Club Obi Wan

Hey all,

I was called up by one of the gals from the manufacturer today, to hear if the fold of the flying-V indeed is supposed to be 2-3mm above and below the corners.

Now, of course to us this is common sense BUT: think about how detail oriented they are to watch such small details!!!! This left me with a deep feeling of happiness that they're indeed doing ANYTHING humanly possible to make this the best factory hat possible

Next prototype is almost done and I expect this to be IT. Then I'll send it to Steve for his green light and if everything is as we want it on this prototype, then we can start production this very month

Regards,

Marc

Wow, thats great news.

Awsome news indeed! It is great to hear that there are those outside COW that are still devoted to quality in hats.

Dave

Marc wrote: Next prototype is almost done and I expect this to be IT. Then I'll send it to Steve for his green light and if everything is as we want it on this prototype, then we can start production this very month 8)

Regards,

Marc

this is fantastic news. I can't wait. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Very exciting indeed! Besides the detail, the best thing about it is the quick turnaround time.

DR Ulloa wrote:I have considered the Legend. I would love to have a hat from every COW vendor and support them all. I already bought one from Lee and Steve and will be pruchasing from Magnoli in the coming weeks so that really just leaves me with Marc, Ken and Ron. Marc's hat will probably have to wait purely on price. So I may go with the Camptown, yes...sorry to be longwinded.

Dave

Isn't the Camptown also pure rabbit? I thought you preferred a blend, that's why I mention it. I could be wrong.

I believe all Camptown's are blend, not rabbit.

Dave

Marc wrote:Hey all,

I was called up by one of the gals from the manufacturer today, to hear if the fold of the flying-V indeed is supposed to be 2-3mm above and below the corners.

Now, of course to us this is common sense BUT: think about how detail oriented they are to watch such small details!!!! This left me with a deep feeling of happiness that they're indeed doing ANYTHING humanly possible to make this the best factory hat possible

Next prototype is almost done and I expect this to be IT. Then I'll send it to Steve for his green light and if everything is as we want it on this prototype, then we can start production this very month

Regards,

Marc

Great news!
It's also really great that the manufacturer is so dedicated to this project!

All i can say is WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is sounding great!!

I'm still going to patiently wait for my AB that I ordered 6 months ago (I want the real deal made by the Maker!), but LOVE the prospects of an AB factory and may purchase one when they get made.

I tell you, it was REAL hard not to buy a Dorfman a few weeks ago when I was in Disneyland just to have a Indy fedora while I'm waiting for Steve's. I know that they aren't great, but they weren't that bad looking for a souvenier. However, just the thought of seeing an AB Factory being offered in Disneyland and other retail outlets is very cool!

You wont find the Henry at Disney, but that would be great. I know it would sell there. All that liscensing @#$% with DP and Lucasfilm won't let that happen.

Dave

When Lucas is involved, that other shoe dropping can be very heavy. Just ask Sgt. Hack.

I think that this is very exciting, I will be buying one without hesitation as soon as they become available. I have always wanted an official looking Indy hat, and I can't stand my Disneyland Indy hat any longer.

I'm really anxiously waiting...

can't wait to see what it's going to look like.

Looks good I just hope this doesn't raise the price of the regular hand made AB.. I need to buy one in the next few months

The price will probably continue to rise until orders slow. Steve has expresses many times that he only wants to make about 100 hats a year. Hiking up the price is the best way to control how many orders he gets. At $400, I'm sure that orders will begin to slow.

Dave

The price will probably continue to rise until orders slow. Steve has expresses many times that he only wants to make about 100 hats a year. Hiking up the price is the best way to control how many orders he gets. At $400, I'm sure that orders will begin to slow.

Yes, this last price increase slowed orders down in a big way. And that was what I really needed to happen. There is a reason you don't see many established hatters selling handmade hats. The process takes too long, and adds to the cost of the hat. With pure beaver hats already fetching around 500 bucks average, (and these are basically factory hats, but made in smaller runs) not many hatters will offer a handmade hat. But, that is the only kind of hat I will ever personally sell. AB started out with our hats being handmade just like the small hatters made them, and we will never change that. It's a personal thing with Marc and I.

If demand falls over time I will of course adjust the price downwards, to try and maintain what I can handle in production. My prices will always be keyed to the demand.

High priced hats bother me. And I could have easily followed suit with Nathaniel when his Josh Bernstein hat made it to the History Channel on Digging for the Truth. I think he gets 795.00 for that hat(same felt supplier as I use). So, if I were like other hatters, I could have went up to that price, and still sold some. In fact, going up to the price would still put the same amount of money in my pocket, and I would make much fewer hats. That is what most hatters do, and have advised me to do as well. But I desist. Go up and make fewer hats but the same amount of money. Enticing, but I want my hats on your heads, and other heads as well. Fedora

Well, that essentially answered my PM question I had for you, Mr. Delk. Thanks.

Its funny we must see he's online and bombard the poor man with Pm's because I sent him one too ....all very exciting stuff I was saving for a Magnoli HJ but this looks like one of the best factory produced hats out there...i'll have to get in on this


Cheers

I got an e-mail from Henry's hatter today, that due to a strike from the mail, the hat was still stuck at the p.o. even though they sent it out last Friday

I'm supposed to get it next week now and going by the detail that I were told went into this second prototype, we'll then be ready to take order.

Sorry for the delay guys.

Regards,

Marc

Marc, as my late father-in-law was fond of saying..."if it weren't for the mange, it would be the fleas!"

HIGH regards! Michaelson

no worries Marc. we are patient... I think

Hey, at least we are getting the Henry. I know this will help with Marc and Steve's work load and may even bring the price down for the handmade AB and AB Deluxe if it does. Great to hear that this is finally happening, even if the post office is on strike.

