Club Obi Wan

So I know it's been a while since I last visited the boards and consequently I never got round to posting this.

My AB has been through a lot with me - jungles, deserts and mountains and was looking pretty beat up. I was at the point where I thought buying a new fedora might be the only option but just in case it could be salvaged I sent it off to Thomas at adVintage to see what could he do.

Not only did he manage to bring it back from the dead he made it look better than it ever did. I can't say enough things about what a great job he did with it. Barely believe it's the same hat.



Bigger image here: https://imgur.com/a/dBRzlSM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now just a question of how long it will be until it needs its next life-saving operation.

Ken

Great job, nice to see you again! - how's that film coming along?

WOW!!! Gorgeous job! Also shows how resilient these hats are when made out of good material!

Agreed! Where HAS my stunt double been all this time??

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Wow, that reblock is incredible! Here’s to many more adventures with it

whiskyman wrote:Great job, nice to see you again! - how's that film coming along?

I hear top men are working on it...

But we are very close (think it just needs a final sound mix now) , though obviously Covid will add another delay of course.

Michaelson wrote:Agreed! Where HAS my stunt double been all this time??

It has been too long - glad to see everything still going strong.
Ken

Ken, great to see you! Remember the UK summit we went to back in 2003? That was an awesome summit! Advantage did a great job restoring your Adventurebilt! I, too am having my AB restored over at Penman Hats.

Ken wrote:So I know it's been a while since I last visited the boards and consequently I never got round to posting this.

My AB has been through a lot with me - jungles, deserts and mountains and was looking pretty beat up. I was at the point where I thought buying a new fedora might be the only option but just in case it could be salvaged I sent it off to Thomas at adVintage to see what could he do.

Not only did he manage to bring it back from the dead he made it look better than it ever did. I can't say enough things about what a great job he did with it. Barely believe it's the same hat.

Now just a question of how long it will be until it needs its next life-saving operation.

Ken

Holy cow! Both to the battering your hat withstood -- and to the amazing job Thomas at AdVintage did in restoring it.

I guess that's a testament to the quality of the original AB hat and to Thomas's skills. Glad to see your old-friend fedora has a lot more adventures ahead of it.

None of my hats are that old, or have been through so much, so I have yet to face the choice of restoring or replacing a well-worn hat. But it sound like you're thrilled you decided to give your another lifetime. That will probably make wearing it even more special to you.

Canyon wrote:Ken, great to see you! Remember the UK summit we went to back in 2003? That was an awesome summit! Advantage did a great job restoring your Adventurebilt! I, too am having my AB restored over at Penman Hats.

I remember! It was a great trip - best of luck with your restoration Canyon.

Howard Weinstein wrote:
Holy cow! Both to the battering your hat withstood -- and to the amazing job Thomas at AdVintage did in restoring it.

I guess that's a testament to the quality of the original AB hat and to Thomas's skills. Glad to see your old-friend fedora has a lot more adventures ahead of it.

None of my hats are that old, or have been through so much, so I have yet to face the choice of restoring or replacing a well-worn hat. But it sound like you're thrilled you decided to give your another lifetime. That will probably make wearing it even more special to you.

It really opened my eyes to the power of a reblock - definitely worth considering if you ever find yourself asking that question.

Ken

Looks awesome Ken! Welcome back!

Love that mushroom shape in the after picture!

zeus36 wrote:Love that mushroom shape in the after picture!

Yes - he really nailed the SoC bash!

Incredible how much it was able to take and still be made a new hat again... Perhaps Indy himself doesn't go through hats as much as expected...only has a good hatter restore them...

,
Bear

Never underestimate the strength of a good felt. Unless it's got a hole in it, it can always be resurrected. Even if it's got a thin spot, that can often be reinforced and brought back by a good hatter with the equipment and experience.

That's good to know! I am not very forgiving with my hats... I'm happy to know they can be resurrected.

Wow. That hat has SEEN some things! Now it looks as good as new!

McFly wrote:Wow. That hat has SEEN some things! Now it looks as good as new!

First time I saw it genuinely didn't think it was the same hat.

It’s interesting; but the pre reblock photos resemble some of the pictures I’ve seen floating around of the screen used Raiders Hero fedora. Now that’s what I would call “screen accuracy”!