AB Question...

[MustangLoverMex]

Good morning guys!
I dont know if this has been discused before but...
What are the origins of the name "AdventureBilt"?

Regards,
-Alfons

[Fedora]

I am best suited to answer this one! My good friend Roger, aka, Sharpetoys, basically forced me into the hatmaking business. Time for a short story?

Way back, I was reblocking hats for free here. This entailed tearing the hat apart, and then reblocking, then sewing the parts back in. I was basically making hats, just no pouncing.

Roger, urged me to start to offer my hats for sale to the fans here. I had every excuse not to do so. I had no sources for sweats, liners, felt, ribbon, etc. And hatters that I knew of, basically offered no help at all. That's the way the traditional hatters are, they keep all that stuff close to the vest. One hatter did offer to help, but he was basically charging me 5 times the normal cost for felt and parts, and said he was doing me a favor. This made Roger mad.

So, Roger spent a month, calling all over the country, posing as a hatter, and found out the good sources. On his dime. Then one day, he calls me up, and says, "ok no more excuses, here is who you call!!!" And the rest is history.


Now, I had no name to call my little enterprise. I was kicking around such names as "Tannis Hat Co., etc. Roger came up with the Adventurebilt name. He knew I was real keen on making adventure type headwear. And after looking online, he found a brand named Jacksonbilt. A well known western hatter, Roy Jackson, I think, and a hatter whom Roger had bought hats from. So, he put Adventure and "bilt" together to make Adventurebilt. I liked it right off, and so Adventurebilt Hat Co. was born.

Although I have lost touch with Roger, I will always remember the extra effort this wonderful man took so that I might become a hatter. I will always be indebted to this really great man.

But Roger is not the only fan that helped me out. The list is vast. Some are still here. My hats were the culmination of the Indy Gear fans vison. My hats were born here, and the input from so many people cannot be denied. Basically my hats were created by the fans, and for the fans. I think it is poetic justice that these fan based hats were chosen for the last Indy film. Well done Indy Gear fans!!! That is why, I have a hard time taking the credit. The credit is not mine to take. This was a group effort, channeled through me. And that is all that it is. Fedora

[BendingOak]

You a good man Steve and very humble but you did the "work" and helped out so many people. My search for "the Raiders hat ended with you my friend. You also helped me out when I had to give up something I loved and wanted to do since I was 5 years old. I would be laying on my couch watching TV all day getting fat. Instead of that I'm making hats because of the help and support of you and Marc. My son used to say his dad was a firefighter when someone would ask him. He would have went from that to saying " he does nothing." you gave this broken man a 2nd chance at doing something he can be proud of. I owe you big time my friend. Thanks again.

[campy]

[...] That's the way the traditional hatters are, they keep all that stuff close to the vest. [...]

You could also say, they keep it under their hats.

[Ranger36]

Great story, Steve.

[Fedora]

You are most welcomed John! Marc and I both think the world of you. So much so, that if and when we get the Indy 5 gig, Marc and I already have plans for you, he, and I to meet here and make the Indy 5 fedoras. Marc says he will bring some good Scotch and Cubans!!! So, after work each day, we will sit around the patio table and have us a great time!! Can't wait!!!! Da da da da, da da da.......Fedora

[Michaelson]

If that happens, you three do NOT take pre-orders! We'll NEVER see any of you again!

Regards! Michaelson

[Fedora]

If that happens, you three do NOT take pre-orders! We'll NEVER see any of you again!

When this happens, and if it happens, we learned from the first time!!! We un's got a whole lot smarter with the last one. So, no pre orders, and no leaks!!! I am a bit more savvy these days with filmwork, especially when it regards a new Indy film. Marc promised to bring clean socks for inserting into my mouth. Fedora

[Michaelson]

[Texan Scott]

...what a great opportunity that would be, John!

I bet you would need to really think on that one?

[DR Ulloa]

What is there to think about?!

Dave

[Montana Jones]

Well let's see there's brim width, crown height, block shape.........

Regards,
Hollis

[Michaelson]

..and the fact that some folks will not believe you, even when you post the dimensions on the Indy V hat that you produced yourself.

Regards! Michaelson

[Montana Jones]

...And the insane number of hat orders you will all receive.

Regards,
Hollis

[MustangLoverMex]

Indy V hats... That sounds amazing
Thank you very much for sharing the origins my friend! Very interesting story.

Regards,
-Alfonso