General Fedora question: Bow placement

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

Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs

Post Reply
User avatar
Snakewhip_Sable
Scoundrel
Posts: 2256
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:23 am
Location: Palliser City, south of Midian, Alberta, DBSSWDD
Contact:

General Fedora question: Bow placement

Post by Snakewhip_Sable »

What's the difference between a woman's fedora and a men's fedora that are the same shape, pinch and bash other than the side the ribbon's bow is on?
Last edited by Snakewhip_Sable on Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
binkmeisterRick
Stealer of Wallets
Posts: 16926
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:22 pm
Location: Chattering with these old bones

Post by binkmeisterRick »

Umm.... the wearer? :?
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44486
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

Post by Michaelson »

From what I understand, not much. The Winchester Hat Co. (now only a felter by the same name, but still located in the same building in Winchester, TN) made both until they closed hat production in the 50's, and sometimes used the same blocks for building hats. I've seen hat blocks for sale all over this part of Tennessee in antique stores that will be marked with both a mans AND woman's style and size, so a single block was used for both. They'd then just add the ribbons and the like to make it one or the other, and there you were.

I've seen a LOT more women's felt hats than mens in these same antique stores, but then the women tended to wear their hats more for show, and put them back in the boxes. I've seen a LOT that, with just a change of liner and ribbon, you'd have a GREAT man's fedora. Problem I've found has been that the hat sizes were SO much smaller than what I wear....so I haven't been able to try to have one changed over.

I may find one yet....

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
Snakewhip_Sable
Scoundrel
Posts: 2256
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:23 am
Location: Palliser City, south of Midian, Alberta, DBSSWDD
Contact:

Post by Snakewhip_Sable »

I picked up a brand new Akubra at a truck stop last night for $26 Canadian (works out to be what? $12 American?). The ribbon is on the right side. This is why I ask. It looks like a pretty sharp fedora to me.

I removed the ribbon and found the bow is held together with Scotch tape! Shocking.
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44486
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

Post by Michaelson »

Sounds like you have the perfect platform to make it into anything you want, my friend!

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
Snakewhip_Sable
Scoundrel
Posts: 2256
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:23 am
Location: Palliser City, south of Midian, Alberta, DBSSWDD
Contact:

Post by Snakewhip_Sable »

Much appreciated, good sirs.

As it is, the hat came with a centre dent bash and a loose front pinch. It's got the Indy 'camel humps' in it already, and a nice wide brim.

Is it normal for hat ribbon bows to be held together with cellophane tape though?
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44486
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

Post by Michaelson »

Not that I've ever seen. :-k Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
binkmeisterRick
Stealer of Wallets
Posts: 16926
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:22 pm
Location: Chattering with these old bones

Post by binkmeisterRick »

Actually, I recently took off a vintage ribbob from an old beater hat of mine, only to find the back of the ribbon had tape on it!

bink
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44486
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

Post by Michaelson »

You're not the Lone Ranger there, Bink. I found the same thing on the back of the bow of that Borsalino you found for me in Ft. Wayne. Guess it was a shortcut for production line hat making. :-k

Regards! Michaelson
Bushman
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 75
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2002 11:02 am

Post by Bushman »

Akubra uses cellophane tape on the back of the ribbons of the Squatter and the Bushman (the wider ribbon).

Bushman
User avatar
binkmeisterRick
Stealer of Wallets
Posts: 16926
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:22 pm
Location: Chattering with these old bones

Post by binkmeisterRick »

Michaelson wrote:You're not the Lone Ranger there, Bink. I found the same thing on the back of the bow of that Borsalino you found for me in Ft. Wayne. Guess it was a shortcut for production line hat making. :-k

Regards! Michaelson
Well, if you don't like the hat, you can always send it back. :P :wink: Peeling back the top of the bow of a hat I just picked up yesterday, I can see that they used a black fabric tape on the back of it. At least it's not masking tape! I'm sure it probably was something done during production to get the bows made faster.

bink
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

Sounds like my DP is getting more and more accurate all the time... :roll:

...no, not really. :oops: :wink:
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44486
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

Post by Michaelson »

binkmeisterRick wrote: Well, if you don't like the hat, you can always send it back. :P :wink: bink
Uh, let me think about that for a second... :-k .... :roll: ...uh.....NO! =; :wink:

Regards! Michaelson
Post Reply