Akubra Campdraft

[JackieMatra]

The Australian Akubra Adventurer is a completely different and considerably smaller hat then the made for sale in America Akubra Adventurer.

The brim of the Akubra Federation IV is smaller on the sides than the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" indy hat.
The Akubra Federation IV that I received from HatsDirect had a 5.5" open crown, 1/8" lower than "advertised" and 1/8" lower than the brim of my made for sale in America Akubra Adventurer, which I purchased from The Cultured Cowboy by way of David Morgan, which had a 5.625" open crown.

I have yet to see a photograph of the top crease of any of these tall "Indy" looking Fed IVs.
Would any of you gentlemen care to show us some so we can see just precisely how you creased the tops of your hats to get that tall look?

 

[gtdean48]

Is there enough of a noticeable difference in the felt finish and sweat quality between the Imperial and Heritage to justify the higher cost of the Deluxe?

Only to Hat Nerds like us. Most folks won't see the differences but the sweatband is the most noticeable improvement. The felt density & finish is better plus the ribbons used for hatband & edge binding are a notch up from Imperial. I have 2 Heritage CD's, 1 because I bugged them to offer it & the other because only way to get Moonstone in a CD. If I had to have only 1 CD, it'd be the Deluxe Moonstone. JMHO

 

[JackieMatra]

the Raiders hat is tall because of the block that Herbert Johnson used ... the block that eventually disappeared ... which is why none of the hats used in later movies hat that same profile

and the bash is not difficult at all to achieve by hand ... not that I find anyway

John shows here how simple it is with a hat blocked correctly

Doesn't work for me.
I must have a cone head.
If I crease the top that deeply, the hat sits so high on my head that I look like a Hassidic Jones.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Is there enough of a noticeable difference in the felt finish and sweat quality between the Imperial and Heritage to justify the higher cost of the Deluxe?

Thats a personal decision. For me yes but for my first I wanted a Deluxe Fed. I liked it so much I wanted a second, so I got one in each grade cuz I didn't want to spend that much. If I only could get one Fed I'd get the Deluxe cuz it's more of a city type dress hat. With my Camp Drafts, I don't care abt the grade. I have 2 in Imperial quality and it's not really a "dressy" hat, with more of a "rural" feel to it so Imperial grade is fine. I'm gonna get a 3rd in Imperial grade just because they're so inexpensive.

 

[Bob Roberts]

the Raiders hat is tall because of the block that Herbert Johnson used ... the block that eventually disappeared ... which is why none of the hats used in later movies hat that same profile

and the bash is not difficult at all to achieve by hand ... not that I find anyway

John shows here how simple it is with a hat blocked correctly

True. So much is in the block.

 

[moontheloon]

Doesn't work for me.
I must have a cone head.
If I crease the top that deeply, the hat sits so high on my head that I look like a Hassidic Jones.

ha!!!

I totally know exactly what you mean

 

[Bob Roberts]

It seems the Campdrafts have the same dimensions in crown height and brim width as does my 50s era Open Road, 5 3/4 open crown height and 2 3/4 brim width. I have a couple ORs from the '80s. The crown height on those are around 5 inches, much shorter than the one I have from the '50s. I also have an early '60s OR, same thing. Short crown height. The earlier ORs were also better quality. They don't make 'em like they used to. I don't think I'm going to chance getting the Fed. I don't I'd be satisfied with that open crown height for an Indyesque style hat.
I think I'm going to go with a Campdraft, probably Fawn since they don't make the dark brown anymore.

Sent u a PM.

 

[Zombie_61]

Doesn't work for me.
I must have a cone head.
If I crease the top that deeply, the hat sits so high on my head that I look like a Hassidic Jones.

Same here. I got my first Fed IV because I liked the look of the hat Ford wore in the fourth Indy movie. So I gave it a deep(ish) Center Dent but, when I put it on, my head fills so much of the crown that it pushes the center dent out until it's almost an open crown with side dents.

With regards to the differences between the Imperial Quality and Heritage Quality hats, my inexperienced eye doesn't detect a difference between the qualities of the ribbons or how they're attached. The Heritage Quality does have a slightly better sweatband, and the leather doesn't shrink nearly as much as the Imperial Quality. But the felt is, in my opinion, where you get more bang for your buck. The Heritage felt does have a smoother finish and feel to it and, while not being noticeably thicker or heavier than the Imperial felt, does somehow feel more substantial. All things being equal, I'd guess a Heritage Quality hat will outlast an Imperial Quality hat. Whether or not that's worth the current $28 price difference is up to the buyer to decide.

 

[T Jones]

If I had more tools to work with I could convert my own but I only have very few and I'm limited to what I can do at the moment....and, the tools are way too expensive for me to afford. This poor Stagegecoach has been through about 4 or 5 different reblockings until I got it to this point. The first conversion came by way of kingrat, then was converted again by John Galt. I reblocked it again and changed out the ribbon two or three more times after that and I'm afraid to try another reblocking on it. What I finally ended up with is a half way decent looking generic Indy hat. The color's too dark and the ribbon work isn't correct for the Indy hat. But, the open crown height is 5 3/4, that gives me a nice deep center crease, and the brim is 2 3/4 front to back, 2 5/8 on the sides....the final conversion

 

[T Jones]

Same here. I got my first Fed IV because I liked the look of the hat Ford wore in the fourth Indy movie. So I gave it a deep(ish) Center Dent but, when I put it on, my head fills so much of the crown that it pushes the center dent out until it's almost an open crown with side dents.

