Hello everyone from Sarah's Hat Boxes

Hat Box Guy · Post by **Hat Box Guy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:23 pm

I just wanted to say hello to everyone and introduce myself. My name is Peter and I have been making handmade fabric hatboxes for 25 years in New Hampshire. Please visit our web-site to see our new line of Adventurebilt hatboxes.
http://www.sarahshatboxes.com/resultsAd ... enturebilt

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:26 pm

You guys are awesome!!!!

Travis

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:32 pm

Welcome Peter, Glade you made it over.

IndyGeek78 · Post by **IndyGeek78** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:16 pm

Very nice indeed

Welcome

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:45 pm

Welcome, Hat Box Guy!
...And Highest Regards on your quality work!

I'll always think of your Username as being the shortened version of what obviously MUST be your FULL name:
"The One & Only Hat Box Guy You'll Ever Want Making a Box For Your Hat!"
(but "Hat Box Guy" for short is just fine, too...)

All the Best,
Mitch

jedidentist · Post by **jedidentist** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:32 pm

Nice addition to your site! I'll be ordering mine shortly. Any thoughts on offering a dark brown one?

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:35 pm

Do all of your round hat boxes have the interior like John's and the AB?

Travis

Hat Box Guy · Post by **Hat Box Guy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:11 pm

Hollowpond, Yes they all come with the hat insert and the inside is lined with white chipboard.

jedidentist; Thank you and yes you can order the box in dark brown. When ordering just type in the special instructions that you would like to order a dark brown hatbox. http://www.sarahshatboxes.com/resultsAd ... enturebilt

jlee562 · Post by **jlee562** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:17 pm

Those look great...I'll be sure to pick one up once my AB arrives in about a year (give or take).

Hat Box Guy · Post by **Hat Box Guy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:20 pm

Almost forgot - I'd like to thank John Penman, Marc Kidder and Steve Delk for all their help and assistance getting the new Adventurebilt and Penman hatboxes up and running. Thanks again! Hat Box Guy

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:52 pm

Welcome aboard Peter! Good to see you here. I have raved about your very high quality hat boxes here. Can't wait to see the Indy themed one! Regards, Steve Delk

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:02 pm

Indy themed one???!?!?!? Has Steve let something out of the bag? Do tell. Do tell.

Travis

Hat Box Guy · Post by **Hat Box Guy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:07 pm

Travis; More information coming soon - we are working on it and we are pretty excited about it.

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:08 pm

Well then...So am I!!! $\:D/$

Travis

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:37 pm

Hollowpond wrote:Well then...So am I!!! $\:D/$

Travis

you should be, it is just fantastic. Or should I say will be.

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:49 pm

Awesome hat boxes! I am going to order one for my forthcoming AB. Would it be possible for you to make a Herbert Johnson logo box for those collectors who own HJs? I lost the original shipping box that mine came in, and have been storing my fedora in a pillowcase for the past 8 years. A HJ-edition hat box would be most useful. Keep up the great work!

jedidentist · Post by **jedidentist** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:26 am

I just ordered mine in dark brown. However, that was before I saw the "Indy Themed" idea

Um...maybe you can hold off making mine until I see what that one might look like?

Derek

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:42 am

I'm right there with you Derek. I was this close to ordering the brown yesterday when I saw Steve's post.

Travis

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:25 am

you should be, it is just fantastic. Or should I say will be.

With two top men working on it, John Penman and Peter from Sarah's Hat Boxes, it will be!!

Now, I said, Indy themed, but you know we have to be careful with copywrite issues, so let's just say, "adventure" themed. That might keep Uncle George from getting sore. Fedora

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:10 am

Fedora wrote:
you should be, it is just fantastic. Or should I say will be.

With two top men working on it, John Penman and Peter from Sarah's Hat Boxes, it will be!!

Now, I said, Indy themed, but you know we have to be careful with copywrite issues, so let's just say, "adventure" themed. That might keep Uncle George from getting sore. Fedora

You are correct Steve. It's more Adventure themed than Indy themed. I think everyone will dig it.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:08 pm

BendingOak wrote:I think everyone will dig it.

Dave

Indiana MarkVII · Post by **Indiana MarkVII** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:29 pm

Hat Box Guy,
We know of several people who have received crushed hats in single box shippments. Do you ship the hat boxes in single or double boxes?

Now I am trying to figure out where I would store the hat boxes. I have no available shelf room in the house at this point. My hats are on hat racks, most which sit on top of something else, but there's not enough room to lay a hat box in it's place. And with the 3 ABs, 1 AB Deluxe, and I think 3 more ABs hats ordered over a year ago, I'd need a hat closet or Steve's trailer just to store all of those hats in boxes, but they sure would be nice for keeping the dust off inside the house, and keeping a hat from getting mangled in the car when I'm on a road trip.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:30 pm

The last time I talked with peter on the phone it would be a while. There's a lot going into this one.

