Akubra in the news

[bh2001]

Interesting. One always associates Australia with too many rabbits. Now there's a shortage. Seems counter intuitive. Thanks for the story.

We still have a rabbit problem, it's just not as bad. The shortage seems to be with farmed rabbits. We also have a problem with kangaroo populations in certain places, big hazard on the roads, they may be good for hats. Hard to farm though, they keep jumping the fences.

 

[tonyb]

Actually, he was quoted as saying "Rabbit fur is the best fur to make our hats out of...", so he was speaking specifically about Akubra's hats and not about hats in general.

I like my Akubras a lot, so I hope they'll be able to sort out their supply issues without having to compromise the quality of their hats.

That's what they have him saying in the "print" story. In the video Ed linked, in the fifth post in this thread, Keir says (around the 34 second mark) "rabbit fur is the best fur to make" (garble, is that "a" or "our"? Sounds like "a" to me) "hat" (singular) "from ... "

I like the Akubra styles. And reports are that they are durable. I couldn't say to what extent that durability is an attribute of the source material. Perhaps that has a whole lot to do with it. I'm certainly in no position to dispute it. But the finish on every Akubra I've handled is decidedly rough. I've never attempted to rebuild one and perhaps give it a smoother finish, so I don't know to what degree that rough finish can be attributed to the source material or to the pouncing process. But I can say with certainty that Winchester all-beaver bodies take a much nicer finish than their "staple" (rabbit) bodies.

 

[TheDane]

But I can say with certainty that Winchester all-beaver bodies take a much nicer finish than their "staple" (rabbit) bodies.

As I understand it, the old European felters blended in hare/rabbit (among other reasons) to make the felt softer and more luxurious to the feel - not least in their velours.

 

[mayserwegener]

The following is from "Die Hutmacherkunst: ein Handbuch für den Klein- und Grossbetrieb By Carl Bortfeldt 1902". All the felt recipes in this book are blends and finish specific. Also aging of fur pelts, quality (see comment on Australian rabbit fur) and other processing (no longer applied, trade secrets) has to be taken into account.

(from Die Hutmacherkunst: ein Handbuch für den Klein- und Grossbetrieb By Carl Bortfeldt 1902)

Top Quality Velour

Pure (100%) hare saddle of mature furs, own cut, 3 parts

Pure (100%) hare saddle of mature furs, purchased cut, 2 parts

Pure (100%) Russian hare saddle, own cut, 3 Parts

Raw cut Hare, best, 2 Parts

Raw Muskrat back hair, 1 Part

Raw Muskrat belly hair, 1 Part

(from Die Hutmacherkunst: ein Handbuch für den Klein- und Grossbetrieb By Carl Bortfeldt 1902)

Nutria pelts were heavily loaded with grease and dirt and required a different cleaning process than hare and rabbit. This was also the case with Australian Rabbit (Australischen Kaninchen) which Bortfeldt said were of low quality (warm climate being a major contributing factor).

 

[Brian Niebuhr]

I think Akubra needs to use rabbit to keep the hat prices low enough to keep sales high. They were able to make a good sturdy, long lasting hat at a reasonable price. I'm worried that prices will continue to rise and quality will go down. Hope they can figure out how to keep doing what they were doing!

 

[1mach1]

Very interesting. I, too, hope this does not affect pricing and quality.

 

[besdor]

The decrease in the supply of rabbit felt will definitely affect the prices of hats especially here in the USA. That along with the dollars lowered value versus the Euro and the peso don't help either. You will be seeing increases across the board from the hat companies in the near future especially Borsalino .

 

[Zombie_61]

That's what they have him saying in the "print" story. In the video Ed linked, in the fifth post in this thread, Keir says (around the 34 second mark) "rabbit fur is the best fur to make" (garble, is that "a" or "our"? Sounds like "a" to me) "hat" (singular) "from ... "

I hadn't viewed that video before reading your post above. For those of us who are unaccustomed to hearing someone speak with an Australian accent it's difficult to determine what he said, but it sounded like "our" to me. However, I agree it did sound like he said "hat" (singular); maybe they've been making rabbit felt hats for so long that they believe there is no better fur for felt hats. [huh]

With regards to the finish of Akubra's hats, I'm under the impression they're really more of a "working man's" hat and, as such, wouldn't have the finish of a "dress" hat, especially taking Akubra's prices into consideration. I wouldn't dare to say Akubra makes the "best" hats, I can only say I'm happy with the Akubras I own.

 

[Nyah]

The one Akubra I have, the Sydney, uses a very fine, smooth, supple felt. Does anyone know how its composition or application, differs from the felt being discussed in this thread?

