Club Obi Wan

just wanted to post some 'work in progress' shots. the first clipper hat was definitely a western hat body.....this one is a beaver dress body, though i was billed for a western hat body......no need to split hairs with the supplier as i've already gone through much of that locally

i don't think the local hattery here will be selling me anymore supplies as i met with the VP and he seemed pretty grumpy about the items i used in my clipper hat.....jealousy perhaps???? "i'm not in the business of selling these items, i'm in the business in selling hats"......good luck then. they may make a decent overpriced factory cowboy hat (not really, but i'm being nice), but their dress line has a long laundry list of deficiencies. sorry if i sound bitter but i've been nothing but nice with them and they're not very customer oriented. i had them make a raiders fedora for me 2 years ago....(and a bowler before that where the crown was too tall)..a rabbit hat that cost just a little bit more than an AB beaver at the time. they did not know how to do a dimensional brim cut and they made the thing too small. used a 1 3/4" ribbon instead of a 1.5"....and so on and so on......on top of that, they are marketing the hat based on the specs i gave them. whew....had to get that off my chest......

anyways here some pics so far:

off the block, cut the brim, pounced it, and stitched in the sweat:




pic of the inside bow and stitching (sorry, the pics aren't the best):




flanged, and the brim is shaped:




now the bad news is that i have to use black ribbon on this guy if i want to wear it tomorrow.....which i do. the felt is dark with more brown than red to be SA so the black ribbon should work. i was originally going to bash this unturned with the 'waterfall' look but coming off the flange, the brim was just begging to get the turned swoop.

i'll post some finished pics soon.

cheers,



g

You need to start selling them.....they're great

Tony

is that the one you are making for me


looks great so far.

what blockshape is that? winston?

Indy G,
First of all, THANK YOU for recording and sharing some of "the process" with us!
I know a lot of us here - me included - LOVE seeing this stuff!

I think it's pretty cool that from what I can see, you'll NEVER have to deal with that local hattery again since you can obviously make a hat that's better looking (and better made) than ANYTHING they could ever HOPE to offer you...
So, "Hat's off!" to you for that!

When I see those photos - and those before of your "Clipper" - all I can think is
"Hmmm... I wonder if he's started thinking of a good Hat Company NAME, yet?"
and
"I wonder how much he'll charge and if he'll be willing to give a COW Member Discount?"

How can we help but ask these questions?
I think we all feel like we're getting to see a great Artist in his "Early Years".


Please keep those photos coming, sir... We look forward to seeing the End Results of all your hard work!

(Oh, and how does "The Top Men Hat Co." sound?)

... Wait, wait... forget it... I just realized how it sounds...

Looks like the same blockshape everybody else uses ( which comes to the CS block shape)

There are still vendors out there that use different blocks though. On the hat: will not make a great ravenbar hat. CS hat yes will be a perfect replica Ravenbar needs a completely different blockshape.

though i would like to say its great that you attempted to make it yourself. Make 2 more and start selling these puppy's.

Great lookig hat so far Indiana G! I'd love to see it after it is bashed.

Regards, Geert

I guess you haven't been able to contact Biltmore yet.

all done

i'm quite happy. it has the beefy crown that i always wanted. the center crease, again, is more CS than ROLA because my block is not domey enough......but i can't see up there anyways

next project will be another raiders....with a little twist ;-)

all right, i'm ready.....bring on TN's raiders jacket........and a another mortgage










i don't know about you but i can never tell how nice a hat is unless there's a head under it....same with jackets. i'll try to post a pic of me in it tomorrow.

good night all

Can't wait for that picture!

The hat looks great though...

Another job WELL DONE, Indy G.
Sleep well... you sure earned it!
Mitch

Looks great!
I like that beefy crown!

....mmmmmmm, meaty.

that looks great Indiana G! And that for your second hat. Keep up the good work!

Regards, Geert

It looks mighty tasty. Does it come with A1 Sauce?

Jack

good job, very nice. I like it alot.

Looking really good. Nicely done. And just because it's you, G...

