Club Obi Wan

hi dudes!
I cant figure out how to! because the pic in the link is that size!

Here ya go Indyrocks, and welcome to COW, the friendliest forum on the internet!

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5917

thanks OB1AL now I'm all set

Welcome Indyrocks! If is is hats you are interested in, you have come to the right place and specifically the right man. Fedora will not disappoint you! As far as the Streets of Cairo hat goes, you will need a soft floppyish felt and have to wear it a lot to break it in. Fuller's Earth doesn't hurt either. The dust will help achieve the look better than anything.

yea I def know what youre saying about wearing it in rick, i have yet the courage built up to really give a beating to one of my fedoras, I think I'm going to do it to one of the akubras, but my PB is just so ###### stiff! I was really quite unimpressed with it. It it looked good out of the box, but the thing is like cardboard, no real life or character to it. Plus it cost too much for me to just sit on it or something Its ok I use it for display more or less lately(unfortunately) But in regards to the felt...I would want rabbit for the Cairo look right?

Everyone's always talking about the 'Steets of Cairo' hat. While I like it, I'm much more interested in the 'Raven's Bar' look. I like the upward curl on the sides of the brim. I'm thinking of getting Fedora to make me a hybrid of both: The Cairo crown with the Raven's Bar brim.

Does that sound like it'll make an okay hat?

I think that would be a sweet lid, the only thing is, aside from the dirt and weathered look of the Streets of Cairo hat, the brim is what makes it stand out. Its so droopy and full of character, and I think by trying to stick with the Ravens bar brim you might be taking much away from the Cairo look, so that might be something to think about when deciding. Either way, you'll have a very Raiders-esque fedora

indyrocks wrote:I think that would be a sweet lid, the only thing is, aside from the dirt and weathered look of the Streets of Cairo hat, the brim is what makes it stand out. Its so droopy and full of character, and I think by trying to stick with the Ravens bar brim you might be taking much away from the Cairo look, so that might be something to think about when deciding. Either way, you'll have a very Raiders-esque fedora

I can certainly understand what you're saying. I like the way the brim curls down in the front of the Cairo hat, I just really like the sides of the Raven's hat.

It's a hard decision, but with what I think Fedora will be producing, I'm sure I can come to a good compromise.

wow I really just need to express my excitement over these new lids that youre making Fedora, I really am giddy as a school boy, if I only had your hat size I'd ask you for one right this second! (sorry for the random outburst but I couldnt contain it)

Actually Indyrocks, I think you'll be surprised about the PB, it may seem stiff now, but if you just wear it alot, most of the stiffner will come out and make the hat fairly floppy. As to not being able to sit on it, that is DEFINITELY not true. My folks have accidentally put bags of groceries or laundry on my hat a couple times, and the PB still looks like new (or at least it would if not for the dirt on it and the sweat stains on the liner). The PB is a great hat, I think the problem for you is that you haven't given it a chance to get broken in. And if you really can't wait for the floppiness, you could always send it to any hatter, because I think they could take most the stiffner out of it. My advice: give the PB a chance to be a great hat.

It's the best hat I've owned in 15 years :junior: -IJ

Ps. welcome to the forum...and the madness.

Indiana Jones, you're from Ithaca?? I just finished my freshmen year at IC do you go to school there?

yes, but as a High School student. I just noticed your locale too, how do you like Albany? :junior: -IJ

At the moment I dont love Albany because I cant wait to get back to school....I am actually transferring to UMASS Amherst this year, because Ithaca was waaayyy too much money. I really didnt feel like it was worth it. Its a great town though and I met some great people

Fedora wrote:Here is a rough cut of the homepage on my up and coming business. It was done by a fellow fan here. Whada think?http://public.fotki.com/Fedora/hats/design2.html

Wow, that's fantastic! That really is a great design!

Fedora, forgive me for not posting regarding your new hat business until now. I would just like to say that despite the fact that I am a bit of a novice when it comes to fedora's, I would not hesistate to buy one from you, and would certainly have no problem spending $200 on a pure beaver fedora.

Kindest regards



Canyon

IndyRocks & IndianaJones,

Nice to see some locals for a change - Welcome!

Mike

Ahhh yes it is nice isnt it? So have you been to the track lately?

Well I personally haven't been to the tracks ever, but I know you were talking to 'mo. :junior: -IJ

This sound's great to me! I'll be a happy customer no doubt... But one question still remains Fedora.... When are you going to sell me that Fed in your avatar??

Ian

indyrocks wrote:Ahhh yes it is nice isnt it? So have you been to the track lately?

Not yet - probably this weekend - Saratoga would be a great place for a mini summit.

I am all over the mini summit idea...are there enough of us NorthEasterners to put one together?

Michaelson wrote: but if you can source the type that PB uses, those are practically bulletproof, and work just as well in the function department.

I grabbed a few of those the last time I was PB. They are very good boxes. BTW, Fedora, love the future site.

