Art Fawcett VS Hall of Fame

[dostacos]

You sir, have nerves of steel

now it is REALLY bad the box has arrived and it is NOT my birthday yet, I got to peak just enough to make sure no damage in shipping and my wife packed it back up until the 17th....:cry:

 

[Art Fawcett]

now it is REALLY bad the box has arrived and it is NOT my birthday yet, I got to peak just enough to make sure no damage in shipping and my wife packed it back up until the 17th....:cry:

lol lol lol lol now I checked Dostacos, your instructions said "early May" so I tried to time it for May 1 early enough? lol

Thanks gents for the kind words. Tortswon, you are right, I sent out alot last Monday as I was taking a "road trip" and wanted to get as many done as possible to make it easier on myself when I got home.

Had a great time, found some things I can use ( tools are ALWAYS a good thing) met 1911man , ( it was a real pleasure Sir!!), spent time with Jim of JW ( a genuine Character of the best kind) and his wife Joyce ( a real sweetie) whom I've known for years. From Salt Lake I went to Bozeman Montana to visit with John Morris of Rocky Mountain hatters. I've spoken with him for years but had never met face to face ( doncha just Love this internet stuff) so it was a good time to do so. He surprised me a bit by offering to let me "go through" his vintage ribbon supply and not only bought everything he was willing to sell, but had a couple of really unusual ones that I'm sure will work their way into my collections. Listening Analogist?

MattJH, what can I say? Let me publicly say that your hat terrified me in that, given your penchant for vintage, your respected opinions here on the Lounge, and your hat knowledge in general made the bar just a bit higher in my mind. Given that my entire business is based on word of mouth every hat I make is important but some just seem more important to get right than others. Yours was one of those for me. I can't tell you how happy I was to get home last night to find your personal message and see your postings today. Thank you Sir.

Lexy!! Thank you for posting your hat.

 

[MattJH]

MattJH, what can I say? Let me publicly say that your hat terrified me in that, given your penchant for vintage, your respected opinions here on the Lounge, and your hat knowledge in general made the bar just a bit higher in my mind. Given that my entire business is based on word of mouth every hat I make is important but some just seem more important to get right than others. Yours was one of those for me. I can't tell you how happy I was to get home last night to find your personal message and see your postings today. Thank you Sir.

I can't help but laugh at this; I felt the same way, but in reverse! It's funny how these things work out. You did an A+ job, Art. It has already been worn in the rain, even.

 

[JPMcAdara]

I can't tell you folks how many times I have been on this thread!! Just got my conformer yesterday and I am just so excited to work with one of the best!!!

 

[MattJH]

I had promised my time-line from my initial deposit to my final payment, and here it is (I've always been curious about how it works, so I'm assuming many of you are, too!) --

February 18th, 2009: 50% of the cost sent to Art Fawcett as a deposit to have a custom hat made.

February 23rd, 2009: Received the felt palette to keep and the conformer to send back.

February 25th, 2009: Shipped the conformer back to Art.

April 20th, 2009: Received a phone call from Art to discuss specifics (dimensions, ribbon treatment, color, felt type, etc.) He's an extremely pleasant person to speak with!

April 27th, 2009: Received notice that the hat had shipped.

April 30th, 2009: The hat arrives!

May 1st, 2009: My final payment of the other 50% + shipping & handling was sent to Art to finalize the exchange.

 

[1911 Man]

I can't tell you folks how many times I have been on this thread!! Just got my conformer yesterday and I am just so excited to work with one of the best!!!

It's amazing. Not only are the hats outstanding, the whole process of ordering a new hat is so much fun. Planning the felt color, ribbon treatment, style, and working with Art through the whole process is a joy. For me, the anticipation and act of ordering a new hat is as much a pleasure as owning the hat when it arrives.

Art's hats are amazing. We are all very lucky to have such a fine gentleman and hatter among us.

 

[dostacos]

lol lol lol lol now I checked Dostacos, your instructions said "early May" so I tried to time it for May 1 early enough? lol

snip.

Well yeah that was EARLY May:eusa_doh: When Jeanie asked what it was, I told her it is her birthday present to me, she didn't blink an eye. She did say it looked like it has a taller crown {compared to my Penman it is true}

now the one coming THAT one is gonna cost me some bling

 

[Lexybeast]

kaosharper1, I'm not sure about the specific shade. I sent Art a few photos of myself wearing hats and asked him do his thing, only specifying that I wanted a shade of grey. Art, perhaps you could answer this?

