Club Obi Wan

Steve, any idea what's happening at the brim/crown intersection that causes that "fold" discoloration?

If I understand this correctly, it sounds like the compression line that happens when you put in a sharp brim break, a 90 degree angle one. It in unavoidable, I am sad to say. The same thing happens with a really sharp front Raiders crease as well, over time. If you keep that front pinch sorta more loose, that's ok. but when you really make it razor thin, you get a lighter colored compression line, that will never come out. On reblocks, I have to locate this same line where it was originally so as to hide it.

If one wanted to change a hat from a Raiders fedora to say a CS, and he had that compression line on the front pinch, I would then turn the hat inside out, and finish up the inside which is now the outside to get rid of the compression line so it would not be seen on the CS hat. That is major work by the way, and I would have to charge more for that reblock, due to the extra work and time involved in this. Just so you guys know up front what this entails. I could make two hats in the time it took to do this inside out deal.

On the brim break compression lines, hey, that's been on hats for as long as hats have been made, if they put the brim break in correctly.

My biggest problem in sizing a hat involves making a hat for our black neighbors. Recently, one guy said his hair was really short, but in the future he would be growing it out into an Afro. My suggestion was that he buy two hats. One for the no hair head and one for the Afro. See, hair thickness is a variable here. The hat gets tighter if you have thick hair, and more so than if you have thin hair like me. But even with thin hair, my hat tells me when it is time to visit my local barber. So length of hair CAN be a variable.

On whether one's head changes sizes with age, or weight gain, I would say only with weight gain, and then it would not apply to all. I know you have seen fellows that were overweight, with a shaved head, and noticed that there was fat on part of the head from the obesity. Which should trim down if they lost alot of weight. So, in this aspect, I guess if an obese guy was carring around excess fat on this noggin, and he lost weight, his hat size would change a bit. But I have also seen obese folks with no extra fat on the heads either. So.......Fedora

Wonderful hat. Really like your vision of this. May need one! Brim reminds me so much of the SoC scenes.

Steve,

After looking at the gray fedora very closely, I did notice that it looks like the sweat is contributing to it, and your explanation helps. See I have a lot to learn about GOOD fedoras. I'm glad now I don't have the raiders pinch. I like what I have. I did email you yesterday about getting a reblock, purely for the sizing reasons. I agree with you, the spacer beneath the sweat isn't for me. Let me know what you think when you get a chance to read it.

I have to thank you gents, you've put my mind at ease for most of the "issues" I had with the fedoras. Now I just need to get them so they fit on my slimmer noggin. My whole body has thinned out from my face to neck and including my wrists! I don't find it hard to believe I lost 1/4" on my head.

Thank you kindly!

Excelsior!
Riothamus

Just placed the order. Gimme the best Raiders hat you can make, and I'll wear it with pride from now on.

I thought that i'd post a few more pictures of my new CS AB. I was trying to get a better representation of what the hat actually looks like on my head. Im not the most photogenic person, and the few pics i took quickly last week make it look too blocky and wide on my face. The newer pics show how the slightly shorter crown fits my face much better, and the shape of the crown fits my face almost perfectly. Its also easier to see that he brim isn't gigantic, since the color of my hair is dampened by the interior soft light. Once i get my ride back, im going to take some pictures outside with it and my AB, that i hope will look better. (it doesn't help this cheapo Digital camera is terrible)

Also, Ive got the front of the brim where i like it now, and the hat is nicely fitting, after a couple of warm days, the generic LO has warped a bit to my actual head shape. I LOVE custom hats!!! I will never, and i mean never, buy another one off a shelf, Period. And once again, Steve you are the master.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/ ... ics008.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/ ... ics009.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/ ... ics011.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/ ... ics010.jpg

Indy35 - Looks even better in those photos and you're right, Steve's got it crack-on with the proportions with regard to your face etc. Fantastic lid!!!

Ian

Ian wrote:Indy35 - Looks even better in those photos and you're right, Steve's got it crack-on with the proportions with regard to your face etc. Fantastic lid!!!

Ian

Thank ya, Sir

I am most pleased with Steve's work...its well worth the price and wait...not that I had much of one.

My wife and I went out to see the broadway tour of Wicked last night. Since she was using the opportunity to dress up in an outfit she doesn't normally wear, I thought I'd do the same now that my suit fits again!




Finally posting some AB shots!
Riothamus

Riothamus:- That just looks perfect with that suit. Congrats! Plenny of compliments on the night I assume?

Ian

Ian, once we got to our seats the guy behind me asked me to remove the hat (the play hadn't started yet). I assured him that the hat would be off during the performance. His wife complimented me on the hat, the gentleman next to me did as well, and a woman in front of me turned around and looked (admiringly I thought).

