I've got to show you all some pics of my wonderful "new" fedora I'm calling an "Indiana Bogart" or a "Raiders of the Maltese Falcon".
The story goes that I ordered a Bogart style fedora about a year ago, bashed toward Maltese Falcon specifications. However, when I got the hat it just didn't work. The bash was good but there was so much stiffener in the felt it almost hurt to wear it. What's more the sweatband irritated my forehead due to some rough stitching and poor quality leather. Because the body is a Beaver Brand 6X blend I knew there was potential for the hat, but what's a chap to do when he likes a hat's look but it's so stiff it hurts to wear?
He contacts David Garrison of Garrison Hatters, that's what!
David had reblocked my Fed IV on his Raiders block (work that still deserves some pictorial testimony) with winning results. He's great to work with and, because we had a history of "off the map" projects together, when I told him my story he agreed to help salvage the hat.
David worked with me step by step to ensure that every change made was what I wanted. This was good of him because I really wanted to classic, Bogart, noir-esque grey fedora. As such he was careful to maintain the best of what the former hat was while adding all the values I was looking for.
The work he did was as follows:
1. Remove all the dressings (sweatband, liner ribbon)
2. Treated the crown to remove the stiffener.
3. Reblocked the hat on his Raiders block
4. Pounced the brim and crown.
5. Hand sewed the new sweatband back in. Hand sewed the new ribbon back on (copied the original bow).
6. Hand bashed the crown.
The result is a very custom hat that is a great mix of, well, the Indy and the Bogey.
It's got a shorter crown than my Fed and Henry (mostly because of the deep C crown bash), an Indy Hat ribbon (which is a hair narrower than the original) with the original bow, a uniform 2.5 inch brim with a bound edge and a loose Raiders/Falcon bash.
David's sweatband is also wonderfully soft and becauseof the work he did to soften and pounce the crown makes it wear like a real fedora and not a costume piece.
So, all told I am REALLY happy with this hat and have to celebrate David and his excellent work. He's a true artist, professional businessman and just plain nice guy.
Consider Garrison Hatters not only for their Indy offerings, but also any rehab work you may need done. I can recommend them highly.
Thanks again David!
Best,
Bartram
By dixonkinser at 2011-01-15
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, the hat does have a bound brim. The hat already had it. What I did to Bartram's (Dixon) 