Here's a photo of me wearing the hat. Plus my dress beard.

 

[Colby Jack]

Oy it looks great! ...That's a really nice gray!

 

[Art Fawcett]

That's Granite Lexy but I don't remember the ribbon color name...if it even had one. It's some of my vintage stock.
Did the bowler fit OK? I haven't heard.

 

[Lexybeast]

Hey Art,

It's still slightly tight on the front and back, but much more wearable. Before, I couldn't even get the thing on my head. I'm going to try wearing around a bit and hopefully that'll give it that last comfortable stretch.

 

[Jabos]

kaosharper1, I'm not sure about the specific shade. I sent Art a few photos of myself wearing hats and asked him do his thing, only specifying that I wanted a shade of grey. Art, perhaps you could answer this?

Here's a photo of me wearing the hat. Plus my dress beard.

My gosh Lexy, that's a beard. I wouldn't have that thick a beard if I let mine grow for 20 years! That looks to be a good representative pic of the granite shade-thanks for posting. Another for my long list of "wants" from Art!

 

[kaosharper1]

That looks to be a good representative pic of the granite shade-thanks for posting. Another for my long list of "wants" from Art!

The Dingus is also granite, and its actually more of a brownish rather than bluish grey. For some reason it photographs more blue-like with a flash. I was never able to get the color right either.

Having said that, its a great color. Goes with just about anything.

 

[jazzncocktails]

What was also great was being able to recieve my latest hat from Art. I told him I wanted a Trackside model in Whiskey colored felt, with a dark brown band.

This is an awesome hat. Some of you may know I have sold some of my hats, so I am down to 2 from Art, and 2 from JW (one of which I don't really wear, I just can't get it to work for me). The other Art work is a few pages back, a chocolate colored Whippet reproduction, which I love. I'm pretty sure this hat has a 5 1/2" crown, but it has a deeper bash, so it is shorter. The pictures look a little fish eyed, so the hat looks even shorter than it really is, or maybe my head really is that big (????)

My wife instantly fell in love with it, which is saying something. So without further ado...

Wow, 1911, that's pretty close to perfect. :eusa_clap

I've been wanting to find a Whippet in good shape, but you're helping me realize that maybe the best bet would be a Whippet repro like the one you mention. Time to start saving the pennies...

 

[barrowjh]

VS Panama

Purchased a panama (Montecristi, llano weave) from Art, and the hat really speaks for itself:

I count about 1200 wpsi on the crown and maybe 900 ~ 1000 on the brim, but my eyes might deceive me. Tried to take good close-ups (difficult with a point-n-shoot!), and printed them out to count them - still, needed a magnifying glass on the pics and not sure of the count. Academic, really, as the hat from a normal viewing distance (not sure I want many people closer than 2 feet!) it is a really beautiful hat. WELL PLEASED is an understatement.

Those were the best pics, many failed attempts in that regard. Here is one last pic of the hat:

 

[univibe88]

That looks like a very fine Panama indeed!

 

[Neil]

Wow

That is just superb.
Man, Art does a good job.
It must torture him to use just a plain black ribbon, though.

 

[tortswon]

Wow!

That is a beautiful Panama! Wear it with pride. I feel my credit card warming up in my pocket. Best, Sam

 

[dostacos]

The JAZZMAN

here are some shots of my new Jazzman

my wife LOVES this hat. My first Art Fawcett is still in the box until Sunday as that is my birthday :eusa_doh: When the Jazzman showed up she said "Is that ANOTHER hat???:rage: HOW MUCH DID IT COST?" I said less than YOUR 30th wedding anniversary present

she now LOVES this hat, and at mothers day I mentioned getting a dark moss for Christmas she did not say a word {she has a hard time getting gifts for me so I kinda help her along[huh] }

I will be doing a photo shoot with my son and daughter in law as soon as hats I bought for them arrive so until then these will have to do. Oh, I love the initials in the sweat band

 

[handlebar bart]

I like it. I do believe that is the first Jazzman with a bound brim we've seen here. it is a nice touch. But we do need the 'noggin shot'[huh]