I find it sad that the man behind me assumed I would be rude enough to leave the hat on during the performance. I think it reflects the overall attitude and lack of consideration that abounds now.

Excelsior!
Riothamus

riothamus wrote:Ian, once we got to our seats the guy behind me asked me to remove the hat (the play hadn't started yet). I assured him that the hat would be off during the performance. His wife complimented me on the hat, the gentleman next to me did as well, and a woman in front of me turned around and looked (admiringly I thought).

I find it sad that the man behind me assumed I would be rude enough to leave the hat on during the performance. I think it reflects the overall attitude and lack of consideration that abounds now.

Excelsior!
Riothamus

It's nice that most people seem to appreciate a little class on occasion. I think it's sad and rude that the guy behind you didn't even give you chance to take it off, but you get people like that.

The guy behind you missed out anyway - He could have watched a great show and looked at an AB all night without extra charge. His loss.

Really does look awesome!! I'd love to get a grey CS, but I think it looks too classy for casual and I'd be really worried about getting it dirty. I guess I'd just never wear it.

I still want one though.

Ian

Ian, I've worn my gray AB several times either with slacks or even jeans! It's amazing how a fedora will class up any outfit and fit the part. I'll try to take some pics the next time I wear the gray AB to work. Might happen this week as we're getting some cooler weather for a bit.

I do have to say that overall the brown AB gets the majority of wear time. Though it might get some time off once my tawny fawn Fed III comes in and my Peters Bros. straw gets here.

Excelsior!
Riothamus

In his defence, it is customary to remove a hat when entering the theater, not when the play starts. I went to the theater last night to see Spring Awakening with my wife and some friends. Took the hat right off before going from the theater lobby into the theater itself. I do the same at movie theaters. I take my hat off as soon as I sit down so as to not obstruct someone's view. If he didn't give you enough time though, that really is just plain rude. And it's always good to see grey ABs as you don't see too many. I changed my grey order to a sahara and now am finding myself saving for another AB in grey...just can't escape that grey hat.

Dave

Wicked sweet lid!!! They grey CS travel lid is still one of my favorites from the series. And it looks great with almost any suit.

Wear it well!!

That's a beautiful AB, riothamus!
And you sure know how to partner it up with a nice set of threads.

Cheers,
Mitch

DR Ulloa wrote:In his defence, it is customary to remove a hat when entering the theater, not when the play starts. I went to the theater last night to see Spring Awakening with my wife and some friends. Took the hat right off before going from the theater lobby into the theater itself. I do the same at movie theaters. I take my hat off as soon as I sit down so as to not obstruct someone's view. If he didn't give you enough time though, that really is just plain rude. And it's always good to see grey ABs as you don't see too many. I changed my grey order to a sahara and now am finding myself saving for another AB in grey...just can't escape that grey hat.

Dave

You do have a very good point. We unfortunately got there really close to the start so it was very crowded filing in the lobby and the seats. I should have taken it off before entering the auditorium, but he asked me as soon as I sat down. Thanks for reminding me that etiquette states the hat should have come off. Things were a little crazy going in and I just wasn't thinking. I do think I may have been one of if not the only person wearing a hat.

Thanks to everyone's comments!

Excelsior!
Riothamus

Very nice AB riothamus! Matches your suit very well

riothamus wrote:

DR Ulloa wrote:In his defence, it is customary to remove a hat when entering the theater, not when the play starts. I went to the theater last night to see Spring Awakening with my wife and some friends. Took the hat right off before going from the theater lobby into the theater itself. I do the same at movie theaters. I take my hat off as soon as I sit down so as to not obstruct someone's view. If he didn't give you enough time though, that really is just plain rude. And it's always good to see grey ABs as you don't see too many. I changed my grey order to a sahara and now am finding myself saving for another AB in grey...just can't escape that grey hat.

Dave

You do have a very good point. We unfortunately got there really close to the start so it was very crowded filing in the lobby and the seats. I should have taken it off before entering the auditorium, but he asked me as soon as I sat down. Thanks for reminding me that etiquette states the hat should have come off. Things were a little crazy going in and I just wasn't thinking. I do think I may have been one of if not the only person wearing a hat.

Thanks to everyone's comments!

Excelsior!
Riothamus

I forget I even have it on sometimes. That happens, most of the time, in fact. Now it is just a force of habit.

Dave

Just noticed last night that the last stitch in my AB liner has come undone, so I think the thread will eventually pull out. I dunno how this happened because I very seldom lift the sweat. I only noticed because the end of the thread was sticking up above the sweat.

I assume that the end of the liner stitching is supposed to be fixed in some way.

Has anyone else had this, or is it supposed to be like this?

