Inside Penman hat shop

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 8:16 pm

I wanted to give everyone a peak at how I work. I know most think I work one hat at a time but that would not be very productive at all. I work on a dozen and a half at a time. Sometimes more, sometimes less. This is one reason why I can't give an exact time for when ones hat will be done. A month is all I can do at this time.

Im going to start with 2 photo's and add to them when I can. I'm open to any questions you might ask.

I'm going to start with me prepping bows/ribbon and sweatbands while I wait for the felt bodies to dry at one point of the production.

As you can see that I built and prepped the bows and measured and cut the sweatbands.

erikgunnlugson · Post by **erikgunnlugson** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:48 pm

These are great pics. I love the bows.
So the same stamp for both rabbit and beaver on the sweatband right. What about color? One for beaver and one for rabbit or can a person choose the color or does it depend on which color the felt is?
Just curious
thanks
E.

Again, fantastic pics.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:54 am

Great insight into the hatmaking process. Thanks, John. Keep it up!

Dave

Raven7dp · Post by **Raven7dp** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:43 am

Ooh, the fun part is figuring out which ribbon and which sweatband is mine.

Jonathan

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:37 pm

Let me answer a couple of questions first.

One stamp for both rabbit and beaver felt. That is correct. The reason for that. Both my rabbit and beaver felt I use is of the highest quality. The other reason is that I always had the fear that I might grab the wrong sweatband for a customers hat. Good way to eliminate that possibility is to go the route of one stamp.

I do have two colors but I normally pick the color sweatband and match it to the felt. The reason I added the darker brown sweatband is to duplicate what Steve used for the Indy 4 hat. I liked it enought and it goes very well with a lot of different colors.

Other then two of the bow/ribbon you see posted. I couldn't tell who they are.

I will be posting more soon and hope to keep added to give everyone a peak into the work shop.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:11 pm

Now I move on to block the next batch of hats.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 1:12 pm

Sorry I have neglected this thread but been very busy. Just as a reminder I'm not doing this thread in real time. Just showing you guys some of the madness that I do to be the most productive. Ok, I'll move on to the next step.

While the new batch is drying on the block I start to sew in the sweatbands together....

After that I start sewing the sweatbands in, then the bows/ribbon, and finish it of with the liner. I'm doing this for a few days while that new batch is drying.

IndyBrit · Post by **IndyBrit** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 1:22 pm

A welcome insight to the world of fedora craftmanship. Thank you

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 10:28 pm

Which one is mine?

Great photos John! It's very interesting to see your shop.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 5:15 pm

Don't know what happen to the other post about the progress of this hat. For some strange reason it is all gone.

If you want to see all that happened before you can catch up here...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... tif_t=like" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 5:19 pm

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I took a the holiday and friday off so that pushed things back a little but still running on schedule.

I prepped the ribbon/bow for this hat.

and then prepped the sweatband buy cutting it to size, sewing it together and adding the sweatband bow.

Now I go off to work on the 2nd batch of hats.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:44 am

Thanks for letting me know.

Post by **Dalexs** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:48 am

John, I can pull that back over if you can give me an idea what the thread was about.

Oh wait, it was this thread, just more info...

I would have to delete this thread first, then re-insert the old one.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:06 pm

That would be fine but you would need to add everything that came after. I put in the facebook link so anyone who missed out could catch up with what they missed but i doubt its worth the trouble.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:10 pm

under welt is now done

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

prepping to flange the brim

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now the brim has been flanged, it will sit and dry. Things will start to move a lot faster now. Should be done by the end of the week ready to ship out Monday or Tuesday next week.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

off to work on other hats..............

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:27 pm

finished sewing in the sweatband.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bow/ribbon

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

off to block a bunch of hats.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:47 pm

bow /ribbon is done

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and now the liner....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Creased the hat....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

showing of the top crease.....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Writing the customers name on the card for inside of the hat...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

adding a little something for the customer.....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the Penman hat box which every hat is shipped with....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pack up the hat and hat box and get it ready for shipping.Each hat with its box is fully insured and has a tracking number. Customer has confirmed the address is correct so this hat is on it's way to the customer and hopefully I can get him to send me a pick of him wearing it to conclude this posting.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A.J. Cairo · Post by **A.J. Cairo** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:49 am

Reading this thread has made me so eager to place my order! Just have to wait for my tax return which will (hopefully) be any day now. Is the month wait time you mentioned in this thread still more or less accurate?

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:13 pm

My wait time is currently 3-4 months and I'm still working hard getting it to go down. I have never been down to just one month.

A.J. Cairo · Post by **A.J. Cairo** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:49 pm

BendingOak wrote:My wait time is currently 3-4 months and I'm still working hard getting it to go down. I have never been down to just one month.

Thanks for the info! As soon as I get my tax return I'll be placing my order! I can't wait!

