Penman, Garisson, Delk, you are not gods.
Don't worry, i don't have your experience but it's possible that a French Canadian can make a success of something.
Fedoraraiders, I am not sure why you seem to have ill feelings towards me, LLS and John. Perhaps it is hard to break into this Indy fedora business, and you think it's our fault. That is not the case. It is just the nature of the beast. At the end of the day, your success will solely depend upon your hats, and nothing else. But, posting remarks as you have done, aimed at us, won't help you out in the long run.
I did not read what John read in this...but if true.....
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but Garrison and Delk are the two who discovered the asymmetrical blockshape.
Yeah, LLS noticed it first on a vintage HJ, I had sent to him a few years ago, and used this to create his own blockset for the Raiders fedora. I even made a lengthy post about this last year. The record will show that.
Learning about the Raiders fedora required using other people's endeavors. I used Swales, the hats he made later on, as well as other hatters that helped me out. I have always given them credit. And always will. I even gave alot of credit to the members here on COW in my own hatmaking, as I gleaned info from some here over the years, like Pyro, who I think made the very first hat block, while being member here. Dalexs taught me how to do the ribbons. My own history involves alot of other people is all I am saying.
For some reason you have gotten the idea that we are keeping you down, going by the "gods' remark. And the remark that a French Canadian is capable of making hats too, as if someone has told you, that no one from Canada was capable of making a hat. I have never seen that posted here, and not sure where you get this idea from. It seems to come from the thin air! I don't get it.
I think the other hatters here would tell you, your line of hats will determine if you do well. The hats that we make stand on their own. As yours will. I just don't see the neccessity of flaming us, in your endeavors. Or seemingly having hard feelings towards us. We certainly have none towards you, although if you take credit for something someone else did first, that might cause some contention. Not that you have, just saying.
The bottom line is ths. If you make and sell a hat that gets great reviews, you will continue to sell hats, regardless of me, LLS or John. I hope your fully understand this. I wish you good luck! I wish you the best. And hope you understand that I am not against you. You have put in the time, and deserve to sell your vision of the Indy fedora. Fedora