Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

In-depth discussion of the Fedora of Indiana Jones and all other hats appearing in the Indiana Jones movies

Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs

User avatar
Dr. Nebraska S.
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5419
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:05 pm
Location: Nebraska

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Dr. Nebraska S. »

Dutch_jones wrote: Same with the CS hats. Steve can replicate the CS hats he made ( same for marc) but they look hardly like the ones on screen.
Image Image

Of course, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, Dutch. Personally, I doubt many people are going to believe your opinion when you keep making such erroneous statements presented as authoritative fact. Saying that the two makers of the CS fedora can't make their hats look like the movie just seems to be part of your repeated dislike for the AB. ](*,)
Last edited by Dr. Nebraska S. on Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

Well, thats not entirely fair. They both go on your head too! :P

There is no way what HJ is putting out today is what HJ sent in to Noodleman. I'm no master creaser, but I can get a nice Raiders look out of a hat with a good Raiders block. The current HJ/Christy's block does not lend itself to a Raiders hat, plain and simple. That is not it.

I think that Noodleman may have had more to do with the crease in the hat than we all think. Is it possible that she may have even asked for the hat to be sent open crown and she crease it entirely herself? Many of us here order custom hats and prefer to crease them ourselves. I know I like to crease a hat myself if it will be turned as I think it is the only way to properly account the turn into a hat. Noodleman must have known that turning the hat would achieve that distortion. It WAS intentional. Long oval or regular oval aside, that bow on Ford's hat is pushed way too far foraward for the hat not to be turned. That was no mistake. I think if the right person were to ask Noodleman the questions, we would find out a bit more about this hat. Whether Swales has passed or not, the guy was old and probably would not have remembered much of the facts anyway, though it would be great to hear him talk about making this hat. I think Noodleman is the key to this hat.

Dave
BendingOak
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 7011
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by BendingOak »

I think your right David. The right person needs to ask her these questions.


NS, Thanks for posting those pics I was just about to post a couple myself.
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Texan Scott »

Sometimes I think that the only way we are going to get to the end of it is you would have had to know everything DH and Swales was thinking and doing back in 1980 as these processes were happening, and as they took the necessary steps of preparations for the movie....without the distorton and attempted recollection of distant memories, given the passage of 28 years.

From all the history and the many posts that have been made in the past, what do we know as fact today? Maybe we could start there, and just identify what we know to be the truth but undisputed vs. accepted as truth but disputed/questionable, then start or restart with some new interviews?
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Texan Scott »

You're right, DJ! That doesn't look anything like a CS fedora....box it up and send it to me, pronto, if not sooner, NS! ;)
whiskyman
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1378
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:30 pm
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by whiskyman »

kiltie wrote:Fedora -
I a
We've got the old "Pagey" tutorial floating around, which I think works well in the right hands, but I - and I'm sure others - would really enjoy seeing a Raiders creasing tutorial from you on one of your hats, just to see how simple it is ( and maybe just to take for a spin on one of the factory hats to see how it compares to the "Pagey" ).
That old tutorial continues to haunt me! It just refuses to die! Two things: Firstly, the "key step" which a lot of folks seem to think is so crucial is actually based on something that Fedora told me several years ago! Secondy, the hat pictured in the tutorial is an AB and not a HJ. I did style various other hats the same way, but to be honest it worked best on the ABs and the vintage HJ I had. I tried to style a Christies and it just couldn't get the Raiders look so I sold it.
I've long since given up trying to find Raiders hat - or even wearing a fedora.
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

Thank you for sharing that information, whiskey!!
:TOH:
HIGH regards! Michaelson
whiskyman
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1378
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:30 pm
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by whiskyman »

You're welcome M :TOH:
Dutch_jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1438
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Holland
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Dutch_jones »

Edited...
Last edited by Dutch_jones on Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

Alright, I don't want this to turn into a "Which hat is better thread?" so lets cut this out right now...Thank you.

The thing about starting with the facts that we do know is that there are conflicting reports from the beginning. Deb Noodleman says that she walked into HJ, saw the Australian model, and asked them to customize it. But we also hear of Spielberg and Ford waslking into HJ together, asking for the oldest model hat they had in stock and having it customized in the back while they waited to try it on. I think what would work best is to have all the rumors of this hat compiled into one comprehensive list in chronological order. This is a near impossible task, but the key word is "near." I know that with the amount of knowledge here and the people that are on these boards, we can make such a list. Once this list is complete, this is what the interviewer should take into the interview with Noodleman.