Can I have it?

man, G, that hat looks great.

very nice! hope I see you outside today

Piers wrote:very nice! hope I see you outside today

it's not like i've quit smoking all of a sudden .......i'll keep an eye out for ya piers.

ichnob: ....that always comes back to bite me doesn't it?

one more pic folks......i think i got pretty close on this hat. i'm quite happy with it and its now my 'go-to' hat for my raiders gear



mitch..........i don't think i'll be going into business anytime soon.....but you'll definitely know if and when i do. thanks for the kind words my friend.



g

Well G...
Even if you never DO go into the business makin' 'em, at least you know you're making a hat that the REST of us sure do think LOOK like you COULD!
(Still feel like I should be tryin' to trick you into being my *Cough*7&3/8*Cough*59cm*Cough*...'Scuze me... where was I? Oh yeah... into being my "Secret Santa" or something in case you want to make other sizes...
(By the way, did I ever send you that $150 I owed you?)

Lemme know, dude...

Just...

just PUTTING that OUT there...



Seriously, awesome lid though... and looks great on you.
Mitch

Wow, is that you?! You don't look anything like your avatar.... Either way, nice lid! I think you captured the Raven Bar look quite nicely. Now only if the Raven Bar hat didn't have that turn, then you'd have a REALLY great hat!

-KB

Sorry about the dealings with the local guy. He probably knows what we all know now - you can make an awesome hat!

Wow, G! That hat is fantastic. I can't believe you started so recently!

You'd get my business, at least for blocking and bashing! I want one of those!

Just stand right over here behind me, Chewie...

There you go...

See?
This way we can hold each others spot in this line when the other needs a snack or "bathroom break"...

Just don't forget, you're standing BEHIND me this time, dude!


Mitch

Fantastic work, G. The hat looks great.

Dave

Maybe I'm imagining things, but I see the spirit of Indy giving you a nod of approval in your pic. Excellent job!

Very nice

Very "well done" indeed!

NIBS

Yes I too have to agree, very nice work. In fact you've helped me make a decsion, when I send my AB if for a reblock, I'm going to ask Fedora to shape it the Raven bar scene.

I like it.

Croft

Mitch LaRue wrote: Just don't forget, you're standing BEHIND me this time, dude!


Mitch

Fine with me. But if by some freak chance... ... my giant pile of hatboxes happens to fall over and bury you, I'm not waiting for you to dig your way out.

Fair enough, pal...
Mitch


(Note to self: Never, EVER turn your back on Chewie and his giant renegade pile of hatboxes...)

...

(...and be sure to let him cut ahead of you in line occasionally...)

...

(and let him win at Dejarik Chess once in a while...)

...

Indiana Holt wrote:
what blockshape is that? winston?

Great looking hat Indiana G. Fine workmanship, a total package. It does look like a copy of my Winston block- 360 stovepipe with a flat top? More proof it's a winning block shape! Hope you sell a bunch of em! . ...................................................

i definitely took a page out of your book $3K. i knew that the winston block that you showcased gave a nice back taper and that was what i was looking for. my original trial runs had these but it's difficult to get that effect with this beaver felt because it just has way too much stiffener and the center crease wouldn't cooperate as much as i'd like. i could probably get more of the tilt if i make the hat taller and push the crease in deeper. i might try that with the next hat. right now i've got a rabbit in the oven ; )

hopefully the softness of the rabbit felt will cooperate with me.......it's an actual dress body this time

i'm no where near where i want to be to start selling these guys off. i don't want to come off as a 'hack'.......leather attractions is already filling that niche nicely......ohhhhhhh........slamoooooo!!!!

ka-POW!

Or rather...
whoooooshCRACK!



Mitch

Indiana G wrote: a nice back taper and that was what i was looking for. my original trial runs had these but it's difficult to get that effect with this beaver felt because it just has way too much stiffener and the center crease wouldn't cooperate as much as i'd like. i could probably get more of the tilt if i make the hat taller and push the crease in deeper. i might try that with the next hat. right now i've got a rabbit in the oven ; )

!

You do need thin or soft felt to get the hat to crease and shape like the Raiders hat. I sand the inside of a Fed4 crown maybe 1/3 thinner, untill the felt folds completely between thumb and finger with light pressure. If the top of your head hits the top dent, it will just make a bump, and not push up the ends of the crease. I don't think it was a problem for Ford because of his head shape, but I get a bump. Looking forward to the rabbit!

Terrific job on the hat. I'm so impressed by the ones here who make their own lids.

crismans wrote:Terrific job on the hat. I'm so impressed by the ones here who make their own lids.

.....and the folks that seek out new jacket offerings ;-)

Nothing to add other than yet another well done! You should be proud of your efforts, that's a fine looking hat.

Weston

Who do I make the check out to? Well done, now that's an Indy hat.