Club Obi Wan

Mods I hope the following is ok, please remove if not.

I am unable to post any more photos on this tread (6 max I believe), but I have received another spectacular hat from Mike and have posted some images on the FL forum.

All this talk about who has or doesn't have the "real" ribbon is rather pointless. Mike's hats are superb, got mine today and adore it!


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generalFROSTY wrote:All this talk about who has or doesn't have the "real" ribbon is rather pointless. Mike's hats are superb, got mine today and adore it!


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Sweet.

Yeah, that was my thought. is yours rabbit or beaver, GF? Looks like he did an outstanding job.

Texan Scott wrote:Yeah, that was my thought. is yours rabbit or beaver, GF? Looks like he did an outstanding job.

can't say for sure, but i wouldn't be surprised this be beaver
(but NW rabbit lids do look really swell as well)

Here is my Northwest lid. This is one really well made hat you can't go wrong!!

I FINALLY sent off my black hat for Mike to put edge trim on. This has been a project hat that's been hanging fire since 2009, so I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

It's not an Indy style, but was based on the campaign hats from 1898, and was made for me by Jimmy Pierce before he left the business. A VERY heavy and high end Western black beaver felt hat. Should be interesting.

Regards! Michaelson

You will not be disappointed. Cheers!

I'm sure I won't. Have had some very nice email conversations with Mike just today.

Regards! M

When I first heard about Mike I was curious how good he was at the prices he charged. So I had this vintage Borsalino that needed everything, new ribbon, sweatband and edge binding. It has almost no felt stiffener in it. I've seen some bad edge bindings before so it was kind of a test on how he would do putting an edge binding on such a floppy brim. I was pleasantly surprised when I got it back. No puckering and sewn straight and even. He put an edge binding on another one of mine that had a dimensional cut brim and again it came out perfect. He's doing over welts and under welts now too and they turn out great. You will be happy.

fedoralover

got this the other day from mike

love it

Very nice looking from the side profile. Got a front shot? What's that felt color, whiskey?

Rabbit or beaver? Forgive me if you already stated what you'd ordered.

Very nice looking hat!

it's beaver color is camel

Nice shot, thanks!

I'm getting more interested in his hats!

Wow, another great looking lid coming from Mike.

I've got one on the way and seeing this makes me want to pitch a tent next to the mailbox.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

It's here, it's here!

Geez, the international shipping took more than twice the norm. That's not on Mike, totally on my carrier. "Bad weather conditions/cancelled/delayed flights" was the official excuse.

I didn't expect it to show up until after the weekend, but surprise this morning!

Absolutely beautiful right out of the box. And an excellent shipping box in itself. This is one I'll be hanging onto.

Pictures will be taken over the weekend.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Can't wait to see them!

Mine is supposed to be arriving at his shop today for the edge trim work.

Regards! Michaelson

Here we go. Pecan color beaver.






Even has my initials stamped into the sweatband.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Nice!!

Mike's working on mine this weekend.

Regards! M

Very nice! Pecan is my favorite felt color. Sometimes it has a brown tone to it, sometimes a grey depending on the light. Mine is paired with a deep green vintage ribbon that brings out some green in the felt. I love mine, but I really like that copper colored ribbon on that one!!!
Congrats

Awesome lid! You can't go wrong with Mike.

Thanks, all. Yeah, I've been wanting a pecan color forever. Mike had a number of ribbon choices and I thought this one had the best 'pop' of color.

Been wearing it every day since it came and racking up the compliments.



Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Michaelson wrote:I FINALLY sent off my black hat for Mike to put edge trim on. This has been a project hat that's been hanging fire since 2009, so I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

It's not an Indy style, but was based on the campaign hats from 1898, and was made for me by Jimmy Pierce before he left the business. A VERY heavy and high end Western black beaver felt hat. Should be interesting.

Regards! Michaelson

I saw your hat this morning. Really nice heavy felt. It looks really good with an edge binding.

Fedoralover

EXCELLENT! Thanks for the report! Mike said it was on the truck headed my way 'as we speak'.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:EXCELLENT! Thanks for the report! Mike said it was on the truck headed my way 'as we speak'.

Regards! Michaelson

You did leave a few bread crumbs out to show the driver the way, didn't you ? Please post a photo when it arrives . W>

I KNEW I forgot to do something!



