Thanks John for the hatbox.....

[Fedora]

My good friend John Penman, had a hatbox made for me, with the AB logo on the top. Very heavy duty box, as it weighs about 3 times the amount of the Optimo boxes I have owned in the past.

Of course, this makes me want to offer a box with my hats!! I will look into doing just that when I get a chance.

So thank you so much John!! I have a vintage hat that will utilize this storage box.

Here she is.



And might as well show a hat while I am at it. Not an Indy fedora, but something I made for a customers father. I used a vintage tapered block to form it, and used an Indian motiff narrow hatband.
Brim is 2 3/4, all the way around, no dimensional cut on this one. And nice to make a non Indy fedora for a change!! I had just given this hat a triple dose of water repellant so that accounts for the really dark brown. It will lighten up once the naptha evaporates.

[DR Ulloa]

That was mighty nice of John. I'd buy one of those hat boxes for each of my ABs. Just to give you an idea of how interested I'd be in them. I'm sure others here are too.

Dave

[Mulceber]

ditto - I'd be interested in at least one. -M

[Indiana Kev]

Yeah that looks great and would sell like hot cakes! I know I want one. Nice work John!

[IndianaRIL]

When I talked to John a week or two ago on the phone, he told me he was going to be sending "customized" hat boxes to Steve and Marc. I own three, and they're the best hat boxes I've ever seen. I recommend them unconditionally. Enjoy them Steve and Marc.

[BendingOak]

Thanks Steve very much for all you have done for me. that goes the same for Marc.

It's funny how the AB name carry's a lot of wait.

I have been selling these same boxes with my logo for a few months and i don't have this kinda response.

Here are mine by the way. Its the same box just a different logo. I have them in a few colors.

[Mulceber]

It's funny how the AB name carry's a lot of wait.

Wouldn't that be a lot of weight? I think John just made a Freudian slip... -M

[BendingOak]

It's funny how the AB name carry's a lot of wait.

Wouldn't that be a lot of weight? I think John just made a Freudian slip... -M

It was a play on words. I'm glade someone notice.

[Texan Scott]

They do have alot of wait and alot of weight!

[jnicktem]

I think I will eventually order a Penman hat box... and if these AB hat boxes go into production... I think I will get me one of those as well... once I get my ABD from Marc.

[gwyddion]

Before my birthday is up I am going to buy myself a Penman, but whether I will buy the hatbox at the sam time kind of depends on what will happen with the public enemies fed.

I will buy one eventualy though, and if these AB hatboxes will be produced I will probably buy one of those too. They just look too good not to buy

Regards, Geert

[Mulceber]

It was a play on words. I'm glade someone notice.

Yeah, to be honest I wasn't sure if that was a joke or an honest freudian slip. Thanks for clearing that up. -M

[sithspawn]

I'd definetely buy one for my SA hat.

[Fedora]

Ok guys. I just got off the phone with Peter, the guy who makes these boxes.

This is what I am gonna do. I am in the process of working with him to design an AB hat box, and in the future I will have a link on my site to him. So, you can order directly from him. I am not making a cent on this. I only am working this up so you guys can own a fantastic hat box for storing your hats. With the AB name on it of course.

It will be quite sometime before I can get the custom AB hat box, as I have to throw some ideas at him, in graphics, and colors. But until that time, he will make and sell you one just like John had made for Marc and I. His contact info is

603.525.3800 or e-mail us at sales@sarahshatboxes.com

The first number is his phone number, and his name is Peter Mills, his wife is Debbie Mills. He will be more than happy to make you a box, and then later on, I will offer another box, along with this one. So, you will eventually have a choice.

I plan to post some pics here of several different ones, at a later date, and will run a poll on which you guys like the best. My idea now is having the box in a khaki color, with a old looking map, with an airplane followed by red dotted lines as the graphics on the top of the box, along with the AB copyrighted logo somewhere in that mix.

These boxes are super heavy duty, by the way. Not the thin ones like you generally see. So, they will hold up like a tank, which is what we want to offer. The box needs to be as tough as the hats!

Thanks John for the heads up on this supplier. Really nice folks!! And willing to work with us like no other. Fedora

[Fedora]

I might add, that this isn't the way your regular hatter would do business. They would buy the boxes,and then sell at a profit. And nothing wrong with that, except I don't do business like that, but have no feelings one way or the other about the guys that do this. I make money on the hats, and that is enough for me. I just wanted to source a box that you guys could get with the AB logo on it. I am doing this for you guys. I have to supply a written thingy, giving them permission to use the AB logo since it is copyrighted.

But whether you are interested in an AB box or not, these folks will sell you any hat box, and since they only came online in March, but have been in business for many years, they are NEW folks in so far as the web is concerned.

If you are after a great hat box, these folks are the ones to use! I have seen so many vintage boxes, and these are in a realm of their own. Like I said, built like a tank.

And since you can order directly from them, AB or non AB, you will save money by doing so. But, considering the quality of these boxes, I don't think they will be priced cheap. Too much goes into them for them to be economically priced. But, I can see using no one else, due to the contruction. We don't endorse, shoddy products. Never have, and never will. Fedora

[Marc]

Sorry for being late at the party (been busy preparing for the summit this upcomming weekend).

John, I cannot express how greatfull I am for this kind gift from you!!! Thanks a million my friend!

