Club Obi Wan

I got in an AB Deluxe from Marc and shot some comparison pics of the two hats together to give you guys an idea of what they look like, side by side. This is my first viewing of an AB Deluxe, in person, and I was impressed. Great pure beaver felt, an eye catching liner and a sweatband that is my absolute favorite. He workmanship was very good too. I could find nothing in this hat, that I could have done better, and this really made my day!!! When you offer to have someone else make the AB brand of hats, you just pray it will be as good as what you are making. It is as good and I can testify to that objectively. Way to go Marc!!!

A note before you look at the pics. I styled them differently, with the AB Deluxe leaning toward the Raven hat, the PR photo of Ford leaning against the mantle. The closeness of our blocks, is uncanny, since Marc had these made independently, and we used different blockmakers. I think he has a winner now that I have held one in hand. There is a difference in color of these fedoras, but his shows up more reddish thatn it actually is, in real life. I do not know how it will show up on your monitor. Also, bear in mind, mine is fresh off the block, and his has just traveled for several thousand miles, being jostled around. So, take that into account. Ok, here they are.

Wow! It's great to see the AB Deluxes hitting the field.
It's amazing how similar they are, certainly in the block shape. I see some differences in the ribbon shape.
I would love to see one in person.
Great hats, gentlemen!

So, you're saying that the AB Deluxe doesn't have quite that much of a reddish hue to it, when seen in person? At least it doesn't look gray.

Oh, my bad. Forget I even said that last part.

I wish you guys would stop doing this to me. I already want a gray AB. Now, there is the AB Deluxe to consider. And, there are quite a few more props that I really would like to acquire.

And, you know that I am now a poor, retired county policeman, living on a fixed income. Oh, COW vendors, please have mercy on me!

looks great steve. Just by looking at the photo's I'd say that the Deluxe looks to have a better-done bow, while your AB has a better color felt. Other than that, they look great. :junior: -IJ

Wonderful hats! Steve, on my monitor the AB Deluxe looks to be exactly the same color as your vintage HJ. One of these days I've got to get a beaver hat from you or Marc. Until then my trusty old rabbit AB will serve fine!

Also, is it me or is the Deluxe a size or so larger than the AB?

I'd say that the Deluxe looks to have a better-done bow,

Yeah, it is more defined, but if you look closely at the original, the fold under the middle piece of the bow is not pinched. It is folded, downward. I repeat, it is folded. The mistake on my bow, is that the back section fold, that is, to the right of the middle knot, should run straight back, instead of curling upward, the way that mine does. I know that I can get a more defined flying v, if I just pinched the ribbon, but I refuse to do so. If the original was not pinched, but folded, I cannot bring myself to do it any other way. Ok, I am nuts, and I plead guilty.






Next to my felt, the Portugal felt does indeed look reddish. Our browns have different undertones. In real life, my hat looks to have a green undertone, but only when placed next to a hat with a reddish undertone.


If I get time, I will shoot some pics of Marc's hat with a different style job, tigher front pinch. I did this shoot with the intentions of emailing these to Marc, but figured heck, what a great time to get a side by side shot of each hat.

To answer the questions, these are exactly the same sized hat. Both are 7 1/4 long ovals. Both started with a 5 1/2 open crown hat. I was amazed that Marc's block looked larger when placed side by side. I think my long oval is a bit longer than his long oval. This may have something to do with the way the UK long ovals are made. Over here, the differential is 1 3/8, while his may be a bit less than that. The English may not use the same differential for long ovals, and long, long ovals. That would explain it, I guess, as both blocks are straight sided. Regards, Fedora

Fedora wrote:To answer the questions, these are exactly the same sized hat. Both are 7 1/4 long ovals. Both started with a 5 1/2 open crown hat. I was amazed that Marc's block looked larger when placed side by side. I think my long oval is a bit longer than his long oval. This may have something to do with the way the UK long ovals are made. Over here, the differential is 1 3/8, while his may be a bit less than that. The English may not use the same differential for long ovals, and long, long ovals. That would explain it, I guess, as both blocks are straight sided. Regards, Fedora

Ah, thanks Steve!

Both look great though I like the more defined front pinch of the AB better, but that's a matter of taste!

I really wouldn't think the AB Deluxe looks that reddish in real life, I mean, especialy we Indy-fans know, what different lights can do to a fedora!

The hat is gray!

No, it's definetly brown

Even a blind man would say it's gray!

... Sounds familiar!

I wish you guys would stop doing this to me. I already want a gray AB. Now, there is the AB Deluxe to consider.

same here.

I prefer the regular AB - better colour and better block, by the looks of those pics.

You cannot say the steve's blocks are better! I thin you would need to see them side by side by side!
And the thing with the the color is again just a matter of taste!!!

Marc's felt looks more chocolate like in these famous photos:




while Fedora's looks more like in the Cairo and flying wing scenes:

Hey guys, the blocks are so close, you could not tell the difference by looking at the wood blocks. The difference you see is mostly the felt. I had to make Ford's hat stiffer than I normally make them, while that hat there of Marc's, has the fedora grade of stiffener. It is very soft and floppy.

