I can almost reach it Indy......

[Fedora]

Like an Indy film, the grail was almost in my hands, balancing percariously on the edge of an infinte chasm. And just before, just before, I could grab it, fell into the bowels of the earth, forever lost. After years of antiscipation, patiently, and impatiently waiting to possess it, it is gone, forever lost. Of course I am speaking about the grail of Indy fedoras. A hat composed of the maximum amount of mink that a beaver body could hold, yet still felted perfectly, the finest fur on the earth, all in one beautiful Indy fedora. The stuff of a hatmaker's dream. The grail of hats.


Marc and I finally caught one another yesterday, and were able to chat awhile on the telephone. He was the bearer of bad news indeed. It seems he destroyed both his, and my own very rare hats, while singeing the body with a blow torch. Two hats sent to the bowels, wait...... perhaps Hades is a better term. Two hats sent to Hades, literally.

I literally almost fell out of my desk chair. I mean literally.

I have suffered along with my own customers who have waited 2 years for their hats. But, you guys will get yours. I am well aware of what the "wait" does to a man's pyche. Been right there with you guys. So, hearing this news after waiting for over two years was quite a shock to the old system. I am sure Marc feels horrible about this too. I know I sure would.

But life goes on. And, at least two good men own one of these grail hats. Ricardo, who is the wizard who actually made this rare and exceptional felt, and also the feller who sent his own AB Deluxe in to Bernie as a sample from Marc in pre production of Indy 4. Both are men who appreciate hat felt, and I could not think of a better home for either hats. Lucky dogs!!! Yeah, a bit of envy here, I have to admit that.

For my buddy Marc. Don't sweat it. Stuff happens. Just listen to the old man here ,and TEST that torch on culls before you go hitting a rare hat body with one!!! And leave it home IF we make other hats! We will use the safer stuff, 90 per cent isopropyl, and flame em'. The shock of the very high and even heat adds that extra little bit of memory to the felt. Takes 3 things to make a great hat. Water, hot irons and fire. Or fire and water to make it simple. Fedora

[Canyon]

Ouch! That sounds painful!

Marc, don't worry. Steve is right. Accidents happen. Listen to the guy. He knows what he's talking about.


Kind regards
Canyon

[Hollowpond]

Sorry to hear that Steve


Travis

[Restless Dreamer]

wait, are you saying that two of the four rawbodies meant to become AB Legend hats were incinerated?

It's a great loss indeed - and a financial one too: those rawbodies costed Marc A LOT of money, if I remember well.

Well, this is sad

[DR Ulloa]

I'm sorry to hear this, Steve. I know you were really looking forward to that hat. Is there any chance of having Marc's felt guy make two more? He already knows what mink content to mix in there. Should be easier this time around.

Dave

[that_dog]

HJ Sr.: Ah, it breaks the heart.

Indy: And the head!

[Holt]

im sorry to hear this...

[jnicktem]

Steve, I'm very sorry to hear this. It would have been an amazing hat I am sure.

[BendingOak]

Marc, you should know better and play with fire.


Before every hangs me. That's a joke and I knew about this for a bit. Marc and I talked about this over the phone.

[beaverlid]

We all are let down with you Steve. You of all people deserve a little of the happiness you have given to all of us with your wonderful fedoras and stories. I say we set up a paypal account and donate to the cause to get this guy to make two more of these rare felts for Steve and Marc. Ill start the first donation off at $25.00

Fedora

[jnicktem]

We all are let down with you Steve. You of all people deserve a little of the happiness you have given to all of us with your wonderful fedoras and stories. I say we set up a paypal account and donate to the cause to get this guy to make two more of these rare felts for Steve and Marc. Ill start the first donation off at $25.00

Fedora

That's a great idea! I would chip in $25 for this cause! These men deserve it!

[Long John Tinfoil]

Ditto!

LJ

[Fedora]

Deeply moved and I appreciate the offers. BUT, it is my understanding this was a one time deal. Very frustrating to make em, and I don't think it is something he wants to tackle again. IF just buying them was possible, heck, I would just pay for the bodies myself. But if I recall correctly, that is not an option.

I feel better about it this morning, after a good night's sleep. (did not lose any sleep over this at all) Afterall, it was just a hat. The bad part was the long wait, with nothing at the end of the wait. But, I am over the sick feeling now, and man it sure is beautiful outside this morning at daybreak. Sun is peeking up over the eastern horizon as I write this, I feel good today, and can't wait to tackle those two hats in the shop waiting for my attention.

I only made this orginal post as numerous folks have emailed me in the past asking about this hat, and it was just faster for me to post it here, so I would not have to send emails to those guys. And most here knew how I was looking forward to this hat. Just thought I would close the chapter on it. So, it is officially closed now. The end of the long story. Thanks again guys for the offers. That means alot to me. But, I could never accept that, even if it were possible. Which it isn't. It's not like I am a needy guy, my life is very rich in all ways.

Plus, that mink beaver hat was a jinxed hat from the get-go. The guys that turned out to own them, were the same ones that almost got Marc out of the Indy 4 deal. Ricardo made the felt in that sample hat the other guy sent in, and the hat that guy sent in was two sizes too small for Ford, which caused Bernie to immediately pick the hat I had stayed up all night to make and overnighted to Bernie. Because my hat was Ford's size. So, he could actually put it on Ford's head. And, on this run of felt, my hats were lighter in color than what Ricardo had made for Marc to sell to that guy.(and Bernie wanted the lighter color) In the haste to get a hat in Bernie's hand, Marc just had a friend and customer to send his own hat in, and as I said, two sizes too small. This too small hat, made it there a couple of days before I could actually make one, in the right size and send it to Bernie. Marc beat me in that deal. But the hat that fit, and was lighter in color won the contest. Haste makes waste. So, in a strange sorta way, I actually am indebted to the guy that sent in the too small hat. History might have been changed if the hat would have fit. So it very well may be perfect justice that he ended up with the mink hat. As a "thank you" from me.

Ironic that the guys that would have left Marc out, got the mink hats. And the guy, me, who got Marc back into the deal, never got a mink hat. There ain't no justice!! But then again, perhaps there is. Time will tell. It always does, as I have discovered in my old age. We always reap what we sow, eventually.

Feel free to lock this one down. I have said my final word on this subject. And I will give you my word on that one. Fedora