With regards to the differences between the Imperial Quality and Heritage Quality hats, my inexperienced eye doesn't detect a difference between the qualities of the ribbons or how they're attached. The Heritage Quality does have a slightly better sweatband, and the leather doesn't shrink nearly as much as the Imperial Quality. But the felt is, in my opinion, where you get more bang for your buck. The Heritage felt does have a smoother finish and feel to it and, while not being noticeably thicker or heavier than the Imperial felt, does somehow feel more substantial. All things being equal, I'd guess a Heritage Quality hat will outlast an Imperial Quality hat. Whether or not that's worth the current $28 price difference is up to the buyer to decide.

Yeah, I'm leaning toward a Fawn colored Campdraft, only because it doesn't come in dark brown anymore. I may go for the Heritage quality. I had a Squatter in the Imperial quality and I wasn't impressed with that hat at all. The finish was rough. The sweat band didn't seem that bad, though. I finally traded it off for two Stagecoaches that had never been worn. I definitely got the better deal on that trade.

 

[JackieMatra]

"the open crown height is 5 3/4, that gives me a nice deep center crease, and the brim is 2 3/4 front to back, 2 5/8 on the sides....the final conversion"

Looks great to me.
The brim dimensions are exactly right, and it's even a quarter inch taller so you have that nice deep center crease.
If it's worn, so much the more authentic looking. I would hardly care if the color wasn't perfectly "screen-accurate". Why should Buckeye Jones wear the exact same hat as Indy, anyway?

What size is it?
If you really don't like it anymore, I could take it off your hands (or head).

 

[RJR]

If I had more tools to work with I could convert my own but I only have very few and I'm limited to what I can do at the moment....and, the tools are way too expensive for me to afford. This poor Stagegecoach has been through about 4 or 5 different reblockings until I got it to this point. The first conversion came by way of kingrat, then was converted again by John Galt. I reblocked it again and changed out the ribbon two or three more times after that and I'm afraid to try another reblocking on it. What I finally ended up with is a half way decent looking generic Indy hat. The color's too dark and the ribbon work isn't correct for the Indy hat. But, the open crown height is 5 3/4, that gives me a nice deep center crease, and the brim is 2 3/4 front to back, 2 5/8 on the sides....the final conversion

I still like this INDY conversion,looks good to my eye.

 

[T Jones]

"the open crown height is 5 3/4, that gives me a nice deep center crease, and the brim is 2 3/4 front to back, 2 5/8 on the sides....the final conversion"

Looks great to me.
The brim dimensions are exactly right, and it's even a quarter inch taller so you have that nice deep center crease.
If it's worn, so much the more authentic looking. I would hardly care if the color wasn't perfectly "screen-accurate". Why should Buckeye Jones wear the exact same hat as Indy, anyway?

What size is it?
If you really don't like it anymore, I could take it off your hands (or head).

Yeah, I guess I am a little too picky with it. It was fine after John Galt did the second conversion on it but I kept changing it around and reblocking it until I finally ended up with this final result. I think I'll leave it alone now....it's a 7 1/4, btw.

 

[T Jones]

Anyone have a picture of the Campdraft in Moonstone, and can the Campdraft be bought here in the states somewhere.

 

[Bamaboots]

TJ, David Morgan is a dealer out of WA but I don't believe he carries the CD. From what I've seen on his site, the pricing isn't much better than ordering from down under and paying he shipping.

 

[gtdean48]

Anyone have a picture of the Campdraft in Moonstone, and can the Campdraft be bought here in the states somewhere.

Here are a couple...I do recall some US stores selling the CD's but not which ones...

 

[JackieMatra]

American retailers only sell the "American version" Akubra hats of which David Morgan is the sole importer.
I have been told this by both Kakadu Trader and The Cultured Cowboy, both of whom buy their, Akubra hats that they sell, from David Morgan.

Akubra Campdrafts are only sold by Australian retailers.
Hats Direct/The Hattery and Australian Gear usually have most all Australian Akubra styles, sizes, and colors available for immediate shipment.
Everything Australian usually has a very few Australian Akubra styles in certain colors, including the Campdraft in Bluegrass Green, available for immediate shipment,
but most of the hats that they carry require the purchaser to wait for three months before a hat can be shipped to them.

Everything Australian carries the entire line of Australian Akubra hats.
Hats Direct/The Hattery sells most Australian Akubra hats, including the Campdraft, Squatter, and Federation IV (which is exclusive to them).
Australian Gear sells most Australian Akubra hats, but does not sell either the Campdraft or the Squatter.

N.B. I wear a size 7-1/4 (58cm), so keep me in mind if you ever want to part with any lids.

 

[Zombie_61]

Yeah, I'm leaning toward a Fawn colored Campdraft, only because it doesn't come in dark brown anymore. I may go for the Heritage quality. I had a Squatter in the Imperial quality and I wasn't impressed with that hat at all. The finish was rough. The sweat band didn't seem that bad, though...

I have zero experience with vintage and/or higher quality hats, so I don't have a problem with Akubra's Imperial Quality hats. In fact, if Hats Direct hadn't *accidentally sent me the Heritage Grade when I ordered my Moonstone Fed IV, I'd probably never have known the difference.


*I advised them of the mistake, and was told to keep the "free upgrade". No dishonest shenanigans here, my friends!

 

[jlee562]

Isn't Akubra de facto blocked from selling the Campdraft in the U.S. because it was originally licensed by Stetson as the Open Road?

 

[rclark]

Isn't Akubra de facto blocked from selling the Campdraft in the U.S. because it was originally licensed by Stetson as the Open Road?

JJ Hats in NYC carried them until recently for sale on their web site.