Pyro

Yep, those are the type boxes I'm talking about, Pyro. They can take just about anything a shipper throws at them. I'd rather have a good strong box myself than the extra cost of the vintage version, if push came to shove. I've had to many good hats arrive crushed that weren't in a good box. Regards. Michaelson

Good news, and bad news. First the good news. The Argentine felt maker makes a great felt, better than even what I was gonna use, which I thought was pretty darn good compared to what most of us are used to. More good news, I won't have to do extra pouncing for thin, lightweight bodies, like the original Raiders hat was made of. I can get a 100 gram body, or a 120. So, I have both bases covered on the lightweight and medium weight issue. This is some really good, high quality felt. I will, as said before, offer a pure beaver, a 80/20 Nutria rabbit blend, and a 80/20 rabbit nutria blend. All good stuff. Now, the bad news. I had priced my original felt out at 200, 150, and 100 respectively. I just found out what the Argentine felt is gonna cost me more, and I have to raise the prices. I hate it, as I was trying to provide a superior felted Indy hat at real reasonable prices. They are still reasonable, but higher. Now, the new prices will be, 225.00, 185.00 and 135.00 repectively. I figure the rabbit is still competitive with other brands, but I will have great prices on the pure beaver and nutria/rabbit blend. You guys know what these hats normally sell for, so I am hundreds of dollars cheaper. So, I am still meeting my goals of providing superior hats at economical prices. Right now, I am in the hurry up and wait mode, and that is the hardest part. The only thing that might hold me up is not the material needed to make the hats, but the hat blocks. I am waiting on a prototype of my block(improved), to wing its way to me. Of course, I will have to block a hat on it to see if this is what I am after. If it meets what I am looking for(i.e. he replicated accurately), I will be set to have the rest made. If not, and this is where the hold up may occur, it is back to the drawing board, or another block maker. I have confidence that he will get it right the first time around, but Murphee's law has raised its ugly head already in the quest, and may do so again. Ok, that is the update. Hopefully the higher prices won't turn you guys off. regards, Fedora

I'll still buy a hat from you Fedora...

So do you have the Argentine felt in to make hats off your old block in your size?

I am hanging in there with you too, Steve.
"Throw me the hat, and I'll throw you the $225.!"
Or maybe I'll have to throw the money first!

I'll also still buy a hat from you, if I can find some way to squeeze in a Wested and your hat all in the same 2 months, but I think I'll be able to. :junior: -IJ

Hopefully the higher prices won't turn you guys off.

Why, you money grubbing... Just kidding of course! Since your prices are still $100's cheaper than anyone else it ain't gonna slow this guy down. Let me know when you are ready to start rolling them off and I will be first in line...

Hey Fedora,

In the 100% beaver, what about the colors. I hope a really nice Indy brown and a grey.

I think Fedora mentioned the colors in his original post...the colors were chocolate, pecan, and charcoal grey. Hope this helps, Bufflehead. :junior: -IJ

Yeah I know. But since he is talking about a new felt supplier, I don't know if things have changed.

good point. Fedora, do you dye the felt bodies or does the Argentinian company do that? :junior: -IJ

Oh no, I don't dye the bodies. They have a real nice Indy brown, with auburn highlights, which I think Rick should like. Once I get all of the samples in I will know more about the other colors. They have several different shades of brown, so everyone should find a brown that they like. The lighter colors, including the grays will come later(samples) But, I will have everything in line by the time that this Indy shop gets off the ground. I am still waiting on the sample bodies, but I talked to the fellow today and he was expecting them in today. It would not surprise me if this was not the company that provided HJ with the Raiders body. Why? Two reasons. The first is they are from South America and have done business in Europe before being available here. The next is the felt weight. We all know how thick and stiff(some more than others) that the HJs have been. The ones used for the last two films, and also what HJ sold to most fans. There is a visual difference in the felt. Since this company sells the 100 gram bodies and this is the lightweight felt normally used in fedoras, in times past, it makes sense to me. But, I am assuming alot too. I have no info that says this was the felter that provided the lighter weight felt for the first film. If, it fact, it was, we will also have the original color brown. I just know, that the 100 gram bodies are hard to come by nowadays. Optimo uses a lightweight felt, but other than them, I have not seen any. And supposedly, Optimo has theirs made exclusively for them, from Portugal, I hear. To find a quality lightweight felt is rare. But, it used to be the rule rather than the exception. regards, Fedora

How times change...or at least I'm assuming they do, as I wasn't around when 100 gram felt was the rule . I guess the one improvement from yesteryear is that we can now buy a hat styled the way WE want it, which means no fiddling around with some non-Indy hat to make it more Raiders-esque.
So I guess it seems likely that Optimo uses this company too and imports the felt bodies to the USA after they've been imported from Argentina? :junior: -IJ

ea

So I guess it seems likely that Optimo uses this company too and imports the felt bodies to the USA after they've been imported from Argentina? -IJ

