Club Obi Wan

I had a question. I am new to this. The hat in my avatar was All I had as a kid. Now I have a DP budget indy hat.

With this "floppier" raiders AB legacy hat, will it hold the iconic shape in the brim still? Will it be as durable and long lasting as the other indy style Fedoras on the site?
I would be wearing this a lot, not just occasionally, though I would take care of it and not treat it like a $5 dollar wal-mart ball cap obviously.
Would it be better to get the normal Raiders style fedora or the legacy hero version that is now available? I can live with it not being 100% SA if it is durable and highly functional and keeps that iconic brim shape. The "floppy" characteristic of the AB legacy raiders hero fedora is what has me uncertain.

Thanks and any tips for a new fedora owner are much appreciated.

Canasta wrote:Dates, go to his website.

Thanks!

I just talked with John. He cleared some things up and answered my questions. Thanks.

Just placed my order, talked with John earlier today and I'm stoked.


Croft

The hat looks amazing. Has anyone seen more pics. of it?

Well, I am going to just go with this. Looks great.

Finally got my invoice!. Went to the spam folder so it took a few days until I realize it, but all good now, paid and waiting

I posted a video on http://www.facebook.com/penmanhats" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice video John.

BendingOak wrote:I posted a video on http://www.facebook.com/penmanhats" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Love that video. Thanks for posting it, John.

Now, the wait

Interesting. I watched the video and have a 78gr. Portuguese beaver felt AB prototype that Steve Delk tried to make into a dress Indy hat many years ago that acts exactly like this new rabbit legacy.

He gave up on it because he didn't think it would sell.

He thought it was too light and too pliable.

It reacts exactly the same way this new legacy rabbit felt does in all respects.

I told him he was wrong, as it was a perfect design and material to use, but he stuck with the heavier rabbit and beaver felts from Winchester.

Keep in mind, mine is beaver and John's is rabbit, but the reaction of the felt is the same.

Ironically it's worn like iron, held it's block shape after being crushed over and over, and I wear it to this very day as a summer hat in rotation with my PB straw.

I guess Steve was just too far ahead of the curve.

Great offering, John. It's time for a felt of this type to be out there.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Interesting. I watched the video and have a 78gr. Portuguese beaver felt AB prototype that Steve Delk tried to make into a dress Indy hat many years ago that acts exactly like this new rabbit legacy.

He gave up on it because he didn't think it would sell.

He thought it was too light and too pliable.

It reacts exactly the same way this new legacy rabbit felt does in all respects.

I told him he was wrong, as it was a perfect design and material to use, but he stuck with the heavier rabbit and beaver felts from Winchester.

Keep in mind, mine is beaver and John's is rabbit, but the reaction of the felt is the same.

Ironically it's worn like iron, held it's block shape after being crushed over and over, and I wear it to this very day as a summer hat in rotation with my PB straw.

I guess Steve was just too far ahead of the curve.

Great offering, John. It's time for a felt of this type to be out there.

Regards! Michaelson

This is interesting. As a guy only scratching the surface of hats I have a few questions. Would you consider this new felt more accurate than the standard stuff as far as floppiness? Also what would be considered a dress Indy hat? I've wanted a dressy type Indy hat but my Garrison is still clean enough to wear with a suit. (When this pig puts lipstick on.) Im not much of a suit guy!


Sent from a bathroom inside the Death Star

I'd say closer to the original worn in hats we saw in Raiders, as those HJ's were VERY floppy and loose as they were used and abused.

This is as 'dress' felt as you can get. Very nice stuff.

Regards! M

Michaelson wrote:I'd say closer to the original worn in hats we saw in Raiders, as those HJ's were VERY floppy and loose as they were used and abused.

This is as 'dress' felt as you can get. Very nice stuff.

Regards! M

now that's something i think has been overlooked by fans and gear heads : try and get ahold of vintage dress felt hats (say 30's, 40's and even 50's fedoras) and you'll see none of the modern era decent fur felt fedoras, be it rabbit or beaver or blend, comes near to as pliable and lightweight as those yesteryear hats were.

i have a Fortune and glory prototype raiders by Steve Delk (thanks to our fellow cow member Moutaineer) that was made out of a vintage + HJ homburg, and it's the most leightweight felt i have, hands down. It's been added some stiffener, so it's not that pliable; but still...

Michaelson, I so wish i could have a hat made out of that 78 gr beaver felt youre talking about !

Me too, my friend, but he just wasn't happy with it at the time. I bet if he had started experimenting with it now, he'd have been offering it.

I'm pleased to see someone is actually making them out of a real dress felt now. John ALWAYS does great work!

Regards !M

Is there a way that those of us without facebook can view the video? I am intrigued.

I don't think you have to have a Facebook account to watch it, Chris. Just click on the link, scroll down and play the video.

I didn't have to log in to see it.

Regard! M

Michaelson wrote:I don't think you have to have a Facebook account to watch it, Chris. Just click on the link, scroll down and play the video.

