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Nutria
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:47 am
by DR Ulloa
Are there any hat manufacturers that still work with nutria? Also, are there any felters that still produce nutria felt? I've been thinking about making my own hat and I though nutria would be a nice substitute to beaver.
Dave
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:28 pm
by inexpensive_jones
What's nutria? Never heard of such a thing.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:31 pm
by binkmeisterRick
From Wikipedia:
The coypu, or nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur ranchers.[2] Although it is still valued for its fur in some regions, its destructive feeding and burrowing behaviors make this invasive species a pest throughout most of its range.
There are two commonly-used names in the English language for Myocastor coypus. The name nutria (or local derivatives such as "nutria- or nutra- rat") is generally used in North America and Asia; however, in Spanish-speaking countries, the word nutria refers to the otter. To avoid this ambiguity, the name coypu (derived from the Mapudungun word kóypu)[3] is used in Latin America and Europe.[4] In France, the coypu is known as a ragondin. In Dutch it is known as beverrat (beaver rat). In Italy, instead, the popular name is, like in North America and Asia, nutria, but it is also called castorino (little beaver), by which its fur is known.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:37 pm
by agent5
My Optimo is a nutria blend and I like it a lot. I know most here will tell you that beaver is the be-all-end-all of everything when it comes to hats but the nutria is nice. I'd say give it a go and see what you think.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:41 pm
by DR Ulloa
a5, where can I find nutria hats or simply nutria felt?
Dave
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:41 pm
by Michaelson
I saw a program on Animal pPanet over the break, and they showed where New Orleans police SWAT teams were tasked to go out late at night with 22 rifles and shoot these animals on sight They are destroying the dikes and dams all around the city with their burrows. They're a real problem down there.
Regards! Michaelson
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:42 pm
by DR Ulloa
I just want to help fix that problem.
Dave
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:42 pm
by binkmeisterRick
I have a vintage nutria blend fedora which is one of my absolute favorites. If there's a demand for it, get New Orleans to supply the felt!
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:56 pm
by DR Ulloa
Winchester has a nutria/beaver blend which would be great if I decide to go through with the "make my own hat" idea.
Dave
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:57 pm
by binkmeisterRick
There you go, then! A nutria/beaver blend would be the next step up from a rabbit/beaver blend.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:15 pm
by DR Ulloa
Yup. I cam across a thread during the IndyFan days where Fedora and Art had a conversation about nutria felt and its durability. That go me thinking about getting a nutria hat of my own but I think vintage may be the only way to go unless I make it myself and at that it wont be pure nutria. At least the beaver will give it a nicer finish and a bit more durability.
Dave
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:52 pm
by BendingOak
Winchester doesn't have blends in the dress bodies. You would have to go with a western body.
I believe because of Uncle Sam, you must be a company to buy anymore.
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:35 pm
by rick5150
I do not think quality hats are made from 100% nutria - usually a blend, and I think it has to do with the felting properties. I cannot remember though.
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:50 am
by tucolino
doc,if you want a nutria hat,you should talk to odo or dewijones, the argentina guys that make the "explorador" fedora. i remember from a spanish forum that they use nutria instead of beaver felt.
best regards
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:02 am
by fedoralover
I have a vintage Stetson Nutria Quality fedora. It is unsure whether it is a blend or pure Nutria. It has a pretty dense felt.
fedoralover
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:41 am
by Piker
tucolino wrote:doc,if you want a nutria hat,you should talk to odo or dewijones, the argentina guys that make the "explorador" fedora. i remember from a spanish forum that they use nutria instead of beaver felt.
best regards
"Hare"
"Fieltro 100% pelo de liebre, de alta calidad, con tratamiento impermeabilizante."
http://www.indianajones.es/ropa/fedora_ ... explorador
Though it is very, very soft.
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:58 am
by DR Ulloa
Right on the money, Piker. In Spanish, Nutria is often referred to as castor or coypu.
Dave
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:18 am
by Piker
It is a great lid! I bought two of them. A Gray open crown for a buddy and gave it a generic 1930's center dent and side pinches.
For Moi, I got the Explorador 1936, Brown Raider's style and am on my honor to get pics of it posted. Two words: Stove Pipe!!!!
The 60 cm Explorador fits like a 59 cm Akubra Fed III, which is perfect.
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:29 am
by Odo
Well, Piker, I'm glad that you liked 'em...
In fact, what we use is wild hare, but a couple of months ago we had a small batch of Nutria felt, and we made a "special edition" of only 9 lids which have sold out, and we didn't even keep one for ourselves.
Nutria was slightly tougher than Hare (maybe too much for an Indy 1-2-3 hat).
