Club Obi Wan

How many of you guys got a YIJ AB?
im seriously thinking about getting one.

i remember there was one of you guys who got one and traveled around south america with it. i've been searching for that topic o the forum with no luck! (to see pictures of the hat)

i like the hat's from the early episodes (I REALLY like the one from the "London 1916" episode.

i like the "innocent" look of the YIJ fedora with the bash and the wider brim and ribbon. Don't get me wrong, i love the "Raiders" hat but the YIJ hat fits me and my personality better.
I have a Miller inspired by the mentioned hat and it's been with me for quite a while now thru snowstorms AND rainstorms and still no taper!

just thinking about getting a hat that i know will hold thru heavy weather like that and that can be crushed and come out of it like a typical Indy hat.

i did mail steve almost two years ago asking about the hat and was ready to order one but then i remembered i had another hat on the way so i put the AB on hold just in case my new Miller didnt hold up but it did

maybe the reason my Miller still holds is because i baby it so mutch! 8-[


if you guys have pictures of an YIJ AB/AB Deluxe/JP design, don't be shy. POST THEM!!


thanks again


Rio aka Chiliana

Here's my current lot of AB's:



From left to right: Raiders (in need of a reblock and/or more abuse ), gray AB, "vintage" AB made from a 1920's hat body.

The vintage AB is the most like the young Indy hat. It has a tall crown, wider ribbon, and a relaxed bash. I love this hat and it stands as one of my very favorites, if not my top fav. I was in the right place at the right time for this hat and asked Fedora to make a hat that looked like it came from the 20's. I think the young Indy hat is underrated. It has a feel and style all its own, yet so beautifully vintage and of its time.

Hey Chiliana,

If you do go for the Young Indy look with your AB, I would honestly recommend that you skip the standard Raiders blockshape, as I don't think the Raiders look (tall, straight crown) would work for a YIJ fedora. I think Steve has a few other types of blocks available as well, and something with a slightly shorter crown and more traditional blockshape might work out better for that look.

Another option to consider would be the Jimmy Pierce fedora. Jimmy's blockshape, while still good for a Raiders look, might also lend itself to the more traditional fedora look of the YIJ hat a bit easier than an AB. Plus, it comes standard with the wider (1 5/8 inch) ribbon.

Either way, I'm sure you'll have one heck of a hat!

-GCR

My vintage AB wasn't blocked on the typical Raiders block. I believe it was a bit closer to a LC block. I don't recall off hand. (Fedora, care to chime in?) But the YIJ was a tall crowned hat (at least the pics that I'm thinking of).

I don't take my vintage AB felt out much, bink, but I believe it was blocked closer to the LC block as well. (at least I know mine was as that's my personal favorite, next to the 'Abner' block. )

Regards! Michaelson

yeah i was thinking about the JPdesigns being great for that style too!:)

i think the YIJ hat would look good with the raiders blockshape. The hat has a tall crown(in the early episodes. the later one doesnt look good to me at all!)


some examples:

from the curse of the jackal/springbreak adventure


this one is good. my miller is inspired by this hat















london 1916 episode:






and here's the hat from the later episodes:

From what I can see of your hat in your avatar, you did a GREAT job with your Miller in capturing the first YIJC hat! I agree....I didn't like the hat in the later productions, as shown in your last photos.

I'm sure Fedora can reproduce that hat perfectly (and I believe he has on several occasions!)

Seeing these photos makes me want to dig out my recorded VHS tapes of the programs I recorded of the show when it aired back in 1992! I may just do that!

Regards! Michaelson

Here’s a thread with some great pictures of Tristan’s YIJC AB:

viewtopic.php?t=18599&highlight=young+indy

-Mac

Chiliana Jones wrote:
london 1916 episode:

This one pretty well sums up my vintage AB! Michaelson, my vintage AB is in frequent rotation. It's just too wonderful to leave on a shelf. However, even though I know it could physically withstand a good downpour (and it has seen some light rain and a few layers of snow) I usually take a different hat with me on rainy days. And if you ever want to get rid of your vintage AB, my friend, just let me know.

It has nothing to do with not liking it, bink. It's one of my favorite hats. It's due to something Fedora told me a while back....they won't make this felt ever again, and for me to enjoy it, but not use it as a daily hat. To paraphrase, he said there are to many good current felts out there you can wear on a daily basis.

Here in Tennessee on a normal day, it's either raining like crazy, or you're perspiring from the humidity and heat....neither one is something I want to put the vintage felt through....so it gets worn in cool weather, and special occasions.

Like he said, I have to many OTHER great hats I can wear rather than worry about messing up a classic vintage hat like my vintage felt AB.

Regards! Michaelson

I understand completely, Michaelson. I was just razzin' ya. I know what you mean about this felt, though, which is why I do pamper this hat even though I wear it about. There's just something about this hat that really draws me to it. Maybe I should have Steve make me another "modern" version of this hat someday.

Why not?

Regards! Michaelson

Man, that looks dead on! I love what you've done with that hat. Especially the brim!

Hey Chiliana, what kind of Miller hat do you have?

The brim on the young indy hat is very big almost like a cowboy hat. maybe it's just that guy's head.

Aeris:

Thank you for a good show! Nice hat you got there. love the color! a little wider brim and ribbon it would be dead on!;)



Indy89: I have the Indiana Miller 256 AND 257(open crown). i wear the 257 as it fits my head better and the bash is more personal. the 256 was so tight it hurt my head!
im really happy with the 257 hat! it's been with me ever since i got it.

i see Miller has changed the name of the model since last time and the price of the hat has gone up. now its called the miller fedora hat and the prize i payd was 115 bucks. now its 125.


you can view some pictures of my hat from my "introduction" post. some pictures the hat is brand new out of the box as you can see on the careful bash i had on it:

viewtopic.php?t=17492&highlight=

Thanks Chiliana, your hat looks awesome!
I think I'm gonna get a Miller
and give it a "Young Indy" bash.

