The Henry extreme: hitting the ABD Raiders block

[Marc]

Hey gang,

I got a Henry from a customer in the Netherlands who by accident bought his hat a size too big and asked me to reblock it on my Raiders block.

Since the block is custom made to suit the felt of the AB-Dlx. I expected the felt of The Henry to react differently - so I was quite eager to see what would come out of this myself

Well, turned out to be one heck of a mushroom SOC looking hat with lots a matching brim.

Sorry for the washed out color due the flash...





Regards,

Marc

[gwyddion]

wow

Regards, Geert

EDIT: ok, found my tongue again. That looks great! I can't believe how well that turned out.

[Erri]

Very nice! I like the side view better. The front has a pinch too high for my taste -you know I like the humps!- (perhaps the camera was too low?) but definitely the SOC look nonetheless! We want to see it worn though!

[theinterchange]

I can see SOC clearly in this hat. Nice job.. but, in all honesty, I've never seen a bad ABD job.

Randy

[Mitch LaRue]

... but, in all honesty, I've never seen a bad ABD job.

Yeah... what theinterchange said.

(In fact, I'm not even sure what that would LOOK like!)

[DanielJones]

Man, your work never ceases to amaze me! Fantastic. And now you know how the Henry will react to a reblock. It's a win/win.

Cheers!

Dan

[Hollowpond]

Nice Nice

[TheExit148]

Very nice! Love the SoC look Cool to see how the hat reacts to a different block.

[Bullitt]

Very very nice! I think a lot of people will be buying larger Henry's and send them to you, Marc.

[DR Ulloa]

Whoa! That looks great. I don't think I've ever seen a hat mushroom like THAT right off the block. Very well done, Marc. By the way, if this was going to be a Raiders hat, why didn't you block it on your Raiders block, or did you have a suspicion that the CS block would lend a great SOC look?

Dave

[gwyddion]

Whoa! That looks great. I don't think I've ever seen a hat mushroom like THAT right off the block. Very well done, Marc. By the way, if this was going to be a Raiders hat, why didn't you block it on your Raiders block, or did you have a suspicion that the CS block would lend a great SOC look?

Dave

He didn't block it on a CS block Dave

Regards, Geert

[DR Ulloa]

I see.

I read Marc's post wrong. Nevermind.

Dave

[Marc]

Thanks guys!!! Highly appreciated!

Lemme tell you: that felt that we get made for the Henry... I've never seen anything reminding me THAT much of my vintage HJ hats. I swear! I'll see if I can make some macro pictures to show you the similarities.

See, the problem with todays pure rabbit felt is, that they just don't pounce out the same way as they did 30 years ago. That's why I always refused making a "uber accurate 100% rabbit Raiders Fedora". The material never seemed to fit and besides of that (and I'm sure Steve can attest to this): once you come to work with pure beaver every day, you can become quite a snob when expecting certain surface qualities after pouncing.

Now, these 20% beaver REALLY do the trick. Lemme take some macro pictures later and compare them with some screen shots and my vintage HJs. I really jumps out on you.

Regards,

Marc

[Marc]

Ok, here's The Henry on top of a Raiders era nut brown HJ. See the similarities in the structure?



Regards,

Marc

[gwyddion]

I am by no means an expert on the subject of felt, but I believe I can see what you mean Marc. So if the texture looks the same, does it also feel the same when touching it? Or does the 20% beaver felt feel very different to the touch than the vintage felt?

Regards, Geert

[whipcracker]

I see what you mean. I think that I'll add a Henry to my long list of gear....

[VP]

Any news on offering a RotLA grey version?

[Marc]

So if the texture looks the same, does it also feel the same when touching it? Or does the 20% beaver felt feel very different to the touch than the vintage felt?

I can't feel any difference when touching them, but being a hatter who hand sews everything, I'm not sure if my finger tips are the perfect measuring tool here

Ville, we hope to offer a grey version of The Henry later this year. Of course, there's still the grey AB and AB-Dlx.

Regards,

Marc

[Restless Dreamer]

don't get me wrong, marc, but you get my negative vote, this time. Maybe it's the photos that aren't good, or maybe my ideal raiders hat it's more raven's bar than soc, but I don't like it: the crown sides are too round, it looks like a balloon and the front pinch...dunno, doesn't convince me.

I repeat, maybe it's due to the fact that photos never say the truth. for example, the angle of the front shoot makes the camel hump disappear. and the brim gets very distorted, due to the fact that the hat is lying on the table.

*dives behind a car fearing he will be hunted by cowers for having criticized marc*

[gwyddion]

*dives behind a car fearing he will be hunted by cowers for having criticized marc*

I for one won't hunt you down: If everybody liked the same hat, things would get a litle boring around here, wouldn't they

The SOC hat is an extreme hat, and either you like it, or you don't. I happen to like it a lot but I can certainly understand why you don't.

