Different hats, different vendors.

[hoose55]

Hello gents,
I've been researching hats for a couple months and am still uncertain as to which one I'm going to buy.
I've had a Fed for ten years. I love it, but she's shrunk too much and there's a hole forming in the pinch.
I am able only to afford a PB, Fed 4, Steele & Jones. I wear my hat frequently, but not every day and much more than two bills is just beyond my price range.
I like a tall crown and I am between a Raiders and Crystal Skull style.
I am also wieghing in wait times.
I did a search for photo comparisons of some hats, but came up empty.
Thanks for your time, and Happy 30th Anniversary!

I'll take my answer off the air.
-J

[RaidersBash]

In that price, don't forget about Mr. Lee Keppler!

He's in the So.Cal area, and if he has it in stock the wait time is non-existent.

Cheers,
Mike

[hoose55]

Thanks RB! I will keep that in mind!
J-

[Michaelson]

Actually, the Keppler suggestion is a very good one.

Drop Lee a line and see what he has on hand. They're great hats!

I've owned (or own) PB and Feds, and either one of them will do fine. I've never owned or handled a Steele and Jones, but you can find reviews by using the search function easy enough.

If you want a tall crown, the PB is probably your best route to go. Theirs are usually fairly tall, and custom made to boot, so you have your cake and can eat it too.

The others are production made, but tweaked to your specifications. The PB is made from scratch by the craftsmen at PB to your specs.

So, you have your work cut out for you, as you have no clear winner....or loser in the 4 mentioned hats. What EVER you decide, you're going to win.

Regards! Michaelson

[Doctor_Jones]

Talking about Lee... when will he update his website?

[hoose55]

Thanks, for the kind words, Michael. I'm always around, usually in the Jacket section. Michaelson, thank you for your input! I have been leaning toward the PB. I have been wondering, if Lee's hat are a beaver blend, based on some of the research I've done here and the name of the company that supplies Lee's hats?
Oh, I almost forgot, Michael, I will put up a couple pics of my Nowak in the jacket section.
Thanks to all!
-J

[Michaelson]

I think there was a question in there somewhere about Lee's supplier. Did you mean 'is' Beaver Brand Lee's supplier?:-k

Yes, Beaver Brand is his hat supplier. They are made to his specs, supplied open crown, and he puts in the customer's bash.

If you're asking if his hats are beaver, no, they are not. They MAY be a blend, but the ratio of beaver to rabbit is fairly low as I recall.

Regards! Michaelson

[Long John Tinfoil]

I have a PB, a Fed and a Keppler. A key difference is how heavy or stiff do you want the felt to be. The Keppler is the lightest and "dressiest" of the three. My own preference is the PB, since I prefer a heavier (cowboy hat style) felt.

LJ

[hoose55]

I'm thinking the PB is the choice for me. Tall crown height and more outdoors/cowboy hat like. Thanks Long John Tinfoil!
-J
Also, Tundrarider, I have been engaged in a scavenger hunt as to where the #### my pictures have been stored on my computer.
I'm a luddite.

[BendingOak]

Just because a hat is stuff doesn't make it more tuff, just more stiff.