Blackthorn · Post by **Blackthorn** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:17 pm

Hat Box Guy, I sent you a very important PM about the hat box I recently got from you. Please check the private message and let me know what you think.

mrkaboom · Post by **mrkaboom** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:06 am

The hat boxes look great and as a AB owner I was tempted. However i think charging $137 US for shipping alone to the UK is a tad excessive - especially given that Steve charges around $20 US to ship the hat itself.

If you could review this and perhaps offer a more cost effective option for shipping you may tempt us guys over the water.

MK

steerpike · Post by **steerpike** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:36 am

Welcome Peter!

tgalahad · Post by **tgalahad** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:07 am

Greetings Hat Box Guy. Looking forward to the "Adventure" hat box.

Post by **Dalexs** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:13 pm

BendingOak wrote:The last time I talked with peter on the phone it would be a while. There's a lot going into this one.

I'm going to be at my house in Marlborough in 2 weeks, maybe I'll see if I can sneek by and get a first hand glimpse!
(It's New Hampshire, nobody locks their doors up there!)

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:16 pm

Dalexs wrote:
BendingOak wrote:The last time I talked with peter on the phone it would be a while. There's a lot going into this one.
I'm going to be at my house in Marlborough in 2 weeks, maybe I'll see if I can sneek by and get a first hand glimpse!
(It's New Hampshire, nobody locks their doors up there!)

I'm sorry buddy but know one see's this one until it's done. You can see the other AB boxes, Penman hat boxes or the many different ones Peter makes. He can make some amazing boxes. If you get a chance go take a look at his site.

http://www.sarahshatboxes.com/

Indiana MarkVII · Post by **Indiana MarkVII** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:18 pm

I wonder what long term storage of the hat upside down in a hat box like this will do to the brim? My AB and AB Deluxe fedoras have a snap brim (I believe that's what they are called), where the front dips down and the back curls up slightly. The edges of the brim are not flat either.

I have a few questions. If the brim will maintain it's shape if stored in a hat box like this for many months or years? Also, could there be any marking, compressed felt, or rub marks on the top of the crown, or is there sufficient clearance to keep the crown from becoming storage damaged?

Are these boxes primarily designed for shelf storage? What are other possible uses? (and please, no candy dish jokes. This is not play money for a hat storage.)

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:26 pm

Mark, the concept of this kind of hat box is nothing new. They've done it for ages. I tend to think that if it would've been bad for the hat, they would've come up with something else years ago. I have a 1930's Stetson I keep in a box similar to this and it hasn't affected the hat negatively in any way whatsoever. I would also think that if it's an AB or Penman box, it's designed with Indy crown heights in mind.

jlee562 · Post by **jlee562** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:29 pm

I keep my Fed IV in the shipping box, which handily doubles as a Hat Box....upside down, no noticeable ill effect on the brim.

I picked up a cheapo Stetson cardboard Hatbox at a local hat place for my Christy's and it came with a foam insert which has a hole in the middle for the crown and lays flat on the brim. If you're that concerned about it, I'm sure you should be able to find something similar. Although I would tend to side with Bink, these hat boxes are really nothing new.

Indiana MarkVII · Post by **Indiana MarkVII** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:43 pm

Thanks guys, I was hoping that someone would chime in. If anyone else has experience with this or other hat boxes, I'd like to hear and share with the group.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:07 pm

For reference, most of the similar hat boxes I have, including the one for the vintage Stetson, are vintage hat boxes. Most of them are not as nice as the Sarah Hat Box shown above. If the vintage boxes haven't harmed my hats, I can only think that these new boxes will take even better care of them.

Indiana MarkVII · Post by **Indiana MarkVII** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:40 pm

That is reassuring, Bink. Now I just need a job so I can afford to buy some, and some place in the house to put them.

Blackthorn · Post by **Blackthorn** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:02 am

Hat Box Guy wrote:I just wanted to say hello to everyone and introduce myself. My name is Peter and I have been making handmade fabric hatboxes for 25 years in New Hampshire. Please visit our web-site to see our new line of Adventurebilt hatboxes.
http://www.sarahshatboxes.com/resultsAd ... enturebilt

Hat Box Guy, what are the measurements of the insert for the Adventurebilt? How wide, long and deep is the hole where the crown fits?

Thanks in advance!

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:15 am

have a few questions. If the brim will maintain it's shape if stored in a hat box like this for many months or years? Also, could there be any marking, compressed felt, or rub marks on the top of the crown, or is there sufficient clearance to keep the crown from becoming storage damaged?

This type of box was designed, way back, for storing hats. So, I doubt there is a better way to store, and if it is to stay there for a long time, use moth balls just in case.

When I first talked to Peter, I mentioned that the retainer that suspends the hat needs to be taller than the one that John sent to me. At least 5 1/2 inches tall, (my hats are 5 inches tall, after creases) so the hat's crown would not touch the bottom of the box. Peter took that info right away and will use it.