Dave
Dutch_jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1438
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Holland
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Dutch_jones »

DR Ulloa wrote:Deb Noodleman says that she walked into HJ, saw the Australian model, and asked them to customize it. But we also hear of Spielberg and Ford waslking into HJ together, asking for the oldest model hat they had in stock and having it customized in the back while they waited to try it on.

Dave
WOW thanks I had completely forgotten the Swales letter that said spielberg and Ford walked in. Hmmmm strange, Nadoolman sounds more likely. As actors and directors are usually not as involved in this process as a costume designer.
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

Thats where I would put my money too. But, as Michaelson pointed out, there are also stories of Ford being less than thrilled about the service at HJ and went and bought a Christy's. So now we have two stories of Ford dealing with Christy's. I'm still inclined to believe Noodleman, but this is why a comprehensive list of all we do know about the hat should be made. If everyone shares exactly what they know about this hat, regardless of timeframe, I'll compile the list and keep it stored here in this thread so that everyone can read what we have all come up with. Who is game?

Dave
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

Dave, on May 20, 2008, the main site was updated with all the information that was confirmed by the principle players of the films. It is still being worked on 'as we speak'.

Prior to that date, ALL those stories were compiled over the years and posted on the mainsite, but over time members of the community were clammering for the site to be updated and reflect only the TRUE information rather than the rumors and second stories we had been told all those years.

Keep in mind, most of those stories came from the vendors themselves, and each had a vested interest in getting THEIR name mentioned. They didn't have to PROVE anything....just suggest they were 'involved' in order to get people to order their products. We saw this happen during CS.

Now you're suggesting we go BACK to posting those same second hand stories yet AGAIN in a compilation?! :shock:

It's one thing to reflect on our past and mention in passing what we had once been 'told' by those vendors, but let's not continue repeating old non-proven information, as many folks grab that information and eventually state it as being 'fact' at a later date. We've fought this monster for years. :-s

Please, let's not go back down THAT path again! [-o<

Just something I ask you to ponder before you contemplate starting this task.....

Regards! Michaelson
BendingOak
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 7011
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by BendingOak »

Not to insult anyone but I would take DL opinion on what happened more so than Ford or Spielberg. She knows what she looking for and knows the small details. Would the 2 of them even know the difference between a rabbit body and a beaver. That's like asking one of us to give the details of the CS hat over Steve or Marc.
I don't think we need a list given to someone to ask DL questions. We need Steve or Marc to sit down with her. Then not oly will the right questions be asked but they can adjust their questions based on some of her answers.

Just my 2 cents
User avatar
kiltie
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 405
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:14 am
Location: Lone Star State

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by kiltie »

whiskyman wrote:
kiltie wrote:Fedora -
I a
We've got the old "Pagey" tutorial floating around, which I think works well in the right hands, but I - and I'm sure others - would really enjoy seeing a Raiders creasing tutorial from you on one of your hats, just to see how simple it is ( and maybe just to take for a spin on one of the factory hats to see how it compares to the "Pagey" ).
That old tutorial continues to haunt me! It just refuses to die! Two things: Firstly, the "key step" which a lot of folks seem to think is so crucial is actually based on something that Fedora told me several years ago! Secondy, the hat pictured in the tutorial is an AB and not a HJ. I did style various other hats the same way, but to be honest it worked best on the ABs and the vintage HJ I had. I tried to style a Christies and it just couldn't get the Raiders look so I sold it.
I've long since given up trying to find Raiders hat - or even wearing a fedora.

That is interesting...
I wasn't shooting for derailing the thread. I've just always thought that the final product always seemed less "contrived" than the number of steps in the "Pagey" tutorial; as though Ford just put it on his head ( not intentionally crooked, in my opinion, by the way ;) - just the way it "turned" out ), pinched it, and there it was. Are there any pics of more than one hat seen on the Raiders set ( not on someone's head ) at a time? It gets me to wondering if they were even creased before they got to the set. Just more speculation.
Also, I've always felt too that the hat was more a product of it's time, beyond the materials used to fashion it. That is to say, more "organic" in that mid-seventies to early-eighties sort of way ( think of all the shapeless hats you see from that era - something you can imagine Gordon Lightfoot wearing ). Not so much that the hat was poorly made, but that it's actually somewhere between what most people think of as a more traditional fedora and something that a hippie or folkie would wear. It's not like they were dead set on really being period accurate ( haircuts ), and were more set on something that was between traditional and hip.
Just thinking "out loud...."
Dutch_jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1438
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Holland
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Dutch_jones »

