Club Obi Wan

I would assume five and one half inches. Unless we have all been wrong about the orignal Raiders fed that should be the measurment. Could anyone imagine if this block is actually a different size and we have all been collecting "non SA" gear? Oh well. C'est la vie.

Dave

I think this is great news and I too will likely pick one up, however I don't think we should forget about all the other hats we love out there. They will we no less than they are now, Great Indy Style Fedoras!

The original block, the original factory, even the original felt, will not give us an original Raiders fedora. Those were lightning in a bottle. Screen used has one, maybe Ford, Lucas, Speilberg, maybe even others, but these hats will just be great repro's.

At least that's what it seems like to me.

Sooooo i'm new to this thread, when are they coming out and can i get a gray one

im in the same boat with you Pitfall. I acquired an AB recently, and its awesome. But i had reordered the new Fed Deluxe and have been debating canceling. I almost think i should now. I loved how the Fed deluxe turned out for me, and with these new changes i thought it would be a great hat to get again. But now i am hesitant to cancel and wait to factory AB. Hmm....

No, it wont give us the original Raiders fedora, but it will be just about the closest thing we can ever get to it. I wont shun my other fedoras and recognize what all the other hat maker do here (just look at Ken's Lucky #13), but this is a great opportunity and one that we should all take advatage of. If I can have factory AB I am going to get it, the fact that it will have the orignal Raiders block, felt, and ribbon is an added bonus as I think everyone that has posted on this thread was palnning on getting one even before we knew that it would have the original Raiders block and felt.

Dave

Too bad our sucky dollar is gonna make these higher priced for us USA folks.

I dont think it will be much more seeing as Marc and Steve are working together. Marc could just ship some hats to Steve and keep the charges down. Just an idea. Either way, it would be worth it.

Dave

If they can do this for ~$200 it would be worth it, I think, especially if this factory really does have ties to the original hats. That would add a lot of mystique.

Bump. Any news?

I thought the goal was to produce a factory made KOTCS hat not a Raiders hat.

The KOTCS and Raiders are two different beasts ! I want a factory made KOTCS hat not a Raiders, I already have an Adventurebilt Deluxe Raiders fedora....

The goal is to give us an affordable well made Indy hat with little to no wait time.

I haven't heard them say anything about not making these KOTCS hats either. The only thing that was mentioned about Raiders is that they found the original maker of the Raiders hat.

Besides, didn't Steve say the only real difference between the Raiders hat and the KOTCS hat is the way it was styled?

I guess if these hats end up being produced open crowned you can style it however you like.

Dutch, the KOTCS and Raiders pretty much differ in the pinch only. The CS was made on a Raiders block, but shaped a bit differently. If it comes open crowned, you should have no worries.

Yup, thats why I am so excited. Its the same hat with a different pinch. I already have a CS on order with Steve so I can bash this into a Raiders hat on my own. No matter how you want your hat, this is going to be a great fedora, and relatively inexpensive above all! Any news Marc on the progress of the hat?

Dave

Wow, looking forward to the results from that block. Sounds like it has real potential to be the best factory produced Indy fedora by a long shot.

I too am curious to see/hear more about this.

Anything? Any news at all, even just aying that you guys are working on it, would be better than nothing.

Dave

They gave an update three days ago! Read the previous page!

I did. I'm just impatient. 8-[

Dave

Sorry, then, no updates in the last five minutes.

Thanks for the update. Would hate to wait more than that.

I am just so excited about this it seems that it is always on my mind. I was eating dinner tonight and found my mind wandering on to the progress of the factory AB. I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.

Dave

Well, I've ordered my handmade CS hat from Steve already (Steve, can't wait!), but if a factory made replica with the AB seal of approval and standards was available at a less expensive price, I'd buy one of those as well so I can keep my handmade one for more special occasions and not be afraid to beat up the factory one. I search for all "made by the original maker" items as much as possible, not the "looks as close to what was on screen" versions of items anyway, so if it has the AB name on it and Steve and Marc's approval, I'd be good with one.

Sounds like a nice idea!

Those were my thoughts exactly Webley. I think I'd give it more of a Raiders style to it seeing as I already have the CS coming from Steve, but would feel much better wearing that out instead of the handmade AB. And like you said, it being the original Raiders hat makers doesn't hurt.

Dave

If and when this comes to fruition, I'd like to get one in the Raven bar style.

I don't think we are going to be able to specifiy specific scenes for this one. For that, you are still going to have to go with a handmade AB. I think the idea is for this fedora to come unbashed, I believe thats called open crown.

Dave

Yep. Unbashed/open crown are the same thing.

Thanks Bink.

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:I don't think we are going to be able to specifiy specific scenes for this one. For that, you are still going to have to go with a handmade AB. I think the idea is for this fedora to come unbashed, I believe thats called open crown.

