Art Fawcett VS Hall of Fame

[daizawaguy]

Seriously though, a very fine summer hat. Note the slight hint at the reverse egg-shape crown dent..

and the `breathability`...

 

[CRH]

...Note the slight hint at the reverse egg-shape crown dent..
...

D

shakeshead

:eusa_clap

 

[Lexybeast]

My first braided hat, my first pork-pie, and definitely my first red polka-dot puggaree! Congratulations Art on a masterpiece!

Damn. That's nice.

So what's the story on these Milan-straw type hats? Is this officially a new offering from Art?

 

[The Lark]

Monday, October 6, 2008

Like the rest of the day's clothes, hats should be compatible with but not match, and a wardrobe with brown, blue, gray and black hats gives a man the variety he needs to not match in any situation. On the day of the photo I was not matching my chestnut shoes.

http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/

Wait... what? I thought matching your hat to your coat/jacket was the whole idea?

 

[mayserwegener]

My first braided hat, my first pork-pie, and definitely my first red polka-dot puggaree! Congratulations Art on a masterpiece!

Great work of Art! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[SpeedRcrX]

Nice one dguy, a true work of Art!!!

I can't wait to see it on your head

Truly beautiful!

 

[ScionPI2005]

Awesome Daizawaguy! That blue is very rich in color.

I second LexyBeast's question: is this a new offering from Art, or just by special order (as if all orders for Art's hats aren't special :eusa_doh: ).

 

[Memo]

WOW! Thats is a beautiful hat. Great ribbon! Did you provide the ribbon or did Mr. Fawcett have it?

 

[daizawaguy]

I second LexyBeast's question: is this a new offering from Art, or just by special order (as if all orders for Art's hats aren't special :eusa_doh: ).

Firstly, Memo- Art provided it. I read on a search on pugarrees on the lounge that apart from using vintage grosgrain, he has a fine sence (and dare I say a stock!?) of vintage puggarees as well...

Lexy and Scion - Sorry, I was not trying to hide anything - if I recall around the time of the Monteagle get together I remember reading about three developments - one was the scarcity (or high costs associated with the high reject rate) of the lightweight felts; the possibility of Art getting some braids; and, the imminent launch of a new range of colors in felts...I mailed Art about the braids, and as these things turn out, the temptation was too strong. I can`t find the original post after a day of searching, but I would say that all three developments hold a lot of water, and the latter two could be the most exciting thing on this thread...it seems we should keep posted (or give Art a call to beat the queue!) - the next few weeks and months should see exciting developments...

 

[CRH]

...he has a fine sence (and dare I say a stock!?) of vintage puggarees as well...
...

I don't know what to say but here's how I feel about that.

 

[daizawaguy]

I don't know what to say but here's how I feel about that.

lol Well, puggaree aside Sir, the braid blocking seems to require quite a skill. I`ve just done some research and found the following information on this thread

http://www.archive.org/stream/strawhatstheirhi00inwauoft/strawhatstheirhi00inwauoft_djvu.txt

"Hand blocking is done in the following manner : the hat to be
ironed is first put through some process to make the
hardness of the gelatine sufficiently soft to fit the blocks.
In the early days of the trade this was always done by
lightly passing the hot iron over a damp cloth in which
the hat was enveloped, thus producing enough steam
to render the hat pliable, the crown was then carefully
adjusted on the block, special attention being given to
the spacing and direction of the rows of plait.

About 1880 straw hat manufacturers, having also
started the making of felt hats, for which, a small steam
jet in an enclosed box or vessel was necessary, found
that this same " steam pot " (trade term) provided an
easy means of softening the hat, for placing on the
wooden block, and since that time the old method of
softening has practically died out, with the exception
of such plaits as would be injured by steam action.
When the crown of the hat is in proper position on the
block, it is covered with the " strainer." This should
be in a well wrung-out damp condition, and is held
in its place by the left hand of the " blocker," the
ironing operative. With the box iron in his right hand,
he evenly and with a slightly circular motion, keeping
the iron on the hat, presses out any inequalicies that may
be left, but with such discretion as not to injure the
design of the plait. This process continues until the
" strainer " is dry, which indicates that all superfluous
moisture is evaporated and that the material will stay
permanently in the required form. Some plaits with
prominent heads or fancy embellishments require two
or more " strainers " or even a thickness of flannel
between the iron and the hat to prevent bruising, but
plaits such as these are generally " blocked " by being
" steamed " (trade term), that is the shaping on the
block is entirely done by the hand of the operator after
the material has been softened in the " steampot."
When hats are, as they always were till about 1885,
of " one piece " make, the crown having been finished,
is taken off the wooden block and placed head downward
in the " curler " or " brimmer " of wood. Either
name sufficiently designates its form and use, and the
" one piece " hat is carefully adjusted in the head entry,
due regard being made to the contour of the base of the
crown, and the arrangement of the first gores of the brim,
so as to ensure a perfectly clean line of junction between
the crown and the brim. The brim is then adjusted
to the exact outline of the edge, and when true is
" blocked " in a similar way to the crown. The two
piece hats are done in the same way with, of course, the
exception that the crown and the brim are blocked apart.
It is, of course, obvious that only quite a small portion
of some parts of the hats can be ironed at a time, the
surface of the iron can only, at most, impinge on that
amount which is parallel, and, therefore, the blocking
of a crown with rounding top, bevelled edges and perhaps
almost " 0. G." sides, is an operation needing con-
siderable skill, for no lines must show, nor must there
be any bruise marks, and yet at the same time there must
be enough pressure to cause the material to assume and
retain the required shape."

:eusa_clap All credit to Art for having attained such a fine consistency and proportion in the blocking :eusa_clap

 

[Viper Man]

...the imminent launch of a new range of colors in felts...

Besides Oxblood, does anybody know what the other colors are?

 

[fluteplayer07]

Been wondering that myself...

 

[jporgeck]

This beauty arrived yesterday. A true work of Art, pun intended. The color is whiskey and the ribbon is 1 5/8" black, diamond crease, 2 3/4" brim. Exceeds my expectations. Hats off to Art Fawcett. Prouder than a two tail dog.

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[handlebar bart]

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That is a sharp lid, but you aren't gettin away that easy. More pictures and details

 

[DRB]

Here's a tip Sargon, don't put the iron directly on the brim if you use one. Instead, find a cylinder like a Pringles can or rolling pin, steam the front of the brim lightly, then hold it down over the can till cool. It should safely do what you want.

A clever idea!

 

[St.Ignatz]

A clever idea!

From a talented gent.

 

[jporgeck]

That is a sharp lid, but you aren't gettin away that easy. More pictures and details

[huh] There is a pic from nearly every angle. If I recall correctly the crown is either 5 1/2" or 5 3/4"

 

[DRB]

Yes jporgeck, tell us more. What color is that? Whiskey?

 

[jporgeck]

DRB - Yes jporgeck, tell us more. What color is that? Whiskey?

DRB, yes it is "whiskey" color. The indor picture, at least on my monitor, most acurately depicts the deep, rich, mellow whiskey color with just an ever so slight hint of olive.

This beauty arrived yesterday. A true work of Art, pun intended. The color is whiskey and the ribbon is 1 5/8" black, diamond crease, 2 3/4" brim. Exceeds my expectations. Hats off to Art Fawcett. Prouder than a two tail dog.

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