BendingOak wrote:Not to insult anyone but I would take DL opinion on what happened more so than Ford or Spielberg. She knows what she looking for and knows the small details. Would the 2 of them even know the difference between a rabbit body and a beaver. That's like asking one of us to give the details of the CS hat over Steve or Marc.
I don't think we need a list given to someone to ask DL questions. We need Steve or Marc to sit down with her. Then not oly will the right questions be asked but they can adjust their questions based on some of her answers.

Just my 2 cents
actually no we don't need them to ask her. Someone else who is impartial.
User avatar
gwyddion
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1589
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:16 am
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by gwyddion »

Dutch_jones wrote:
BendingOak wrote:Not to insult anyone but I would take DL opinion on what happened more so than Ford or Spielberg. She knows what she looking for and knows the small details. Would the 2 of them even know the difference between a rabbit body and a beaver. That's like asking one of us to give the details of the CS hat over Steve or Marc.
I don't think we need a list given to someone to ask DL questions. We need Steve or Marc to sit down with her. Then not oly will the right questions be asked but they can adjust their questions based on some of her answers.

Just my 2 cents
actually no we don't need them to ask her. Someone else who is impartial.
Dutch, I think it would be best if a hatter would ask her questions, as they would know what to ask best. So how would it sound to you if E.G. BendingOak would be the one asking questions accompanied by another hatter or by a non-hatter gearhead to make sure things remain "impartial" as you have put it?

Regards, Geert
Dutch_jones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1438
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Holland
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Dutch_jones »

This has nothing to do with hatters, thats why i think hatters should not ask the question;) !:P She is not a hatter.
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

From the main page:
Deborah Nadoolman, costume designer on Raiders of the Lost Ark worked closely with Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford to give the Indiana Jones fedora its own character and breath of individuality. Nadoolman has said, "I had to have a hat that if you saw it in silhouette would be immediately recognizable". After many attempts they settled on a fedora from the Herbert Johnson Hat Company of Saville Row, London, a high-end hatter to the Royal family.

There have always been conflicting reports as to the exact model chosen to become the Indiana Jones fedora. Nadoolman is quoted as saying, "I saw a hat with a very wide brim and the crown was a little bit too high. It was their Australian model and with a couple of fittings, we got the hat right for Harrison".
That's all she remembers about the hat. If you're looking for anything else from her, I'm afraid you'll be trying to get blood out of a rock. She knew what she wanted to see, and it was up to the hatter to create her vision. That's all she was concerned with, so if you're looking for more, you need to go to Swales, not DN. He has always been the wild card, as he's always told two different stories before he started sending the letter stating that it was Ford and Spielberg who walked in his door to create the hat. This is completely contrary to DN's account.

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

I'm not so sure, Mark. Noodleman seemed to have a very good idea about what went on concerning this hat in the interview she did for Indyfans. I think that there may be a lot that she has never spoken about. Maybe she just needs someone to ask the right question to give her brain that jolt and recall a few more facts.

Dutch, a hatter is the perfect person to ask her questions. Who else here knows more about hats than John, Steve, and Marc? They don't have any hidden agenda. They have the most to gain from the information they may receive from interviewing Noodelman as they would have an even closer representation of the Raiders fedora after speaking with her. The knowledge wuld be shared because these men love the fedora and know how important it is for us. They are Indy fans and gearheads FIRST, never forget that about these men.

Dave
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Texan Scott »

Conjecture, but maybe both happened. Maybe DN went in first, then Spielberg and Ford later? Maybe one party went in while he was on break or off that day? Maybe he could be mixing the details, confused, due to the other movies' pre-production phase? Speculation....:-k
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

That wouldn't surprise me one little bit, Tex!

Like I said in another thread, the problem we have is folks tend to homogize these stories into one cohesive tale, and after it's told enough times, it becomes 'fact'. ](*,)

Regards! Michaelson
BendingOak
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 7011
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by BendingOak »

Michaelson wrote:That wouldn't surprise me one little bit, Tex!

