Club Obi Wan

Hello all-
Ive read these threads from cover to cover....or...page to page....
and i think ive pretty much narrowed down my choices to either a federation, or a camptown....
The fed is cheaper coming in at $127 USD shipped, while the camptown is $175 USD.... is it worth the extra $48 for the camptown? and also, with the NEW fed coming out soon, and the price increasing... im not sure what to do.
id really like a nice, sturdy hat for possibly everyday wear, but i want one with good SA quality and softness to it as well. i dont want a cardboard or rough textured hat, like the cowboy hats ive had in the past.
The sale that JJ put up makes it tempting, since he's including the styling, which im not too confident about with having to do it myself if i went with the fed. which of the two would you guys get?
thanks in advance for the help!
Matt

well if you are going to be rough on your hat at all i normally will recommend to people to get a federation. they are tough as nails and can take tons of abuse. however from what i have seen on here the camptown is quite a nice hat, i just don't know how much abuse one would take having never had one.

The real difference is the Camptown is a beaver blend, and the Fed rabbit.

Yes, the Camptown is worth the extra $48.

I love 'em both, but they're two completely different 'animals', if you'll pardon the pun.

Regards! Michaelson

UFO wrote:Hello all-
Ive read these threads from cover to cover....or...page to page....
and i think ive pretty much narrowed down my choices to either a federation, or a camptown....
The fed is cheaper coming in at $127 USD shipped, while the camptown is $175 USD.... is it worth the extra $48 for the camptown? and also, with the NEW fed coming out soon, and the price increasing... im not sure what to do.
id really like a nice, sturdy hat for possibly everyday wear, but i want one with good SA quality and softness to it as well. i dont want a cardboard or rough textured hat, like the cowboy hats ive had in the past.
The sale that JJ put up makes it tempting, since he's including the styling, which im not too confident about with having to do it myself if i went with the fed. which of the two would you guys get?
thanks in advance for the help!
Matt

Hello Mark and welcome,

I can only say good things about the Fed. It was the lid that got me in the Gearhead game.

My Camptowns are very different as they are tough beaver blend hat. My #13 lid has been untreated for rain for 18 months and only now is showing some shrinking. I literally froze and thawed it untreated too.

If you have more questions, PM, email or call me anytime

Thanks for considering a Camptown !

Regards
Ken

This is kinda funny, I just clicked on the fedora section and was about to create a thread with this very same question.

I want to get a fedora that can be styled to the Skulls bash but without the AB wait time because I need it in time for May 22.

Is the Camptown Fieldmaster fedora too tapered in order to have a accurate Skulls fedora? Would it be best to wait until next week to find out the info and wait time for the new fed.

I was going to be giving JJ a call tomorrow and see how long it would take to get his fedora.

Even though the absolute latest I need the fedora is by May 22, I really wanted to start wearing my fedora ASAP so it can start to get the so called "character" it needs.

Regards,

Josh K

JerseyJones wrote: My Camptowns are very different as they are tough beaver blend hat. My #13 lid has been untreated for rain for 18 months and only now is showing some shrinking. I literally froze and thawed it untreated too.

Thats good to know Ken I'm always looking other hats that can take some abuse and a beaver blend would be a nice addition you just might be hearing from me in a couple months.

My opinion is already known but I'll state it again. The Camptown is worth every penny you put down for it! They are a tad stiff when first out of the box but handle it for a while and it softens up rather quick. And yes you can get an SA look from this lid. The ventilated sweatband is a super bonus, as it allows a free flow of air around the scalp. Is it sturdy? Yes. Is it easy to shape? You bet! It is a 50/50 beaver/rabbit blend. I haven't had any tapering issues in the two years that I have had my Fieldmaster & the color is great.
It is a nice looking hat that has taken rain & snow and still passes for a dress hat when necessary.
For me, hands down, it is a Camptown Fieldmaster for those Indy fans on a budget. It is worth the extra 48 clams for sure. In the end the choice is yours & I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you get.

Cheers!

Dan

DanielJones wrote:My opinion is already known but I'll state it again. The Camptown is worth every penny you put down for it! They are a tad stiff when first out of the box but handle it for a while and it softens up rather quick. And yes you can get an SA look from this lid. The ventilated sweatband is a super bonus, as it allows a free flow of air around the scalp. Is it sturdy? Yes. Is it easy to shape? You bet! It is a 50/50 beaver/rabbit blend. I haven't had any tapering issues in the two years that I have had my Fieldmaster & the color is great.
It is a nice looking hat that has taken rain & snow and still passes for a dress hat when necessary.
For me, hands down, it is a Camptown Fieldmaster for those Indy fans on a budget. It is worth the extra 48 clams for sure. In the end the choice is yours & I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you get.

Cheers!

Dan

Ok DJ. I think you've sold the fieldmaster to me!!! Now I just hope that I can order and get mine before May 22.

From what little I've read, the Camptown seems like it's worth more than what you are paying for it. The Federation also is a good bargain since it can be made to look reasonably close to an Indy fedora, but the Camptown is somewhat higher quality and looks even better when properly bashed.

