Fed. 4 Dlx. - HJ -Christys - AB CS

[Briscott]

hi everyone,

i know there are already a lot of reviews out there, so the following photos and measurements are not intended to review any screen acuracy or quality. i'm just hoping some others would also find it interesting to see these hats in a direct, clinical comparison.

i already posted some photos in this hj<->christys thread: http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f ... 48&start=0 that show the hats are really the same

regarding the measurements: i measured the brim from egde to sweatband, the height of the crown is open crowned, of course. all hats are size 59cm. please let me know, if anything seems to be totally wrong:


Fed. IV Deluxe:
left brim 6,3cm
right brim 6,3cm
front brim 7,1cm
back brim 7,3cm
crown height 14,5cm
weight 145g

HJ:
left brim 7,0cm
right brim 6,7cm
front brim 7,9cm
back brim 7,9cm
crown height 15cm
weight 126g

Christys:
left brim 7,0cm
right brim 6,7cm
front brim 7,8cm
back brim 8,1cm
crown height 15cm
weight 129g (3g difference must be the plastic in the lining)

AB CS:
left brim 6,5cm
right brim 6,5cm
front brim 7,2cm
back brim 7,4cm
crown height 14cm
weight 134g


(left Christys, right HJ, above Fed IV Dlx, below AB CS)


(from left to right: Christys, HJ, Fed IV Dlx, AB CS)


(from left to right: AB CS, Christys, HJ, Fed IV Dlx)


(from left to right: HJ, Christys, Fed IV Dlx, AB CS)






(from left to right: Christys(above) and HJ (Below), Fed IV Dlx, AB CS)

[Restless Dreamer]

VERY nice collection

and

VERY useful comparison pics


seriously, it's a pleasure to see those hats side by side, all togheter...makes me want to trace your adress, sneak in your house and make those lids mine

[kiltie]

I want to make clear first, I like the Federation. It's a neat hat, beyond just being an Indy hat. The blockshape is really cool, and it's a rugged, useful hat. Having said that, it's funny to see in these comparison threads how significantly different in color it is from the "accepted color" of the Indy hat, and yet remains a fan favorite. It seems function over form wins out.

[BendingOak]

Just look at the finish and the bow work. AB , stands above the others.

[Restless Dreamer]

Just look at the finish and the bow work. AB , stands above the others.

it surely is finer than the others, but however this doesn't make it necessairly the most SA. in fact, if you're looking for a LC or TOD hat, a square and flattened bow is required.

and I agree with kiltie, the Fed color is way too dark for a Indy hat. saying it all, I prefer Christy's and HJ's color.

BTW, who bashed that AB? the top crease is very sharp. nice, though

[Indy35]

Just look at the finish and the bow work. AB , stands above the others.

I have to agree, the AB, even in low quality pictures still looks better than that other three, and the ribbon sells it. However, i think its ironic how different all the colors are. I still prefer the HJ color, but the AB's color is something of an "all around" and not just the lighter Cairo and desert ROTLA hats. I think the richness in the color of the AB makes it standout a bit, its not too dark and its not too light, making it go with more clothing options, which is ideal for someone that wears his or her hat all the time.

[Erri]

The AB colour is made that way because it took in consideration the fading that could happen with time and excess usage.
As for the ribbon I don't find it that important as many others do because it's the only thing that you can actually change in a hat by yourself (with some patience) but, while the HJ/Christy's bow is proverbially wrong, I never noticed how ugly the Federation bow is for an indy hat. I have to say I like the Fed colour though.

[kiltie]

I never noticed how ugly the Federation bow is for an indy hat.

