Club Obi Wan

Looking just fantastic. I love the crest and the classic sweatband typo.

You truly nailed it my friend.

Regards,

Marc

Marc,

I think I am starting to agree with you. I like the classy script and it seems to match the syle of the liner better. But is this blasphemy? How can something written in an Indy script not match perfectly with the headpiece to the staff of Ra? Ummm....

I like the classy script also. It has a certain timelessness to it. It looks a bit more refined, like something you would expect on a high-quality hand-made hat. It has a certain, as the French would say, "I don't know what."

Hmm, that's a tough one. I like the script myself because it does make it look like a fine mens hat, but the Indy font works too. Do people get their choice when ordering the hat?

namebrand wrote:Hmm, that's a tough one. I like the script myself because it does make it look like a fine mens hat, but the Indy font works too. Do people get their choice when ordering the hat?

Yes. But I can't make up my mind.

I'm lovin that liner!!

Got to admit, now that I see the classy one, I like it better.

Watch out, Fedora, people might start ordering their hats with one sweatband in and the alternate band in the box...

I love the classy script, Fedora. That's the one I want in my hat! And that liner looks great, too! This is worse than waiting for Christmas, because I KNOW what box I'm waiting to open!

bink

Fedora,

I really like the classy style font, but I also really like the "Fortune and Glory" reference. Is there any chance of adding Fortune and Glory to the classy style script?

I agree that the script gives the piece a more period feel. I also vote to add "Fortune and Glory" to the script.

Also a future buyer.

I really like the classy style font, but I also really like the "Fortune and Glory" reference. Is there any chance of adding Fortune and Glory to the classy style script?

Their coming to take me away, ha,ha. There coming to take me away ho,ho, ha, ha, he, he. To the funny farm. Where the men in white will........... Oh, I am sorry. I just went temporarily insane, but I am ok now. Good ideas, but I have already committed to the current designs. I may change it up in the future, depending upon how many folks would want this. Thanks for the interests guys. regards, Fedora

Hehehe...yeah, I don't suggest redesigning the bands...folks are just going to have to buy an extra from you and change it out ion their own f they want to sometime!

Not sure if you got my PM, Mr. Fedora, but I'd be honoured to be put on the list. Would you take a money order?

Their coming to take me away, ha,ha. There coming to take me away ho,ho, ha, ha, he, he. To the funny farm. Where the men in white will...........

Great little tune, that. Came out between Wild Thing and Itchycoo Park, I think.

Are the alternate bands even going to be available?

Indiana Jerry wrote:Hehehe...yeah, I don't suggest redesigning the bands...folks are just going to have to buy an extra from you and change it out ion their own f they want to sometime!

Great little tune, that. Came out between Wild Thing and Itchycoo Park, I think.

It takes another mature fellow to know what I was talking about! Yep, a song from my childhood. Can't recall the artist though. Must have been a one hit wonder. Unless, it was Ray Stevens. Fedora

Yep, a song from my childhood.

Napoleon XIV sang that in1966 and it later appeared on Dr. Demento in 1975. You are younger than I thought... The flip side of the 45 had the entire song backwards. Nowadays they would be looking for hidden messages

THAT was a great album...wish I still had it. Wasn't Beep Beep on that, too? And Shimmy Shimmy Coco Bop?

Napoleon is Jerry Samuels, a recording engineer from New York. When this became a hit, the record company sent other people to perform it at live appearances. This is a novelty song that became a surprise hit. It's about a man who goes crazy after losing his dog.

A group called Josephine XV was created to record an answer song to this called "I'm Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!" Another answer song was Teddy and Daniel's "They took you away, I'm glad, I'm glad."

The drummer on the recording could not keep time, so 5 seconds of drumming was looped to form the background. Jerry Samuels used the five-second drum loop again on his LP cut "Where the Nuts Hunt the Squirrels."

The B-side of the single was the same song.... recorded backward.

I'm thinking of the Dr. Demento album from the 70's...there were more than one, though, I think...and I believe this one was Dr. Demento's Greatest Hits?

http://www.drdemento.com/catalog/20_anniv.html Okay Indiana Jerry, now tie this into Fedora's on-line hat shop so it is considered to be on topic

In two degrees of separation, we're back on topic:





how's that?

Good tie in! That's a younger you on Demento's lap, right?

