Club Obi Wan

Since I couldn't join up with COW in December, when I got the bug for getting my first Indy oufit, I found the Indygear site and a few vendors and thought I was getting the best bang for my hard earned dollar. But now that I'm waiting for my HJ hat to arrive, I don't see much talk about this particular brand of Indy hat. Did I make a wrong choice, or are the options so varied there are multiple choices to be made?
Also, is all the talk about reblocking these hats yourself only for hatmakers; and how often does an Indiana fedora have to be reblocked?
A newbie wants to know...
Regards,
Indiana MarkVII

The HJ is for sure a nice brand, BUT you can get better things for that money! If you ask me I'd sent the HJ back and get an Adventurebilt beaver instead! At the moment Steve Delk's (aka Fedora) hats are the firt choice for Indy-fans! Well, that's my opinion! Anyway the HJ is the "original" one, but the AB is more screen-acurrate and better quality!

You might get something out of this thread, which is a VERY recent and current discussion of most of the hat options today:
viewtopic.php?t=15611

Welcome to COW, MKVII!

J

I'm anxious to see a new HJ.

The Herbie J was the hat used in the movies. You don't see much talk of that particular lid around these parts anymore, because lately, everyone is enamored with the latest Indy lid offering, the Adventurebilt. Who did you order your HJ from? The general consensus around these parts as of late is that the HJ is a good hat if you're only going to don it every now and then for dress occasions/costume parties.

From my understanding, the HJ can't stand up to extensive field use (IE: Wearing the hat every day, through all different kinds of weather) before it will taper and not look its best. The HJ also has a problem in the fact that the sweatband is sewn in by a machine, leaving a perforated line all the way accross the hat, where the brim meets the crown. Imagine one of those perforated pieces of notebook paper, and how easy the perforation makes it to tear it out.

This creates a problem when you go to reblock the hat, because you have to be real careful when stretching the felt over the block, lest you end up with the brim in one hand, and the crown in the other.

However, this is all dependant on how much you plan to use the hat. Are you going to wear it every day? Or just to dressy occasions or costume parties every now and then? If it's the latter, I wouldn't worry about it. If it's the former, well, you might have a problem. Each hat is different.

Wow, I'm impressed with the number and quality of the replies to my post. Thanks everyone, this seems like a wealth of information to mine and the folks are generally very friendly and thoughfull in their replies.

I ordered my HJ hat through Todd's Costumes back in December as I couldn't access the COW messages and had to wait until January to sign up. The HJ was on back order, but is expected to come in a the next week or so, and I should have it by the end of the month. If the crown is indeed punched through with stitching and is perforated, I'm not sure that I will be too fond of that, but since it was the intial learning period for me and HJ was the original maker, I thought I was on the right track. It will be nice when the hard working folks taking care of the Indygear site get a chance to update everything.

I normally wear a Tilley Endurables T2 hat for sun protection (I live in the #1 spot for skin cancer in the USA, only #2 in the world) with a wider brim than the Indy hat, so ithe Fedora will be for special occaisions and occaissional every day use on low UV intense days, like our 82 degree F winter day today. Todd includes information on his site about rain and the HJ not being too compatible (at all), so I'm wondering how the beaver felt from Adventurbilt would compare.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if my What Price Glory shirt is too dark. It is no longer in the Prototype stage as stated on the Indygear site. It is for sale in many dress shirt sizes, but does shrink up even when washed in cold water and line dried. I read a thread some where on here that lead me to believe the Indy shirt should be a light stone color, not khaiki.

If money is not an issue, who makes the most accurate Raiders shirt and who makes the most accurate (in color and style) Indy trousers?

As another note I am extremely thrilled about Alden shoes offeing the Indy boot in my size. I have to thank the Indygear folds for that information. I've seen other posts about how hard it is to fit a wide foot, but i"m just the oppposite, very narrow. They even have A, AA and AAA.
widths for those of us with skies for feet.

While I'm one the track of seeking recommendations, who makes the best Smith and Wesson replica, so do you all have real guns in those holsters?

I like my wested shirt, but I would have to suspect that Magnoli would be the way to go for the most accurate indy shirt/pants with money as no object... money IS an object for me and I still hope to aquire some of his wares :c)

Welcome to the forums!

The HJs are on back order? We just heard that the German website that also sells this hat can no longer get them,and they are haveing a closeout sale of sorts. Keep us posted. Fedora

OK, thanks for the replies, guys. You all seem like a good and honest bunch to hang out with.

To be frank, yes, money is an object for me, too. I don't like to waste money on buying something and then learning that is is not as good as I could have gotten (purchased in haste?) or that I'm unhapy with what I thought was going to be a good deal. I ask the question as if money were no objcet, so that I can save my pennies and make one good purchase, rather than two or more to get what it is I'm seeking.

Yes, I was told that the HJ hat was on back order before I decided to buy it last month. I figured that since I had no immediate need for it, I could afford to wait. According to my vendor, it should be on its way soon.