Like I said in another thread, the problem we have is folks tend to homogize these stories into one cohesive tale, and after it's told enough times, it becomes 'fact'. ](*,)

Regards! Michaelson

I think your right about that M. Things tend to get mushed together and then people remember as fact. After seeing that interview of DL. I have no doubt in my mind she knew what she wanted for that movie and she would be the one to ask all the questions of. Or at least the only one left worth talking to about the hat.

Dutch, Did you bump your head. "who's impartial" What are we the enemy? I think it would be great to have someone who has some knowledge of hat making asking her some questions as work on the fly on some of the questions. I hate the fact that all people see of people like Marc, Steve, and myself are "venders" and not members.
Fedora
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3795
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 5:44 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Fedora »

To follow up on a retailer ordering hats from a factory. And this is good info, to keep in mind.

Ok, if I were to order from any number of hat factories, generally speaking, and if I am after a fedora type hat, they will give me a choice of the crowns they offer. And generally, they have their own factory notation, such as A crown, B crown, etc. Each represents a particular crown shape, and these days these offerings are not as diverse as long ago. So, the A crown could be a 4 inch crown, after factory creases were put in. B could be a tapered taller crown, C could be a straighter shorter crown, D could be a taller straighter crown, and so on.

Now, if HJ wanted the Poet, or something similiar, they would specify which crown the factory offered, that would be close to what the Poet was.

Back when Lee and I were tinkering with his blocks at Beaver Brands, they did not have one that was like the CS fedora. It was not something they offered. So, I sent one in to them. They copied it for Lee, and now use it for his hats.

Now granted, HJ COULD have done something like this. But, where did that block come from? They would still have it. With all of the changes at HJ, I seriously doubt, they ever sent a block to anyone. I think they used what a particular factory had, that was "close". And this would of course account for the various HJs I have seen over the years. I have seen em' from a 5 inch open crown, all the way to 6!! And, there is a slight difference in what they sell now, in shape, compared to what they sold 10 years ago. I have some pics on a cd somewhere, if I can find it, that shows a new HJ from the Swales era. This was when they were using a stiffer, LC type felt. The profile view of this hat is totally different to the current ones. That is etched in my memory, such as it is. So, I know the block has varied just a bit, over the years.

In so far as being biased. Heck, I can't see it. My interest, along with others is, or was, to just make the most accurate looking Raider fedora. We are copycats. And I don't mind saying that. Involved in this of course is perception, and perceptions can vary a bit from person to person. But, with that said, I think most can see that some hats just don't seem to pull off that look as well as others. And then you have those inconsistences from hat to hat, from the same factory. I have seen alot of that. Some look decent, with the right stylist working on it, and some from the same folks just fall short, even with a good stylist working on the creases. Or the hat may look good from the side, but not good from the front, etc. I can make some hats look good from one angle, but it does not follow through when you look at the hat 360. This is due to the block not being in the ballpark. Now, I do know several different blocks work really well, but these same blocks share alot of similarities. They are more alike than different, and have only small nuances in difference. All of these go staight up on the sides, to a particular point. The point will vary, and this is the nuance. From that point on, you can have a radius, or you can have a little taper and then a radius. And honestly, I don't know which manner works the best. They all look very similiar once you crease the hats.

This fact is what has confused me, and finally made me just say, "oh shucks" and give up. IF I can't see much difference in this, I doubt others will be able to. So, I went the direction away from others, just to be DIFFERENT. Not better, just different. My sanity is back, and that is the important thing to me. :lol:

Now, if a real deal Raiders block, makes it to my shop, I will of course, have it replicated and will use it. I would be foolish not to do so. But, I ain't holding my breath. :lol:

One thing is good about this discussion. We are ALL still intently interested in this Raiders fedora. I know I am. And perhaps it is best we never shine the bright light of truth upon how this hat came to be, the whole story. Part of its attraction is the mystique involved. Perhaps D. L. knows this as well. ;) I wonder IF she knows just how her creation has caused such a ruckus, over the years? And how much many of us really appreciate her vision? If not, someone needs to tell her! Fedora
Fedora
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3795
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 5:44 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Fedora »

Same with the CS hats. Steve can replicate the CS hats he made ( same for marc) but they look hardly like the ones on screen.