 

[fedoracentric]

Now, I wouldn't say that Akubra can't make more finely pounced felts. Aftetr all, the company was a Stetson contractor back in the 50s and 60s and the hats they made under the Stetson label did not have the rougher hand that one thinks of with a tough outback hat! They were as finely pounced and smooth as any Stetson fedora.

 

[Nyah]

I hear you, Fedoracentric. I should clarify that I'm not questioning what anyone has said about felt used in some Akubra hats. I'm just curious if anyone knows the answer to my question. It would be nice to know how the different qualities of felt are achieved.

 

[mayserwegener]

Josh made some good observations (also others in the discussion that follows) in this thread.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?65983-Side-By-Side-Hat-Comparisons&p=1519853&viewfull=1#post1519853

What was done in the past (you see quality differences from the 1920s into the 1930s into the 1940s into the 1950s) is not coming back.

 

[Seb Lucas]

You've got to remember that Akubra's biggest market is tourists and overseas. It's unusual to see anyone wearing one in Australian cities. You see a few in the country, but baseball caps are much more common. The Cattleman is clearly the most commonly sold Akubra hat and is issued to parking inspectors and postal workers. Forty years ago the main Akubra you saw was the Squatter, which was the real hat of the outback. The Stylemaster used to be a nice hat for city wear when it came open crowed and less tapered. Today's pre-stamped version is inadequate by comparison, with a diminished crown and a tendency to tapering.

 

[Benny Holiday]

We don't have beavers here. I have only one beaver felt hat and it's nice and soft but I wouldn't wear it the way I do my Akubras, which are spared no quarter in terms of rough treatment. Rabbit does me just fine.

 

[Gromulus]

We don't have beavers here. I have only one beaver felt hat and it's nice and soft but I wouldn't wear it the way I do my Akubras, which are spared no quarter in terms of rough treatment. Rabbit does me just fine.

I also wear my Akubras in conditions that I wouldn't think of exposing my other (even more expensive) hats to. Just let let them dry off when wet/soaked and give them the occasional brushing and they are as good as new. IMO they represent a true bargain in today's felt hat market.

 

[nigeloscar]

You've got to remember that Akubra's biggest market is tourists and overseas. It's unusual to see anyone wearing one in Australian cities. You see a few in the country, but baseball caps are much more common. The Cattleman is clearly the most commonly sold Akubra hat and is issued to parking inspectors and postal workers. Forty years ago the main Akubra you saw was the Squatter, which was the real hat of the outback. The Stylemaster used to be a nice hat for city wear when it came open crowed and less tapered. Today's pre-stamped version is inadequate by comparison, with a diminished crown and a tendency to tapering.

I disagree Seb! I see lots of Akubra's in Sydney and certainly loads being worn when I go bush.. Most country towns are full of fine akubra wearing folk!

 

[PHIL1959]

when we toured Australia, esp. inland we saw many many people wear Akubras.
I remember whilst in Perth, just before flying to the outback we were told that if we did not own and wear a hat
we couldn't go with the tour. We bought ours in Freemantle. I was taken aback a little seeing so many shops selling hats!
Akubra Jacaroo seemed to be the most popular.
I have just placed an order with Sam @ everything Australian for a stylemaster in moonstone. (august delivery) !

 

[Edward]

As I understand it, the old European felters blended in hare/rabbit (among other reasons) to make the felt softer and more luxurious to the feel - not least in their velours.

The Deluxe Feds and Campdrafts are a mix of rabbit and wild hare.... 25-30% hare, if memory serves.

 

[mayserwegener]

Originally Posted by TheDane View Post
As I understand it, the old European felters blended in hare/rabbit (among other reasons) to make the felt softer and more luxurious to the feel - not least in their velours.


Top Quality Austrian / German Velour (late 1800s to 1930s) used only Hare blends (maybe some nutria, muskrat, beaver for durability) and no Rabbit.

Side note:
Australian rabbit fur was considered low quality due to climate (warmer climate less desirable fur).

 

[Seb Lucas]

when we toured Australia, esp. inland we saw many many people wear Akubras.
I remember whilst in Perth, just before flying to the outback we were told that if we did not own and wear a hat
we couldn't go with the tour. We bought ours in Freemantle. I was taken aback a little seeing so many shops selling hats!
Akubra Jacaroo seemed to be the most popular.
I have just placed an order with Sam @ everything Australian for a stylemaster in moonstone. (august delivery) !

As I said, you can pick the tourist - they are likely the ones wearing the Akubras. In thirty years of wearing an Akubrah in our cities I have only ever met a handful of locals doing the same.