Thanks again for your feedback.
- Indiana MarkVII

Hello MarkVII,

Since you'll just use the HJ on occasion I'd say you'll be fine. Although, if you want a hat for daily and field use the beaver AB is the ticket. However, the Akubra Federation is also a great hat. They can really take a beating and they are quite affordable.

Oh, yes, you'll only see a real S&W in my holster.

Hi folks - have to say I'm in a similar situation to MKVII (waiting all of December to jump on here and say hi :lol) got myself a Wested for christmas and I'm now waiting on a HJ. While some of the opinions raised about them are slightly concerning, the hat isn't going to be for every day use, so I'm happy with my choice.

I'll also add that I don't think I've ever seen a more commited bunch of people. I was blown away reading the various faq's and seeing just how much detail you folks go into to replicate the gear. Keep up the good work

Welcome to COW Dekker! Be sure to post pics when you can.

I've worn my HJ practically daily for a year with no ill effects. Thank you.

Dakota Ellison wrote:I've worn my HJ practically daily for a year with no ill effects. Thank you.

And how about the hat?

Oh, the hat's a disaster.

I'm in the same boat has you Mr. Ellison, I've had a herbert johnson for about a year and its falling apart, however it took a huge beating and hung in like a trooper, Even though it only lasted a year

I meant to say no ill effects to the hat.

Indiana MarkVII wrote:Todd includes information on his site about rain and the HJ not being too compatible (at all), so I'm wondering how the beaver felt from Adventurbilt would compare.

I can tell you that the Adventurebilt holds up very well in all sorts of weather and on all sorts of adventures. I recently took it on the Inca Trail in Peru with me and it held up just fine through all sorts of weather. It has also held up wonderfully in the latest batch of heavy rain we have been getting here in the SF Bay Area. The Adventurebilt is made from 100% beaver and the HJ from rabbit (from what I understand) and rabbit is no match for beaver.

Regards, KC

Indiana Cromeens wrote:I'm in the same boat has you Mr. Ellison, I've had a herbert johnson for about a year and its falling apart, however it took a huge beating and hung in like a trooper, Even though it only lasted a year

But spending over $250 on a hat that lasts just a year doesn't seem like a good deal, IMHO. I plan on having my AB a lot longer than a year and I'm sure it will hold up fine. But I guess there is something to be said about having the original Indy fedora..KC

...At that rate, you're better off with an Akubra. They're meant to take a beating, hold up well to the elements (regardless of taper) and are a heck of a lot cheaper!

Guys,

I know that many of you guys like to beat up on the Herbert Johnson hats, but they haven't been in business for 120 years by making hats that you can't wear.

I have a new bit of news regarding the Herbert Johnsons that I will put in the vendor announcements that might put a new "spin" on things.

Todd

Puppetboy wrote:Guys,

I know that many of you guys like to beat up on the Herbert Johnson hats, but they haven't been in business for 120 years by making hats that you can't wear.

Thats very true. HJ made quality hats once upon a time. I can't say from personal experience, but my understanding is that the quality of HJ's hats has decreased in the past 10 years or so. That said, I would love to see HJ get back on track like we have heard talk of.

Hey Todd, How are ya?

How do you get to the Vendor announcements?

Michael B

You scroll down to near the bottom of the main forum page where it says 'Vendor Announcements' in the classified setion, then click!

Regards! Michaelson

That said (referring to J_Weaver) even Stetson went downhill in the last 20 years or so. Just compare any of their hats now with one they made in the 30s or 40s. I'd love to see HJ start making hats like they used to years ago. I'd like to see the same of all great hat companies. But it seems that for the most part the small craftsmen are the only ones concentrating on making a hat like they used to. Still, I've heard various stirrings and rumours about HJ improving things, but I'm afraid I'll have to wait to see it happen before I believe it. (Kind of like Indy IV!)

bink

Todd, I just read your announcement, and I'm not moved one way or the other regarding HJ, as we've heard this before regarding them using the 'original block', then stating to another vendor they didn't KNOW where the original block was, then to person that the block no longer existed.....so until someone has one of these new HJ's IN hand and can give us a report to it's new and improved 'Official IJ Hat' nature, I'm more than just a little skeptical here.

You can't blame me. I've been teased by HJ since the early 90's in my discussions with Richard Swales, and as long as they continue to hide behind smoke and mirrors, it's still a gamble you'll get what they promise. I'm personally hoping they finally come to the table and give us what we've been demanding for decades....an exact copy of what was on Ford's head in 1981, and nothing less.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson, I totally "hear you". I'm very skeptical myself. However, they are going to come out with something different, whatever it might turn out to be. I doubt it will be the "ultimate" Indy fedora everyone dreams of.

They have carried the Poet for decades and decades, and I doubt they will stop manufacturing them...but they might stop selling them to me. It was a VERY close shave a few months back.

They may stop dealing with you, Puppetboy? Why? What happened? Or is it really none of our business?

EDIT: Okay, I just read the vendor section. It all makes sense now, in a manner of speaking.

Todd, your efforts on our behalf are much appreciated, believe me!

High regards!

Michaelson