MGM/Disney type hats - Disney or Dis-ney he?

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:00 pm

Further to my earlier thread about hat uncertainty

I was half-thinking about buying one of those Disney / MGM hats on ebay. At present, I only own an old grey fed my Grandad gave me - wrong colour, style etc. However, a little nagging voice inside my head says "Don't do it!".

But why not?

Regards

Alan

Cooler King · Post by **Cooler King** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:05 pm

The Disney hats aren't screen accurate, and none of mine have been of good quality. The best hat for the best price is of course the Akubra Federation. I LOVE this hat, it's perfect, you won't be dissapointed with it, best hat I've ever owned.

Save your money and get a Fed, you can't go wrong!

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:19 pm

Or go with a fed deluxe. Or, if you don't feel like spending the money for either of these, and want something cheaper that looks more screen accurate than the grey hat (which is still nice because it's grey), then go for an ebay disney. They may not hold up to abuse as well as other hats, but that doesn't mean it won't serve you very well. It'll still be a hat consisting of a crown, brim, and ribbon, it'll just probably have some (maybe alot) of taper to it.

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:22 pm

Akubra Federation, all the way. www.hatsdirect.com

I personally don't think the disney really looks Indy to me. Crown is too low.

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:37 pm

And do they ship to the Uk? I guess so as the are in Ozzie, right? Could chase this up and find out but I'm being really lazy here.
And yeah, I do want my hat to stand up to a bit of punishment really - so I guess the MGM would not really work? How does it fare in the lashing rain, for example?

Al.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:39 pm

go for the Akubra, and yes, they will ship from Australia (aussie, not ozzie). And just so ya know, fed is short for federation, not fedora

Regards, Daryl.

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:45 pm

Well blow me down!

Here in the UK we definately say/write OZZIE (not in a Dorothy / toto sense mind you) but I wonder if I'll ever come to terms with this specialist terminology!!?

A fed is not a fedora?

Next you'll be telling me Indy isn't short for Independant!

Regards

Alan

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:56 pm

The Fed IS a fedora, but is not short for Fedora. And whoever tells you that Indy isn't short for Independant is off their rocker

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:01 pm

Ok Dakota Brown, now I'm REALLY confused!

Ha ha, but seriously thanks for the advice buddy,

Regards,

Alan

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:01 pm

Some fedora history here. When Ron at Hatsdirect in Australia was approached with supplying us an affordable Indy fedora, he got to it and had Akubra make us a suitable hat. We had been modifying the Bushman, Campdraft, and Drover because we basically had no options at the time, except the HJ. Nothing wrong with the HJ, but at that time, it was like a box of chocolates, you never knew what you were going to get.

He supplied us with the Akubra Federation, an affordable hat that has made many very happy. I have even heard one fan say, "the best fedora I have owned in 20 years!" Later on, Ron went a step farther and gave us the Deluxe, and made more modifications such as the right ribbon and the dimensional cut. If you are going to buy an Indy fedora, get the Federation, either model. I swear by them. regards, Fedora

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:06 pm

Thanks Fedora, for bringing me up to speed on the Fed (not fedora federation - right Dakota?

) history.
Interesting!
It certainly sounds like the model of choice, particularly the deluxe version as the dimensional cut seems to be quite crucial really.
Is it better than the HJ poet? Is that a reasonable question?

Regards,

Alan

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:15 pm

Would anybody recommend the Akubra bushman at all?

Al

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:16 pm

That is a dangerous question, but I feel after seeing several HJs, it is indeed better than some that I have seen. But not all. regards, Fedora

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:22 pm

Fedora - what are your views on the bushman? Is it what you were taking about earlier or a variation of?

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:29 pm

Akubra bushman? Any takers?

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:48 pm

I like the bushman, I still have one packed up. I had the Aussie version that came with the eyelets on the sides of the crown. It is about the same color as the regular Federation. But, it requires major modification. I think it came with a bound brim, and a little string like ribbon. The Campdraft is no longer available, and this was the forerunner of the Federation. Ron found one in his shop earlier this year and emailed me to let me know he had found one. I bought it. He even made the modifications for me, unheard of!!! He is a good guy. Back to the Bushman. Michaelson and I still have ours, and they are great summer hats due to the eyelets letting the excess heat out-ventilation. But, as I said, major modification is required to achieve an Indy fedora using this hat as a starting point. best regards, Fedora

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:56 pm

Thank you, Fedora. Certainly food for fed..er, thought there

Are the 'eyelets' then, standard on all bushmans?

Kind regards,

Alan

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 3:11 pm

I think they were standard if bought from Australia. You could buy a Bushman from David Morgan, I think, in the States, that did not have the eyelets. An American version. regards, Fedora

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 3:18 pm

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity

Sorry to be such a pain, but the David Morgan (same guy as makes the whips?) Bushmans would be entirely different from the Akubra Bushmans

:

A basic question, I know, but please refer to above quotation.......

Al.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 3:24 pm

I think that it's the same, with the exception of the eyelets. Don't take my word for it though.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 3:24 pm

Yep, he used to sell an Americanized version of the Bushman. I assume they are still available. regards, Fedora

fedoralover · Post by **fedoralover** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 3:53 pm

I had a bushman that I bought from hats direct and it didn't have the eyelets. It was a lighter weight felt and a great hat, I took it to a western shop to have the brim cut down to 2 3/4ths all the way around and then I cut the sides down to 2 1/2. I loved it, loved it to death actually as I wore it till the felt cracked on the brim and I replaced it with a federation.

fedoralover

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 4:31 pm

Do tell fedoralover.

I guess the old memory is failing. I would have sworn that the Australian version had the eyelets. I know mine and Michaelson's did. Along with the little hooks for the chin strap. Hatsdirect must have offered it both ways, and may have been in repsonse to some of us at Infan, at the time. He has always been a very accomodating fellow. Wonder of those Bushman are still available? I may go have a look-see. best regards, Fedora

fedoralover · Post by **fedoralover** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 4:54 pm

that was about 4 years ago and as I recall I had to ask specifically for it not to have them. Also it came without the liner, it was my first akubra and I was very happy with it.

fedoralover

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 5:11 pm

Hey fedoralover, did yours come with the chin strap hooks? regards, Fedora

fedoralover · Post by **fedoralover** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 5:57 pm

No, I'm pretty sure it didn't.

fedoralover

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 6:08 pm

OK, I got to the bottom of this,and it was easy. Just did a google search of the IF vaults and found my very own post from April of 2000. Ron ordered us some non eyelet Bushmans, they were all in the Nigerian Brown. His order was screwed up, and he received the eyelet versions. I got one of these. The old post also told me that he mentioned the Campdraft as being a better color, the medium brown. The rest is history.

Fedora