Regards! M

Dangit! NW Hats has just raised the price by $25. The hat that I could previously not afford for reasons is now that much more out of reach SOOooooOON.... (once I get done paying my back taxes in a couple months)

I saw that yesterday. I ordered another hat from Mike back in early February. He is putting it on the block this week. He does excellent work at a price far lower then anyone I have seen. Let's face it, a quality hand made beaver fedora for $225, is still a very reasonable price. Mike is making me a Rooster Cogburn western hat from the movie "True Grit" 2010. He is having a buffalo skin band made special for my hat. He really has an eye for small details. What I really like about working with Mike is that he sits and talks to you to find out exactly what you are looking for while giving his ideas. Mike wants to make sure that you receive an amazing hat. This is the second hat that Mike is making for me. I can't wait to get my hat. I will post pictures when I receive it. Don't despair Ravenswood, I appreciate the circumstances that your faced with. The government always has it's hands out for more from the working class. It will get better. Take care

It's been interesting watching my hat trying to get back to me from Mike.

It apparently ran into the back of those tornados and storms going through Illinois last Thursday, the 3rd, and stalled out saying....
"A late UPS trailer arrival has caused a delay. We're adjusting plans to deliver your package as quickly as possible."

It was then scanned as just 'arriving' in the same place it stated it had hung up on the 5th, 2 days later, and there has been no movement since.

That hat is going to be well travelled before I even get to lay eyes on it after Mike got done working on it.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:It's been interesting watching my hat trying to get back to me from Mike.

It apparently ran into the back of those tornados and storms going through Illinois last Thursday, the 3rd, and stalled out saying....
"A late UPS trailer arrival has caused a delay. We're adjusting plans to deliver your package as quickly as possible."

It was then scanned as just 'arriving' in the same place it stated it had hung up on the 5th, 2 days later, and there has been no movement since.

That hat is going to be well travelled before I even get to lay eyes on it after Mike got done working on it.

Regards! Michaelson

So did you ever get your hat??

fedoralover

I sure did.
BEAUTIFUL work.
Just got too hot to wear now, as it's in the upper 80's here.

Yeah, I know.....





Regards! M

I received my True Grit hat and it is beautiful!! When I get a chance I will post some pictures. Mike really does great work and he is a pleasure to work with. Just a nice guy.

I received my new hat from mike this week. He was awesome to work with.

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Awesome hat! Congrats.

s7eng wrote:I received my new hat from mike this week. He was awesome to work with.

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Great! Reminds me of Seth Bullock's hat from Deadwood.


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Deadwood was the inspiration for the color contrast with the ribbon.

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s7eng wrote:Deadwood was the inspiration for the color contrast with the ribbon.

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Well you and the makers hit a HOME RUN in that case. My first thought was good ole Bullock.


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My NW hat, having been worn in torrential rain several times, finally getting a little sun. on Worthing beach.

Very nice. It takes a lick'n and keeps on tick'n.

I've got a NW and love it, though it's a Bogart-esque style. I did have him reblock, replace sweat on an AB Henry that turned out just perfect. Since I have good pics of the Bogart style, here it is for now:

Last winter I found a Stetson Nutria western hat at Goodwill. It was too small for me and the sweatband was shot. But the thin dress weight felt was in excellent condition. So I bought it for $9.00 and took it to Mike at Northwest hats. He's been really busy but he finally got around to working on it for me. This is what I got back today. He cleaned it up, stretched it out to my size, cut the brim down to 2 3/4ths and put a new sweatband in it and put a matching edge binding and ribbon on it. It came out beyond my expectations. Here it is.

BEFORE:



AFTER:




fedoralover

Fedoralover, that is one mighty fine looking conversion!

Wow! What a transformation.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

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here's my newest Northwest lid

gorgeous rabbit felt pecan with a very dark brown ribbon
started out as a diamond crease, but went back to the classic center dent
this is my third northwest hat so far
can't wait for the next one !

Mike does nice work, its no wonder why he is so busy. He is always a pleasure to talk to and really takes the time to know exactly what you are looking for in your hat. He is truly a stand up guy. I always enjoy doing business with him.

Have been talking with Mike on an Indy fedora with the Crystal Skull look. Waiting to hear back if he can do the color in OD Olive Drab. I know - retired Army but think it would look good.

Glenville, that's a color I'd be interested in, too.

Illinois James wrote:Glenville, that's a color I'd be interested in, too.

Mike on his most recent e-mail said the closest match he can make to the OD olive drab is a dark moss.

So - going with the dark moss beaver with a cactus ribbon which is a dark greenish/black color. Will be in the Indy style with a Crystal Skull bash.