Akubra Overload

[Ephraim Tutt]

Akubra Squatter - the wide-brimmed Stylemaster

This Squatter in Superfine felt arrived earlier in the week and I've been playing around with the bash. Currently it has a teardrop, but I'm thinking I'd like the crown a tad taller and so may try a centre dent.

It's not too old, though it still has the keyhole-shape foil size tag which Akubra used for decades until somewhere in the 90's. As its labeling is otherwise identical to the current Squatters, I'm guessing it comes from somewhere towards the end of the foil tag era.

The colour has undertones of greeny blue. My local hatshop tells me it's a discontinued Akubra colour called 'gun metal grey'. They should bring it back.

 

[theinterchange]

Nice hat! I like the bash you've put in there, but a center dent would look equally good.

Thanks for the Akubra history lesson, I've seen hats with similar finishing parts as the inside of this one on eBay and wondered the age.

Randy

 

[CRH]

This Squatter in Superfine felt arrived earlier in the week and I've been playing around with the bash. Currently it has a teardrop, but I'm thinking I'd like the crown a tad taller and so may try a centre dent.

...

Well done, Tutt! :eusa_clap

How does the crown height on the Squatter compare to the Stylemaster?

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

I reckon they're much the same hat CRH - except for the brim width of course. Both are among Akubras oldest styles. Everyone's country grand dad (and great grand dad) owned a squatter - and a stylemaster for headin' to town.

 

[gtdean48]

Here are the Squatter's that I have/had with a diamond in the grey & teardrop in the browns. The widest ribbons I own...

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Bewdiful lids those Squatters Deputy. Did you trim the edge binding off those two or did they come that way?

 

[RobFedoraField]

Glen Grey...

Dang, every time I see one of those gray campdrafts, I say to my self, buy one! then my wife says 1. where you gettin' money for it and 2. where you puttin it, you aint got no room in dat closet of yours.

so, looks like it's time to clean out the closet... I wonder where I'm going to put all of her sweaters...
lol lol lol

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Akubra factory, Kempsey NSW, photos

http://www.australianexplorer.com/photographs/nsw_architecture_kempsey_akubra.htm

 

[CRH]

http://www.australianexplorer.com/photographs/nsw_architecture_kempsey_akubra.htm

Thanks for that, Mr. Tutt.

Akubra really is a cultural and industrial icon Down There isn't it.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Yes indeed Craig. Akubra is as iconic to Australians as Stetson is to you folks. They're both 19th Century enterprises (Akubra founded in the 1870s), but the difference is that Akubra is still owned by the founder's family - and they still insist that any family member who wants to join the company has to learn the craft of hatmaking from the ground up. I guess that explains why they still make damn fine quality lids.

They only started using the Akubra name from around 1912. Prior to that it was Dunkerly Hat Mills. Now wouldn't it be sweet to find one with a Dunkerly label!

 

[CRH]

...Now wouldn't it be sweet to find one with a Dunkerly label!

:eusa_clap

 

[jharrell]

I just pulled the trigger on an Akubra Banjo Paterson. Hope to have it in a couple of days. With the purchase of the Akubra hat and a couple of others recently I'm afraid my hat budget has been used up for a few months!

 

[theinterchange]

jharrell: first off, welcome to The Fedora Lounge, glad to have you! Secondly, congrats on the Banjo Patterson! What color did you go with?

Randy

 

[jharrell]

jharrell: first off, welcome to The Fedora Lounge, glad to have you! Secondly, congrats on the Banjo Patterson! What color did you go with?

Randy

I went with the fawn color. I already have a Stetson Downs in graphite.

 

[theinterchange]

Good call. Seems like the BP's are getting some air time lately. Or rather, being purchased, several threads I've read have posters who mention having purchased one.

Randy

 

[theinterchange]

Family Portrait Time

Bottom left, Campdraft. Bottom right, Squatter. Top, Federation IV Deluxe.

Wanted to get them together for a visual reference in terms of size/proportions... plus I was tweaking with the bashes and who needs an excuse to take photos of their hats?!

Randy

 

[jharrell]

Banjo Patterson

My Banjo Patterson arrived today.
I ordered the fawn color and this seems just a bit darker than I was expecting however I'm more than happy with it. Initial impressions.....I may have found a new favorite hat.

 

[theinterchange]

My Banjo Patterson arrived today.
I ordered the fawn color and this seems just a bit darker than I was expecting however I'm more than happy with it. Initial impressions.....I may have found a new favorite hat.

:eusa_clap Looks great on you!

Is it really stiff, or do you feel some give to the felt?

Randy

 

[jharrell]

:eusa_clap Looks great on you!

Is it really stiff, or do you feel some give to the felt?

Randy

It seems a bit stiffer than my Stetson Downs. That said it's not what I would call overly stiff if that helps at all. Yes, I feel some give to the felt.

 

[theinterchange]

Thanks, that answered the question. I was curious if they were "helmet" like.

Randy