Of course, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, Dutch. Personally, I doubt many people are going to believe your opinion when you keep making such erroneous statements presented as authoritative fact. Saying that the two makers of the CS fedora can't make their hats look like the movie just seems to be part of your repeated dislike for the AB.

Thanks for the pics Nebraska! Hard to argue with those you showed. It rubs me sore, when opinon is stated as fact. Especially when it involves what we made for the film. But no hard feelings here Dutch. I do think you may want to get those eyes checked though. And I don't mean that in a irate manner. You just seem to see things that are not there. But, you always make for a lively topic! But we mostly know what you are gonna say, at this point, even before you say it. :D You are an HJ fan, through thick and thin. Nothing wrong with that either. Fans are fans. Kinda like our American football fans. You always pull for, and support your fav team, no matter how bad they are in a particular season.


Some one needs to post that pic from TLC where Indy is chasing the tank on a horse, and the crown is kinda popped up on his LC hat. The really astute will notice that this blockshape is not even the current block shape being used. By HJ or christy. The blockshape of that hat, in that scene is rather flattish on top. Very little dome. So, I feel that what is being used today, is not even TLC block. But I may be the only one not surprised by this. Fedora
whiskyman
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1378
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:30 pm
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by whiskyman »

The most tapered HJ blockshape I saw was when I went to see Swales at the shop about 5 or 6 years ago. It was more tapered than the hats I got from the German retailer a couple of years later or the Christies I got last year. I remember looking at the open crown hats and thinking how tapered and TOD they looked, but thinking Swales would block and style it raiders for me - maybe even cut it specially. I was expecting him to tell me to come back ina few days. When he said he could style it for me and it would take 5 minutes, that's when I decided to pass! There was no way that hat was going to be a Raiders hat in 5 minutes. Now the HJs that were offered in Germany a little later were better. That was why i bought one - I could imediately see that the block was improved. In the end they were fairly good for the raiders bash, but alas tapered all too fast.
Fedora
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3795
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 5:44 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Fedora »

Now the HJs that were offered in Germany a little later were better.
Makes one wonder why this is. Why would the same hat-be different, depending upon where you bought them. But, I recall that hat Whiskey, and it was different. :-k

Of course the logical answer would be, the same factory just used a different block on those hats. I have seen variation in HJs over the years, so this seems to be kinda common. Same with the Christy. I got two in for a guy to reblock, last year, and they were as tapered as the HJs I get in for Indy Mag. But some of those Christys on that thread, actually look good with the Raiders crease. Some, but not all. And as you say, that felt does seem to taper fairly fast. The price is right though. Fedora
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Texan Scott »

Hypothetically...what if DN walked into HJ in 1980 and looked at different hats. She liked the large brimmed, Australian styled hat, and communicates her vision of the hat to Swales. Accounting for the period of time in which the movie was supposed to be shot, she hands it to him and he reblocks it with a vintage, 1930's era block and makes the necessary customizations: ribbon, bash, etc.? Or maybe he just ribboned it, put a bash in it and cut the brim down? Maybe this is one reason why it had no taper, just off the block, or early in the filming process?
whiskyman
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1378
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:30 pm
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by whiskyman »

Fedora wrote:
Now the HJs that were offered in Germany a little later were better.
Makes one wonder why this is. Why would the same hat-be different, depending upon where you bought them. But, I recall that hat Whiskey, and it was different. :-k

Of course the logical answer would be, the same factory just used a different block on those hats. I have seen variation in HJs over the years, so this seems to be kinda common. Same with the Christy. I got two in for a guy to reblock, last year, and they were as tapered as the HJs I get in for Indy Mag. But some of those Christys on that thread, actually look good with the Raiders crease. Some, but not all. And as you say, that felt does seem to taper fairly fast. The price is right though. Fedora
I thought perhaps HJ had switched factories again between my visit and the opening of the German site (it was 2 years later I tihnk) , hence the change in block shape. I never bought one from the London shop, so perhaps those hats also had the improved block shape.
User avatar
Marc
Vendor
Posts: 1646
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:29 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Marc »

I asked why the hats off their own site costs more then from for example Replix. Answer: 'cause we hand block them here.

Well, I gotta see one of these "hand blocked HJs two years ago"... - Yeaaah, right ;) If steaming them to get even MORE taper is some kind of blocking I hadn't heard of before, then ok :lol:

Regards,

Marc
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

Most guys will say anything to make a quick buck and take your business. Unfortunately most businesses aren't run the way you, Steve, and John run. NOW, your hats are priced rather fairly. Steve is still underpriced and John is GROSSLY underpriced, in my honest opinion. Don't get me wrong, I like it like that :P . But it's true.

