Club Obi Wan

You hit it dead on, achi11es...

I'm not absolutely sure if John is a "MAD Hatter" (yet, anyway)... but he sure as heck is a
MAGIC HATTER!

Ian, that is one of the best looking and most natural looking Raiders hats I've ever seen. I don't like the razor sharp pinch crease. THAT is how I have my hat creased. Simply beautiful. John does such amazing work! Here's to many more, Ian .

Dave

That is an absolutely beautiful hat Ian! Is it made of rabbit material, because it certainly looks like it. From all of the photos that I have seen I am truly a fan of John's work and cannot wait to receive my first. To know that it is just on the horizon of getting to me is driving me insane, if I wasn't already. Anyways, congratulations of your Penman Ian and enjoy it. It looks really great on you!

Bdgsi11

I concur, Ian. The hat is beautiful, and a perfect fit for your build and face! Congratulations! Another winner for John!

Go Penman!

Daren Henry

Thanks for all the nice comment fellas!!

achi11es wrote:Ian, mate, that hat looks fantastic. I'm calling John this weekend to talk over specs for a new hat...another non-Indy, but this guy is magic with lids.

Congrats fella.

Awesome!! What type this time? Love the Billy the Kid lid.

Mitch LaRue wrote:You hit it dead on, achi11es...

I'm not absolutely sure if John is a "MAD Hatter" (yet, anyway)... but he sure as heck is a
MAGIC HATTER!

I agree Fox. I can't believe how perfect this lid is! I mean, John's stitching looks perfect. They are all spaced evenly and all have the same angle. He must have used a surveyor's level to get the ribbon that straight. Just awesome. We'll probably find out that John's a cyborg or something in the future.

DR Ulloa wrote:Ian, that is one of the best looking and most natural looking Raiders hats I've ever seen. I don't like the razor sharp pinch crease. THAT is how I have my hat creased. Simply beautiful. John does such amazing work! Here's to many more, Ian .

Dave

Yup. I Asked John to put a more relaxed bash in there. I don't like the idea of the tight pinch hurting the hat. Thanks Dave!!

Bdgsi11 wrote:That is an absolutely beautiful hat Ian! Is it made of rabbit material, because it certainly looks like it. From all of the photos that I have seen I am truly a fan of John's work and cannot wait to receive my first. To know that it is just on the horizon of getting to me is driving me insane, if I wasn't already. Anyways, congratulations of your Penman Ian and enjoy it. It looks really great on you!

Bdgsi11

The waiting is agony, especially when you see loads of others getting new lids. Your wait will be rewarded though! . This one is a beaver. I guess a rabbit lid would look more SA for a Raiders lid, but for me, beaver is just the way to go.

DarenHenryW wrote:I concur, Ian. The hat is beautiful, and a perfect fit for your build and face! Congratulations! Another winner for John!

Go Penman!

Daren Henry

Cheers Daren . The shots of your Raiders kept me going whlist I was waiting. That new block of John's is just amazing!

Again, thanks for all the nice comments. Means a lot coming from a bunch of Raiders lid connoisseurs like yourselves.

Ian

Wow Ian, I agree with everyone here! This hat is superb on you, and I like very much the crease!

This one looks fantastic, like all Penmans here! And it suits you perfectly!

It really does fit you perfectly! Great work John!

Bdgs, I look forward to viewing the new hat once it arrives!

Ian,

I see that U-2 have been suffering from a bout of Penmanitis! The spider has caught another unsuspecting passerby in that web o' his...

John,

Send 'em on out here, I'll be Inspector 13!

Hello everyone, I just received my first Penman rabbit raiders and it looks fantastic! I am so happy that I chose John to make my next custom hat. I promise to post pictures later on today.

You can't just tell us that and then make us wait.

Ian

Definitely lookin' forward to seeing those!

....1...2...3!!! Everybody....POST 'em UP!!!


...get 'em up here on these boards, feller!

Texan Scott wrote:
Send 'em on out here, I'll be Inspector 13!

So this is YOU?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud80136E8J4

Wow, that has been some time since I have seen that add.

Ok, I must confess, I have thing for cotton! Wait'll they get their Hanes on you!