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:42 am
by Piker
When I ran it thru the yahoo translator, it said, "hair of hare," but I was not sure it was true "wild hare" or just the translation.
Soft!!! And from what I have learned over the year of hanging round here and the Fedora Chronicles, "Hare" felt is much better than plain "Rabbit."
One of my New Years Resolutions is to post pics: Off the camera, on the HD up to flicker or photobucket. All those steps, bit of a challenge for me.
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:24 pm
by Rundquist
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:26 pm
by Michaelson
I handled a hat exactly like that in an antique store over the Holidays, and honestly thought it was beaver felt Stetson....until I saw the same markings inside the crown. I was surprised.
http://images47.fotki.com/v1398/photos/ ... ON1-vi.jpg
They were asking $800 for their example, by the way.
Regards! Michaelson
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:44 pm
by PyramidBlaster
I lived in Baton Rouge, LA for 13 years....And those things were everywhere. they seem to be partial to swampy areas.
Oddly enough that you mention it, I actually saw one that had been tagged by a car just last week, which was odd because I never thought they were down here in Florida (where I've spent the last 21 years). Apparently, they're thick down here, too....Looks kinda like a big beaver with a rat tail...
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:01 am
by rjallen70
Here is an old sears catalog page singing the praises of nutria fur hats.
http://books.google.com/books?id=CSVIpq ... &ct=result
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:55 pm
by bigrex
Rundquist wrote: I used to argue that it was a decent felt some years back, but was told by Fedora that they were just hats made from rat (not far from the truth actually).
Hmm, from reading the conversation, it sounds like nutria might make an interesting hat if it is a little tougher but still retains the more "flexible" properties of rabbit.
They call them swamp rats sometimes. Nutria are supposed to live in Florida where I was raised, however, although I did see some big rats, to my knowledge I never saw a nutria. Once I did watch a cooking show that claimed Cajuns still catch and eat them. Nutria is still sometimes considered a Cajun delicacy in Louisiana. The guy eating it on TV seemed to think it was really tasty, but then again, he seems to enjoy everything from whale blubber ice-cream to other bizarre animal parts that I won't mention here.
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:20 pm
by DR Ulloa
The "best of both worlds" aspect is what drew me to nutria in the first place. It seems to be tougher than rabbit but floppier than beaver. The perfect compromise, if you ask me. Of course, we have rabbit/beaver blends for that, but diversity is key for prosperity...don't know why I said that, but the alliteration was quite nice. ;-)
Dave
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:15 am
by tym
binkmeisterRick wrote:From Wikipedia:
The coypu, or nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur ranchers.[2] Although it is still valued for its fur in some regions, its destructive feeding and burrowing behaviors make this invasive species a pest throughout most of its range.
There are two commonly-used names in the English language for Myocastor coypus. The name nutria (or local derivatives such as "nutria- or nutra- rat") is generally used in North America and Asia; however, in Spanish-speaking countries, the word nutria refers to the otter. To avoid this ambiguity, the name coypu (derived from the Mapudungun word kóypu)[3] is used in Latin America and Europe.[4] In France, the coypu is known as a ragondin. In Dutch it is known as beverrat (beaver rat). In Italy, instead, the popular name is, like in North America and Asia, nutria, but it is also called castorino (little beaver), by which its fur is known.
Nutria and capybaras are two animals that scare the living @#$% out of me. Please make hats from them.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:23 am
by Jones Boy
Off topic a bit, however nutria features in a Seinfeld episode, where George convinces Elaine to buy him a fur hat that ended up costing $8k, he subsequently lost it (trying to court a girl) and then Kramer introduces George to one of his buddies who makes fur hats (out of nutria) which then falls apart after a shower of rain (bit long winded but it was a typical hilarious episode about - nothing!)
Cheers
Jonesy
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:42 am
by DR Ulloa
You know, I never get tired of Seinfeld. I can watch an episode 100 times and still find it funny.
Dave
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:56 am
by Imahomer
I love reading things like this thread on Nutria. Interesting stuff.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:06 pm
by DR Ulloa
I'm going to try to make my first block this weekend. After that I'll order some felt. I should probably start with something cheaper, liker rabbit, becuase I know I'll mess it up, but the nutria is very appealing.
Dave
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:43 pm
by Treadwell
Michaelson wrote:I saw a program on Animal pPanet over the break, and they showed where New Orleans police SWAT teams were tasked to go out late at night with 22 rifles and shoot these animals on sight
I don't remember if it was New Orleans, but I saw an episode of Insomniac with Dave Attell a few years ago on Comedy Central, in which he tagged along one one of these culling expeditions.