Dave
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

Hey....Dave.... :-$ #-o

;)

Regards! Michaelson
BendingOak
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 7011
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by BendingOak »

I heard that. :CR:
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

I know, Mark, but we just have such great vendors here and really its becuase the vendors are first and foremost fans themselves.

Ok, so I was giving this some more though. Marc, you said that you have THE Raiders block in use for the Henry. I believe you. Now, chances are that that factory you are using had something to do with the Raiders hat. As Steve has pointed out, there are a number of vintage blocks that will give you a good Raiders hat, but there is only one Raiders block. If this is THE block then chances are that this is where the Raiders hats began life. I know its a long shot, but maybe someone still working there now was there for the Raiders hat. Not a lot of light would be shed on the subject but we may at least find out if the hats went out made from the factory or if it was just felt. It is possible that the hats went out already made and Swales did a quick custom ribbon job. This would be enough to call a hat custom. There are a lot of shady hatters out there. We hear the stories all the time. I wouldn't be surprised. This is all conjecture, of course, but worth writing, I think. :-k

Dave
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

BendingOak wrote:I heard that. :CR:
:rolling:
User avatar
Marc
Vendor
Posts: 1646
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:29 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Marc »

Trust me Dave, I've asked all these questions LOOOOONG time ago. It was impossible to get a definate yes or no. It's all a "could be" ](*,)

Regards,

Marc
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

:roll:

No one has a time machine hanging around, right?

Dave
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Michaelson »

McFly did, but it got hit by a train. :? :[

Regard! Michaelson
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

SHANE!!! :x :lol:

Dave
Fedora
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3795
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 5:44 pm

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Fedora »

asked why the hats off their own site costs more then from for example Replix. Answer: 'cause we hand block them here.
:lol: See, I think they heard that Swales hand blocked some of the Indy hats, and just make like they do too. :-k I mean, they had to have heard this from someone. Kinda gives some credence to Swales actually handblocking the Raiders fedora. It's not like Marc talked to a hatter at HJ. More along the lines of a sales person. Or the lady buyer that I talked to from HJ. I should say S.A. B. as that is who she represented. Fedora
darthjones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 318
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:29 am

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by darthjones »

Hm - I thought perhaps that this was implicit in what I had written. In 1986 Swales did INDEED say that he cut the brims and pinched the hat in the shop for Raiders. He said that H. Ford showed up for the fitting too.

But he told me then that he shaped them all there. He also said that some very diluted bleach was sprayed on them (didn't say by who) but that the studio did most of the aging.

And he said that all of the hats were made from the stock Poet they had at the time. He demonstrated how the brim was taken down from 3 1/8" etc.

Some of the reasons I believe him are that no one really knew about HJ then. Matter of fact, I myself am the one that told Lee Keppler originally where the hats were made back in 1984! Ask him! :) Swales had no one bugging the @#$% out of him and he seemed to have a lot of fun that day speaking with us and answering my goofy questions. He even gave my dad a hat for free that day. No kidding.

There is some stuff he talked about that I am hazy on but I do remember this much at least.

And the hat out of which I got the address via the then LFL archivist, David Craig, was a super pinched top to bottom, bleached out hat on the greener side (funny huh, pinched/ shaped like Raiders, not reddish though but greenish ???) and not tapered. Ribbon was bleached a little bit too.
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

This is all very interesting Darthjones and, in fact, supports Marc's Henry factory having the original Raiders block. If Swales took a stock Poet and cut it down without reblocking it then that only confirms the fact that Marc has THE BLOCK on his Henry. This is great news!

1984 is not too long after Raiders and I would assume that Swales remembered much more then than he did in later interviews once everyone knew HJ made the hats for Raiders. Now, even if everything Swales told you is true, would it still be considered a bespoke hat? The ribbon is definately not stock and neither is the sweat installation. So that and the brim cut would make this a semi-hand made hat. Now, I see less reason for Swales to lie about anything at that time as they really weren't known for Indy hats at that time. Once that picked up, they had much more reason to lie about it to wrangle in clientele. This is all very, very interesting. I'm not sure what to make of it though.

