Club Obi Wan

Just ordered my first indy hat. I know the AB seems to be the top of the line. Im starting out with a Lee Kepler fedora. Just wondering if any of the fedora vetrans can give me any feedback on the kepler fedora.

Good choice! The Keppler is a great hat, Lee is excellent at getting the bash just right! It comes with quite a bit of stiffener in it, so it's quite hard at first, but that helps hold that bash for a LONG time! I'm totally pleased with mine, I've had it about 3 years now. It's actually the thinnest felt hat I own,,thinner than my AB and Akubra. You'll be happy with it! I just wonder how long the wait is these days...

TR

Lee called me last Tuesday(was on the road again), and said the wait was a lot shorter than it used to be, so bring the orders on! (he said. )

Regards! Michaelson

He said the wait is about 6 weeks. just ordered it last week.

Glad to hear Lee's still out and about! Maybe I'll get another hat from him soon!

Anybody know what the felt content is on Keppler's hat?

It's a beaver blend. Most likely a beaver/rabbit mix.

That's what I understand it to be as well. Well made hats.

I had a dark gray Keppler once, but it was 'removed' from my daughters car after her wreck in Chattaonnoaa couple years ago when she borrowed it and a Wested Raiders lambskin for a photo shoot in Knoxville. The Wested disappeared as well. :evil: I never replaced them

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:That's what I understand it to be as well. Well made hats.

I agree on that point. I know I've said before that my old Keppler tapered up on me something fierce, but that was due to carelessness on my part. When it got absolutely drenched during the rains of 2004, I let the hat dry on its brim, and the weight of so much water pulled the crown down to the point where the taper was enourmous. With proper care, the Keppler fed can hold its own.

Michaelson wrote:I had a dark gray Keppler once, but it was 'removed' from my daughters car after her wreck in Chattaonnoaa couple years ago when she borrowed it and a Wested Raiders lambskin for a photo shoot in Knoxville. The Wested disappeared as well. :evil: I never replaced them

That's a shame! :evil: How on Earth does something like that happen?

Easy. Law enforcement didn't let her remove all her personal belongings from the car before it was removed to a wrecking yard for insurance inspection. It was picked clean by the time we got back to Chattanooga 1 day later.......once we found it.
Of course the yard owners claimed no liability while the yard was unattended (which it was that night, even though it was stored behind a locked and lighted fense.)

It was bad enough that the hat was lost, but that was the only authentic lambskin Raiders jacket I had ever owned...it was the first one Peter made of the material, it FIT!!!! and I had had it for only a month or so before it was borrowed for the shoot. SO, one of those useless moments of life, I suppose.
Anyway, the Kepper is a FINE fedora, and well worth the monies.
Regards! Michaelson

*groan*

And there was pretty much nothing you could do, huh?

Our word against theirs that the items even existed, so what COULD we do? Insurance would cover items like the 2 computers she had in the trunk, but items of clothing are pretty much charged off, regardless of what they are, or what they are actually worth.

Regards! Michaelson

How do you order a Kepler?,I emailed Lee months ago and didn't get a reply..is there a phone no. or address?,I'd love to have a Kepler,from what I hear they are wonderful hats.

Anybody know what the felt content is on Keppler's hat?

I would guess 98 per cent rabbit and 2 per cent beaver, if it has any beaver at all. Seems like I read on TFL that the only difference between the 5x and 6x Beaver Brand hats lies only in the pouncing, and perhaps a little better sweat. I doubt you would find any beaver fur in any modern 5 or 6 x hat. Fedora

mark seven wrote:How do you order a Kepler?,I emailed Lee months ago and didn't get a reply..is there a phone no. or address?,I'd love to have a Kepler,from what I hear they are wonderful hats.

If you want to get ahold of Lee, the best idea is to call him. I believe his # is (619) 647-6744

Thanks Strider.

Can anyone tell me if scothguard or any other type of protectant or water proofing is good for hats?