made for Last Crusade acquired

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 9:02 pm

Yep, I now have 3 HJs. I seem to have hit authenticity paydirt this time. This latest one from an eBay auction by Steve Ferguson, the guy in Phoenix that Havershaw visited on a previous auction.
I emailed him to ask a few questions and one of the things he told me was this was one of a batch of hats Lucasfilms had ordered for Last Crusade, but never picked up.(as it's a 7 5/8, it must have been for someone other than HF) He also mentioned having been a collector of Indyania since right after Raiders. At one point he was connected with Lee Keppler. This got me thinking, so I went to IndyGear main. Checking the IndyGear story again and sure enough, mention was made of Steve Ferguson providing the initial info that HJ was the maker of the movie hats.
He says he has about 15 boxes to go through as he seems to be liquidating most of his collection. Wonder if there's an original Raiders fedora in there somewhere. I didn't take a before photo, but the fedora I got looked a lot like the one Havershaw took a few shots of:

And this after I used some of Dalexs ribbon dyed darker, and reshaped it in the Raiders fashion:

The felt is not the same as my other HJs. The brown is redder and the felt is noticibly thinner. Also the crown height is 5 1/2". Could this be because Ford's really was 5 1/2" and so even stand-ins and stuntmen had to have theirs the same?

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 9:18 pm

I don't know about the 5 1/2, but I do feel that most of the Raiders hats used in that film were not 6 inch open crown unless the top of the crown really started its inward turn at 5 inches. I have an Optimo that is a true 6 open crown, and it is too tall. My 5 1/4 Optimo is too short, while the 5 3/4 Optimo looks about right. But, both of my Optimo reblocks are 5 1/2, and they look good too. I would say the raiders fedora was between 5 1/2 and 5 3/4, with the block being relatively flat on top. I figure comparing these Optimos is a bit more accurate as they all have the same style block. To me, some of the LC hats look to be taller than most of the Raiders hats. I am strictly going by the amount of hat above the front of the ribbon. But then there are a couple of shots in raiders where the hat looks like it could be close to 6. I am starting to think the camera angle has much to do with the different perceptions. Congrats on your new HJ. It looks good. Fedora

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 10:49 pm

It does look great! Congrats on the find!

IndianaJames · Post by **IndianaJames** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 10:57 pm

Great find! Althought I cant beleive you reshaped it! If it were me, (and this is just me) I would have left it in the original condition!
Well done though!

I J

PS What is Steve Ferguson's ebay name? Tks!

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 11:12 pm

The hat was shipped in a Post office box and the brim was way up in back.
The crown was unbashed and when pushed in, settled into a teardrop. I couldn't leave it that way. Steve goes by garage_dust at eBay. He has a login here as well. I wish he would post. He has been around as long as Lee Keppler and seems to have a lot he could share about collecting Indy stuff.

CEEJAY928 · Post by **CEEJAY928** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 12:01 am

nice find...

brady · Post by **brady** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 10:44 am

Look's great to me, I can't wait until the day when I can get my first Fedora, but I'm still waiting.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 11:51 am

Great Catch, Dakota. I bow humbly, in your generally direction.

-S

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 2:46 pm

This Herbert Johnson auction was sent to me from the seller.

I was quite suprised at the sight of it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 2812511499

I can see it now. All I need to complete the outfit is Platform Aldens, Bellbottom Wool pants, Long Wested Jacket, and fuzzy dice tied to the end of my whip.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 2:47 pm

Hey, that's Kramer's hat from that Seinfeld skit!!! Remember?

-S

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 2:52 pm

Sergei wrote:Hey, that's Kramer's hat from that Seinfeld skit!!! Remember?

-S

No, Wait.....that hat was white.

Crusader · Post by **Crusader** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 3:11 pm

Pyroxene wrote: I can see it now. All I need to complete the outfit is Platform Aldens, Bellbottom Wool pants, Long Wested Jacket, and fuzzy dice tied to the end of my whip.

Don't forget you'd have to change your name to "Indypimp"...

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 3:19 pm

Pyroxene wrote:
Sergei wrote:Hey, that's Kramer's hat from that Seinfeld skit!!! Remember?

-S
No, Wait.....that hat was white.

Hey Pyro, everyone knows that the white pimp hat turns brown over time and gets a taper. They develop that nice patina glow. But after awhile they need a reblock, bleach and a new feather.

)

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 3:22 pm

And the occasional 'bail bondsman' for the owner who wear it?

Regards. Michaelson

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 3:23 pm

Sergei wrote: ...they need a reblock, bleach and a new feather. )

I am all about the new feather, my man. Yes sir.

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 4:37 pm

He sold another HJ on Ebay that didn't look too bad either. Pretty cool as it had the famous Red Dot on the liner. AND, you received the 4 pieces of felt from trimming the brim.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 92469&rd=1

Bogie1943 · Post by **Bogie1943** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 4:45 pm

I've always kinda wanted a HJ, for sentimental reasons I guess. But I always have said, if I ever get one, it will be on the day I walk into thier shop and pick it out myself!

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 7:36 pm

Pyroxene said

He sold another HJ on Ebay that didn't look too bad either. Pretty cool as it had the famous Red Dot on the liner. AND, you received the 4 pieces of felt from trimming the brim.

That's not another one, that's the one I got, felt strips and all.

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 10:26 pm

awesome!

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 12:00 am

Let's see. Mr Swales has stated that the Indy fedora had a 6 inch open crown. Perhaps, it just depends on what crown height his current supplier was providing at the moment. You gotta admit, in hats, 1/2 inch may as well be a mile. It really, really makes a difference as to how the hat looks. Since Dakota's HJ was bought originally in 1991, this one may very well be closer to what was used in the films. You lucky dawg.

Fedora

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 12:37 am

The hat would have had to have been made in 1988 if it was made during the production of Last Crusade.

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:25 am

I've never seen that piece of plastik in the top of the liner on a HJ before and I would prefer one without, but after the re-bashing and the new ribbon I have to admit it looks real good. Still a bit pricey I think.

Regards,

Marc

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:53 am

Here's another HJ... Looks like it has been on some adventures...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=18834

Regards

DJ

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 9:40 am

I am not very fond of the spot on the brim.

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 9:55 am

Seems like it should have a bit more brim for a size 63 (7 3/4?). 3"X2 3/4" at least.

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 1:17 pm

Fedora wrote: I am starting to think the camera angle has much to do with the different perceptions. Congrats on your new HJ. It looks good. Fedora

That's my feeling as well. I watched Raiders 3 times on the big screen inside of five days last December. In some scenes the hat looks smaller than in many of the stills that we're used to looking at. In other scenes it looks pretty tall. Camera angle, the lens and depth, and the lighting all make it pretty impossible to figure the hat out. I think you're pretty much best off going for something that you like that looks good on your head. Congratulations to Dakota on a the HJ that almost was. Cheers