Wow, what a great young Indy bash :!:

nice work tone! i love the style of your bash sir!

indy89 wrote:Thanks Chiliana, your hat looks awesome!
I think I'm gonna get a Miller
and give it a "Young Indy" bash.

cool! if you do go for the miller and the bash, dont forget to post pictures!

Bink,
Your Grey AB is the sharpest of the bunch, IMO. And not to create a stir, but it looks tan on my monitor. No joke. Seriously.

Thanks, 5! The lighting wasn't ideal when I took that pic, but the hat really does lean back and forth between the gray-brown color spectrum depending upon the light.

Agreed, agent5! Bink's gray AB is the best looking one of the bunch, no doubt!

Right bink?

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Who am I to disagree, Michaelson?

thank you Aeris.

is there anyone else who wants to show off theyr hat with a quick YIJ makeover?

The Akubra can't stand the removal of the tight front pinch, but I could show you some pics of my official Mayser YIJC hat.

Here's one I made last year for a guy who traveled to S.A. to make a documentary film of sorts. Looks like he wore it well!! Fedora

This expands on the 'turned hat' theory that 3thoubucks made popular. This is the 180 degree turn...

fedora, that one is fantastic!

how is the felt? floppy or stiff?

the YIJ hat was really floppy:

Ya but if you beat it up (wich they prob did) you can get it to be floppy!

Wow! I really like that "London 1916" fed.

I always loved the "London 1916" look. I'm sure Steve or Jimmy could get it. One day I'll have to get that in gray!

IndyFan89 wrote:Ya but if you beat it up (wich they prob did) you can get it to be floppy!

i'm against beating up hats. It just gives the hat a"fake" look. I prefer havin the hat distressed natural by just wearing it

Chiliana Jones wrote:It just gives the hat a"fake" look.

No it doesn't.

This image of Tycoonman's PB is a great example of one that's 'been out there'.

Regards! Michaelson

that's what i'm talking about! Tycoon's hat has it's own story to tell by just looking at it and the owner has a hat that he's been thru alot with as you can see on the hat.
a forced distressed hat doesnt have a really cool story in the distressing, just story of a butt that sat on it and that is one story the hat is not particulary proud of.(i belive)

CJ, now THAT'S about the best description I've ever read regarding faked distressing! BRAVO!!!

Regards! Michaelson

a forced distressed hat doesnt have a really cool story in the distressing, just story of a butt that sat on it and that is one story the hat is not particulary proud of.(i belive)

it would be cool if it were 2 butts.....nadoolman's and ford's

i'm against beating up hats. It just gives the hat a"fake" look.

Wasn't the very movie hat that we are spending so much time and effort trying to replicate, artificially distressed and beat up?

i'd have to say that that hat had the best of both worlds....some artificial distressing by the actor and costumer as well as some real world distressing in front of the camera.

rick5150 wrote:

i'm against beating up hats. It just gives the hat a"fake" look.

Wasn't the very movie hat that we are spending so much time and effort trying to replicate, artificially distressed and beat up?

yes it was but that's Hollywood

webhead73 wrote: On top of it all, when the days of life get short, you can get out your gear and look at those wrinkles, marks, and blemishes and remember the good ol' days which, if you are lucky, were filled with fun, excitement and adventure.

And lots of butts. 8-[

If it's for a movie or costuming then I say go for it. Otherwise live life to its fullest and bring your hat (or whatever piece of gear) along. Each wrinkle, mark, and blemish will add character and substance to your gear.

On top of it all, when the days of life get short, you can get out your gear and look at those wrinkles, marks, and blemishes and remember the good ol' days which, if you are lucky, were filled with fun, excitement and adventure.

I get out in my gear as much as the next guy I think. Maybe more than the next guy. It all depends on who the next guy is.

My statement had nothing to do with whether or not to artifically distress your hat. Only that it was said that beating up hats gives it a "fake" look. The Raiders hat - and especially the Streets of Cairo hat certainly did not look fake - it is a look many try to achieve. Ford had some real distressing but not the years and years that it takes to get the "look" they were after.

And for those of you who don't know what happens to your beloved, hard worn, beat-up, dirty (in other words "perfect") beaver fur felt hats when you send them for a reblock, I will tell you. They come back looking brand new. They get washed and new ribbons and sweats are installed. Maybe even repounced. So if you get a beaver hat that will last for 50 years and have it reblocked after 20 years of hard abuse, the felt may be softer but the darn hat will look brand new again. Then you have to start all over.

The hat in my avatar was my main hiking hat for years. Imagine my surprise when I had it reblocked and Steve sent it back looking brand new. I thought I had the wrong hat.

Add one more factor. You have a leather jacket and a fedora. You let them both distress naturally. The jacket is looking cool and the hat looks awesome. Together, they are a perfectly matched pair. When you get your hat reblocked, they no longer look right together. A bit of Fuller's Earth can fix that

...and a treatment of Pecards can fix the jacket too!

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks for the support

HIGH regards! Michaelson

I prefer Letap for the jacket.

Me too, but only use it on lambskin myself.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote: CJ, now THAT'S about the best description I've ever read regarding faked distressing! BRAVO!!!

Regards! Michaelson

thanks

Chiliana,

Go to www.pigeonflicks.com

I love my YIJ. It has a wonderful, floppy, old-world, innocent feel to it, which is what I always loved about the hat. It's a little less "grown-up".
Mine is beaver and it's very soft, and, believe me, it's been through everything during months of travel in South America and India.