Dave
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

I know I'm resurescting an old thread here, but was curious if John, Steve, or Marc had ever gotten or presumed the opportunity to press Nadoolman about this. I still think that we can find out more about the Raiders hat from her. Or maybe I'm just banging my head against a brick wall. ](*,)

Dave
User avatar
Indiana Jeff
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10205
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:59 am
Location: TX Panhandle

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Indiana Jeff »

Dave! Good to see you around. :TOH:

Unfortunately I think DNL would be a dead end in this regard as was evidenced in the Adam Savage tour of the costume exhibit she curated, she picked a non-Raiders' jacket for the exhibit while telling Adam the story how she poured through dozens of jackets until she found "the one" that she personally distressed for ROLA.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff
User avatar
Cajunkraut
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2087
Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:56 pm
Location: By ya mama 'n 'ems

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Cajunkraut »

Yep. With all due respect to DNL's iconic contributions to the IJ legacy, any recall credibility she may have once had has faded along with her memory.
User avatar
backstagejack
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3465
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:01 am
Location: Lost in the Jungle

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by backstagejack »

DR Ulloa wrote:
Even if HJ was the hatter to the royal family and this job was beneath them, their name was still on that hat and specifically Swales. The idea that this film might actually take off and people find out that they made the hat must have crossed their minds at least once. Now their name is branded with the Raiders hat, good and bad.

The other thing you have to think about is.... even though the movie took off... the "search for the hat" had never happened before.

I could be wrong, but I don't think before the 80s, there wasn't as much a craze for trying to find a match for what a movie character wears. I don't think Swales gave a second thought about "people finding out they made the hat" because that kind of thing wasn't a thing back then.

I mean, did fans in the 40s attempt to find out who made Bogarts hats or trench coats? Did people in the 60s make a concentrated effort to try and find out who made Bond's suits and shoes? Did people in the 70s try and find out what kind of jacket that Squint wore in "Jaws"?

I just don't think that would ever cross anyone's minds in the 79s or even early 80s. So if Swales cranked out a bunch of subpar hats for a project he didn't care much about, who cares? Back then, people didn't take movies home and freeze frame scenes to see if a hat was well made. Now we have entire forums, etc dedicated to finding out the kind of water bottle Tony Stark uses in 1 scene for one movie. We have people's who's entire jobs are recreated clothes from movies for people. None of that existed in the 80s or before.

jmo :TOH:

:TOH:
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

Indiana Jeff wrote:Dave! Good to see you around. :TOH:

Unfortunately I think DNL would be a dead end in this regard as was evidenced in the Adam Savage tour of the costume exhibit she curated, she picked a non-Raiders' jacket for the exhibit while telling Adam the story how she poured through dozens of jackets until she found "the one" that she personally distressed for ROLA.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff
Jeff, they made you a moderator?! I have been gone for a long time!

Thanks, brother. I've been gone for far too long. I'm going to hang around for a while. I'm so fed up with the politics and such that is all over. I need a retreat. And where better to retreat to than COW?

That's sad about DN. I didn't catch that Mythbusters episode. I guess we will never know the answer. Oh well, back to rereading the Thrawn trilogy before the 17th. 8-[]

Dave
User avatar
Jeremiah
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 1878
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:08 pm
Location: The well of souls.
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by Jeremiah »

dave, look me up in Orlando should you ever get up this way.
User avatar
backstagejack
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3465
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:01 am
Location: Lost in the Jungle

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by backstagejack »

DR Ulloa wrote:Oh well, back to rereading the Thrawn trilogy before the 17th. 8-[]

Dave
Off topic - The Thrawn Trilogy (amazing as it is) isn't canon anymore I thought ;) :-k
User avatar
DR Ulloa
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3257
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:28 pm
Location: Miami, FL
Contact:

Re: Was the Raiders fedora intentionally made poorly?

Post by DR Ulloa »

backstagejack wrote:
DR Ulloa wrote:Oh well, back to rereading the Thrawn trilogy before the 17th. 8-[]

Dave
Off topic - The Thrawn Trilogy (amazing as it is) isn't canon anymore I thought ;) :-k
Nope definitely not. But after reading Aftermath I got the feeling they might be drawing some inspiration from Zahn's novels and decided to reread them.

Jeremiah, definitely. We are up there often as we've got a place there. Disney Annual Passholders for 14 years.

Dave
Post Reply