These boxes are not cheap. But, I doubt you will find any other hat box on the level that these are. The old hat boxes, were mostly not very rugged, and I have many that have come apart at the seams, but I still use them, just tape em' up. So, being able to get such a tank of a box, really pleased me, big time.

I needed a box to send to Indy 5, if that happens, and now I have them!! Bernie had to go and use boxes from Barons, for Indy 4. Can't let that happen again!

I was a bit embarrassed by that incident. So, thanks to my good friend John, for helping Marc and I out. We just don't have the time these days for essentials like these.

There will be a day in the future, where if you buy a hat from my site, I will include a box like this. Could not afford to do it, at my old pricing. But, now I can. Fedora

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:41 am

The inserts on my boxes are a bit lower. I did this as not to war the brim. I had a few customers worried about warping their brims on their hats. Thats why I had Peter drop the height. Also I have a good amount of non- Indy hats that I sell.

I can have Peter put in either size insert. Just let me know. There is a trade off just like everything in life. Heigh insert and the top of the crown will not touch the bottom but the hat will rest on the brim. Low insert and the brim will be un-touched but the crown will touch the bottom.

Blackthorn · Post by **Blackthorn** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:24 pm

I have one of these boxes that I bought through John Penman and I've never seen a higher quality box (nor do they exist, IMHO). They are extremely well made and will keep the moths out of your hat. A few years ago I had moths eat a hole in a suit that I had hanging in a closet. That won't happen to a hat in one of these boxes.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:24 pm

Blackthorn wrote:I have one of these boxes that I bought through John Penman and I've never seen a higher quality box (nor do they exist, IMHO). They are extremely well made and will keep the moths out of your hat. A few years ago I had moths eat a hole in a suit that I had hanging in a closet. That won't happen to a hat in one of these boxes.

If a moth or something eats a hole in this box , I wouldn't stick around to see what did it.

Ranger36 · Post by **Ranger36** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:35 pm

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:05 pm

You guys have no idea how nice these boxes are. Photo's don't do them justice. They are not your old cardboard box. No one will ever touch Peter when it comes to hat boxes of this kind.

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:55 pm

I got my hat box last week and must agree... these hat boxes are the very best! These boxes are LEAGUES over the box I was using.

mrkaboom · Post by **mrkaboom** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:52 am

is it just me who thinks that $137 US to ship to the UK or europe is excessive given that the hat box is $55 US?

If so i need to get a job where you guys work!

MK

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:57 am

it just me who thinks that $137 US to ship to the UK or europe is excessive given that the hat box is $55 US?

Seems a bit high to me, but I am used to shipping smaller boxes overseas. But I use USPS too, and they are cheaper to use than UPS or Fed Ex. USPS then uses Fed Ex, for their shipments overseas. Makes no sense.

I just ship first class overseas though, maybe the hatbox guy is using a faster means. You would have to email him about it.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:06 am

Where did you get that price from?

Jonny Whip Crack · Post by **Jonny Whip Crack** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:54 pm

John, I just tried to buy one, and the shipping to Alberta, Canada was also $137 US. I quickly removed the item from the cart. Something's wrong with that. Ever AIR FEDEX would be about $80.
Guess we'll see if anything changes.
You still have some?

Jonny

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:00 am

Jonny Whip Crack wrote:John, I just tried to buy one, and the shipping to Alberta, Canada was also $137 US. I quickly removed the item from the cart. Something's wrong with that. Ever AIR FEDEX would be about $80.
Guess we'll see if anything changes.
You still have some?

Jonny

I will contact Peter for you in the morning and send him a e-mail asking him to pop in here.

mrkaboom · Post by **mrkaboom** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:35 am

Thanks Oak that way i might be able to put those pills back in the medicine cabinet.

EEK!

MK

Hat Box Guy · Post by **Hat Box Guy** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:24 am

Good day everyone. I guess I'd like to start out by addressing some of the questions and concerns about the Adventurebilt hatboxes.
1. Insert size: The inside dimension of our insert is 8 1/2" x 7" x 5 1/2" tall.

2. Shipping costs: I have no idea where anyone got $137.00. We do not calculate shipping for outside the United States on the web-site. Please note this is what it says above our "add to cart" button

For orders outside of the continental US please call to calculate shipping costs.

Sarah's Hat Boxes is a handmade product. We have a special instructions section when you purchase the box please add any special instructions you have there.

You do not need to purchase our hatboxes only from the web-site, you can call us and we can discuss any questions or concerns you have at that time. You can e-mail your shipping address from outside of the US and we can e-mail you a cost for shipping and then you can call us with credit card information when you decide to purchase your hatbox.

Any questions or concerns you may have with the Penman hatboxes please contact John Penman.

If there are any other questions or concerns please let me know. Thanks, Hat Box Guy

http://www.sarahshatboxes.com/resultsAd ... enturebilt