Anyone know Baron Hats?

Lao Feng · Post by **Lao Feng** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:31 pm

See my thread (Lao Feng) in Indy IV Forum entitled "Actor Shia LeBoeuf and Indy IV". Parade Magazine claims Baron Hats did HF's hats for IJ. Huh?

PS--Parade magazine gives an email address for reader responses. See my original posting in IJ IV Forum.

Dr._J · Post by **Dr._J** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:36 pm

I know them. They are in Burbank, CA. I've been there several times for reblocks, ribbon/liner replacements etc. As far as Indy hats are concerned: They've made claims on their website but don't have much to back it up. They have done a LOT of movie hats. They also do hats for Disneyland's performers, movies, T.V. and the like. As far as Indy hats, they didn't know much before I began bringing my hat in. They actually took specs from my Indy hat (Fed Deluxe at the time) for their production Indy hat. Don't know if that helps.

Regards, Dr. J

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:55 pm

Baron supposedly supplied a hat or two for ToD, but it seems everyone and their mother did, too. Some leftover Raiders hats were used, and we know Stetson had placement rights for hats in ToD. I don't know that Baron's claims have ever been verified for sure, but he surely didn't supply hats for Raiders or LC. I would take the current information with a grain of salt, especially since we know that the vendors have signed nondisclosure agreements regarding what they've supplied for IndyIV. Of course, once we get the go ahead to talk about vendors and who made what, I'm sure we'll be some of the first to know. Until that time, I'd take it all with a grain of salt.

rcinlv · Post by **rcinlv** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:12 pm

I know that on their website they claim to have provided hats for ToD, and that has been much discussed here (do a search on this site for Baron's).

I ordered a Baron's Cliffhanger shortly before finding this site. Since then I have acquired an AB and ABD. In comparison, the felt is somewhat thinner, and much stiffer, like many of the Western hats I own. For the price, I think you are probably better off with an AB or ABD- if you can stand the wait. That said, Mark at Baron's Hats was a pleasure to deal with, and I like the hat:

indoor lighting, with flash

outside, natural lighting. Pool in background- I should have jumped in to see if it would taper.

Side view.

Before commenting on SA value, know that I relaxed the front pinch greatly- my preference.

Cheers,

RC

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:30 pm

I went to Parade.com and straightened them out about that.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:29 am

That hat actually looks like a pretty good TOD hat the way you have it. A tight pinch wouldn't have been right for that hat, it's just a little too tapered to look good with one.

Where is WConly? I know he has a Baron's.

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:59 am

A quote from the Parade atricle. " ... But, will Shia get his own Indy style hat? "That's a closely guarded secret," says Mark Mejia, owner of Baron Hats, which created Ford's specially aged "Cliffhanger' fedora. ...There's a recent pic of Shia LaBeouf with the piece, and one of Ford in hat, I think LC era.

Lao Feng · Post by **Lao Feng** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:11 am

Many thanks to all for the comments and insights. Cheers-- Feng

WConly · Post by **WConly** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:27 am

Strider wrote:That hat actually looks like a pretty good TOD hat the way you have it. A tight pinch wouldn't have been right for that hat, it's just a little too tapered to look good with one.

Where is WConly? I know he has a Baron's.

I am here...sorry, been busy and yes I have two Baron hats -- the brown and a grey one that I commissioned Mark to make for me. Both are very TOD/LC -- to a point on the LC. They are nice hats -- very nice. Expensive but pretty cool. I would say what has already been said here is true. The brown is fairly thin, but has a great deal of stiffiner in it. The grey is a bit thicker and quite stiff. They are far from being ROTLA in looks, but definitely fit the mold for the other two existing films! I like them and primarily use them for dress wear as opposed to other 'Indy's' that I have which I use for rugged wear! W>

Puppetboy · Post by **Puppetboy** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:08 am

Baron's DID make a hat for TOD, although they are not privy as to how or where or IF it actually made it onto the screen. Someone told me the hat was used in the famous PR shot on the rope bridge, but not in the actual film. I have seen the original order, and the color that was ordered was pecan, not brown.

This all happened many years before Mark owned the business.

Over the years the story gets bigger and bigger - sometimes at the persistent goading of fans who demand specifics.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:40 pm

I know one thing. Mark would never be able to say any of this publically. So, use a whole pound of salt with that article.

I spoke to Mark personally on the phone while on my short vacation a few weeks ago. I helped him out with some sources as I think the felter they used to use went belly up. He told me he might be offering an Indy hat later on, and I assumed he was talking about the new film hat. I imagine quite a few hatters are gearing up for the new film and the rush of new sales. Mark is a great guy and I hope he benefits from the new demand for an Indy fedora. The guy trained under a master hatter, so I know he must do an outstanding job with his hats. I wish him the best. Fedora