Dave

I've never heard of a post office going on strike before.

Regards! Michaelson

I'm assuming that there is a postal workers union just as there would be here in the US. Any formally organized union can go on strike and refuse to work until either their demands are met or until an agreement is reached. Unions have been around forever and a day. I'm sure it is possible, though it has enver happened in the US.

Dave

can we place pre orders yet?
thanx!!!
Charlie

Michaelson wrote:I've never heard of a post office going on strike before.

Regards! Michaelson

This is because you don't live in Italy...

Indiana Strones wrote:

Michaelson wrote:I've never heard of a post office going on strike before.

Regards! Michaelson

This is because you don't live in Italy...

nor in Belgium

Or Canada.

Or the UK or Ireland...Royal Mail love a good strike


Cheers

here in the uk everyone seems to be n strike every other week bin men ,teachers ,train drivers, postal workers. fuel delivery drivers, its never ending

Michaelson wrote:I've never heard of a post office going on strike before.

That's because it's illegal for U.S. government employees to strike even if they're unionized. Just ask the air traffic controllers in 1981.

I didn't know that. Thanks for that bit of information. I alwyas assumed that as long as there was a union, federal employee or not, a group could go on strike.

Dave

Can't wait to see the next prototype Marc! Also, are we any closer to a final price point on these? Just wondering.

Johnny

Johnny Fedora wrote:Can't wait to see the next prototype Marc! Also, are we any closer to a final price point on these? Just wondering.

Johnny

dito

I'll post the final pricing when it arrives

Thanks for your patience guys!

Regards,

Marc

Well thus far things are looking up. I like where this is going. But, I will echo the question of pricing. I presume it isn't set in stone as of yet but are we closer to seeing a final (somewhat) price point? Thank you very much for your offering. One thing needed in this world is quality amongst the mass produced junk out there. Thank you for this Marc & Steve.

Cheers!

Dan

Dang! I type too slow! Thank you!

Cheers!

Dan

I just got the second prototype from The Henry and I'm THRILLED!!!

The felt is super soft and the pouncing job is outstanding The bow is also much better on this one (though 4mm too short) and printing on the leather sweatband is nice and crisp

Though a few details need to be changed yet, I'm so pleased with this second prototype that we'll start taking orders from today on.

To keep you guys informed on what I don't like yet, here's the list of changes that I gave them:

The bow is 4mm too short (12.3cm instead of 12.7cm).

I measured the brim to be 2mm, though I'd say we need to change this to 1.6 - 1.7mm.

The brim is 73mm x 66mm instead of 70mm x 63,5mm

The block is a little too high and should be EXACTLY 140mm

The liner is slightly off center, so the fold doesn't match 100% with the back of the sweatband.

I'll have a third prototype made, but I don't see any problem in getting the final details right.

Pictures will follow once I come home, incl. the final price.

Regards,

Marc

Marc, are these specs the same as the AB? In other words: are you trying to make a hat identical (more or less) to the handmade AB? Thanks.

Marc,

Great News. How do you want us to order. via your site? e-mail.

Assume the Henry will be open crown. Are you going to offer an extra service for putting in the bash?

Cheers,

IndyBrit

The specs. will be identical to the handmade AB and AB-Dlx., yes.

Due to me STILL not being able to make a living from making hats :evil: we need to keep things as simple as possible (and thereby affordable). With that said, as of now I can only offer to order the hat via Paypal (so I can copy and paste the address into an Excel sheet and forward that to the hatter).

I tend to make this open crown, as their attempts at creasing it where... "not to our standards" Since the felt is so soft and floppy, I don't see how anyone would have problems creasing it - especially considering Pagey's most awesome tutorial.

Also, since the block is not our CS block, but the very similare vintage block from the factory, we wouldn't be giving any secrets away here

Regards,

Marc

What is the final price your aiming towards Marc?



Cheers

Looking forward to the latest pics of the prototype Marc. I'll watch for the post later this evening. Cheers!

Thanks for the answers Marc. Paypal it is. Looking forward to reading the final price news.

Cheers,

IndyBrit

Awsome news, i can't wait for pics and price for pre order

Marc wrote:Also, since the block is not our CS block, but the very similare vintage block from the factory, we wouldn't be giving any secrets away here

Congratulations on the project, Marc.

Just curious, but was it ever confirmed if that was *the* block and this was *the* factory?

Ok guys, here we go.

I got home and beat the living snot out of the hat, to see if it has this certain quality that enabled the HJ back then to get that highly desired SOC look. Then I creased it. All in all I spent round about five minutes, so without putting the DVD into the computer and trying to emulate the very last detail, I just wanted to see if I could pull the SOC look off from memory.

Here are the pictures for you to judge:











OF COURSE I didn't alter the hat in any way inbetween the pictures other than turning it.

Now, as I said earlier, we'll start taking pre-orders today and the first hats will be ready to ship in round about four weeks (we need to order new felt yet that is SLIGHTLY thinner).

As for the price, it's 180 Euro incl. shipping worldwide. HOWEVER we wanted to give an introduction discount for you guys in here, so your actual price will be posted in the Vendor's announcement section (where you need to login).

Due to the fact that I'm still making this in my spare time, we're currently accepting Paypal orders ONLY (Marc_Kitter(at)web.de - is the Paypal account). Please transfer EURO, as this is what we pay the hatter and exchanging Dollars to Euros costs an arm and a leg over here :'( The orders will then be processed in chronological order.

Any questions, please post them here so I don't need to answer them over and over

Regards and thanks again for your patience,

Marc

P.S.: no confirmation regarding THE block or manufacturer, but the results and the IDENTICAL match to the vintage HJ sweatbands tell me that this is more than just a possibility

That is one fine looking hat. Man...to get the regular AB or The Henry. Decisions!