...now, back to our regularly scheduled program, the felt! Handy hat tips with the Bendable Oak Tree...

Bdgsi11 wrote:Hello everyone, I just received my first Penman rabbit raiders and it looks fantastic! I am so happy that I chose John to make my next custom hat. I promise to post pictures later on today.

Is it still 'today' in the States? I've just got out of my pit and still no shots.

Ian

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have promised. My little brother, "the photographer," wasn't able to take the shots, but I will post some up very soon.

Nooooo!!! Must...see...pics...of.....new...lid....

Ian

Ok, here it is. Please give me your honest opinions.


I seem to think that it fits rather large on me.

When you say it fits rather large, do you mean it's the wrong size or you think it looks too big for your face?

I think you need to get someone to take a photo of you from a distance. Some of the angles of your shots are a bit dodgy and, cos of the proximity and the angles, could throw the proportions of the hat way off.

Anyhoo, I reckon it looks awesome. I've just recieved the beaver version and it's perfect.

Get someone to take more photos of you dude, and include one of the fantastic swoop that you get from the turn....always a treat for the viewers...

Ian

The first photo is a good one.

To be honest it's hard to tell anything with shots like these. I agree with what Ian. Getting someone else to take the photos will give everyone a better idea od what the hat looks like on you with out being distorted.

Here's another photo that I held back on posting that will give everyone a better perspective.

To be honest, it does look big on you. I think it's because of your slender face... but does the hat fit right on your head or is it loose?

I have to agree it looks a little big. I think the Raiders hat looks good on a certain build with the taller crown and wider brim than the rest of the hats in the series. I'm sure John will chime in. You may be a candidate for a Last Crusade look (little shorter crown and smaller brim). In that case an easy fix.

Matt

John has viewed these photos already and has personally contacted me to ask for the hat back. He is not happy with the way the hat turned out and the way it looks on me, so he wants to make me a new Raiders hat that is fit to my face. Now that's what I call supreme costumer service. But, then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from a terrific master hatter as John. He's the man!!

That's great. I can speak for myself that John has always been good about that kind of thing. I have to say that the Rabbit Raiders "test" hat he made on the new block a few months ago is working out great. I have always loved the CS, but this one is becoming my go to hat as of late. Will have to post updated pics here soon.

Matt

steerpike wrote:Really? Actually, seems perfect on you and SA to me! Another great hat Daren (I'll have mine around next summer!)

Hey Steerpike, I was just on the phone to none other than John Penman, and he mentioned that your hats are being sent out to you on Monday!!!

Just thought you'd like to know...

Steerpike. You will be sent two e-mails for address confirmation ( One for each hat). If I get the confirmation back before monday morning they can be in the mail monday morning.

hey...this is a GREAT news! I'm reaally happy for this! Thank you for let me know Canyon!
And John, I sent you an email for the address conf.

Now my face expression is:

Steerpike

hey...this is a GREAT news! I'm reaally happy for this! Thank you for let me know Canyon!
And John, I sent you an email for the address conf.

Now my face expression is:

Steerpike

Hey steerpike, what you gettin'?

...and Canyon.....What you gettin'?

Sorry, but I'm really nosey.

Ian

The LC hat and a version of the Raiders travel in steel gray. Of course as soon I'll get it I'll do a complete review, and it will be followed by a LC style photoshoot I'm arranging....

steerpike wrote:The LC hat and a version of the Raiders travel in steel gray. Of course as soon I'll get it I'll do a complete review, and it will be followed by a LC style photoshoot I'm arranging....

Awesome, can't wait to see those! You put so much effort into this hobby - I think its fantastic! I'm sure John'll want to be showing those off as well.

Ian

Ian wrote:

steerpike wrote:The LC hat and a version of the Raiders travel in steel gray. Of course as soon I'll get it I'll do a complete review, and it will be followed by a LC style photoshoot I'm arranging....

Awesome, can't wait to see those! You put so much effort into this hobby - I think its fantastic! I'm sure John'll want to be showing those off as well.

