Ask a question, get an answer

[Bob Roberts]

Thanks all for the feedback. It seems like "most" people going for a custom hat pay the extra $50 or so for the beaver. I have not seen many go for a lightweight hat in rabbit and I am guessing for apparent reasons. Hard to really get a feel for the difference between the two at least for lightweight hats. thanks again.

Welcome. Trust your hatter.

 

[Bob Roberts]

what are you considering Ken that prompts you to ask the question ?

I'm curious as well Ken.

 

[jlee562]

John also gets some imported, European and south American IIRC, felts in both rabbit and beaver. You can tell the quality in your hands if you are ever in his shop, and those felts understandably command higher prices in the finished hats.

I know John uses FEPSA stuff too. IIRC, what he said back on Club Obi Wan (so this is going back a bit) was that his rabbit felt was better than Akubra's, and that it was a blend that was made for him exclusively. I don't know for certain, but in my head I remember this as being before John made any public comments about using FEPSA felts, so I'm pretty sure he was talking about Winchester.

 

[itsallgood]

I owned one and sold it
the felt is very nice ... Matt did a great with the materials anf felt blend ... but I did not like the dimensions at all.
the crown seemed too low and tapered for the brim width

The pictures are helpful, Moon, thanks. My sense is that the hat would look considerably different with a ribbon just a tad narrower.

 

[belfastboy]

I have a number of hats from Mike at ME Hats.....winchester rabbit...winchester beaver and a Fepsa rabbit. I think the rabbit on par with my akubras. The fepsa is really nice and while the beaver is great I prefer the softer hand of the Fepsa. If I could find a hatter that used Fepsa felt at not too outrageous a price I would switch.

 

[Bob Roberts]

FEPSA

 

[Ken David]

I have a number of hats from Mike at ME Hats.....winchester rabbit...winchester beaver and a Fepsa rabbit. I think the rabbit on par with my akubras. The fepsa is really nice and while the beaver is great I prefer the softer hand of the Fepsa. If I could find a hatter that used Fepsa felt at not too outrageous a price I would switch.

If I recall Fespa is extremely expensive to import due to the minimum quantities. I believe some of the hatters go in on a big shipment, regardless it either more $ than Winchester beaver or the same price plus limited supply in the US is the reason for the premium. I must of read this somewhere on the forum....

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Redfokker]

Welcome. Trust your hatter.

+1 (and the next time you are in Oregon, add some time for coffee with us)

 

[itsallgood]

Here is the NY I had

I think your middle photo shows it best. It's kind of a Dick Tracy hat.

 

[belfastboy]

If I recall Fespa is extremely expensive to import due to the minimum quantities. I believe some of the hatters go in on a big shipment, regardless it either more $ than Winchester beaver or the same price plus limited supply in the US is the reason for the premium. I must of read this somewhere on the forum....

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Yes, Mike at NW Hats would love to bring in Fepsa felts but the large buy-in is just too much for him. The felts themselves are not that expensive if you base the pricing on what Daquino asks for their hats on the Etsy site. Mike has some brown Fepsa left that he picked up along the way but paid a premium for them so they ended up costing him about the same as a Winchester Beaver.

 

[Zombie_61]

I think your middle photo shows it best. It's kind of a Dick Tracy hat.

I do think that's the best angle out of the five photos that Moon/Anthony posted, but I agree with him--either the crown is too low and tapered for that brim width, or the brim is too wide for that crown. Either way, it just doesn't look quite right.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I think your middle photo shows it best. It's kind of a Dick Tracy hat.

No. This is a Dick Tracy hat.
http://penmanhats.blogspot.ca/2011/04/dick-tracy.html
Oh my. What a daily wear hat that would be.
Johnny

 

[JamesC]

When a old Stetson size is 7/8 what size is that?? Thanks

 

[BobHufford]

When a old Stetson size is 7/8 what size is that?? Thanks

6-7/8 in my experience (not that there is much of that).

 

[Antinomy]

Dear friends,
Please tell me, do you use some special knot whan you blocking hat?))

 

[humanshoes]

Hello Antinomy, It's really just a simple slip knot. Here's a short how to video.

 

[Antinomy]

Hello Antinomy, It's really just a simple slip knot. Here's a short how to video.

Oh great) Thank you!

 

[itsallgood]

How do you think, over the years, Stetson has segmented its City Line marketing strategy?

Maybe:
The Chatham and Downs (straight profile 10 with a somewhat low crown height) are for the Common Man.
The Pinnacle and Temple (somewhat tapered profile 01 and stands a little taller) are for the Accomplished Man.
The New York (straight profile 12 with a higher crown height) is for the Gentleman.

 

[moontheloon]

How do you think, over the years, Stetson has segmented its City Line marketing strategy?

Maybe:
The Chatham and Downs (straight profile 10 with a somewhat low crown height) are for the Common Man.
The Pinnacle and Temple (somewhat tapered profile 01 and stands a little taller) are for the Accomplished Man.
The New York (straight profile 12 with a higher crown height) is for the Gentleman.

I think their strategy is ... hey lets make crappy hats at high prices so people think they are high quality and live off what our name used to be until they catch on

 

[Bob Roberts]

Lol. ^ ^ ^