Club Obi Wan

I was thinking today (and this can be a dangerous thing)...Maybe someone already knows this question. Maybe no one has ever asked it before. And just maybe I need to brush up on my fedora IQ. But...
If the dimensional cut is made in the brim before turning and bashing, doesn't this make the fedora appear inaccurate, from a strictly visual cue? Or am I just confused?

Its to add character to the fedora. The directional cut is done before the turn, though I've heard of some folks asking for the dimensional cut AFTER the turn had been put in to take that out of the hat. I don't know why. Its part of what I love about the hat.

Dave

It makes little sense to me to ask for a dimensional cut after the turn is done if the cut follows the turn. There may as well be a dimensional cut with no turn?

Then what you have is the other film hats. Dimensional cut and no turn. Turning the hat and then giving the hat the dimensional cut gives the hat the brim warp and distortion that is seen in Raiders while keeping the brim looking straight and clean.

Dave

This whole dimensional cut still puzzles me today. It is a part of what defines an Indy fedora, as all hats were cut in this manner. Years ago, from some source, we were told it was done for camera angles, etc. But, I don't understand it. Seems like they would be concerned with his face being covered, and the dimensional cut to me, does not seem to help this. If they were concerned about the camera angle from the side view, the cut would not help this out either. So, as I say, I am still puzzled by this. Fedora

The only way I can see this help to see the actors eye. Is if the sides were curled up more than they are in a Indy and making it hard to get a big snap down in the front. The Indy lid didn't need the bigger curl because of the turn.

DR Ulloa wrote:Then what you have is the other film hats. Dimensional cut and no turn. Turning the hat and then giving the hat the dimensional cut gives the hat the brim warp and distortion that is seen in Raiders while keeping the brim looking straight and clean.

Dave

Isn't the brim warp we see though more of a non symmetrical distortion of the brim, than a straight and clean brim? In other words a dimensional cut before the turn?

RCSignals wrote:

DR Ulloa wrote:Then what you have is the other film hats. Dimensional cut and no turn. Turning the hat and then giving the hat the dimensional cut gives the hat the brim warp and distortion that is seen in Raiders while keeping the brim looking straight and clean.

Dave

Isn't the brim warp we see though more of a non symmetrical distortion of the brim, than a straight and clean brim? In other words a dimensional cut before the turn?

Dim cut before the turn . correct.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I kind of thought it was before the turn, as it didn't make any sense otherwise. Sort of hard to cut while you're wearing the darn thing!
I think I might have to save up now and give the turn a try on my next Fed IV. The wife's gonna love this...

I think Pagey cut down one of his hats while wearing it.

Dave

I saw an AB on our favorite auction site not too long ago, and it had a dim. cut post turn. The hat was rediculous looking off of the head, and on the sellers head it just looked normal. Sure the brim was sorta swoopy, but nothing that couldn't be achieved with a little brim training.


Travis

I always just assumed the turn was so you could see the bow somewhat while looking dead on from the front, also like Toht's. The brim could be artificially distorted for the effect by a costumer whether the hat was turned or not. Did D.L. ever comment on it?

Illinois James wrote:I always just assumed the turn was so you could see the bow somewhat while looking dead on from the front, also like Toht's. The brim could be artificially distorted for the effect by a costumer whether the hat was turned or not. Did D.L. ever comment on it?

I don't think DL ever talks about it.

The turn not only effects the brim but also on how the crown looks.

BendingOak wrote:

Illinois James wrote:I always just assumed the turn was so you could see the bow somewhat while looking dead on from the front, also like Toht's. The brim could be artificially distorted for the effect by a costumer whether the hat was turned or not. Did D.L. ever comment on it?

I don't think DL ever talks about it.

The turn not only effects the brim but also on how the crown looks.

Oh no I thought I completely understood the turn. What effect does it have on the crown?

Well, for starters, a crown is not round - it is oval shaped. So is the sweatband and the head, more or less. Imagine trying to turn an egg slightly inside it's shell. Something's got to give. In the case of a hat, the turn puts pressure on the sweatband, making that give to conform to the head. The crown is now under stress to reshape, and is also now at an odd angle visually. The effect is a hat with an uneven dome (in terms of height and taper).

Of course, none of this is in technical terms, or based on any hatter-level knowledge. Just the observations of a daily hat wearer.