While I've never gone especially ga-ga over what is SA in a bow or not, I know what a good one looks like. The Fed bow is nice enough for a modern factory, but what I have noticed lately is either contrasting thread for tacking, or just generally a poor job. I made mention of it before here, and I've also seen it at the Fedora Lounge. And it's not a problem rampant in Akubras; just seems to be a bad run on these Feds, possibly due to thier overwhelming popularity. So I see where you're coming from, Erri, in that respect, and also that it's simply a little bland; flat, if you will.
I'd really like to see more vintage block shapes come out of their line-up, though. That's something no hat wearer can get enough of, I would think. They're the only company, besides custom hatters, that are giving us the option of a well made, straight sided block in a variety of styles and colors. This, of course is not meant to rule out the Christys'; apples and oranges.
The best part about Hornets, the most accessible purveyor of the Adventurer, is thier willingness to work with you. Good customer service, and they're even offering custom up-grades. Something you're definately not getting out of your new Stetsons, etc..., no matter what you want to say about the quality of the hat. To me, if you've got the money, it's one more reason to get behind the Christys', at least from Hornets: it means you're keeping options like this alive to modern hat wearers. It's something not often found outside of the custom makers, and something a larger percentage of us can afford. Oh, and one more time for the back row: it makes a pretty good Indy hat .

[Hollowpond]

Im just beginning to realize that finishing and bow-work has a direct correlation to quality.

[Michaelson]

I want to make clear first, I like the Federation. It's a neat hat, beyond just being an Indy hat. The blockshape is really cool, and it's a rugged, useful hat. Having said that, it's funny to see in these comparison threads how significantly different in color it is from the "accepted color" of the Indy hat, and yet remains a fan favorite. It seems function over form wins out.

Kiltie, keep in mind that the Fed line was NOT created to serve as a hat specific to our hobby. It was originally made to cover a mulititude of interests from various groups around the world.

At the time of its creation the swing dance craze was going strong in Australia, and was starting to slow in the U. S. Folks in that 'hobby' wanted a open crown 'correct' fedora too, so Akubra (HatsDirect to be specific) made the line to satisfy as many as they could with the one hat. The color was as close as they came to making everyone happy.

Regards! Michaelson

[kiltie]

I want to make clear first, I like the Federation. It's a neat hat, beyond just being an Indy hat. The blockshape is really cool, and it's a rugged, useful hat. Having said that, it's funny to see in these comparison threads how significantly different in color it is from the "accepted color" of the Indy hat, and yet remains a fan favorite. It seems function over form wins out.

Kiltie, keep in mind that the Fed line was NOT created to serve as a hat specific to our hobby. It was originally made to cover a mulititude of interests from various groups around the world.

At the time of its creation the swing dance craze was going strong in Australia, and was starting to slow in the U. S. Folks in that 'hobby' wanted a open crown 'correct' fedora too, so Akubra (HatsDirect to be specific) made the line to satisfy as many as they could with the one hat. The color was as close as they came to making everyone happy.

Regards! Michaelson

Sooooo...what you're saying is, the Indy fans wouldn't have been happy with this:



No: I gotcha. I was just making note, of all the things a lot of the members here won't tolerate, one thing it seems most will put up with is a less than SA color for a hat that has some longevity. That's a good thing.

[Hollowpond]

I want to make clear first, I like the Federation. It's a neat hat, beyond just being an Indy hat. The blockshape is really cool, and it's a rugged, useful hat. Having said that, it's funny to see in these comparison threads how significantly different in color it is from the "accepted color" of the Indy hat, and yet remains a fan favorite. It seems function over form wins out.

Kiltie, keep in mind that the Fed line was NOT created to serve as a hat specific to our hobby. It was originally made to cover a mulititude of interests from various groups around the world.

At the time of its creation the swing dance craze was going strong in Australia, and was starting to slow in the U. S. Folks in that 'hobby' wanted a open crown 'correct' fedora too, so Akubra (HatsDirect to be specific) made the line to satisfy as many as they could with the one hat. The color was as close as they came to making everyone happy.

Regards! Michaelson

Sooooo...what you're saying is, the Indy fans wouldn't have been happy with this:



No: I gotcha. I was just making note, of all the things a lot of the members here won't tolerate, one thing it seems most will put up with is a less than SA color for a hat that has some longevity. That's a good thing.

Yeah, we'd be happy with that hat...if Indy was a pimp! "Hey lady! You call him Dr.Huggy Bear!"