Regards, Geert

[The_Raiders]

I for one think it looks absolutly perfect! i LOVE the musroom/light bulb effect. The rounded sides look great to me, and that's what I strive for with my hat, the most I can get is maybe an ever so slight rounded effect, but mostly straight sided.
I am thinking about placing an order for an AB when my moneys gathered up, but seeing what can be accomplished with the Henry makes me wonder. It looks terrific, Marc.

[bigrex]

Looks good to me, that "caricatured" block for the beaver felt on a 20% beaver hat looks really good, sounds like if I ever get a Henry I need to go that route even if it costs a little extra.

[Mitch LaRue]

As BOLD and unique as that looks... like ANY hat it will look even better on top of some lucky person's noggin'.

So this is an "open letter" request to that "customer in the Netherlands":
PLEASE, once you have this very special lid in your hands, pop it on your head, get a friend or family member to take a few snapshots and post 'em HERE in this thread!
I, for one, would LOVE to see THOSE shots.

[theinterchange]

don't get me wrong, marc, but you get my negative vote, this time. Maybe it's the photos that aren't good, or maybe my ideal raiders hat it's more raven's bar than soc, but I don't like it: the crown sides are too round, it looks like a balloon and the front pinch...dunno, doesn't convince me.

To each their own. It'd be boring it we ALL liked exactly the same hat.

Randy

[Bullitt]

I guess it depends on what we're all looking for in a hat. The Raven had some taper going on and the SOC reverse taper. I like the latter, but it wouldn't work as a dress hat. However, I like the outcome of this hat. It's got great potential, but it needs a few hits with a baseball bat and some whoopie cushion treatment

[Erri]

don't get me wrong, marc, but you get my negative vote, this time. Maybe it's the photos that aren't good, or maybe my ideal raiders hat it's more raven's bar than soc, but I don't like it: the crown sides are too round, it looks like a balloon and the front pinch...dunno, doesn't convince me.

I repeat, maybe it's due to the fact that photos never say the truth. for example, the angle of the front shoot makes the camel hump disappear. and the brim gets very distorted, due to the fact that the hat is lying on the table.

*dives behind a car fearing he will be hunted by cowers for having criticized marc*

I can understand what you're talking about (I'm a ravenbar-man myself, most of the times) but we should wait and see how it looks on the head once it reaches its owner. That's the only way we can judge an indy hat... so gwyddion don't let us wait, we're all dying to see this hat on your head, post pics as soon as you get it

[gwyddion]

at least someone conected the dots I will try to have someone take pics once I have it. (and if it has stoped raining by then)

On a side note: NEVER trust a head maesurement that was taken for a uniform if you have a long oval headshape. It turns out that because these have stiff sweats (usualy some kind of plastic) and are stiff themselves you will get a hat 0.5cm bigger than your actual size to compensate for the fact that these only come in a regular oval shape. combine that with the Henry not being available in half-sizes and you will get a hat that's too big. I should have measured before ordering to check if the size was corect, but you live and learn

luckily Marc managed to turn my mistake into something gorgeous

Regards, Geert

[gwyddion]

As I promissed to post pictures of this hat on my head I spent quite some time tracking someone down who could take some pics of me while wearing it. I finaly found someone: Me With the aid of my old friend tripod.

Ofcourse this means that the pics turnes out awfull (well, I look awfull in them, not the hat: nothing as frustrating as having to run back and forth to your camera because you don't have a remote ), but I decided to pick the three most decent shots and post them anyway.







In that last pic you can see how tired I got running back and forth

Marc did a superb job at this hat and I realy like it One thing I noticed is that it has become considerably lighter in colour, but as it started out darker as an AB that is a bonus in my book.

Regards, Geert

[DR Ulloa]

I think the hat looks great. All hats look better once they are on its owner's head. I love the way the Henry's felt reacts to the Raiders block. That is the SoC look dead on, if you ask me.

Dave

[Mitch LaRue]

Couldn't have said it better, Dave... on all counts!
That Henry felt on the Raiders block is a match made in heaven! Streets of Cairo ALL the way!
THANKS for puttin' it on your noggin AND taking those photos, gwiddion (OUTSIDE, no less)!
I especially love #'s 2 & 3.
Great, GREAT looking hat!
Congratulations!
Fox

[gwyddion]

Thanks guys. Marc realy did a great job with this hat and it has only left my head when there was no other choice.

My only regret is that I dont have someone to take as good a pictures as your wife does Fox because it looks much better in the real than it does in those pics and better composition would definately show that a lot better.

Regards, Geert

[Mitch LaRue]

As I always do when someone like yourself says something to that effect, I've passed along your compliment to my wife, Geert... Thank you.
You and the other fellas here at C.O.W. sure know how to get her to blush and smile, that's for sure...