I would have just suggested deleting the last 10 posts rather than try to tie it back in ...if you look at it, Fedora contributed to stealing his own thread! That's why I like him...not TOO serious.

As misfortune would have it, I more resemble Mr. Yankovic.

I wonder if Al kept his movie gear.

Fedora wrote: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

Which felt would be the most durable? The beaver is more upscale so does that mean that it is less durable since it's more of a dress felt? Is that why the film lids were made of rabbit?

I.J.

Thanks, Langpuss----that helps explain why the Raiders lid was rabbit.

How about durability? Is beaver felt or rabbit felt more durable?

I.J.

Which felt would be the most durable? The beaver is more upscale so does that mean that it is less durable since it's more of a dress felt? Is that why the film lids were made of rabbit?

My favorite subject!! First some additional info. There are two main types of felt. Western felt and dress felt. The major thing that separates western felt from dress felt is the amount of stiffener added at the factory. Western bodies will be made with large amounts of stiffener, generally speaking. Think, the PB bulletproof fedora. Dress bodies will be made with much less stiffener, ranging from none, to a stiffness approaching the western felt. We see both examples in the 3 Indy films. The first film had true dress felt, with the other two films featured a stiffer felt. Much of the Raider's look, comes from the softness of the felt. Today, you see way too much western type felt being used in fedoras. Fedoras were traditionally a soft, conforming felt hat, and HJ, being a fine hatter at one time, would have sold the traditional dress felt. Apparently they quit using it, after Raiders.

As far as durability, beaver would be at the top. Many western and dress hats are made from blends, instead of pure rabbit. We don't know for sure what the Raiders felt was made from, but it very well could have been a blend. Or, it may have been pure rabbit. As far as durability, a good blend using hare rather than rabbit would be right up there, and would be a better looking felt too. For me, I have been spoiled. If it isn't beaver felt, or Nutria, I don't want it. Funny how we get snobby after we have been into the hat thing for awhile. regards, Fedora

I think the film hats were rabbit because they were bought in England - beavers aren't used for hats in Europe as they are endangered.

I don't know about that Langpuss. I have a beaver blend hat, sold by HJ in 1971. They make beaver bodies in Portugal, and Spain, Yugoslavia, and the Czech Republic. Argentina imports beaver bodies to Europe. The beaver fur comes from North America and is sent to Europe for processing, some comes back, some stays there. I had heard this story before, at Indy Fan. regards, Fedora

Fedora wrote:As far as durability, beaver would be at the top. Many western and dress hats are made from blends, instead of pure rabbit. We don't know for sure what the Raiders felt was made from, but it very well could have been a blend. Or, it may have been pure rabbit. As far as durability, a good blend using hare rather than rabbit would be right up there, and would be a better looking felt too.

Thank you, Fedora! I believe I've just been sold on your 100% beaver hat.

I.J.

Fedora, are you still offering a nutria blend along with your rabbit and beaver options?

Actually, I was wondering..in the interests of science, yould you be prepared to put together a thin floppy beaver and then beat the #### out of it, sit on it etc?

He was willing to do that for my hat that's on order. :junior: -IJ

Bump.

Any dates floating around for the grand opening?

The bodies are supposed to be here by the 26th of this month. That has been the biggest holdup, but now, Murphee's law reared his ugly head once again. Geesh. My new blockmaker delivered a dud, and after all of the details that I gave him. I got a sample block that has taper all around. Guess it is back to my other blockmaker who has my pattern on file. At least he delivered what I was talking about, although not the most congenial of people. This other guy was congenial, and a pro, but that does not always mean much when you are trying to get the Raiders block in all sizes. The blocks won't be a problem as I already have the popular sizes from him, and he can get me the rest by the time the bodies get here, hopefully. I guess I will have to deal with a non congenial bloke. The good news is, I am getting close, and these are gonna be great! If you don't like em', you send me the hat, I send you the money. Fedora

WOOHOOOO!!!!!

So it sounds like you'll be up and running in early November. That is great! I can't wait.

How many people are in line for the lids and how long does it take to make one, Mr. Fedora?

This will probably make some laugh, but... what is a "block," exactly? I'm fuzzy on that term.

That term should be put in the "Hat terminology" thread, but I think it's the wooden form the hat is built around. I could be wrong.

