Club Obi Wan

Jarmyr -

where do you study art history? Not Uppsala, by any chance?

After measuring a couple of times, I would say it is a size 7 1/2.
Thanks everyone.

Scandinavia Jones wrote:Jarmyr -

where do you study art history? Not Uppsala, by any chance?

Afraid not. I study at the university of Linköping as it is a lot closer to where I live. I am starting my second year next week, and if I can just get through it, I plan to study archaeology next.

I wonder how many students in these areas owe their interests to Indy? I am definitively one of them.

Indiana Jarmyr wrote:

I wonder how many students in these areas owe their interests to Indy? I am definitively one of them.

There indeed are students who are interested... Swindiana, the foremost Swedish contributor on this site studies in Luleå and yours truly has his Alma Mater in Uppsala...

Sorry 'bout the hijack guys - I'm just happy to find yet another Swede on these pages... 8-[

Back to the hats...

Michaelson wrote: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

The wooden yard sticks hurt, but the metal yard sticks were worse... Laying the yard sticks on the floor and then rolling my head along it got too many varied results. (Most of the numbers have faded off my skull, except for a couple of 6s...) If it wasn't for your help back then, Michaelson, I probably would've remained hatless!!!

bink

I'm sure between the two of us, we'd have figured out something to keep your head warm. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

The layers of duck tape worked, but removing it was a bit of a pain...

bink

Try Pecards leather lotion next time. 8-[ Regards. Michaelson

Speaking of sizing and Fedora's new line....I wonder whether they'll be sized according to Centimeters or US standard sizes? The reason I ask is, Centimeters and US sizes are not exactly consistent. By looking at the hatsdirect web site I find that an Akubra 56 is actually a 22 1/8 size and not a true 7 which is 22. I find the 7 too small and the 7 1/8th (which is said to be 22 1/2 inches) often too big. A 1/8th difference can mean the difference between comfort and a hat that is too tight, needs stretching and just doesn't fit right.

Just Curious
Kilgour Trout

I am pushing for the measurement in millimeters for the perfect fit. Fedora can begin a new standard.

Well, in that case, I wear a size 184.14999999999998! Got that, Fedora?

bink

Well, in that case, I wear a size 184.14999999999998!

Wow, Bink - I am almost the same size at 184.14999999999997. What are the odds?

Rick: Your Idea sounds super!!! , I'll start sorting out the shipment of 1000 Raw Logs for all the new sizes . I just don't know where Steve will put all the wood shavings from all those blocks

Kilgour Trout

Great minds must be about the same hat size, huh? Do you think Fedora could fit that number on a small size tag inside the sweatband?


bink

Rick: Your Idea sounds super!!! , I'll start sorting out the shipment of 1000 Raw Logs for all the new sizes . I just don't know where Steve will put all the wood shavings from all those blocks

Kilgour, Be serious for a minute and help the guy out a little. Try to find trees that are that size already so there are no shavings are generated. I need a long oval, by the way

Great minds must be about the same hat size, huh?

And share the same first name

Are you sure we aren't related, Rick?

bink. the other white Rick

rick5150 wrote:

Great minds must be about the same hat size, huh?

And share the same first name

Does this mean I'm going to have to change my name to "Michaelson"? Oh wait, you said Great minds.

Nope. Doppleganger. 8-[ Regards. Michaelson

Indiana Jarmyr wrote: I wonder how many students in these areas owe their interests to Indy? I am definitively one of them.

Welcome, Jarmyr! Like SJ said it is VERY nice to see another Swede around these parts. Indiana Fred is from Västerås, Scandy is in Uppsala and I'm located in Luleå, LTU to speak student language. There is an "Andy" from Sweden around but I haven't seen him in a while.
I suggest this thread if you'd like to do a little presentation of yourself:
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1255

Grattis till att ha hittat rätt till tokigheterna!!

(Again, sorry to hijack the thread... OK if I use SJ's explaination on why I did it?)