Ian

It should be fixed to the felt, as you think. Thats odd as it is the most obstructed place on the hat. Funny how those things happen, huh? I wouldn't worry about it. Tuck it back under tha sweatband and be on your way. It is secure. Plus, I've worn hats that had the sweat just sitting in the hat, no stitching or glue, and it never gave me a problem.

Dave

Ah, Dave to the rescue!

Thanks for that. I guess I'll just leave it then. Must say, my bottom lip came out when I saw it last night. I'd been wearing it all day and was just putting it to bed.

Ian

I'd say you really don't have to worry about much with these ABs. My second AB has seen some abuse, though not nearly as much as my Penman. These things can stand up to anything you can throw at 'em. On my second AB, one of the tack down stitches on the ribbon came undone while I was camping with it. Don't know how. The ribbon doesn't slide up though as Steve secures his ribbon tightly around the crown. I really wouldn't fear. Wear it as usual.

Dave

Usually I don't, but sometimes I remember how much it cost (I paid the higher amount and got it in 6 weeks), then I get protective over it.

Ian

Hey guys and gals

I received this back in April. This is my Raiders rabbit.
I love the block shape and the bash that it has. This IMHO, is one SA Raiders hat.
Steve’s hats are one of the finest hats out there. This hat is everything one could ask for. Thanks for making me this fine hat!!


Steve

VERY nice!

Another class lid from Steve!!!

Congrats!! Love the noggin shots!!

Ian

Awesome hat! Enjoy wearing it

Looks fantastic!

A much better fit and look than the hat in your avatar, if you don't mind my saying!

Jack Henry

Hey, does this count! I bought that 6 7/8 Brazilian Felt Adventurebilt from Steve, and it's so incredibly cute!!!! Fits my daughter great, and I'm sure my son will grow into it.

Yup, I reckon it counts! How awesome is that!!

I'd love to get my boy one of those!

Nothing but the best for your kids then?

Ian

Ian wrote:Yup, I reckon it counts! How awesome is that!!

I'd love to get my boy one of those!

Nothing but the best for your kids then?

Ian

Yuppers! Well, Steve had offered it in the Bazaar for cheap, and I was lucky to be the first to respond. I don't even have an Adventurebilt yet

You got one on order then? I've had mine since December last year and love it!

Ian

Thanks for the comments. This is one great hat!

Steve

Hello everyone, I've waited a long time for the privilege of posting in this thread, and that time is finally here! I can now proudly call myself the proud owner of an adventurebilt! I bought one second hand from a member here and it looks and feels great! I love it! It's a rabbit and is not bashed to any particular scene but is a generic raiders hat. Now I have something to tide me over until my order of adventurebilt beaver hats gets here! I took these pics as the sun went down, but I think they turned out pretty well. Enjoy.

Looks great hulkamad! These rabbit ABs look really tempting!
Enjoy your new good looking hat!

That's a wonderful looking Adventurebilt, hulkamad... and looks GREAT on you!
Congratulations!

Great looking hat! Looks good on you! Enjoy it

Good looking lid, Hulkamad! Say, you live in Tulsa, hmm? So do we. We should get together for bangers and mash over at Baker St. on some dark and stormy night and trade war stories.

Tremolo wrote:Looks great hulkamad! These rabbit ABs look really tempting!
Enjoy your new good looking hat!

Thanks, Tremolo! I sure will!

Mitch LaRue wrote:That's a wonderful looking Adventurebilt, hulkamad... and looks GREAT on you!
Congratulations!

Thank you for the kind words, Mitch!

Noah wrote:Great looking hat! Looks good on you! Enjoy it

I'm glad you think so! I enjoy wearing it as much as I can!

Strider wrote:Good looking lid, Hulkamad! Say, you live in Tulsa, hmm? So do we. We should get together for bangers and mash over at Baker St. on some dark and stormy night and trade war stories.

I do indeed live in Tulsa, and believe it or not I'm pretty sure we may have met briefly, a long time ago. You may not remember but it was in a certain comic-book shop that some stranger ran up to you, pointed to your hat and exclaimed, "Is that and Adventurebilt?!" You replied that is was and proceeded to tell me about COW. This was around the time that I was just getting into fedoras and had decided to get serious about finding a real, authentic-as-possible Indiana Jones hat. (I'd previously had a leather hat purchased from Disney world that was not screen-accurate, to say the least) The junk I'd seen on ebay was unacceptable and I'd stumbled upon that other fedora website (something about a lounge... ) that was helpful.