Nope. That's pretty much what a hat block is.

bink

Bink, how about you and I form a support group? My impatience is really taking a toll on me. They say good things come to those who wait, but it doesn't say anything about those who are impatient and throw tantrums...Hmmm, nah....better not. The only thing keeping me sane is the thought 100% beaver. I just hope these bodies are of the quality everyone hopes they are...

jts, there's no need to worry about the quality of these hats. Fedora has been VERY selective about finding the right felt and trimmings to make these hats. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that these will be some of the finest made hats around. If you long for the days of yore where men wore true quality hats, then you've stepped back in time. Sure, I'll sit in on the support group of folks doing their best to be patient, but you will find that these hats will be more than worth the wait. Trust me.

bink

jts, there's no need to worry about the quality of these hats. Fedora has been VERY selective about finding the right felt and trimmings to make these hats. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that these will be some of the finest made hats around. If you long for the days of yore where men wore true quality hats, then you've stepped back in time. Sure, I'll sit in on the support group of folks doing their best to be patient, but you will find that these hats will be more than worth the wait. Trust me.

You have it correct Bink. Part of the hold up has been my refusal to use anything but the best that I could find. If you bought this beaver felt from another hatter, you would pay 500 to 750. At 225, it is a steal. Now, with that in mind, I have a new announcement in regards, to price. These prices will remain the same for members of COW, the ones that I quoted in the early posts. If you are not a member of COW, you will have to pay a bit more. So, I will have two prices, for us, and then everyone else. So, it pays to be a member here, and this is a perk. I don't want to sound pretentious, but these hats are worth much more than I am charging. My main reason was not an economic reason to begin with. As you guys know, I did free reblocks for a couple of years. I have bought the same hats you guys have, and all seem to be lacking in one area or another. Some are very, very good, some are not so good. The better blocked ones would set you back 400 bucks and up. So, my intent was to just make an Indy fedora that I thought addressed the shortcomings, and at the same time, make very little on the hats, while offering the best Indy fedora made. Unlike other hatters, I will continually make needed changes, as dictated by feedback from the folks that buy them. I think it is perfect myself, but will always welcome suggestions. So, if you buy a hat from me, using my soon to be online site, you must mention the password to get the COW price. The password is, "Fortune and Glory."


Now, on to some very good news. I have been without internet service for a couple of days, and just got it back a few minutes ago. In that time, I received a block from the same blockmaker that I was fixin' to drop. It was the block that he meant to send, the first time. I guess he is a real busy guy, with all of that vintage block making eqiupment. I got the wrong block the first go around. What a relief!! I mean, afterall, this is one of the premier blockmakers in the US. And, his prices reflect that. Now, the rest of the story. When I first contacted him, we talked for a long time regarding blocks. My knowledge increased expoentially, and this has been common in my sourcing venture. Being the stickler that I am, for detail, I mailed in loads of pics of the Raiders fedora, invited him to watch the film again, along with the other films. I wanted a pro blockmaker to give me his take on the block shape, since this was costing me around 1500 bucks just to have the blocks made. A good decision, I thought. I also sent him my custom block that was replicated by another blockmaker. Now, for the rest of the story. He has hundreds of differnt old block patterns on hand, and he just matched mine up, to one of the 1930 blocks. That is what he just sent me. It is not exactly like mine, but rather, it is the shape that I was trying to make to start with. Some surprises that I won't go into, but I can say, he got it right. I am elated. No problem with consistency now, that he has the master pattern and his machines can replicate them to a "t". Now, I will just lay back and quit worrying. The felt is on its way, the new bands are on their way, I have the liners, I have the preorders arranged in thre order that I received them. It is a go!! Now, I just have to get some reblocks finished and mailed. You guys know who you are. Fedora

/nuff said. HIGH regards. Michaelson

Um, Michaelson.... you forgot a couple!!!
bink

It all sounds really, really great fedora. Just curious, will you be doing that off center turn on your hats?

fedoralover

This is exciting news!

I think he'll do almost anything upon request. After all, it's a custom hat. Me, I want mine straight without the turn.

bink

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!

I really don't think I've ever been this giddy, even when I was a schoolboy

Wow! Fedora, this is the best thing I have seen since, well, ...last night when the Red Sox won!!! But hey, that was pretty huge too! Anyway, I can't wait! And I am hoping I'm not too far down on that list!