Measuring your head

rbinko2001 · Post by **rbinko2001** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:50 pm

For those of you with custom made fedoras, how exactly did you go about measuring the circumference of your head and what measurement did you use when ordering your hat? I looked on Peters Bros website and followed their guidelines for measuring (putting the tape slightly above the ears etc.) Each time I measure my head though, I seem to get a slightly different measurement and that scares me when trying to order a custom. When I first measured my head today, and bear with me I have a big head, it measured 24 1/2. It seemed to fit "comfortably" snug, but not too loose. Then I pulled the tape as tight as it would go and I measured about 24 1/4. Do I use the average of those measurements when ordering, or do I use the 24 1/2, which was the more comfortable fit? Any help would be great.

Thanks.

TheChimp · Post by **TheChimp** » Fri May 30, 2008 6:19 pm

I would go with the 24 1/2. It's easier to use sizing tape to bring in a hat size if needed, than to have to buy a stretcher for one that's too small. Besides, ithe leather sweatband could shrink a little with use, so I wouldn't try to go as tight as possible.

JMO...

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Fri May 30, 2008 6:37 pm

try finding a hat that fits you comfortably on your head. note where it touches the front and back of your head and then measure your circumference utilizing those points.

for my first AB, i measured just above the brow and steve made it to that measurement....too big and sat too low. it was sent back for a reblock/resize. i think i finally got it right on the 3rd and 4th hat

the tape measure will dictate exactly where your hat is going to sit so be weary if you have the measurement tilted up/down/too low/too high. hope that helps.

rbinko2001 · Post by **rbinko2001** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:33 pm

Thanks for the advice.

myamoebafriend · Post by **myamoebafriend** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:56 pm

I recently went to local hat store to try on some hats to get an idea of what my size is because I find that measuring my head is kind of hard to do and probably not accurate, at least when I do it. Anyway, I found I'm somewhere between a 7 and 7 1/8. Then I tried on a Dobbs straw hat, similar to Belloq's, that had a heavenly fit and I looked to see what size it was but it just said medium. So I look it up on the internet when I get home to see what size their medium is and there were two medium options: 7 & 7 1/8. So now I'm stuck once more. So now I feel like I need to go back there to find out which medium size it was. They were only selling it for $60 too ($30 cheaper than what I saw on the internet), so I may go back and possibly get it.

This is that hat I tried on http://www.dadshats.com/kajspca.html

cooncatbob · Post by **cooncatbob** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:29 pm

Art Fawcett of
http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/
Sends out a device (I can't remember what it's called) that measures the size and shape of your head. Art then builds your hat on a block of the proper size and shape. When you get your VS hat it fits like it was made for your head because it was. The hat in my Avatar was made by Art.

airforceindy · Post by **airforceindy** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:53 am

That would be the famous VS "Conformer". I'm still wondering what the heck that thing looks like... Guess I 'll just have to save my pennies for an 'Art'.

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:26 am

airforceindy wrote:That would be the famous VS "Conformer". I'm still wondering what the heck that thing looks like... Guess I 'll just have to save my pennies for an 'Art'.

I have a hat from Art - it's SUPERB. Amazing finish, and fits like no other hat I have.

The conformer (I think the historical term is conformateur) looks a lot like the below - except your head goes in the middle (I think the below is for measureing a hat). His is more modern and made of plexiglas, and his has a lot more tightening screws, one per armature. Indeed, it would make one heckuva torture device in the wrong hands

Piker · Post by **Piker** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:48 pm

jeff wrote:
airforceindy wrote:That would be the famous VS "Conformer". I'm still wondering what the heck that thing looks like... Guess I 'll just have to save my pennies for an 'Art'.
I have a hat from Art - it's SUPERB. Amazing finish, and fits like no other hat I have.

The conformer (I think the historical term is conformateur) looks a lot like the below - except your head goes in the middle (I think the below is for measureing a hat). His is more modern and made of plexiglas, and his has a lot more tightening screws, one per armature. Indeed, it would make one heckuva torture device in the wrong hands

Can you imagine what ***** might do to your head in that thing?