I don't think so. The Argentina company is not who Optimo uses. I hear that their felt bodies come from Portugal, and made in Portugal. I have also heard that they are owned by the same folks, but that is pure rumor. Take it with a grain of salt. That Optimo offered a nutria/beaver blend is what got me to thinking Optimo was using these Argentina bodies, because, heck, it is unusual to see Nutria used in modern felt. I gotta tell ya, lucking upon this company is so weird. It just fell in my lap. I mean, here I am, all set to go with this other felt company, when this comes out of nowhere. Throw into the mix that I had become enamored with vintage type felt, and other than Optimo, you could not find it. I was dreaming of how nice it would be to find a source for vintage type felt as that would be perfect for a Raiders fedora. You just can't get the" look" completely with anything but a thin soft felt. I got what I wished for, and I took this as good omen. That it showed up when I was in the process of creating what I always wanted in an Indy fedora is just uncanny. My maternal grandmother was Irish, so it must be the luck of the Irish. Fedora

Hey, what about your other grandma'???

Do German people not have any luck

Regards,

Marc

Fedora, I still think your prices are more than fair, even if you had to raise them a little. If may mean it takes me a smidge longer to save up for the beaver, but I'm still planning to get one of your hats! I hope the felt and the blocks work out!!!!

bink

Fedora wrote:Oh no, I don't dye the bodies. They have a real nice Indy brown, with auburn highlights, which I think Rick should like. Once I get all of the samples in I will know more about the other colors. They have several different shades of brown, so everyone should find a brown that they like. ........

regards, Fedora

I've got a couple of solutions for one of our biggest debates!!! True Color.

Fedora, when you get all the samples and are ready to go, you should make up several "swatch keychains" like the do at paint stores. There could be several rings that could circulate through the gearheads that want to purchase. So you can see the color of the felts in the flesh.

You could post snapshots on the website, but we all know our monitors, browsers and computers almost never show true color. When I look at a screengrab on different PC's the difference is amazing.

You could also get the samples "color matched" at a good paint store. Then post which paint brand and the color name (at Home Depot for example) people could go grab free swatches to see if they can't get real felt samples.


Just some thoughts. Any input? :


Skip

Man, late September won't come fast enough!!!!!!

You know, how many of us have Akubra Federations or another popular Indy fedora? What if you put a representation of these felt samples next to pictures of say, the Akubra, for comparrison? That way, assuming all the sample pics were taken under the same light, one could get a pretty good idea of the colour of your new hats in comparison to one a gearhead might already be familiar with. You could have a "hidden page" you can let inquiring customers access when these questions pop up. It may be cheaper than sending out tons of felt samples to people and take a lot less time... Just a thought.

bink

We're just talking a little over a month from now....Regards. Michaelson

Fedora, the ultra-thin felt is something that's making my mouth water. I'll happily pay more for your hat, in fact I've almost got my money all saved up already--even with US exchange!

I've nearly counted half the pennies I need for one of these wonderful hats. Now if I could only find some takers on a couple of hats I'm trying to unload...

bink

binkmeisterRick wrote:You know, how many of us have Akubra Federations or another popular Indy fedora? What if you put a representation of these felt samples next to pictures of say, the Akubra, for comparrison? That way, assuming all the sample pics were taken under the same light, one could get a pretty good idea of the colour of your new hats in comparison to one a gearhead might already be familiar with. You could have a "hidden page" you can let inquiring customers access when these questions pop up. It may be cheaper than sending out tons of felt samples to people and take a lot less time... Just a thought.

bink

I think that's a great idea too Bink! It'd be nice to do something, because I don't know how many times I've checked out other hats online and the color looks great, but .....

I just bought a Stetson Stratoliner off of the "unmentionable website here..." , and the color in the snapshots I recieved don't look like the hat color at all! In fact it's better, but I was lucky I guess!


Skip

Hello everyone

How do I check my hat size? Is it even possible to do by myself or do I have to go to a store to have it checked?

One way you can do this is by trying on a bunch of hats at a store and seeing which one fits you best. Then look inside and see what size the tag reads. You want to look for something like "7 1/4" as opposed to a tag that just reads "large." You can also take a measuring tape (the cloth kind ) and measure your head that way, although measure a couple of times to see where your head size falls. I believe www.hatsdirect.com has a good page dedicated to measuring your hat size.

bink

Välkommen till vansinnet, Indiana Jarmyr!
Yet another Swede enters the wild, wild world of IndyGear...

One way to check your hat size is to measure your noggin with a tape measure. That way, you get your size in centimeters. In order to convert this to a U.S. or UK size, check this out:

http://www.onlineconversion.com/mens_clothing.htm

Again, welcome!!! Stay a while now, ya hear...

Of course, old bink first tried measuring his head with a yard stick, and it took 4 or 5 breaking before he figured out the cloth tape measure thing. (grins) Regards.Michaelson

I used a metal tape measure and got a nasty cut across my forehead when it retracted. OUCH!

Thanks, binkmeisterRick. Du med, Scandinavia Jones.

For the first time in my life I am able to go to all these fantastic places, so I thought I might as well get the correct gear.

Now to measure my head...