Differences in the block and bash between the CS and LC

[beaverlid]

I recently placed an order for a Penmans Last crusade beaver fedora. Tomorrow I am purchasing a fedora from Adventurebilt. I want to order the Adventurebilt in the model of the fedora made for The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. My question is how different are the block / bash between the two fedoras. Am I going to have 2 fedoras that look so similar that that they look the same. Are the differences in the style enough to tell the two apart?

I want the AB to be in the style that Steve made for the movie that his hat was in.

[Restless Dreamer]

the two hats are similar indeed. many folks find there is much difference between the two, but I don't.

the differences I can notice:

LC = ugly ribbon ; CS = Raiders ribbon
LC = shorter brim on sides ; CS = regular dimensional cut
LC = rabbit ; CS = beaver
LC = very slight side taper ; CS = Raiders block
LC = a little back taper (in some scenes) ; CS = no back taper
LC = shallow, natural side dents ; CS = defined, Raiders side dents

[gwyddion]

LC = very slight side taper ; CS = Raiders block

I do not yet own a CS, but from what I've seen here I'd have to disagree with this one: the CS has a fuller block than even the Raiders hat has. I can't describe it better because I can't find the right terminology, but I know that if you'd block a Raiders hat on a CS block, it would become a bit of a caricature.

Regards, Geert

[Restless Dreamer]

LC = very slight side taper ; CS = Raiders block

I do not yet own a CS, but from what I've seen here I'd have to disagree with this one: the CS has a fuller block than even the Raiders hat has. I can't describe it better because I can't find the right terminology, but I know that if you'd block a Raiders hat on a CS block, it would become a bit of a caricature.

Regards, Geert

I see what you mean. Yes, you're right: the CS block is even "bigger" than the Raiders. Or maybe it's just an optical effect: the tight pinch of a raiders fedora makes it look more "slender" than a CS, wich has a LCish pinch that generically "enlarges" the font view.

(Forsoothe, methinks this is hard to explain!)

[beaverlid]

Well, I went with my gut instinct and orderd the Hat that was Designed by Steve this morning. The CS. I will have the Penmans LC early 2010. The good part and one worth the extra money that is now charged for the Adventurebilt is that I don't have to wait the long wait time of a year or more for the Adventurebilt CS. It says it is only about a six week wait time. I will post comparison pics when I have both.

Thanks for the posts guys. I look forward to reading more.

Beaverlid

[Fedora]

Yeah, I don't think the two hats can be confused. To me, the CS fedora is a combo of the Raiders hat, and the LC hat. While the CS block, IMO is a bit straighter than the Raiders, it resembles it more than the other film hats. Actually, with the right Raiders crease job in the CS block, it pulls off that look fairly well, and better than alot of other hats. But there is a difference between the CS block and the block I use for the Raider fedora. The CS block is a full block, which allows for deep front creases, a facet that I like, personally. And if you drop the front height down, along with the back, by 1/4 an inch, it changes the way the hat looks. I am pretty sure that Bernie dropped down the creases in a couple of those CS hats you see on film. Looks like it to me.

One thing is for sure. You won't see a CS fedora come from another hatter, except perhaps John P. I have not see one of his, so not sure. The CS block is a rare blockshape these days. I like that. And the block is very versatile, as you can crease it to get taper, if you want. Or, you can have a stove pipe of a hat. Fedora

[DR Ulloa]

No one has been able to tell the difference between my Raiders hat and my CS hats...except me. Steve made me two CS hats, one with the film specs and one with the Raiders brim dimensions (it suits me much better). My wife can tell the difference only when I wear the shorter brimmed AB. When I put on my Penman Raiders, I may as well be wearing the larger brimmed AB. I can tell the difference immediately and it isn't just the crease. The crown is very full. It took me some getting used to, actually. I didn't think I liked the way it looked on me until one day I just looked at the myself in the mirror and said "Wow! I love this hat!" Very difference block shape. And I'm no hatter. I'm just a regular hat wearer. If I can notice this stuff, I'm sure you can. No one else may, but it will make a difference to you.

Dave

[beaverlid]

Thanks for the inside scoop on the CS block shape Steve. I am looking for a stove pipe non tapered crown, so from what you said I made a good choice for the block style.

Thanks,
Beaverlid

[jkdbuck76]

Steve,

I just want to say that the CS hat is my favorite. It the hands-down the best looking Indy hat.

[Fedora]

just want to say that the CS hat is my favorite. It the hands-down the best looking Indy hat.

Thanks, and wish we could take the credit. We were sending Raiders blocked hats exclusively, until in one phone conversation with Benie, I thought I picked up a hesitation on using us, My first thought was, I might better send him a different blockshape, so as to give him some variety. He immediately chose the block that was to become the CS fedora. It was not my or Marc's choice.

But with all of that said, this CS fedora has a look about it that is hard to pull off IF you don't have the exact same block that we used. It just does these "different" things once you put a LC style crease into it, that even our Raiders block can't replicate. I can't really describe it, in words, but several scenes in the film really show these differences.

The CS block has grown on me since we supplied them, and is my second fav Indy hat, nudging out the LC fedora by just a little bit. Of course everyone knows the Raiders fedora is my fav hat of the 4 films. And always will be.

The thing about the CS fedora is once it shrinks and tapers a bit, it will morph into a decent Raiders fedora, from what I have seen. Other hats morph into the TOD fedora. And since the creases in the CS fedora don't exhibit the tight crease of the Raiders hat, it is easy to punch it out, turn it, and then put the Raiders crease into it. I think that is a plus with this hat.

This is only the second customer that has visited me. One guy my age, rode his Harley all the way down here from the Northeast. Needless to say, I look forward to the day that this happens more often. Indy fans are really nice folks. Easy to talk to since we have so much in common. I don't let any visitors actually see my set up, except LLS, who spent a week with me to learn the craft, but one day that will change. I still keep a few things close to the vest with this hatmaking craft. It seems others do as well, because the guy from Barons told Bernie he was only one of a very few whom was shown the actual hatshop at Barons. And Bernie later commented to me how his experience with hatters was not typical of what he was used to. "you guys are so secretive", I think was his comment. It's just part of the tradition that is still alive and well, a holdover from the old days. Generally if a hatter shares how he does it, he will always leave out his "secrets" and just tell you what you can find on the net. But, the secrets are just common sense things, that you eventually stumble onto after you have made alot of hats. IMO. When you run into problems, you HAVE to find the technique that fixes the problem. It took me a few years to finally find out what negates pounce mottle. I already had what it took, just did not put 2 and 2 together, until I discovered it accidently. I had tried everything, until I got in some water repellant treatment that was naptha based. I treated one hat and saw the mottle vanish before my eyes. And then found out, I had the right stuff to negate the mottle, and had it for years, as I use naptha to clean real dirty hats. Just never tried it to get rid of pounce mottle. Fedora

[beaverlid]

Steve thanks again for the info. Your description of the CS fedora is exactly what I am looking for. It sounds like the most versatile hat of the bunch.

My Adventurebilt should be coming right along if you had it on the block on Sunday. I can't wait to get it. My first Archaeology Dig in Qumran is in May 2010 and the Penman I ordered was possibly not going to be ready by the time I left. So it will be my great pleasure to have an Adventurebilt on my noggin for the dig.