Ken, what's your wait time looking like?

bigrex wrote:From what little I've read, the Camptown seems like it's worth more than what you are paying for it. The Federation also is a good bargain since it can be made to look reasonably close to an Indy fedora, but the Camptown is somewhat higher quality and looks even better when properly bashed.

Check out some of the images here. I'll be posting some more recent pics of my Fieldmaster but what is shown here a good example of what can be accomplished right out of the box.

viewtopic.php?t=22868

Cheers!

Dan

Hmm. Camptown better than the Federation? Interesting. Doubt I can afford it, though. Hopefully the new and improved Federations will be worth getting instead.

The Feds are worth every penny too. You're just comparing apples to oranges, that's all. (man, how many times have I posted THAT this past week!? )

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson, you have a LOT of apples and oranges. You should try a mango from time to time. Or a banana.

I have. It just doesn't make as much sense when I post it that way.

'You're comparing strawberries to apricots!'

See?



Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote: ... 'You're comparing strawberries to apricots!' ...

What's wrong with that? They're both spelled with letters from the alphabet. 8-[

All right, roomie, back to your cave.....

HIGH regard! Michaelson

"You're comparing monkeys to Jess..." No, they're pretty much the same thing... How about, "You're comparing goofballs to Jess..." No, same problem. I don't think you can win that one.

Argonaut wrote:Hmm. Camptown better than the Federation? Interesting. Doubt I can afford it, though. Hopefully the new and improved Federations will be worth getting instead.

Like Michaelson said, apple to oranges, or rabbit to a 50/50 beaver rabbit blend. But for the money I personally would put down the extra Pieces of Eight to get the 50/50 blend. I've gotten to handle a couple of Feds & I personally prefer the feel of the blend. Plus I also think the color is much closer than what I've seen out there in the Feds.
Now I'm quite sure the fan's of the Fed will be able to sing it merits as well & I am sure that it is tough as nails. But the Camptown Hats are a tough breed as well that hold their own down the road. Just my two cents.

Hey Michaelson! Since you own both could you please submit some pics of the Fieldmaster & Federation side by side for comparison & maybe offer some of your insight on each? Thanks!

Cheers!

Dan

DanielJones wrote:

Argonaut wrote:Hmm. Camptown better than the Federation? Interesting. Doubt I can afford it, though. Hopefully the new and improved Federations will be worth getting instead.

Hey Michaelson! Since you own both could you please submit some pics of the Fieldmaster & Federation side by side for comparison & maybe offer some of your insight on each? Thanks!

Cheers!

Dan

Yes, let's see those apples and oranges.

Can't afford it? Think again:

viewtopic.php?t=27062

And please, your donation takes one more lawyer off the streets.

Here is the most recent shot of my 2 1/2 year old orange.



Cheers!

Dan

That hat looks great, but I'm a little worried about the ribbon color. Maybe it's just the camera, but I was thinking it should be darker. Most Federation pics I've seen show a somewhat darker ribbon I think.

Nope - my AB's ribbon is pretty much the same color as that, and they've been the gold-standard for screen accuracy for years now. Admittedly, mine is from before Steve sourced the original supplier, but the ribbon is still pretty close and looks just like that one. So is my PB custom. :junior: -M

Ken is a very difficult man to get a hold of these days, but I'll keep trying. I really want one for the premier too. Plus, I'm a high school teacher, and the students are taking pictures of different teachers for an art project. They have asked me to dress as Indy, so I would love a Fieldmaster to add to the photo.

By the way, does the Federation still come unfinished?

Mr. Z wrote:Ken is a very difficult man to get a hold of these days, but I'll keep trying. I really want one for the premier too. Plus, I'm a high school teacher, and the students are taking pictures of different teachers for an art project. They have asked me to dress as Indy, so I would love a Fieldmaster to add to the photo.

By the way, does the Federation still come unfinished?

Yes to my knowledge.

The ribbon, when I first received the hat was several shades darker, but wearing it in the sun has faded it a little bit. The flash did the rest. So, for the most part, the original color is as close to the so called SA as one can expect. Hope that helps.

Mr. Z: Keep trying. There is a LOT on Ken's plate these days, but not to worry, he will get back to you.

Cheers!

Dan

I appreciate the words of encouragement DanielJones. Sometimes I feel like Henry Jones looking for the grail when trying to get a hold of Ken. I will be tenacious though.

Good, good! No problem Mr. Z.

Cheers!

Dan

-look in the vendor announcements- Ken posted what sizes he has in stock over there.

So the Camptown Fieldmaster is looking fantastic. I love the color of it.

But is it really as tough as the Federations? I need a hat that'll last me forever. I can't afford hats that often.

The hat does look great, but it looks a bit too tapered to be a Raiders accurate hat. Am I wrong? Is the crown height perfect for a Raiders look? Cuz that's really what I'm going for. That classic Cairo look with the turn.

So if I can afford it, I may get this camptown instead of the federation.

I've had my Fieldmaster for 2 1/2 years now and narry a taper to be found. I gave it the basic Raiders bash with the tight pinch. The sides have stayed stovepipe straight as far as I can see.
Could be a possible optical illusion. The 3/4 view may look a little tapered but I guarantee it isn't.





