Just thought you all might enjoy seeing how I've reshaped and worn in one of those stiff $60 Wool Felt Dorfman Pacific Indy hats. I began attempting to reshape the crown and curve/loosen up the brim by working it with my hands from the moment I got it last Christmas, and I made a lot more progress on it over the summer while I was in Europe. I also broke it in really well by walking all over London in it during the hottest summer there in 130 years. Check it out and let me know what you think!
P.S. I'm still very new on posting, so if I've broken any sort of protocol with my pic posting, please do let me know!
Bullwhip practice in Germany
Holding The Poet fedora at Herbert Johnson in London
Hanging my hat on the rail at 13 Old Burlington in London (The original location of Herbert Johnson hat shop where Spielberg and Ford ordered the first Raiders hat, I believe)
Please tell me that you bought a Poet while you were at Herbert Johnson! I mean... how could you walk in there with a DP on your head and leave empty-handed in good conscience?! That's a crime tantamount to visiting Wested Leather and only browsing. You HAVE to buy a jacket if you go there!!!
P.S.- I picked up one of those hat boxes on eBay last year. Cost a fortune to have it shipped, but totally worth it as I've wanted one since I got my HJ Poet back in the day:
whipwarrior wrote:Please tell me that you bought a Poet while you were at Herbert Johnson! I mean... how could you walk in there with a DP on your head and leave empty-handed in good conscience?! That's a crime tantamount to visiting Wested Leather and only browsing. You HAVE to buy a jacket if you go there!!!
P.S.- I picked up one of those hat boxes on eBay last year. Cost a fortune to have it shipped, but totally worth it as I've wanted one since I got my HJ Poet back in the day:
Hahaha. Believe me, I'd love to have a Poet in my collection someday. But at the time, I didn't have the 250-300 pounds to drop on a single hat. I'm a college student.
Besides, this DP has sentimental value because my sweet girlfriend did a ton of research and bought me the best Indy hat she could afford. Makes all the work I've done on it that much more worth it.
IndianaHenry wrote:
Besides, this DP has sentimental value because my sweet girlfriend did a ton of research and bought me the best Indy hat she could afford. Makes all the work I've done on it that much more worth it.
THAT'S what counts! We 'love' our hats, but the ones that have stories,the so called 'provenance', are the ones we love the most, regardless of who made them.
You've done a wonderful job on that DP! Congratulations!
IndianaHenry wrote:
Besides, this DP has sentimental value because my sweet girlfriend did a ton of research and bought me the best Indy hat she could afford. Makes all the work I've done on it that much more worth it.
THAT'S what counts! We 'love' our hats, but the ones that have stories,the so called 'provenance', are the ones we love the most, regardless of who made them.
You've done a wonderful job on that DP! Congratulations!
It truly is 'what is in the mind and more importantly, in the heart,' which makes us happy and comfortable with what we have, not that which is not of our most specific of desires. All are merely 'possessions', without an honest love for what they mean to us! You have a wonderful gift here and you show your love for it. What more could anyone require? , Great hat and wonderful background to it's meaning in your life! W>
WConly wrote:It truly is 'what is in the mind and more importantly, in the heart,' which makes us happy and comfortable with what we have, not that which is not of our most specific of desires. All are merely 'possessions', without an honest love for what they mean to us! You have a wonderful gift here and you show your love for it. What more could anyone require? , Great hat and wonderful background to it's meaning in your life! W>
I agree completely, and thank you for the kind words!
The more time I spend on these Indy forums, the more I see that it isn't about everyone attaining the absolute, most perfect Indy gear; it's about the journey, the love for the Indiana Jones saga, and the fun of just collecting the gear!
anindyjones wrote:That's probably the best looking DP I've ever seen. It's amazing to me that you actually got the center dent to look good! Well done!
Thanks so much! It took a good six months of steady working with it to get the shape just how I wanted it. Goes to show that you don't have to spend $300 on a fedora to get a reasonably accurate Indy hat, if you have enough creativity and determination.