Best regards,
Swindiana

Considering NOBODY ever highjacks other threads, so don't let it happen again. 8-[ Uh, yeah sure....talk about 'the pot calling the kettle black!" I know...I know.... Regards. Michaelson

Thanks Michaelson, friendly as always.

Now, if I could only find a thread regarding Mk VII bags where I could actually contribute with some sort of info.

Oops, I'm the wrong part of the index again :!:

Regards,
Swindiana

Fedora jr. wrote:Man, late September won't come fast enough!!!!!!

I know!!! At least I'll have plenty of time to save up for the hat.

Must.... save... money....

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.

Good idea. I will plan on getting some swatches for sending out to interested buyers. They have 5 shades of brown, so it will be no trouble finding the brown that suites you. regards, Fedora

I might have missed it, but any idea on the price of one of your fedora's ? It will be for 2005 tough .. but so I can save up a bit

$225.00: Pure Beaver
$185.00: 80/20 Nutria Rabbit blend
$135.00: 80/20 Rabbit Nutria blend

The thing that I'm wondering about is this---- weren't the original IJ fedora's made out of Rabbit, so won't the thin rabbit felt be more authentic than the beaver? Granted the beaver fur will be a lot nicer and better quality and at one heck of a bargain price. But will it shape different than the rabbit? I'm just asking because I really don't know.

fedora, what do you think??? Would the Indy purist be better off going with the rabbit?

regards fedoralover

Not being a lid expert like Fedora, I can't verify for sure whether or not the original HJ's were Rabbit, but I'll take your word for it. Assuming you're right about the Rabbit, then yes, a purist would buy rabbit, but then again, a purist would only buy HJ's anyway. But personally I don't think it really matters which felt type is screen-accurate (okay, everyone, settle down and stop yelling "heretic" while pointing at me). The difference in felt doesn't really alter the look of the fedora, so as you probably know, a Beaver felt hat SHOULD look the same as a Rabbit felt hat. Sorry if I was rambling. :junior: -IJ

Beaver felt is a much nicer felt than rabbit, so for the money, if you get one of Fedora's beaver hats, you're getting a REALLY nice hat!

bink

IndianaJones wrote:I don't think it really matters which felt type is screen-accurate (okay, everyone, settle down and stop yelling "heretic" while pointing at me).

I'm in the same camp, screen accurate or no enjoy your gear...love your gear...wear your gear.

Hey IndianaJones how did everyone else get pitchforks and torches so quickly?

Exactly, I guess if I boil down that long-winded speech I gave, I'm just trying to say that to me, it may be nice for a piece to be screen accurate, but if that compromises comfort and quality, then it's really not worth it. :junior: -IJ

Amen, Brother, and amen! High regards. Michaelson

The thing that I'm wondering about is this---- weren't the original IJ fedora's made out of Rabbit, so won't the thin rabbit felt be more authentic than the beaver? Granted the beaver fur will be a lot nicer and better quality and at one heck of a bargain price. But will it shape different than the rabbit? I'm just asking because I really don't know.

fedora, what do you think??? Would the Indy purist be better off going with the rabbit?