I didn't have to log in to see it.

Regard! M

Must be my work computer. Thanks!

M, is correct. My Facebook page for the hat company is public. Everyone can view everything I post on there. My personal Facebook is a different story.

BendingOak wrote:M, is correct. My Facebook page for the hat company is public. Everyone can view everything I post on there. My personal Facebook is a different story.

Ok cool thanks. No interest in your personal page but I would like to see the hat video. They sound awesome. It is my work computer that blocks videos so I'll hop on after work. Thanks!

The only reason I brought up the personal page of mine is to make the point you don't have to sign up to see anything on my biz. Facebook page but you would need to sign up for my personal.

Are these ready for order? On the site i just see coming soon? Maybe i am looking at the wrong hat?

hobbitjedi wrote:Are these ready for order? On the site i just see coming soon? Maybe i am looking at the wrong hat?

Yep. I couldn't stand it anymore and ordered mine last week.

Great! Is the any more info on this hat? I am looking to get my first raiders hat and was looking at this one and the other raiders one on his site. I would like to compare the two!

Call john and ask him. He's always go time for his customers.

I can't compare this one with his others but I CAN tell you that you'll be happy whichever way you go. I'm going on 5 years on my oldest Penman and it just keeps getting better.

All my hats are custom made to order by me and truly made by hand. The ABL raiders hat can be ordered but by being a custom made to order, it comes with a wait time. It does take me that long to make someone a hat, it's just that I have a lot of people wanting hats. I hope this helps but feel free to call 971-246-1832. We can talk about your questions, hats in general or Indy. )

Curious John, how are sale for the ABL.
I can't ever remember being so anxious for January/February.

Croft

Good. It added to my lead times.

Received mine yesterday. It's really a jaw dropping job, perfect look, perfect fit, perfect everything. Thanks!

Duck9000 wrote:Received mine yesterday. It's really a jaw dropping job, perfect look, perfect fit, perfect everything. Thanks!

Very nice. I ordered mine about a week after you got your invoice so hopefully it's not too far off.

I just watched the video, the hat looks awesome John, great job!!!

fedoralover

Not sure if I missed it, but I was wondering what the current wait time is for the ABL? I hope to order one in the spring and was just curious.

And John, I have to say that my Crusader just looks and feels better every day!

Thanks!

APL wrote:Not sure if I missed it, but I was wondering what the current wait time is for the ABL? I hope to order one in the spring and was just curious.

And John, I have to say that my Crusader just looks and feels better every day!

Thanks!

Thanks, glad you like it. estimated time are updated on my site http://www.penmanhats.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome, I found it. Thanks again!

Just placed my order! I was planning on waiting until closer to spring, but the sooner an order is in, the sooner it'll be on my head.

Anyway, for those who haven't seen the pics on Facebook yet, check them out. They're absolutely amazing!

APL wrote: Anyway, for those who haven't seen the pics on Facebook yet, check them out. They're absolutely amazing!

Not nearly as amazing as it is in person

knibs7 wrote:

APL wrote: Anyway, for those who haven't seen the pics on Facebook yet, check them out. They're absolutely amazing!

Not nearly as amazing as it is in person

A feeling I know I will soon share.

I picked up my AB Legacy from the post office today. For anyone wondering, this is a terrific piece of work.

The hat compares pretty well with the Cairo John made for me about 3 years ago, and although it's obviously not as "beat up" looking, I can easily imagine being able to make it into a Cairo hat with a minimal amount of work. The hat is smoother in a lot of ways than the Cairo and while you can certainly tell it is rabbit felt, it still feels smooth and dense.

The brim is softer and more malleable and the hat is lighter overall. The block shape is exactly what you would expect, and the finish, ribbon, liner and sweatband are first rate.

Below for comparison is the new AB Legacy, and below that the 3 year old Cairo:

Looks awesome. Only thing....more pics please

Jeremiah wrote:Looks awesome. Only thing....more pics please

I can oblige













Does that help?

Sweet and makes me really glad on my choice. Thanks.

I think I can safely guarantee that if you are getting one of these you will be VERY happy with what you receive. I feel that way about everything John makes (he's a perfectionist in every sense of the word), and I have a preference for beaver felt, but I plan to wear this one a lot to see how it develops over time and use.

Yes, will be a hard wait but worth it for sure. Really would love seeing it in the natural light sometime too.

Very nice!

Jeremiah wrote:Yes, will be a hard wait but worth it for sure. Really would love seeing it in the natural light sometime too.

I have a few photos left before I hit my "limit" on this topic. I'll try to get something posted this weekend.

Jeremiah wrote:Yes, will be a hard wait but worth it for sure. Really would love seeing it in the natural light sometime too.

Happy to be able to oblige again . . .









All four were taken at the same time, same light, same device.

The middle two are more representative of the way the color and texture of the felt appears to the naked eye in daylight.

John is a true Hat maker!

I'm sold!
This is going to be my next hat!

Sweet pics. Thanks and feel very good about my hat to be.