Akubra Overload

[Who?]

According to the Hats Direct webpage, Akubra prices will be rising on Wednesday.

Bummer, but I’m sure lots of folks would like to see them stay in business.

 

[G MAN]

I'm going to try and wear all of my hats this fall.
I have some hats I haven't worn in years, yet I keep looking for new ones.
Is it a sickness? Why am I always looking for my next hat?
Oh well, look who I'm asking, this place is where my problem started.
Cheers

Banjo Paterson​

 

[Who?]

That's a nice start .... by all means press on!

 

[G MAN]

Oh no, that's one of the ones I haven't worn in a long time.
But the Banjo Paterson is one of my favorites
It just always goes with everything and this one and my Heritage Fawn Banjo get the most compliments when I wear them out, many more than my other hats.

 

[BlackSmp]

I'm going to try and wear all of my hats this fall.
I have some hats I haven't worn in years, yet I keep looking for new ones.
Is it a sickness? Why am I always looking for my next hat?
Oh well, look who I'm asking, this place is where my problem started.
Cheers

Banjo Paterson​

View attachment 457837

Yeah, I'm just in the beginning but keeps looking for new hats

 

[The Shoe]

I’ve been wearing lots of Akubras to start the felt season.
Black 1960s Stylemaster,

Brown Fed IV,

Cattleman and Snowy River,

My new acorn fawn Stylemaster (and Etsuko’s light sand Leisure Time),

and the Snowy River again.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’ve been wearing lots of Akubras to start the felt season.
Black 1960s Stylemaster,
View attachment 457904
Brown Fed IV,
View attachment 457905
Cattleman and Snowy River,
View attachment 457906
My new acorn fawn Stylemaster (and Etsuko’s light sand Leisure Time),
View attachment 457907
and the Snowy River again.
View attachment 457908

Your vintage black Stylemaster looks to be of more generous proportions that the current version. It actually looks larger than the Fed IV to me. Maybe just angles?

 

[The Shoe]

Your vintage black Stylemaster looks to be of more generous proportions that the current version. It actually looks larger than the Fed IV to me. Maybe just angles?

Angles and bashes, I believe.
A few side-by-sides and measurements:
The Fed IV is significantly taller in the crown than either Stylemaster.

Fed IV

Vintage Stylemaster

The modern Stylemaster is taller than the vintage

But this is likely due to the shallower bash.
Modern

Vintage

Side-by side

6 cm brim on the modern

More like 6½ on the vintage

7cm on the Fed IV

That’s my 10 pics. I want to add one more, so another post coming up.

 

[The Shoe]

Your vintage black Stylemaster looks to be of more generous proportions that the current version. It actually looks larger than the Fed IV to me. Maybe just angles?

Continued…
The more pronounced downwards slope front to back on the vintage also probably contributes to the impression you’re getting.

 

[The Shoe]

Your vintage black Stylemaster looks to be of more generous proportions that the current version. It actually looks larger than the Fed IV to me. Maybe just angles?

One final thought is that the vintage has only very slight, almost unnoticeable front pinches. I’ve been considering trying to put some deeper ones in, though I’m not sure how the very thin, soft felt would hold. Anyhow, the lack of a noticeable pinch may also contribute to an overall bulkier look to the hat.

 

[LEOSTARK]

I see The Hattery has restocked heritage fawn FedIVs. Has there been any comment on the quality of the product after they resumed production? I sent The Hattery with the same question.

 

[dkstott]

Banjo Patterson was my choice for yesterday's hike with my wife.

No name hat for her.

 

[Who?]

I don’t think I have ever seen Trillium in bloom.

 

[dkstott]

I don’t think I have ever seen Trillium in bloom.

There were. quite a few in bloom at Wadsworth state park this weekend. You have to go far off the marked trails to find them.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

BCD, with the first measurable snow predicted for parts of the area tonight.

 

[BobHufford]

BCD, with the first measurable snow predicted for parts of the area tonight.

View attachment 464922

View attachment 464923

That's a good looking hat Jack!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

That's a good looking hat Jack!

Thanks Bob. I have no complaints with it. And black hat season has arrived.

 

[BlackSmp]

BCD, with the first measurable snow predicted for parts of the area tonight.

View attachment 464922

View attachment 464923

Nice. I’ve been trying to get my side indentations (if that is the correct English word) as visible as yours but never been able to them as good as yours.

What is the trick?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Nice. I’ve been trying to get my side indentations (if that is the correct English word) as visible as yours but never been able to them as good as yours.

What is the trick?

Thank you for the compliment! The depth somewhat depends on the style of crease you want. The depth can be achieved if your crease has a gentle roll for the crease shoulder. If you are wanting a diamond crease with a razor sharp thin shoulder then you will usually be sacrificing depth, depending on the felt.

As far as setting the depth use plenty of steam & I use a big stainless steel salad spoon to press it in & hold until the steam cools. Then work small areas at a time to achieve the shape you want. Aluminum spoons can mark lighter colors of felt so be sure to use stainless steel.

 

[Scooterz]

Nice. I’ve been trying to get my side indentations (if that is the correct English word) as visible as yours but never been able to them as good as yours.

What is the trick?

My Akubra hats are almost all thicker and less moldable than some of my other felt hats. They are also all a little different from each other. I get better results by spraying them with cold distilled water to shape them than I do using steam. But I just have a little jiffy steamer. I usually have to spray them and shape them a little and do it again (maybe three times) after they dry to get them to take deeper side dents. Jack is right about it also depends on the overall shape you are going for and overall crown height you have to work with.