I found out, that while the Raiders fedora came as a soft hat, at times during the filming, a particular hat of his was stiffened up, just to get a look. (or for other reasons)On a personal level, Ford preferred his hats to be stiffer than what we would like in an Indy fedora. That is, what he would wear, while flying one of his craft. It would not surprise me, that they specified the soft felt, like I normally make for the film hats, and then use their own stiffener if needed for a particular scene. I think I am learning more about the prop and costume department, than anything else from talking to my contact. Fedora

Fedora wrote:

I'd say that the Deluxe looks to have a better-done bow,

Yeah, it is more defined, but if you look closely at the original, the fold under the middle piece of the bow is not pinched. It is folded, downward. I repeat, it is folded.... Regards, Fedora

You're gonna make me have to redo my ribbon replacement page with that statement darnit all!

Steve, is there a difference in felt thickness between these two hats?

Oh my gawd, Fedora!! That hat you have made there is flippin AWESOME!! I'm gonna have to change my order I'm sending you to this EXACT bash you put in this one! Oh,,makes me drewel!(sp?)

EDIT BY MODERATOR:

THANKS! I couldn't find that emoticon


TR

You're gonna make me have to redo my ribbon replacement page with that statement darnit all!

Yeah, and you have had a couple of hatters to learn how to do it, from your page. That's ok, keep it "as is" please. But, it is easier to get the flying v using your technique. It just ain't film accurate. Does it matter?? Well, to me it does, but I am weird in that way. This fits in with my idea of how we(myself included), tend to caricature the hat, including the bow. We want everything exaggerated. I am not throwing stones, as I live in a glass house.

Steve, is there a difference in felt thickness between these two hats

Yes, Marc's are generally a bit thicker than mine. My bodies are 112 grams, in the raw state, while I think his are 120, or perhaps 130. When he gets back, he can set me straight. I know I got in samples of the 120 gram from his felter, but it seems like he is having his specially run. Fedora

Hi there!

To answer the color-question: Marc's hat is not reddish at all, but pretty brown. This was a big plus to me, who was wearing the greyish Akubra Federation before! I think it's an adequate color, because the hats you see in the movie are very dusty and because of that appear
a little bit more lighter, but add a little sand , sweat and adventure to it and it looks just the same!

One thing I like very much about Steve's hat is the way he shaped the back and side parts of the brim, so it gets a special drive-up! I think, this is a result of the floppiness and softness of Marc's hat, that the brim gets a little bit flappy and you often got to shape it again to keep the brim-drive! Or do you use completely different brim flanges, Steve?

great comparrison photos!

To answer the color-question: Marc's hat is not reddish at all, but pretty brown.

To set the record straight, Marc's felt does have a red undertone, but that is not to say that it is red. Browns all have an undertone, and it can be green, red, or yellow, or perhaps something else like a gray.

Some of the hats from ROTLA appear to have a red undertone, while others do not.

Marc's felt looks a beautiful brown when it sits by itself. When placed next to my felt color, this undertone shows up. The pics above are exaggerated in the colors, but should give you a good idea of the difference in colors. We are definetely not using the same colored felt. I like both of these colors though, and depending upon which scene you are looking at, both seem to be close. Regards, Fedora

With the red undertones I bet the AB Deluxe would make a very nice LC Venice Peir hat.

Browns all have an undertone, and it can be green, red, or yellow, or perhaps something else like a gray.

I agree: Of course they are both pretty brown and it's right, that you just see a difference in direct comparison. (don't wanted to say that the AB isn't ) I just wanted to explain, that the actual AB Deluxe doesn't appear to me yellow-brown or red-brown but only brown! Other does the Akubra, which is definitely grey-brown!

But again: Does your modus operandi of prepairing the brim differ between the AB and the ABD?

Greetings

Nope, we're both using the same vintage style brim flanges. Your brim might have flattened a bit due to the immense size

Thanks for the comparison Steve. I'll make sure that my bow work will be similar to yours from today on.

Regarding the color: I chose the color due to the rich color it has when hit by direct sunlight. Of course - if the demand is there - I can get the rawbodies to match the color of Steve's ABs in the next batch. Just let me know.

Regards,

Marc

Hmm, that's a tough call, Marc. Fedoras color does look more like the Raiders color, especially in these screen grabs. But on the other hand, it's always nice to have subtle differences in colors of brown in the hat's that one owns. If they are all exactly the same color, they just all look like the same hat. I have three fedoras, all Raiders, but different shades of brown, and believe it or not, they really match different outfits. For instance, my Keppler is a shade similar to Fedoras, and it matches my authentic colored Flightsuits,and lighter colored Raiders wear, but not my dark brown Flightsuits and darker Temple wear. My Akubra matches the dark brown, but not the authentic,,etc. It's nice to have the little variance of choice. So I'd say leave it, it looks like a beauty in these pics, and I'm sure the red undertones are hardly even noticeable when it is by itself, it probably just looks brown, then.

Just my opinion,,you could always offer both

TR

Well, as The real Henry demonstrated so nicely, both hats have a screen accurate color and so it really depends on what scene one is after (or what other gear you're wearing with it - good point btw.)

Unfortunately - with the high min. requirements from my felter - I cannot offer both colors. Each order puts me WAY back...

But who knows what the future brings...

Regards and thanks for the feedback,

Marc