It's all about priorities. Children are starving in Ethiopia (or India), and we're dropping mortgage payments on custom-tailored fedoras, leather jackets, and bullwhips. "You call this archaeology?"
Good work on that hat mate. I enjoyed reading your post. There was some cool pics that show us the journeys you've been on with your gear and the charming story of your girlfriends efforts to get that hat for you. I've just started my collection and right now it's all about those illusive penny's. However, I think you've highlighted an important aspect by simply enjoying the experience. I hope that makes sense. All the best.
Dangerfreak wrote:Good work on that hat mate. I enjoyed reading your post. There was some cool pics that show us the journeys you've been on with your gear and the charming story of your girlfriends efforts to get that hat for you. I've just started my collection and right now it's all about those illusive penny's. However, I think you've highlighted an important aspect by simply enjoying the experience. I hope that makes sense. All the best.
Thanks, amigo! Oh yes, those pennies are ever elusive for me as well. But that just makes the hunt for gear that much more interesting, and satisfying when you come across a great find for a good deal. Case in point. I just scored a Wested lambskin Indy jacket on eBay for a $100 total! When we have a tight budget, we do get a lot more clever and resourceful in finding our gear.
You've made perfect sense, and I appreciate your comments! I also told my girlfriend about everyone complimenting the hat and her efforts in buying it, and she thought it was so sweet.
I quite agree IndianaHenry. When the money is there to splash out on something, there's nothing like opening that package when it finally arrives. Speaking of which, nice deal on that jacket, what a bargain!
It's nice that your girlfriend appreciates your hobby. My wife and step daughter are both Indy fans, although my wife often tries to suppress a smirk when I get into high levels of 'nerdery' about stuff. On the plus side, the family does get involved. Once my step daughter and I got dressed up to watch Temple of Doom and we ended up re-enacting scenes from the film. My wife took some photo's and we all had a good laugh, especially when two dining chairs became a mine cart . It was fun to share our love of the films together.
Dangerfreak wrote:I quite agree IndianaHenry. When the money is there to splash out on something, there's nothing like opening that package when it finally arrives. Speaking of which, nice deal on that jacket, what a bargain!
It's nice that your girlfriend appreciates your hobby. My wife and step daughter are both Indy fans, although my wife often tries to suppress a smirk when I get into high levels of 'nerdery' about stuff. On the plus side, the family does get involved. Once my step daughter and I got dressed up to watch Temple of Doom and we ended up re-enacting scenes from the film. My wife took some photo's and we all had a good laugh, especially when two dining chairs became a mine cart . It was fun to share our love of the films together.
Absolutely. It's so fun just planning and anticipating the acquisition of gear. I even like to make stuff! I handmade my own version of the Raiders gun holster. Yeah, I was afraid to take the risk on the jacket over eBay because I wasn't certain about the size. But I figured, for a Wested, it was worth the risk... and it paid off.
Yes, it is! She loves that I'm a costumer! She has bought me three different components for my Indy costume, as a matter of fact. Awww, that's so fun! Temple of Doom was my first Indy experience when I was like 9 years old. I think it's a great first one for kids. It's awesome that you can share that with your family.
Best looking DP I've seen so far! Can't believe they fail to make a good replica hat when working with the owners of the original who KNOW how it's suppose to look like!
MARQ wrote:Best looking DP I've seen so far! Can't believe they fail to make a good replica hat when working with the owners of the original who KNOW how it's suppose to look like!
Thanks! I've put a lot of work into it. I know! You'd think they would've tried for a little more accuracy. Guess that's what the higher-end fedoras are for. Maybe it takes more work than it seems to make a really accurate one, and it would take more money to make it. Who knows.
But that just makes the hunt for gear that much more interesting, and satisfying when you come across a great find for a good deal. Case in point. I just scored a Wested lambskin Indy jacket on eBay for a $100 total! When we have a tight budget, we do get a lot more clever and resourceful in finding our gear. ![8-[]](./images/smilies/Magnoli.gif "Magnoli"){kind=small}
. It was fun to share our love of the films together.
