would have never guessed that the difference in dim. were a half an inch nor that it was creased so high. It works for you.
That is what is surprising me too! But I think it may be the way he is measuring. I would probably come up with different numbers if I were doing the measuring. The drooped brim can be measured a couple of different ways. SO, I am not sure I would come up with those same measurements.
the thing is..It could only be a 58.. cuz most of my work is done when I put the hat on and then style it..
You might want to offer this service to other fans, and specialize in the SOC fedora. You could use the Akubra as your clay. Either buy them outright and charge for the whole hat, or have folks buy a new one and send them to you, for a fee for your work. Your work is certainly worth at least a hundred dollar bill, IMO. And the best of luck!! Steve
the thing is..It could only be a 58.. cuz most of my work is done when I put the hat on and then style it..
Well, that's the way I started out. Reblocking hats to my own blockshape, IF you wore my size, a 7 1/4. Lots of folks wear that hat size.
Holt, what were the specs on the Federation, BEFORE you cut it down? And this was a federation 4-right? Reason I ask is because I thought the Fed 4 came with a 2 3/4 by 2 1/2 brim. So is the extra length of the front coming from the relaxed brim break, with the ribbon slid up? Hard to get accurate measurments when the brim break is relaxed, as you generally measure from the brim break, that is crisp. And of course, this one isn't, per the SOC hat.
Also, when you measured the front height, did you measure from the bottom of the ribbon to the top, or from where you percieved the old brim break to be, on the front? Since your brim break is relaxed, that might be what is throwing me off. Your hat looks to be just a small amount, taller than the film hat, but not by enough to throw off the total look you came up with.
Seeing your work, and fedoraraiders work has really made me excited about this SOC fedora. The side to side pic with Indy is what did it. The proof is right there.
Understand my fellow fans, the SOC hat is a departure from most of the other hats in this film. It is totally different in its looks, from a hatters veiwpoint. It has always fascinated me, in what D.N. did to get this look. Compared to other hats in the film, if I did not know better, I would say it was a completely different hat. Just the look of the brim makes me think that, and then you add the bulging crown on this hat, and you get a totally different look compared with many of the other Raider fedoras. At one time, many thought the sweatband had been taken out, and the ribbon cinched up tight to make the hat fit, sans sweatband. So many theories out there, over time.
But you took a stock hat, with sweat still in, and still came up with the best SOC hat, I have ever seen, here on COW. And on the high resolution pics I have seen of this hat, the film hat, I can clearly see where the sweatband ends, under the ribbon, but it looks to be cut down in height, given the ribbon is 39 mm, and it is well below the top of the ribbon. I can even see on those pics, the hi resolution ones, where the stitches are located, hold in the sweat. Well, above the brim break, or at least where it used to be.
No doubt, if you took a great rabbit felt, like some vintage felt, and just wore it, and got the brim wet somewhere along the way, this look could happen, naturally, over time. But, the felt would have to be the kind that would bulge. See, most felts, won't bulge like that. I have only seen a couple of examples that would do it with alot of wear, and one was a vintage HJ I used to own. Another was a lower priced vintage hat, with real loosely felted felt.
Basically the SOC hat is what a well made hat is NOT SUPPOSED to do, i.e. relaxed brim break, and the bulging of the felt. Hatters try to make a hat that won't do this, traditionally speaking. It is ironic, to me. But, I know you probably spent alot of time working with this hat. So how long did it take you Holt? How many hours did you put into this hat? Is there a post here on COW where you went into details of exactly how you arrived at the final look?
That brim still have me in awe. The 3 by 2 1/2 cut really surprised me, no, shocked would be the word!!
It looks so dead on, but IS NOT what Swales ever gave us as the brim dimensions. He has given us two, over the years, opposed to one another. Once he said it was 2 3/4 by 2 1/2, then another time, 2 7/8 by 2 5/8. Neither of which matches yours!! A variance of 1/2 inch between the front and the sides is a hard cut to make, on a new hat. Because of the transition points. Seems like it would make an extremely oblong brim shape. Perhaps Deborah, did some additional trims, who knows?
If you find the time, how about giving us a detailed account of what you did to the federation to arrive at your final look. I am sure there are many who would love to know. But, you have a skill that many of the fans here don't have. And that is much of what you came up with. Both you and fedoraraiders. Fedora