So I dropped in at the Biltmore factory store yesterday (something I highly recommend if you're ever in the area of Guelph, Ontario) and picked up a new lid made, apparently, of mink.
Is this a good quality felt? At factory store prices I'm not too concerned, but I'd like to know if I can wear it out in the rain.
LJ
Mink fur felt??
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Long John Tinfoil
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Long John Tinfoil
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Sorry guys, but it is not pure mink. Pure mink fur won't make a hat. Marc fouind this out when he was having a small run of bodies made special for he and I and a couple of his friends. There is a max percentage of mink that can be used, and I am not at liberty to say what that percentage is, unless Marc wants to tell us. Marc's felter used various amounts of mink, blended with beaver, until he finally got a hat that would felt correctly without pushing(a hatters term). He dropped down the mink content until the hat would felt properly. He then told Marc what the max amount of mink a hat could have, and it ain't much. When Stetson sold that "Touch of Mink Hat" it really was, just a touch of mink. Marc's felter maxed out the mink content which added to the feel of the hat. I reckon Marc had the most expensive body in the world made when he had his guy do this. Oh, the feltmaker wanted a hat made from this blend!!! But, he was not excited about doing this again. And, I am still waiting on Marc to get time to make our hats. 
But, I know it will be a real special hat once he finds the time to do it. A rare bird indeed.
So,don't be fooled by mink hats. A pure mink hat does not exist as it is impossible to make. Fedora
But, I know it will be a real special hat once he finds the time to do it. A rare bird indeed. So,don't be fooled by mink hats. A pure mink hat does not exist as it is impossible to make. Fedora
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Long John Tinfoil
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Didn't think it would be pure mink, just wanted to know what I should expect from such a thing.
Fedora, I'd like to think I understand what you mean by "added to the feel of the hat", but I'm afraid it may be like the code that oenophiles speak when they taste. I presume it adds a somewhat luxurious feel to the felt, but I'm not sure I'm really able to appreciate the difference. Since Biltmore manufactured for Stetson, I guess it's similar to the "Touch of Mink Hat". Your various comments on hatmaking are an education in themselves, and I look forward to learning more.
Interbak, you must have missed the earlier reference to The Hatter on Avenue Rd. in Toronto. I live in Caledon, but "Salvage Consulting" takes me to pretty much anywhere in Southern Ontario and the Near North. "Look for me under the soles of your feet."
LJ
Fedora, I'd like to think I understand what you mean by "added to the feel of the hat", but I'm afraid it may be like the code that oenophiles speak when they taste. I presume it adds a somewhat luxurious feel to the felt, but I'm not sure I'm really able to appreciate the difference. Since Biltmore manufactured for Stetson, I guess it's similar to the "Touch of Mink Hat". Your various comments on hatmaking are an education in themselves, and I look forward to learning more.
Interbak, you must have missed the earlier reference to The Hatter on Avenue Rd. in Toronto. I live in Caledon, but "Salvage Consulting" takes me to pretty much anywhere in Southern Ontario and the Near North. "Look for me under the soles of your feet."
LJ
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WalkingEye
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Long John Tinfoil
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Hey Long John,
I do remember your reference to The Hatter, now that you mention it. Last Christmas we stopped at Biltmore and there was a big Ford pick-up out front with Kentucky plates. Sure enough Eric, the owner, was there and running the store that day. He's a great guy, loves to talk hats. He also suggested The Hatter as the last real hat shop around Southern Ontario. I didn't get a hat that day, but my wife did. I've since stopped by The Hatter, nice place, friendly people. They said they're going to be carrying more of the Akubra line in the near future. Of course the Fed's won't be available to them. I was wearing my Fed III at the time, and the sales lady was surprised to hear it was an Akubra, since it wasn't in any of their catalogs.
As to Tim Hortons, they're expanding beyond just the "Canadian Addiction", they're out to take over the world.
Later
I do remember your reference to The Hatter, now that you mention it. Last Christmas we stopped at Biltmore and there was a big Ford pick-up out front with Kentucky plates. Sure enough Eric, the owner, was there and running the store that day. He's a great guy, loves to talk hats. He also suggested The Hatter as the last real hat shop around Southern Ontario. I didn't get a hat that day, but my wife did. I've since stopped by The Hatter, nice place, friendly people. They said they're going to be carrying more of the Akubra line in the near future. Of course the Fed's won't be available to them. I was wearing my Fed III at the time, and the sales lady was surprised to hear it was an Akubra, since it wasn't in any of their catalogs.
As to Tim Hortons, they're expanding beyond just the "Canadian Addiction", they're out to take over the world.
Later
It was Resistol that made the Touch of Mink, they did another run last year, it comes up every few years. When the do the Double eagle, that hat is actually pure beaver but made for the finest peices of the hide, center belly, neck, feet.
When stetson does a mink blend it is called a 500X. They also do a beaver and chinchilla blend that is a 1000X. I picked up a bodie of each when the factory closed, and the feel is pretty different from a pure beaver. However it doesn't add to durability.
One thing I have thought out is that mink hairs are finer than beaver hairs, and chinchilla hairs are finer than mink. Therefore, if you get a good-even mixing, the mink furs should fill in between the individual beaver furs, filling in space in the felt that would be airspace if the mink furs were not there. THe chinchilla, being finer, should do this better. This would make the felt denser.
That is all just logical speculation, fallowing a train of thought, don't have any proof other than the feel of the hats.
Jimmy
When stetson does a mink blend it is called a 500X. They also do a beaver and chinchilla blend that is a 1000X. I picked up a bodie of each when the factory closed, and the feel is pretty different from a pure beaver. However it doesn't add to durability.
One thing I have thought out is that mink hairs are finer than beaver hairs, and chinchilla hairs are finer than mink. Therefore, if you get a good-even mixing, the mink furs should fill in between the individual beaver furs, filling in space in the felt that would be airspace if the mink furs were not there. THe chinchilla, being finer, should do this better. This would make the felt denser.
That is all just logical speculation, fallowing a train of thought, don't have any proof other than the feel of the hats.
Jimmy
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Indiana G
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unfortunately timmy's is owned by wendy's....an american franchise.....i'm not very proud of one of our canuckians selling out like that. i hope he chokes on his caviar while sailing around the world in his 100 foot yacht.......SELL OUT!As to Tim Hortons, they're expanding beyond just the "Canadian Addiction", they're out to take over the world.