Inside Penman hat shop

In-depth discussion of the Fedora of Indiana Jones and all other hats appearing in the Indiana Jones movies

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BendingOak
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Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

I wanted to give everyone a peak at how I work. I know most think I work one hat at a time but that would not be very productive at all. I work on a dozen and a half at a time. Sometimes more, sometimes less. This is one reason why I can't give an exact time for when ones hat will be done. A month is all I can do at this time.

Im going to start with 2 photo's and add to them when I can. I'm open to any questions you might ask.

I'm going to start with me prepping bows/ribbon and sweatbands while I wait for the felt bodies to dry at one point of the production.

ImageImage


As you can see that I built and prepped the bows and measured and cut the sweatbands.
Last edited by BendingOak on Sat Sep 29, 2012 1:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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erikgunnlugson
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by erikgunnlugson »

These are great pics. I love the bows.
So the same stamp for both rabbit and beaver on the sweatband right. What about color? One for beaver and one for rabbit or can a person choose the color or does it depend on which color the felt is?
Just curious
thanks
E.

Again, fantastic pics.
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DR Ulloa
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by DR Ulloa »

Great insight into the hatmaking process. Thanks, John. Keep it up!

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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Raven7dp »

Ooh, the fun part is figuring out which ribbon and which sweatband is mine. :D

Jonathan
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Let me answer a couple of questions first.

One stamp for both rabbit and beaver felt. That is correct. The reason for that. Both my rabbit and beaver felt I use is of the highest quality. The other reason is that I always had the fear that I might grab the wrong sweatband for a customers hat. Good way to eliminate that possibility is to go the route of one stamp.


I do have two colors but I normally pick the color sweatband and match it to the felt. The reason I added the darker brown sweatband is to duplicate what Steve used for the Indy 4 hat. I liked it enought and it goes very well with a lot of different colors.


Other then two of the bow/ribbon you see posted. I couldn't tell who they are.

I will be posting more soon and hope to keep added to give everyone a peak into the work shop.
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Now I move on to block the next batch of hats.

Image
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Sorry I have neglected this thread but been very busy. Just as a reminder I'm not doing this thread in real time. Just showing you guys some of the madness that I do to be the most productive. Ok, I'll move on to the next step.

While the new batch is drying on the block I start to sew in the sweatbands together....

Image


After that I start sewing the sweatbands in, then the bows/ribbon, and finish it of with the liner. I'm doing this for a few days while that new batch is drying.

Image
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by IndyBrit »

A welcome insight to the world of fedora craftmanship. Thank you :TOH:
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by jnicktem »

Which one is mine? :P

Great photos John! It's very interesting to see your shop.
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Don't know what happen to the other post about the progress of this hat. For some strange reason it is all gone.

If you want to see all that happened before you can catch up here...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... tif_t=like" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I took a the holiday and friday off so that pushed things back a little but still running on schedule.

I prepped the ribbon/bow for this hat.

Image


and then prepped the sweatband buy cutting it to size, sewing it together and adding the sweatband bow.

Image


Now I go off to work on the 2nd batch of hats.
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Thanks for letting me know.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Dalexs »

John, I can pull that back over if you can give me an idea what the thread was about.

Oh wait, it was this thread, just more info...

I would have to delete this thread first, then re-insert the old one.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

That would be fine but you would need to add everything that came after. I put in the facebook link so anyone who missed out could catch up with what they missed but i doubt its worth the trouble.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

under welt is now done

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

prepping to flange the brim

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Now the brim has been flanged, it will sit and dry. Things will start to move a lot faster now. Should be done by the end of the week ready to ship out Monday or Tuesday next week.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

off to work on other hats..............
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

finished sewing in the sweatband.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bow/ribbon

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

off to block a bunch of hats.
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

bow /ribbon is done

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and now the liner....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Creased the hat....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

showing of the top crease.....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Writing the customers name on the card for inside of the hat...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


adding a little something for the customer.....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the Penman hat box which every hat is shipped with....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pack up the hat and hat box and get it ready for shipping.Each hat with its box is fully insured and has a tracking number. Customer has confirmed the address is correct so this hat is on it's way to the customer and hopefully I can get him to send me a pick of him wearing it to conclude this posting.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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A.J. Cairo
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by A.J. Cairo »

Reading this thread has made me so eager to place my order! Just have to wait for my tax return which will (hopefully) be any day now. Is the month wait time you mentioned in this thread still more or less accurate?
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

My wait time is currently 3-4 months and I'm still working hard getting it to go down. I have never been down to just one month.
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A.J. Cairo
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by A.J. Cairo »