Type "Indiana Jones" and "fedora" into google enough times, and you'll eventually stumble into COW, where I first heard of adventurebilt and its history. Everything I saw and read left me phenomenally impressed, but seeing pics on the internet and seeing the genuine article in real life are totally different. I was still a noob and uncertain of hat vernacular. Frankly at that point, I was surprised not only at just happening to see an adventurebilt (in Tulsa of all places), but how I was able to see it and immediately identify it from merely a quick glance in a comic shop alone. That told me I was ready I was ready to make the purchase. You were kind enough to let me *gasp* hold your hat and give it a feel. That sealed the deal, I was definitely getting one of these! After some months of saving, I eventually placed my order with Mr. Delk, and a lot of it had to do with that comic-shop encounter, so thanks for that. In the meantime I’ve just been lurking round here, ordered a Fed IV and such to tide me over, when I happened to find a particular sale in the bazaar and leapt at it. Now I’m happy to be apart of the exclusive Adventurebilt club! (Earlier than expected, too!)

I didn’t even know Tulsa had a Baker St. Bar! I usually go to Mcnellies downtown, myself. If I get a night free, I’d love to check it out with you sometime if you're available. We can discuss all things "hat."

Welcome to the club, wear it well. And the color in that lid is just phenomenal, its so rich looking.

hulkamad wrote:I do indeed live in Tulsa, and believe it or not I'm pretty sure we may have met briefly, a long time ago. You may not remember but it was in a certain comic-book shop that some stranger ran up to you, pointed to your hat and exclaimed, "Is that and Adventurebilt?!" You replied that is was and proceeded to tell me about COW.

Sure I do. In fact, I told my wife: "I bet this is the guy who asked me about my hat at Wizard's that one time." I was actually kicking myself for not getting more contact info from you at the time. But seriously, I'm glad that random encounter was able to help you in your decision to purchase an AB! I sold that hat that you looked at to Jnicktem, but I still have my rabbit AB, which is my go-to hat now.

hulkamad wrote:I didn’t even know Tulsa had a Baker St. Bar! I usually go to Mcnellies downtown, myself. If I get a night free, I’d love to check it out with you sometime if you're available. We can discuss all things "hat."

Well, it's new. It just got put in over on Memorial, in between 71st and 51st within the last few months. My wife and I went there the other day, and since I know several of the girls who work there, we got some really good recommendations. If you want to get together for a few beers, just let me know. You can e-mail me at adventurejones@gmail.com.

Hey Strider... do you mean this hat? (In case you didn't know... Steve reblocked it into a Raiders hat):



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/j ... G_4615.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/j ... G_4614.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/j ... G_4613.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/j ... G_4609.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/j ... G_4608.jpg

Yeah, that one. That is the hat that Hulkamad first looked at. Looks good. Kind of kicking myself for selling it, because I sold it with the idea that getting a re-block done would be near impossible, what with how hard it can be to get in touch with Steve. I figured it would either never get reblocked, or if I sent it anywhere, I'd be waiting months and months to get it back. That's why I sold it. How long did it take you to get the hat reblocked? Ever consider selling it back to me for what you paid?

It took a few months (roughly 3 I think?) for it to be reblocked (including trying to get a hold of Steve and the actual reblocking). As for selling it back to you... PM sent.

I don't like it, HM. I don't like it at all! Makes you look too much like Indian Bones. 'fraid you'll have to box it up and send it out here for a second opinion!

Yikers! I had to pull this thread from half-way down page 2!

In any case, here is my AB Raiders in Rabbit. I got it back before the summer. Strait out of the box it was much softer than the beaver hats I have and gosh-darn-it if Michaelson doesn't know a thing or two, but I clearly feel the difference in how much (relatively) cooler it is to wear compared to the beaver AB.

Seeing as I have a beaver hat to wear as my everyday hat I got this one to keep in reserve as a dress hat. Despite it coming off Steve's Raiders block I am borrowing a page from Bink's playbook and have only a whisper of a turn in it. I also am not going to go with the razor sharp pinch just to have something different (in my eyes) to my other brown fed.





And for good measure just so this hat is in the official AB thread, here is my Sahari with vintage camel hatband. I know there's already a hat out there with this name, but I will always think of this hat as My Michaelson.




Regards,

Indiana Jeff

In honor of my 21st birthday, coming up in 24 days, my 'rents "Buy It Now"'d a special [slightly early methinks] present on Ebay... a rabbit Adventurebilt... just my size, Raiders bash, Staff of Rah lining. It was a lucky find - thank god I kept my e-bay hunting skills sharp

I will take pics once it arrives... unless its previous owner is on COW and already posted pics of it. [nah, I'll post pics anyways]

Here is my VERY old(YEARS) AB. Reblocked once by Steve....worn almost daily thru rain sleet or snow!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h304/ ... 100413.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h304/ ... 100325.jpg
and on my head...
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h304/ ... 185134.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h304/ ... 185012.jpg
and yes that is Hello Kitty on the carseat..its my wifes car...really...really it is!

If you haven't looked already, check under the sweatband and see if he wrote the date it was made. It's been his practice for years.

Regards! Michaelson

Holy crow, Gorak! That's one SWEET looking lid!!!