What to look for in a well made hat

[Michaelson]

I'm afraid to ask.

Regards! Michaelson

[BendingOak]

Its another short joke.

[kiltie]

I used to refurb vintage hats, which was a great learning experience, and I don't regret it. If you were to take my advice, that advice would be, don't fool with refurbs or anything else on vintage hats. But if you do, charge 100 bucks for the service. You will find that your demand for such, will become non existent. Because if you do a refurb "right" it takes as much time to do these as it does to make a new hat. These guys are just looking for the cheap way out, and your time is worth more than that. Their time certainly is!!! That is, they would not do it for your old price. Just some advice from someone who has seen it all......almost. I still get a few surprises every now and then. Fedora

Doesn't Optimo charge $100 for an overhaul? I've considered sending a hat there, and it's really not that unreasonable when you consider a few things. Let's take Stetson's most popular all time line for instance: the Open Road. Depending on the size, you SHOULD be able to score an older Open Road for $70, tops. If you send it for a hundred dollar refurb, that's a $170 hat, and $170 is about the MSRP of a new Open Road, which isn't even close to as good as the ones even made in the mid-seventies.
That's just one example. Some hats, if you really like 'em, you spend months, maybe years looking for them. When you finally find what you're looking for ( right size, color, good body, etc... ), in a way, it's one of a kind. It's should be worth the cost of a new hat if it was really that big of a deal in the first place. How many mint condition Flagships are out there? It should be worth a bill to get one in shape.
I'm not saying raise yor prices ( pleasepleasepleaseplease!!!! ), but I don't remember seeing it on your menu - maybe case by case.

Okay - seriously: back on topic -
It might be cool to see - in the FAQ Sticky maybe - some pictures with descriptions of what's being discussed in this thread. Just the things that aren't a matter of opinion, like the difference between reeded and non-reeded, the "bell" on a sweatband, where the brim break is and how and where the sweatband is sewn in relative to the break... stuff like that. A place for newer members to reference when more serious discussions like this one arise. I think it would dilute some of the snobbiness if the terms didn't seem so mystical and were easily found an read by all ( and DANG that vendor list needs to be updated anyway....). This really could be a premier rescource for information on hats considering the the folks "in residence". Keep it Indy, naturally, but the Indy fedora really is a gateway drug, and people should be informed before they go out into the world ( don't take the brown acid... ).

[binkmeisterRick]

Its another short joke.

Yeah, but I make that yellow cape look good and you know it. Besides, Batman always kicks butt, so be nice to me or he'll show folks how to really bash a Penman.

[Michaelson]

I've always looked at us as kind of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson myself....

"All RIGHT now, folks, don't make me reach for the shotgun again!"



Dang it! I shot the Deputy again!

Regards! Michaelson

[BendingOak]

Its another short joke.

Yeah, but I make that yellow cape look good and you know it. Besides, Batman always kicks butt, so be nice to me or he'll show folks how to really bash a Penman.

You know Robin is just a target so batman doesn't get shot at, right?


Kiltie, I don't have prices up on refurbs or reblocks anymore because every job is different. The customer will have to contact me to get a quote. I still think my refurb job is cheaper than Optimo.

[binkmeisterRick]

I've always looked at us as kind of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson myself....

Actually, that's quite fitting!

[BendingOak]

M, has a lot of icons I see.

[sallah4]

The hat i bought is made from felt not wool.

[jlee562]

The hat i bought is made from felt not wool.

Well, there's wool felt. I have a wool felt trilby as a matter of fact.

[Michaelson]

M, has a lot of icons I see.

Yep. A whole '2'.

The one with the Plymouth is just general use smilie.

Regards! Michaelson

[sallah4]

I am only fifteen I don't know a lot about fedoras although i have most of the gear. I just bought a wested two days ago.

[DR Ulloa]

Congrats on the jacket.

Essentailly, Sallah, hats can be made from wool felt or fur felt, the latter being more resiliant and finer. Then you have rabbit fur felt and beaver fur felt, though there are others like angora, nutria, and mink. Rabbit and beaver are the most popular, though. Both wool and fur can be felted to make hats.

Dave