Sorry for the delay in answering. My server has been up and down this week. I think the Indy purist would be better served with a lightweight and soft felt, regardless of the fur content. Of course, I am speaking of the Raiders fedora. It is rumored that the original hats from HJ were rabbit. One would assume that at least at one time, HJ being a seller of fine hats, would have offered the finer felts as well. Rabbit is the cheapest felt to buy from feltmakers. In my own opinion, the felt used for the Raiders fedora was the last in the line of vintage looking felts. Lightweight, thin and very soft. The felt used in LC was like 90 per cent of modern felts. Thick, and stiffer. This is my main contention with Cury as being a felt supplier for the Raiders fedora. My samples from them is like the other modern felts mentioned. This is also my major contention with HJ, as of today. They are selling the thicker, stiffer, non Raiders felt. I am wary of the thicker, stiffer felt. Many times, the stiffener or sizing is used to mask inferior felt. Why else put it in a dress weight felt? Traditionally, the felt used for fedoras is lighter in weight with minimal stiffener. And that is the key to really achieving the Raiders look. It really does not matter what type of felt is used in achieving the look, as long as it is what I have described. The hat can be rabbit, blends, or pure beaver. Higher quality felts just look and feel nicer. This is the main reason that I decided to offer Indy fedoras for sale. Most of the hats available to us use the wrong felt, and when you can find the traditional felt, the folks want an arm and leg for it. I love the HJ name inside a hat. I just don't like the final look if you are going for the Raiders fedora. It does make a great LC look though. Or a hybrid Raiders/LC. You can turn the hat and get the great Raiders brim, but the crown looks like a LC hat trying to be a Raiders hat. So, the key is the felt. We do have a positive trend going on with the felt issue though. At one time, if you wanted a traditional fedora felt, you had to pay several hundred bucks for an Optimo. Not that the Optimo is not worth it. It is. I love those hats. I just don't like the prices, especially when I found out what felt bodies actually cost. I also understand that the hefty markup has to be there, and certainly don't begrudge these fine hatters their profit margin. Fine hats have always been expensive. And if they last you a lifetime, they are still bargains in our world of planned oblescence. Whatever hat you decide to buy, just remember, the Raiders look starts with the right felt. If you are after the LC look, the modern felt looks good. regards, Fedora

OK, so....I want the Raiders Fedora, so you say thinner, lightwieght felt with less stiffener, I understand all of that, but which felt do I want?....Rabbit is what I think you're saying Fedora, and the beaver is just simply for a nicer look and feel...right? Just trying to clarify sorry if I'm being oblivious to what has been said

Yeah, buy what you can afford. The main difference between these hats will only be the quality of felt. Rabbit is a good staple felt, and the others are just higher quality felts for serious hat wearers. If you are gonna just wear a hat every now and then, and it is not part of your daily attire, rabbit is fine. Or, if you just like rabbit felt. Or it fits your budget better. I figure many folks will go for the rabbit. And then others like me, who really appreciate fine felt will opt for the nutria or beaver. I am basically trying to cover the bases for wearers of the Indy fedora, while trying to provide a more accurate felt, and one that is more traditional than most of the current offerings. Like I said, I want to sell a hat that I would want to buy. regards, Fedora

Have you got any examples yet or are you still waiting on new blocks and the bodies from the new felt supplier?

I am hoping some of the bodies will be here this week along with the sweats. I have a trial block on the way as we speak. I am hoping the bodies will be in this week. I am really anxious to try out the new block on this new felt. I will make a hat pronto when I get both in and post some pics. regards, Fedora

As you know, I'm very pleased with the Raiders look I got from my "thick felt" Hj. I'd like to see how much more "Raiders" a thinner felt would be. I checked out some wonderfully fine soft felt fedoras at Lock & Co. The gentleman there said that taller crowns weren't really available due to their inabilty to hold their shape - in the dress felt that is -

I think you HJ looks wonderful Langpuss. Very impressive. Like I said, the only weak point on that hat it the thicker felt. On the taller crowns not holding the shape, I disagree. That has not been my personal experience. The Optimos do quite well. To me it sounds like Lock did not have the taller crowns, and would not have the taller crowns, and gave a lame excuse like that. You guys won't ever see me bashing another vendors hats. To me, they are all good, with strong points and weak points. I think we are blessed with such a variety of offerings. It was not always that way, as I am fond of pointing out. The more the better. I may even offer the HJ at some later date for the fans that want the same brand as Ford wore. My take on the HJs is it is just the same name, but different companies now. Once Swales left, much of what made the hat so desirable left too. But that is only me. I will miss the dimensional cuts put on those hats by Swales. To be really accurate, they have to be uneven, with little bumps on the brim. Now, if and when they go back to the thinner vintage like felt, I want one too! Of course, I still own one, but not like the original. regards, Fedora

You guys won't ever see me bashing another vendors hats.

I hope you'll still bash other vendor's hats! I was going to send you my Fed when it gets tired and you do the best Raiders bash I've ever seen!
Seriously, I can't wait to see what your thin felt looks like and the color choices. I think a thinner floppier felt is the way to go.