Kustomkid · Post by **Kustomkid** » Thu May 02, 2013 12:21 am

Its very cool seeing how you work your magic with the hats that you make.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Thu May 02, 2013 12:10 pm

update. wait time is down to 2 1/2 - 3 months

KrYpToNiAn1 · Post by **KrYpToNiAn1** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:00 pm

John, where do you get your ribbon from?
s.

shade88 · Post by **shade88** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:16 pm

KrYpToNiAn1 wrote:John, where do you get your ribbon from?
s.

If I remember correctly, the supplier of the ribbon is a secret between John, Steve, and Marc.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:39 pm

When it comes to the Indy ribbon, yes. I do use a lot of vintage ribbon.

car96 · Post by **car96** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:21 pm

I am really getting close to deciding on an Indy Hat and I like the Penman Raiders style the most.

Any thoughts. Thinking the rabbit felt.

Beck Ho · Post by **Beck Ho** » Thu May 15, 2014 12:37 pm

Hi all,

I'm new here, with a strange new Indy hobby. My youngest son Anthony (in college, like my other two boys) told me his favorite fictitious character was Sherlock Holmes. I wanted to reply to that. First I thought, "James Bond"! But that wasn't quite right. And then of course it hit me: Indiana Jones.

Anyway my Anthony has "Alport syndrome", a degenerative kidney disease, and he is unlikely to live a long life. We have decided to have fun together with our favorite characters for as long as possible (he's studying engineering now; and I'm a university professor, kinda like my favorite character).

I have a Penman rabbit Raiders coming to me any day now. The jackets (I have two now) are great but the hat is THE thing. I think when my Anthony sees my new Penman rabbit Raiders he'll definitely want one too.

Here is the hat I think might be mine:

http://instagram.com/p/n8tt3uxgLJ/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can't wait to see the look on Anthony's face!

baddates1 · Post by **baddates1** » Thu May 15, 2014 6:00 pm

or it could be mine if Mr. Penman will sell it to me lol. Don't worry, I wont buy it. Nice hat!

Beck Ho · Post by **Beck Ho** » Thu May 22, 2014 12:17 pm

Actually, John confirmed that the hat in the picture is mine, and although it missed my b-day party, I should get it tomorrow. YES!

I want to get next: from John Penman, a beaver Raiders travel hat - the gray clipper, I think it's called - and from Peter Botwright at Wested, a Copper Novapelle Last Crusade jacket.

Any thoughts on those choices (from all of you pros)?

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed May 28, 2014 1:33 pm

To keep it from being 'lost in the shuffle', you should post the question about the Wested jacket choice in the jacket section.

As to the travel grey hat, ALWAYS my favorite!

Regard! Michaelson

ChrisMD · Post by **ChrisMD** » Wed May 28, 2014 2:35 pm

How did I JUST find this thread? This really shows how true it is that quality takes time, but the end result is worth the wait

Sent from the Bantu Wind using Tapatalk.

Ridgerunner58 · Post by **Ridgerunner58** » Wed May 28, 2014 8:51 pm

Michaelson wrote:
As to the travel grey hat, ALWAYS my favorite!

Ditto. The Seaplane / Pan Am Clipper / Washington DC hat was the second hat I got from Penman and has been one of my favorites for years.

Ride Guy · Post by **Ride Guy** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:43 pm

I just wanted to add a personal anecdote for Penman Hat Shop. I called John out of the blue asking about re-blocking a HJ fedora that I've never been quite happy with. He was thoughtful and generous with his time and responses even though I was catching him between tasks. I was so impressed with his enthusiasm, passion, knowledge & professionalism that I decided from that one phone call to just order a new one from him.

This "behind the scenes" look at his shop just further buttresses my convictions that I made the right choice. Thanks for the virtual tour.

Best regards,

Ride Guy

micsteam · Post by **micsteam** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:46 pm

You won't be disappointed, John makes an exceptional fedora. Enjoy !!

Irish Jones · Post by **Irish Jones** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:22 am

Boy...I would love to get in on a new fedora.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 7:36 pm

Forgot about this thread. Went though it again and I have changed things around again. I just can't leave things alone.

I'll have to see if I can post some on how I'm working now.

Anyone have anything they want to see ill see if I can make it happen so bring on the requests.

baddates1 · Post by **baddates1** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:37 pm

Maybe how you make an Indy hat? Earlier in this thread you showed how you made a different kind of hat. Maybe an Indy hat?

Post by **Cajunkraut** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:16 pm

John makes Indy hats?

trancoss · Post by **trancoss** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:19 pm

baddates1 wrote:Maybe how you make an Indy hat? Earlier in this thread you showed how you made a different kind of hat. Maybe an Indy hat?

agreed.
indy hat, please

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 6:58 pm

It wouldn't be different then what I already showed in this thread.

SonofJoker · Post by **SonofJoker** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:07 pm

This is a pretty cool thread. I wish I had the money to get a Penman fedora. But I love the behind the scenes photos!