Ian

Thank you very much my friend! It's a pleasure for me

Yesterday was Penman day for me!!! I drove down from Seattle to pick up my new Rabbit Raiders and have lunch over a couple beers with John. What can I say that hasn't already been said about John's hats? Absolutely perfect was my first thought as I put this baby on. It's just so comfortable. Perfect blocky, stovepipey mushroom effect havin', floppy, beyond sturdy hat. Did I mention comfortable? I could go on and on, but I'll let the pics do the rest. Thank you so much, John!!!!


http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz28 ... 0_2001.jpg





And yes, I added an ever so slight bit of FE to a brand new hat! As good as it looked brand new, the floppiness and turn just look better to me with a hint of dust.

Two very nice photos here! The more they age, the better they look. These hats absolutely need some extra mileage!

Great work, John!

The hat looks great! Awesome work John!

I received my Rabbit Raiders hat from John last week, but I accidentally gave him the wrong size. He offered to take it back and sell it and make me a new hat. I'd just like to say that his customer service is great. Thanks John

I feel for you, Noah. The topic of wrong hat sizes given by costomers came up, and to find out after 5 months that John did his job but without proper sizing from the costomer, it's frustrating for both sides. I had nightmares about somehow giving John the wrong size and receiving a way too big hat. John's skills and costomer service are beyond any I've seen.

It really is frustrating for both sides. After talking with John he suggested that he sell this hat and make me a new one. If he were to change the sweatband it would take about half the time it takes to make a whole hat. By selling this one and making another, he won't be losing money that way. I'm glad that your hat fits you well!

TenuredProfessor wrote:Yesterday was Penman day for me!!! I drove down from Seattle to pick up my new Rabbit Raiders and have lunch over a couple beers with John. What can I say that hasn't already been said about John's hats? Absolutely perfect was my first thought as I put this baby on. It's just so comfortable. Perfect blocky, stovepipey mushroom effect havin', floppy, beyond sturdy hat. Did I mention comfortable? I could go on and on, but I'll let the pics do the rest. Thank you so much, John!!!!



And yes, I added an ever so slight bit of FE to a brand new hat! As good as it looked brand new, the floppiness and turn just look better to me with a hint of dust.

That hat looks great on you! You wear it well.

That hat's an absolute beauty, TenuredProfessor...
Congrats!

TP, can you post a close up of the felt? That looks like the smoothest pounce I've ever seen on a rabbit! John, you are a master!

Travis

Noah wrote:The hat looks great! Awesome work John!

I received my Rabbit Raiders hat from John last week, but I accidentally gave him the wrong size. He offered to take it back and sell it and make me a new hat. I'd just like to say that his customer service is great. Thanks John

I ditto that experience. My hat was way too large for me so John took it back and is in the process of making me a brand new rabbit raiders hat. I commend John for his stupendous customer service.

Bdgsi11

TenuredProfessor - Now that is just perfect!!
The proportions are spot on for your features etc...and that felt!!!

Congrats on that lid!! John, again....awesome work!!

Question: Is Johns' rabbit felt thinner than the beaver (I know beaver is denser), cos it works perfectly as a Raiders hat, I assume because the Rabbit creases more easily. From the photos though, it looks the same other than the way it behaves. Love it.

Ian

Actually I handled a beaver hat while at John's shop and I'd say the rabbit is slightly thicker, but just as smooth and more floppy, especially after some scrunching and handling. I believe DRUlloa used the term 'basset hound ears' once when describing floppiness......that's completely accurate

Congratulation Tenuredprofessor! The is simply perfect for you!

Even thicker?! I thought the felt on my Penman was quite thick and heavy in beaver, so thicker than that is a lot of felt for your dosh.

I think that the felt on my Penman raiders is thicker than on my CS AB.

Ian

Ian wrote:Even thicker?! I thought the felt on my Penman was quite thick and heavy in beaver, so thicker than that is a lot of felt for your dosh.

I think that the felt on my Penman raiders is thicker than on my CS AB.

Ian

Let me jump in and clear things up. steve and I use the exact same felt. If there is a difference you are talking a very small difference and you will see this in different felt runs but it's very small. As for the rabbit. Yes the felt is a small amount thinker but let's not make it sound like it's a piece of carpet.