From what I can tell, Ken can do the Cairo turn to suit your requests as well. PM him, or e-mail him and ask away. Just be patient though, life is really full time right now & he does have his hands full, but is more than happy to get you what you're looking for. The more interest the faster the orders will get.
Trust me, you won't be sorry with the 1936 Fieldmaster. Oh, and yes, it is one tough hombre. I've worn mine in all kinds of weather other than a torrential downpour monsoon. It has seen a duststorm, snow in Yosemite & seems to weather it all.

Cheers!

Dan

Thanks for the help Dan! Of all the Camptowns I've seen, yours was the one that most convinced me of its quality. That is just a fantastic looking hat. The color is way better than any Federation I've seen, and I like the idea of a 50/50 Beaver/Rabbit blend. Yeah, Ken said he could give me the Raiders turn in another thread, so I guess that's what I'll do. I certainly don't mind waiting a while for it, but hopefully I can get it before the May 22 premiere.

Happy to be of help Argonaut! And thanks for the compliments.

Cheers!

Dan

Just thought I'd post these specs.

Camptown has a 5 1/2 in. crown.

Ron says this about the Federation IV:

Crown height is 5 5/8ths inches. It is 1/8 higher than the current Indiana Jones movie. The key issue in choosing this block is the flatter dome and slightly lower height than the current models. The blocks are an original wooden set which have not been used for over 30 years.

Slight lower, hmm. Some folks have complained that the current Federations were too tall. Too tall for a Raiders hat? I don't know.

I still worry the Camptown isn't tall enough, but then again it is superior in so many other ways, and 5 1/2 could be plenty tall. I can't remember, but I think the original Raiders hat was 5 1/2 anyways. EDIT: Yep. I guess it was 5 1/2 inches. In that respect the Camptown is Raiders accurate. But is the ribbon really the right color? It doesn't look dark enough to me.

Hate to be picky. Just wanna get the best hat.

Well the ribbon you see in my pics is 2 1/2 years old and sun faded. I looked underneath and it is a very contrasting dark brown. Hope that helps some.

Cheers!

Dan

I just ordered a Fieldmaster, dropped the money order in the mail today.

DanielJones wrote:Well the ribbon you see in my pics is 2 1/2 years old and sun faded. I looked underneath and it is a very contrasting dark brown. Hope that helps some.

Cheers!

Dan

Thanks. Could be dark enough then.

Piker wrote:I just ordered a Fieldmaster, dropped the money order in the mail today.

Let us know when you get it, and if you can, show pictures. If it comes really fast that's one more reason for me to get one.

I intend to post some pics or at least links to the pics. I am a bit challenged in the whole digital image downloading from the camera to the PC and then to the board thing.

Piker: Congratulations Piker! Can't wait to see what you get. Keep us posted on any progress.

Argonaut: You're welcome. I think you be pleasantly happy with it.

Cheers!

Dan

Piker wrote:I intend to post some pics or at least links to the pics. I am a bit challenged in the whole digital image downloading from the camera to the PC and then to the board thing.

No worries. At my young age, I should be tech-savvy about that kind of thing, but I admit I'm pretty baffled with it at times. Looking forward to seeing it.

And at my age, I am fighting off the need for bi-focals.

Piker wrote:And at my age, I am fighting off the need for bi-focals.

Ha, well same here. I wear contacts because my glasses are like coke bottles. I guess that can happen at any age.

And I just ordered a Gray Federation. I have come to really dislike the gray Dork Pac I bought a year and a half ago.

Have this lovely, non-Indy, tan hat with no taper. Wife tells me she like it better than my gray one. Something about it, she says. Yes, indeed there is; not a trace of taper to it.

The DP just got placed on "Use as practice for throwing on hat racks patrol." Best be careful to remove the feather and place it in the Fed, and put it on the rack, she will never know..... :idea:

Thinking about buying an old school brown body Federation hat to use when I go into the woods as a Park Volunteer. I would cry if the Camptown 1936 was damaged, and Volunteers are not supposed to look like Rangers. A Fed looks nothing like a Ranger's campaign hat, yet would go well with my Volunteer uniform.

Piker wrote:I just ordered a Fieldmaster, dropped the money order in the mail today.

I'm envious bud. You'll have to post pics.

Mr. Z wrote:I appreciate the words of encouragement DanielJones. Sometimes I feel like Henry Jones looking for the grail when trying to get a hold of Ken. I will be tenacious though.

Ken is alive and well. I am going to really push for some great new things for Camptown and I can use all the support I can get. Anyone can contact me either by phone

973 477 0934 and PLEASE LEAVE VOICEMAIL !!!

or camptownhats@yahoo.com

remember, I am still a lawyer about to go to trial, so my days are a mess, but persistence is KING and I welcome your orders and your friendship.

A Camptown owner is family (even if we don't talk much )

Thanks so very much !
Ken - JJ

Heya Jersey. Good to see you're still around. I sent you an email just recently. No rush.

Good to know Ken. Good luck with everything; I'll be in touch!

I cant make up my mind between the two!!!