I'm very positive to soon have these boxes in stock and they're just the most BEAUTIFUL hat boxes I have EVER seen. LOVE it!!!

Thanks again John!

Your friend,

Marc

[Fedora]

I am just thankful John makes the time for things like this, and then shares!!

I guess we need to talk Marc, to see if we are gonna use the same design on our boxes. I kinda figured you may want to have your own, to set your Deluxe AB apart, since we use different felt and sweats. But not sure.

I have a good idea of how I want to go with the design, something that says INDY, without stepping on copyrights. Take care. Fedora

[Fedora]

They do have alot of wait and alot of weight!

You got that right!!! I know you guys hate the wait, but SO DO I!! I made a big mistake by offering the Indy 4 hat before the film ever came out, at my old price. But, as I have always done, until lately, I was trying to help the fans out by charging that price. I did help out, by selling em' cheap, but got myself in a pickle too. I never thought I would sell THAT MANY! Live and learn, I guess. The transition from hobby hatter to a real one has been.......painful. For all of us. But, one day, I will finally be on top of this madness. And there is a light down the tunnel. Be glad when I walk out into it. Fedora

[binkmeisterRick]

But, one day, I will finally be on top of this madness. And there is a light down the tunnel. Be glad when I walk out into it. Fedora

STAY AWAY FROM THE LIGHT!!!!

[Johnny Fedora]

Ok...so I'm going to need a Penman hatbox, and an Adventurebilt hatbox . Stop it John, I only have so much cash to go around and I still need a whip!

Johnny

[sithspawn]

Just ordered a AB hat box from them. They run about $52.00 + shipping. Should get it late this week or early next week. I'll let everything know what i think when i get it.

[DR Ulloa]

I could buy a couple hats with the amount of money I am going to be spending on AB and Penman hat boxes.

Dave

[Fedora]

could buy a couple hats with the amount of money I am going to be spending on AB and Penman hat boxes.

I talked to Peter earlier this week and the project is moving along well. And thanks John for shooting those pics to Peter. So hard for me to find time to do this right, and I appreciate you picking this up and running with it.

And Dave, yeah, they are pricey, for a box, but the final AB box will set the standards for hat boxes, from here on out. They are hands above any other box I have seen. If it works out as planned, these boxes will be a piece of art, and will be very masculine hat boxes. And adventure oriented. And very tough. We are trying to create a box that is worthy of what we stand for.

In the future, I will of course include a hat box with each hat ordered, since I have went up in prices. With a higher retail on my hats, I can now afford to include a box. But, it will be quite sometime before I do this. In the meantime, once we get the box developed, I will have a link on my site, taking you to the AB page at Sarah's Hat Boxes. I think we may offer several different ones at first and then decide which ones we will keep, going by orders placed.

And, BTW, I told Peter, I am not interested in making one red cent. My only interest is that we offer a superiour hat box for the AB customers. And a hat box that just screams adventure. Hope we can pull this off. Fedora

[BendingOak]

I was working on the images all last night to get everything into play.I still have a lot of work to do but I think everyone will just love the end results.

[Indycrazy5187]

You should make AB stickers

[Fedora]

You should make AB stickers

Just curious. What would we do with them?

The method of imprinting the image on this new box will involve the fabric, sucking up the dye, so it's not a superficial image, but sunk into the material. Therefore, it won't fade, or scratch off. We are going full out on this box, so there will be a tremendous bang for the buck.

I used to think an AB box was not needed, as the hat should be on your head. But, many folks have several ABs, and the box would be handy for storage, as you rotate your hats. Plus, it would look really great in your closet! Da, da, da da.....da, da, daaaaa.........Fedora

[RCSignals]

You should make AB stickers

Just curious. What would we do with them?

.........Fedora

Put them in their car windows? Like the 'Fueled by Dutch Bros.' stickers?

Hmm 'Covered by AB' ?

[BendingOak]

I agree with Steve. This is not like any other box made to date. AB or Penman hats , would only do something of the highest of quality. The image on the box will just blow you away and it wont be cheaply done. Not a sticker My own boxes made by Peter is not made with a sticker. When Peter sent me a prototype box with the Penman logo on it just to show me what he could do. I was blown away. These boxes are not made of cardboard.

[Indycrazy5187]

The reason why I said stickers is because I have a lot of stickers on my laptop and such and i've been saving the middle of my laptop for a good sticker. AB came to mind when I saw that hatbox. Definitely considering the hatbox once I see a price.

[BendingOak]

Give Peter a call because he has this AB box like my Penman box ready to go. You can get that classic AB box like mine from Peter right now r you can get one of Mine from me by going to my site. If you want the new AB box that I'm working on for Steve that will be a couple more weeks before that is finished.

[DR Ulloa]

Oh, I totally understand and agree, Steve. That is why I need one of these boxes for each of my ABs and one for each of my Penmans (I hate writing that becuase I WANT to write Penmen). These are veryh much worth it.

Dave

[sithspawn]

The hatbox came in yesterday. Can't add anything more to what Steve and John have already said. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. According to Peter I'm the first one to order one.

[BendingOak]

I just wanted to share this pic that shows some of the details of the Penman and Ab hat box that Peter is making for us. You can see more shots of the box on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=9 ... 4550378449

[mississippilong]

Fedora,

I know this is OFF TOPIC, but my parents live in good ol' Columbus, MS and I will be visiting in a couple of weekends. Is it unheard of to let fans come and see your work shop?