You guys won't ever see me bashing another vendors hats.

I hope you'll still bash other vendor's hats! I was going to send you my Fed when it gets tired and you do the best Raiders bash I've ever seen!

I think a thinner floppier felt is the way to go.

Definitely, I can't wait to run that soft, thin, beaver fur through my fingers! :junior: -IJ

OH BROTHER

Geez, I go away for a bit and look what I missed. This is fantastic news. You can put me down for a few (possibly one of each). Can't wait.

AC

An update. The Argentina bodies will be picked up Sunday and mailed to me Tuesday of next week. Geesh, it sure is taking a long time, but I guess I am impatient. These bodies have never been available in the US until now, but have been sold in Europe. I got the prototype Raiders block in yesterday and will post pics of the hat that comes off of it in the next day or so. That is, if it is what I am after. The block looks close, but I won't know for sure until I get a hat off of it. The block maker did a good job in copying what I sent him, but I had added a couple of minute changes that I thought would be a improvement over my custom block. I am about to find out if the changes were needed. I am still shooting for a late Sept. date for selling these hats, but, regardless of when I come online, I will not do so until I am 100 per cent satisfied with the felt and the blocks. The whole idea is to make the most accurate Raiders fedora, otherwise, why do it? Just wanted to keep you guys undated. thanks, Fedora

Arghh....Who says maturity brings patience? . Maybe its just me..but the anticipation is killing me....I'm waiting with baited breath...Must......be......patient. (he falls to the ground)

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

Wow I also am shaking with excitment and anticipation! So Fedora, we will be able to order them from you even if the websites not up?

indyrocks wrote:Wow I also am shaking with excitment and anticipation! So Fedora, we will be able to order them from you even if the websites not up?

Part of me is hoping to take my time before ordering so Fedora can get in the groove of selling his hats. But another part of me is with you Indyrocks--I wanna send him some money really, really soon!

Wow I also am shaking with excitment and anticipation! So Fedora, we will be able to order them from you even if the websites not up?

The website will actually be ready before I am. All of the loose ends are tied, even with the boxes, the main holdup is the blocks and the bodies. The blocks will not be an issue as soon as I pull this hat off of the new block. I will either have the next ones modified to suit me and this block maker is talented, so this is not an issue really. What has been making me impatient is the Argentina felt. But, I have to remember that this a a totally new producer for the US, and my supplier is in the process of setting up the distribution. So, it is not as if my supplier already was stocked with the bodies. I am glad that this felt supplier came at the time that I was in the market for bodies. I am still thanking for lucky stars that a true lightweight felt in 6 shades of brown fell into my lap!!! Heck, I want to get some in, so I can make me a hat!!!!!!! Fedora

Cant wait , cant wait , cant wait !!!!!

Wow I also am shaking with excitment and anticipation! So Fedora, we will be able to order them from you even if the websites not up?

Good to know that I'm not the only one waiting with baited breath! These next 2 months are really gonna be Lucas months for me. I'm ordering my first Wested, getting the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD, and getting a hat from Fedora (so much gear, so little time). Can't wait to see the demo hat Fedora! :junior: -IJ

Fedora, you may have answered this somewhere along the way but I cant seem to find it amongst all these posts. What will you accept in terms of payment for the hats? Will you be able to take credit cards? or just paypal?

indyrocks wrote:Fedora, you may have answered this somewhere along the way but I cant seem to find it amongst all these posts. What will you accept in terms of payment for the hats? Will you be able to take credit cards? or just paypal?

I am also curious about this. Money orders too maybe? for those who can't use paypal.

I just got some very excited news, I will spending my winter break in Israel!!! I really hope I get one of Fedoras hats before I leave, because then I will be able to wear my gear in a real adventure. Israel isnt quite Cairo...(I personally think its better!)but I will still be sporting my Fedora in the desert, and in the Old City in Jerusalem, hoping to help achieve the worn look that out hero has! (I might have to roll around in the sand and dirt with it since I'll only be there a few weeks, to try and speed up the wearing out process) Fedora, I hope you're making a waiting list! First come first serve maybe?