Dave

I didn't realize that. Bummer. I've never shaped a hat before, and I'm about as artistic as Jar Jar Binks, so that may count me out.

Hey Mr. Z

Don't fear the felt!! (Bink and I were talking about this last night).

Bashing a hat is a lot easier than you think and what you think you've done wrong is easily changed with a bit of steam.

It also recognizes that you will very likely repeatedly adjust and tweek your lid over the years.

In a way..it's like learning to drive by buying a standard. You jump right in and are never afraid again! Take the plunge my friend.

Cheers
Kilgour

Thanks Kilgour; I appreciate the encouragement.

The bash is basically the mold (or shape), correct?

Bingo! The bash refers to the dents and shape of the crown.

I thought it was the dents in your head that made the marks?

Shoot...if I'd known this It would have saved a lot of time with my head in a mold! 8-[

Forget wood, My head is the perfect KotCS block! (Hope Lucas isn't reading this!)

Most of the time I can just wrap a ribbon around my head and cut out brim from a cereal box and no one can tell.

I was going to lend my head out to Jersey and a few others but it only comes in a size 7

Ahh well...at least I don't have a propeller popping out the top like somebody I know!

Kilgour

Here's an unfortunate guy who has a head with built-in reverse taper:



To get his hat to fit properly, he had to have a zipper installed in it.

Jack

Easybox! You found the long lost
missing HJ block!!

After all these years we now know the secret of the
"Reverse taper, and the strange flat spot on the back of the hat!"

It's also great to know there are other less than normal
gearheads who can share in our unconventional hatmaking
research Muahahahahahaha.......

Cheers
Kilgour

Well, I decided to cancel my pre-order for the Akubra Fed. Deluxe IV. I figured for the moment it was best to just wait and see where things go with the Factory AB.

I'd say that was a good decission Pitfall. Now lets just all hope and pray that this factory follows through.

Dave

Yeah, I'm right there with you. I hope this time everything works out for Marc and Steve. It certainly sounds like they found the "Holy Grail" of hat factories.

I'm certainly not one that totally buys into "Fate" and all that other stuff but when you read about the discovery of this factory it certainly makes you scratch your head. It almost seems like all of this was destined to happen.

I don't believe in any of that destiny stuff either. But this seems like too much of a coincidence. I think that if their finding this factory is indicative of how the project is going to run, then I think it is a great sign.

Dave

Let's face it gents, this is a wonderful time to be an Indy fan!

Indubitably! Since joining last month, I have learned more about Indy Gear than I would ever had years ago. Not only that, I feel Indy in the air. I felt the same way right around The Phantom Menace was released. I felt just like a little kid again, though I was still a kid, just not as small as when I discovered Star Wars. I feel Indy. The merchandise still hasn't hit the stores yet, at least not in Miami, but when that does, that feeling will intensify in me and awaken in those not as fanatical about Indy as we are.

Dave

I know what you mean Dave; I can't wait to walk into Wal-Mart or Target and see Indy figs adorning the pegs!

Mr. Z wrote:I know what you mean Dave; I can't wait to walk into Wal-Mart or Target and see Indy figs adorning the pegs!

Don't wait. Things are starting to appear.


viewtopic.php?t=28384


Tron

Looks like Canada is ahead of the game. Thanks for the update Tron. Shouldn't be too long before merch. starts hitting the shelves here.

Dave

Tron7960 wrote:

Mr. Z wrote:I know what you mean Dave; I can't wait to walk into Wal-Mart or Target and see Indy figs adorning the pegs!

Don't wait. Things are starting to appear.


viewtopic.php?t=28384
Tron

Oh cool! I'll have to check these out!

Any news on this project? Come on boys, you have to divulge some information.

Dave

Dave, relax man We don't rush here at AB

As soon as there's anything of interest, I'll post it. Don't worry.

Regards,

Marc

Sorry, just excited.

Dave

Me too The problem is, that the first factory we spoke with wasn't up to it. The sample sent to us, would never ever be able to carry the AB name. So we had to go out and find a new manufacturer at a point in time, where we had hoped this to be almost ready to go. But as with CS, sometimes the late commers aren't the worst choice after all

Regards,

Marc

Well, all I know is that when this thing finally happens it is going to have been well worth the wait. I haven't purchased another fedora because I'm waiting on this and will continue to wait on this until its ready. Hopefully this factory will be up to the challenge and meet your standards. If they meet yours, then they definately meet mine.

Dave

Marc wrote:Me too The problem is, that the first factory we spoke with wasn't up to it. The sample sent to us, would never ever be able to carry the AB name. So we had to go out and find a new manufacturer at a point in time, where we had hoped this to be almost ready to go. But as with CS, sometimes the late commers aren't the worst choice after all

Regards,

Marc

Well said Marc!

Bump . Any news?

Dave