Club Obi Wan

My wife stumbled on this site while researching a different topic. This section of a living history website describes the process of making a beaver felt hat during the 1700's and early 1800's. Assuming it is at least somewhat accurate, it is an interesting read into felt hat history.

http://www.whiteoak.org/learning/furhat.htm

Wow, very interesting and very complicated. I wonder how much has changed for modern beaver felt hats and what the modern process is?

iinstead of two halves, the fur is now blown over a perforated metal cone and then steamed and matted. The body, a cone approximately three feet tall with a four foot circumfrence base, is put into a fabric bag and there is a machine with roller that have ropes wrapped around them that works the felt to get it to shrink, instead of working it by hand.

Yep, and they do not use urine anymore to help the felting! Fedora

Oh, but I requested mine made vintage style...









Ok, ok, it was a joke!!! My rawbodies are NOT made with urine...

Regards,

Marc

Hey you want me to make that a vintage hat for you? Just plop it on the ground over there.

Sadly, there are several overseas companys that still use urine for leather tanning, and we still import those items into the U.S.

Regards! Michaelson

Okay, now I've seen it all. We're talking about urine while still remaining on topic!

Uh....yeah...

Regards! Michaelson

Hey you want me to make that a vintage hat for you? Just plop it on the ground over there.

Thanks!! I needed a good laugh this morning!! Fedora

i brought my new Fed Deluxe to my gpa's 90th Bday today because he used to work at a hat factory when he was younger. He told me all about it and could tell instantly that the hat was rabbit by just touching it.