Club Obi Wan

I'm a newbie here but one thing being on the RPF for many years has taught me is to do your homework on an important purchase.
The Fedora was no easy task when it came time to decide which one to choose. With so many options and price points available, an uninformed buyer could easily be lured into obtaining a less expensive - and less quality - Indy Fedora and think nothing of it.
I demand a higher calliber of quality and accuracy in the items I choose to include in my collection and as tough as it was to decide on my own on a Raiders fedora, I am very happy to say that thanks to the positive reviews by COW members, I took it upon myself to contact John Penman and had a conversation that has truly put things into perspective for me regarding not only the Fedora, but Indy gear in general.
For those of you that know John, when I say he was EXTREMELY generous with his time on the phone, you will know what I am talking about. John made sure all my questions were answered honestly and accurately. Even though John is a gifted hatmaker, he did not try and push HIS hats in front of everyone elses - he was able to objectively evaluate the hats that I included on my short list as potential buys and in the end, help me decide on which hat was the best for ME as a collector and a fan.
Not since my dealings with Magnoli have I been so taken back by the level of service provided by a vendor. For anyone who has even been toying around with the idea of buying an Indy fedora - or any style of fedora for that matter - would be doing themselves a great favor by talking a little bit with John. He is knowlegable, courteous and more than happy to share his passion with fellow fans.

Right now, I am on John's waiting list for a hand made rabbit felt Raiders style, though I have some time to decide to go up to the beaver or even decide on the AB Henry If I want.
Thanks John, and I look forward to getting my first (and hopefully ONLY Indy hat)
-Jimmy

Something that I would like to see is for John to make a line of custom 80/20 rabbit/beaver hats, maybe a custom Henry. Don't get me wrong, the Henry is a nice factory hat, but it has certain idiosyncrasies that you will not see in one of his custom creations, like the ribbon being sewn above the sweatband stitching. This bow was affixed toward the back portion of the hat, instead of the middle. Had I bashed the hat with the "turn" this would not have happened. Much of this is due to it being made as a Raiders hat was made, so there is method to the madness, but some of us prefer certain things that can only be realized through custom work.

I just received my Penman...and for the price...you are getting something worth way more. I cannot praise Johns craftsmanship and customer service enough.

His attention to detail is awesome and when you order from him you are not just some number..and his availability is top notch.

You can not go wrong with a custom Penman!!!!

Ohio Jones wrote:I just received my Penman...and for the price...you are getting something worth way more. I cannot praise Johns craftsmanship and customer service enough.

His attention to detail is awesome and when you order from him you are not just some number..and his availability is top notch.

You can not go wrong with a custom Penman!!!!

Sorry Matt but the statement " you are just not a number" is very funny to me. Me being a hugh Prisoner fan.

According to John, apparently I am both # 99 and 169.

John.... for my next hat you should make me # 1 or 6!!!

I just had an RPF member PM me asking which hat he should go with...first I told him to register here and then I gave nothing but high praises for John (and that's without even owining one of his hats yet!)

Ohio Jones wrote:...you are not just some number...

I am not a number! I AM A FREE MAN!!!!

It's always nice to hear of vendors going the extra mile. It reminds me of Macy's motto in The Miracle on 34th Street, "If we don't have it, we'll find it for you". Now that's customer service.

Really, there are not enough superlatives for the man or the hat.

So I've just given up.

crismans wrote:Really, there are not enough superlatives for the man or the hat.

So I've just given up.

you lost me.

...I was #45 myself!

Tundrarider wrote:

BendingOak wrote:

crismans wrote:Really, there are not enough superlatives for the man or the hat.

So I've just given up.

you lost me.

I think what crismans is saying here is what we all feel...

We think so highly of you and your work, that words fall short.

Michael

Sorry, I guess I'm real slow.

That's okay John, we still like you!

BendingOak wrote:

crismans wrote:Really, there are not enough superlatives for the man or the hat.

So I've just given up.

you lost me.

Michael called it right. I was just saying that sometimes I feel like a broken record saying "Beautiful hat, beautiful craftsmanship. Terrific customer service." But what else can you say?

Regarding Oak and Penman hats:

My third one is on order.

Nuf' said.

KY Jones wrote:Regarding Oak and Penman hats:

My third one is on order.

Nuf' said.

What was wrong with the first two?


















J/K I know you love them

John should make a hat and send it to speilberg...

There's already talk of him joining up with Steve and Marc to help make the Indy V hats if and when that happens. That's just a rumour that I have heard.

crismans wrote:

BendingOak wrote:

crismans wrote:Really, there are not enough superlatives for the man or the hat.

So I've just given up.

you lost me.

Michael called it right. I was just saying that sometimes I feel like a broken record saying "Beautiful hat, beautiful craftsmanship. Terrific customer service." But what else can you say?

Just tap the back of your head, maybe the record would skip?

No rumor, Nick. Steve has written many times here on these boards that he is inviting John to help make the Indy V hats. Everyone here with a Penman already has a hat from one of the Indy V hatters. And if you have one of his and one of Steve's you are really ahead of the game.

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:No rumor, Nick. Steve has written many times here on these boards that he is inviting John to help make the Indy V hats. Everyone here with a Penman already has a hat from one of the Indy V hatters. And if you have one of his and one of Steve's you are really ahead of the game.

Dave

Your jumping way to far ahead. We don't even know if there is going to be a INDY 5. I know both Steve and Marc have giving me a great invite IF there is another movie and I have excepted the offer of course ( Im not a dumb guy ) but there has to be a movie being made before any of that happens. I hope it happens fore many reason but the biggest for me will be working side by side with Steve and Marc.

John

Alright, then IF Indy V is made, all us Penman owners already have a hat, or two, or three, from one of the Indy V hatters. Howzat?

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:Alright, then IF Indy V is made, all us Penman owners already have a hat, or two, or three, from one of the Indy V hatters. Howzat?

Dave

Don't mean to bust your chops David but don't drive the engine before opening the bay doors.

Believe me I have a good one to put into the thread about why I want Indy 5 to be made but I have put it out of my mind and focused on just making my hats.

No problem, my friend. But I have a feeling we will get an Indy V. Plus, whether or not it happens, you are still my favorite hatter, tied with Steve, of course. I loved your hats before Steve said that. ####, I loved your hats before Penman Hats was Penman Hats. I was the first order placed through COW. You had three friends you made hats for, so techincally I was number four. Who is number? As long as I am not number six, we are cool.

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:No problem, my friend. But I have a feeling we will get an Indy V. Plus, whether or not it happens, you are still my favorite hatter, tied with Steve, of course. I loved your hats before Steve said that. ####, I loved your hats before Penman Hats was Penman Hats. I was the first order placed through COW. You had three friends you made hats for, so techincally I was number four. Who is number? As long as I am not number six, we are cool.

Dave

Thanks for the complement my friend.