BendingOak wrote:My wait time is currently 3-4 months and I'm still working hard getting it to go down. I have never been down to just one month.
Thanks for the info! As soon as I get my tax return I'll be placing my order! I can't wait!
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Kustomkid »

Its very cool seeing how you work your magic with the hats that you make.
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

update. wait time is down to 2 1/2 - 3 months
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by KrYpToNiAn1 »

John, where do you get your ribbon from?
s.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by shade88 »

KrYpToNiAn1 wrote:John, where do you get your ribbon from?
s.
If I remember correctly, the supplier of the ribbon is a secret between John, Steve, and Marc. :-k
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

When it comes to the Indy ribbon, yes. I do use a lot of vintage ribbon.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by car96 »

I am really getting close to deciding on an Indy Hat and I like the Penman Raiders style the most.

Any thoughts. Thinking the rabbit felt.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Beck Ho »

Hi all,

I'm new here, with a strange new Indy hobby. My youngest son Anthony (in college, like my other two boys) told me his favorite fictitious character was Sherlock Holmes. I wanted to reply to that. First I thought, "James Bond"! But that wasn't quite right. And then of course it hit me: Indiana Jones.

Anyway my Anthony has "Alport syndrome", a degenerative kidney disease, and he is unlikely to live a long life. We have decided to have fun together with our favorite characters for as long as possible (he's studying engineering now; and I'm a university professor, kinda like my favorite character).

I have a Penman rabbit Raiders coming to me any day now. The jackets (I have two now) are great but the hat is THE thing. I think when my Anthony sees my new Penman rabbit Raiders he'll definitely want one too.

Here is the hat I think might be mine:

http://instagram.com/p/n8tt3uxgLJ/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can't wait to see the look on Anthony's face!
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by baddates1 »

or it could be mine if Mr. Penman will sell it to me lol. Don't worry, I wont buy it. Nice hat!
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Beck Ho »

Actually, John confirmed that the hat in the picture is mine, and although it missed my b-day party, I should get it tomorrow. YES!

I want to get next: from John Penman, a beaver Raiders travel hat - the gray clipper, I think it's called - and from Peter Botwright at Wested, a Copper Novapelle Last Crusade jacket.

Any thoughts on those choices (from all of you pros)?
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Michaelson »

To keep it from being 'lost in the shuffle', you should post the question about the Wested jacket choice in the jacket section. :TOH:

As to the travel grey hat, ALWAYS my favorite! :M: :tup:

Regard! Michaelson
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by ChrisMD »

How did I JUST find this thread? This really shows how true it is that quality takes time, but the end result is worth the wait


Sent from the Bantu Wind using Tapatalk.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Ridgerunner58 »

Michaelson wrote:
As to the travel grey hat, ALWAYS my favorite! :M: :tup:
Ditto. The Seaplane / Pan Am Clipper / Washington DC hat was the second hat I got from Penman and has been one of my favorites for years. :TOH:
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Ride Guy »

I just wanted to add a personal anecdote for Penman Hat Shop. I called John out of the blue asking about re-blocking a HJ fedora that I've never been quite happy with. He was thoughtful and generous with his time and responses even though I was catching him between tasks. I was so impressed with his enthusiasm, passion, knowledge & professionalism that I decided from that one phone call to just order a new one from him.

This "behind the scenes" look at his shop just further buttresses my convictions that I made the right choice. Thanks for the virtual tour.

Best regards,

Ride Guy
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by micsteam »

You won't be disappointed, John makes an exceptional fedora. Enjoy !! :TOH:
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Irish Jones »

Boy...I would love to get in on a new fedora. ;)
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

Forgot about this thread. Went though it again and I have changed things around again. I just can't leave things alone. :anxious: I'll have to see if I can post some on how I'm working now.

Anyone have anything they want to see ill see if I can make it happen so bring on the requests.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by baddates1 »

Maybe how you make an Indy hat? Earlier in this thread you showed how you made a different kind of hat. Maybe an Indy hat?
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by Cajunkraut »

John makes Indy hats? :P
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by trancoss »

baddates1 wrote:Maybe how you make an Indy hat? Earlier in this thread you showed how you made a different kind of hat. Maybe an Indy hat?
agreed.
indy hat, please :)
BendingOak
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by BendingOak »

It wouldn't be different then what I already showed in this thread.
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Re: Inside Penman hat shop

Post by SonofJoker »

This is a pretty cool thread. I wish I had the money to get a Penman fedora. But I love the behind the scenes photos! :TOH:
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