So, my Magnoli HJ just came back from Steve yesterday. Before I explain the shock I was in upon receiving the hat, let me just say that Steve did an EXCELLENT job re-hauling my Mag HJ. The crown had been noticeably short and I was seeing much more taper in my hat than in the other Mag HJs posted on this site. Through Steve's efforts, the hat is now spot on. No complaints AT ALL!!! The felt is sooo soft, and I love the floppiness of the hat. There's considerably less stiffener in the Mag HJ than in the Fed IV (that may have been a huge understatement). This does not detract from my opinion of either hat, though, as I think they both benefit from their respective qualities. The Fed IV might be able to take a bit more of a beating than the Mag HJ as it seems a bit more robust, if that makes sense. HOWEVER!! I may be in need of retracting that last statement (not in terms of the quality of the Fed), because, as the pictures below illuminate, my Mag HJ took one heck of a beating on its way across the pond and bounced back from its injured state quite well (especially coming from the form of a pancake)! Testament to Steve Delk's skill, I say!
Without any further ado, here are some photos. The first two show you the condition the hat (and box) were in upon receiving the Magnoli HJ (AFTER I popped out the hat - it was completely flattened!) My friends figure it's Royal Mail's fault as opposed to the US Postal Service, as this has happened to them on a number of occasions. I would hate to place the blame on either one, but lets just say the Royal Mail woman was literally pealing out in her van when I opened the door no more than fifteen seconds after the knock! She just pointed at the box at my feet and never looked back! The third photo is of my hand re-shaping of the HJ (I had to steam it - and put it back into its open-crown form) After letting it set open crown, I very quickly steamed it in as close as I could get to a Raiders look before popping it on my head and running out the door for work/university. Might have to do a bit of tweaking. Finally, you'll see the Mag HJ pitted against the Fed IV in an epic set of comparison pictures!! (not really - ha). It's quite funny that these hats arrived one day after the other. I LOVE THESE HATS!! (**The Fed IV has a bit of Fuller's Earth applied, but the reddish tone is its own)
Cheers, everyone!!
-Steve H
WOW! That's one smooshed hat box!!!! I'm glad it popped back out for you, though if I had a drop and run delivery like that, I would've reported it, just out of poor business practice. Still, the hat rebounded nicely and they both look great!
Fedora
A good comment there Tron, looking good for the premiere imagine. Glad your hat made it in one piece, my goodness, I guess my box looked opposite to yours, perfect box. The Magnoli HJ, looks great imagine. Glad those postal workers had the guts to distress your hat. 
Look good, hat recovered nicely. Maybe I should do that, sit on my hat and then recrease. Got some character there in that hat now. Nice looking hat. 
