Fed IV Ribbon Color Consensus: Keep the brown or change it?

[Howard Weinstein]

So I've got a dark brown Fed IV (standard) on its way. (I'm picturing the movie-style red line moving across the map as the hat traverses the globe on a DC-3...)

As a general consensus, how many of you change the brown ribbon that comes on the hat to something darker?
Is the standard ribbon considered dark enough to be acceptable (if not exactly screen accurate)? Or is it just too light a shade?

For those who vote for changing the ribbon, in the absence of a truly accurate really-really-dark-dark brown (which I gather is tough to find), do you feel black is more SA and a better choice than leaving the standard brown? Honestly, taking a close look at the movies and well-lit stills, the actual ribbon looks black to my eyeballs.

And does anyone have a good source for screen accurate very-dark-brown rayon/cotton finished-edge grosgrain ribbon (as opposed to the scallop-edged Petersham variation, if I'm using terms correctly)?

Thanks for any and all opinions!

[Ridgerunner58]

"Ribbons . . . . why did it have to be ribbons???"

The ribbon debate has been a volatile area around here but I think virtually everyone agrees the ribbon is dark brown - not black.

There IS a color and appearance difference between the ribbon on an Akubra and the ribbon used by Adventurebilt, Penman and other custom makers who have studied the original. But it is so slight as to be unnoticeable from 5 feet away so I wouldn't worry about it.

The larger difference lies in the bow itself. The Akubra bow is okay for a factory hat, but there is a big jump from that to the work a custom hatter puts out.

[Indiana Jeff]

Agreed on all accounts.

At one time David Garrison offered to sell the ribbon he sourced for his hats. If you decide to change out the ribbon, he has the best available for sale.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Charybdis]

I guess the question to be asked is "acceptable to whom?". If you like it, don't worry about it.

[Howard Weinstein]

"Ribbons . . . . why did it have to be ribbons???"

The ribbon debate has been a volatile area around here but I think virtually everyone agrees the ribbon is dark brown - not black.

There IS a color and appearance difference between the ribbon on an Akubra and the ribbon used by Adventurebilt, Penman and other custom makers who have studied the original. But it is so slight as to be unnoticeable from 5 feet away so I wouldn't worry about it.

The larger difference lies in the bow itself. The Akubra bow is okay for a factory hat, but there is a big jump from that to the work a custom hatter puts out.

Thanks for those observations, Ridgerunner. If this gang says the movie-hat ribbon is dark brown, I don't doubt that or a second. But it sure does look black on screen, most of the time.

Once I have the hat, I'll see for myself.

[Howard Weinstein]

Agreed on all accounts.
At one time David Garrison offered to sell the ribbon he sourced for his hats. If you decide to change out the ribbon, he has the best available for sale.

That's good info I didn't know. Thanks, Indiana Jeff.
I may get in touch with Mr. Garrison to see if he still offers his ribbon, depending on how the hat looks in person.

[Howard Weinstein]

I guess the question to be asked is "acceptable to whom?". If you like it, don't worry about it.

More curiosity than worry.

[Chewbacca Jones]

Given that one of the changes from the Fed3 to Fed 4 was specifically a darker ribbon to satisfy that demand, I'd say it's very acceptable. Having seen one in person, I did like it.

As for black ribbons, my first Indy hat had black. It was a nice combination, but when you see true black on brown, it's very obviously not correct. Much more so than the Fed4 brown.

[Forrest For the Trees]

Don't bother changing it. I think it looks fine. I have a Fed III and the ribbon color never concerned me, because it really does seem close enough.

[LRGS]

Here's a link to an artcile describing an auction of props and costumes, including a Last Crusade screen used hat: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/star ... na-6521347
Note the colour of the ribbon. Of course, the owner may well have worn it out in the sun and faded the ribbon (also, it's time in the water on set may have played a part) but it's interesting to see how the colours of the felt and the ribbon seem to appear quite close to each other.

[Jeremiah]

Um??? Was that one of the hats used by young indy at beginning? Definitely creased wrong for a LC fedora.

[LRGS]

I took the article's description to mean that it came from the first Harrison Ford scene of the film: http://i.imgur.com/4HfhZe6.gif
Definitely creased wrong, though.

[Jeremiah]

Makes more sense now. Wonder if it tapered so bad it had to be bashed that way.

[LRGS]

I bet that's the case. Paying £32,000 for this hat is one thing but the additional cost of a reblock on top of that means I'm probably going to pass on this one.

[Jeremiah]

Yeah. I am not about to pay for a reblock on this. Just makes it too expensive.

[fifthchamber]

Makes more sense now. Wonder if it tapered so bad it had to be bashed that way.

I suspect the "stunt double" just lied about where it was "found"....It's clearly not the hat used by Ford in the movie..They may well have had a load of others sitting about for other characters, or another production, but nah, I would STRONGLY say this ain't the one worn by Ford, with or without a re-bash...(The centre dome shows no real sign of ever having been in a single line crease....So.....Unlikely)

The whip looks fine, but the hat? Nah....Not Indy's......