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Messages
10,839
Location
vancouver, canada
Thank you. This makes me feel better about ordering a Gannon. How do you address head shape and not just circumference if you don't use a conformateur? One shop told me that I'm a long oval, but I'm not really certain.
a while back, early on in my hat collecting I used long pipe cleaners, joining two to form a circle. I then twisted them around my head at the level a hat would sit. This is my Prairie Home Companion conformateur. I did it purely out of curiosity to see the shape of my head. Turns out it is ovoid.....egg shaped with a pointy prow like a ship. It provided nothing of real value but satisfied my curiosity.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
a while back, early on in my hat collecting I used long pipe cleaners, joining two to form a circle. I then twisted them around my head at the level a hat would sit. This is my Prairie Home Companion conformateur. I did it purely out of curiosity to see the shape of my head. Turns out it is ovoid.....egg shaped with a pointy prow like a ship. It provided nothing of real value but satisfied my curiosity.

I'm a huge Garrison Keillor fan so your reference of Praire Home Companion brought a big smile. I suppose that Gannon or other makers can address my head shape concerns when I place an order and I can dispense with the pipe cleaner head shape o'meter.
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
Thank you. This makes me feel better about ordering a Gannon. How do you address head shape and not just circumference if you don't use a conformateur? One shop told me that I'm a long oval, but I'm not really certain.

If LO hats fit you more comfortably then chances are you are LO... you can just tell him that.

Maybe John Penman and Michael Gannon just have blocks the exact shape of my head ... I dunno...but their creations seem to be most comfortable straight out of the box and have never needed band block coaxing

If your head is very odd shaped maybe have a hatter measure you with the device so you have it just to be safe.

Nothing like spending a grip of money on a custom made hat that you don’t enjoy wearing

my VS fits quite well also... I should wear it more

strangely though I own a hat by a hatter who used the device on me himself and made one of my least comfortable hats from those measurements

Depends on the hatter I presume

You cannot go wrong with any of the guys around this forum

Gannon
Art
Bob at Black Sheep
Esther
Falcon Park
Brass Rooster
Wellema
Alley Kat
NW
Penman
Optimo
etc etc

You will be pleased with any of those


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
Can you please tell me about these band blocks? Thank you.

This is one Art made for me from measurements taken with the device he sends out

It cost basically nothing and is absolutely priceless

It keeps any hat custom or off the shelf fitting perfectly

aba2a01de5977b59449589d95b0554c0.jpg

b8fb589817f03026ce88028c1d86fe67.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,008
Location
Alberta
This is one Art made for me from measurements taken with the device he sends out

It cost basically nothing and is absolutely priceless

It keeps any hat custom or off the shelf fitting perfectly

aba2a01de5977b59449589d95b0554c0.jpg

b8fb589817f03026ce88028c1d86fe67.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is most fortunate you have such an even head shape. When you look at mine one side if my head is flatter that the other. I have used my block from Art to help break in most of my Akubras. Even when the hat starts to get a little too tight I just pop the block in and it fits fantastic again. I also have a hat stretcher but its pretty wide so pulls the hat away from the sides of my head when I use it. Hands down the best hat accessories I own is that little piece of wood from Art.
Johnny
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
It is most fortunate you have such an even head shape. When you look at mine one side if my head is flatter that the other. I have used my block from Art to help break in most of my Akubras. Even when the hat starts to get a little too tight I just pop the block in and it fits fantastic again. I also have a hat stretcher but its pretty wide so pulls the hat away from the sides of my head when I use it. Hands down the best hat accessories I own is that little piece of wood from Art.
Johnny
agree 100%

priceless item for a hat enthusiast
 
Messages
19,413
Location
Funkytown, USA
If LO hats fit you more comfortably then chances are you are LO... you can just tell him that.

Maybe John Penman and Michael Gannon just have blocks the exact shape of my head ... I dunno...but their creations seem to be most comfortable straight out of the box and have never needed band block coaxing.
.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting, as we worship at the altar of the same Gannon block. I've never considered myself a LO.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
This is one Art made for me from measurements taken with the device he sends out

It cost basically nothing and is absolutely priceless

It keeps any hat custom or off the shelf fitting perfectly

aba2a01de5977b59449589d95b0554c0.jpg

b8fb589817f03026ce88028c1d86fe67.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What a great idea. Such a simple little thing too. I'll make certain to ask for one when I get a custom.

Thank you for being willing to share your knowledge.
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
What a great idea. Such a simple little thing too. I'll make certain to ask for one when I get a custom.

Thank you for being willing to share your knowledge.
100% my pleasure

and you will not regret getting a band block ... maybe even do what I wish I did and get a few of them

they cost almost nothing
 
Messages
12,009
Location
East of Los Angeles
...Maybe John Penman and Michael Gannon just have blocks the exact shape of my head ... I dunno...but their creations seem to be most comfortable straight out of the box and have never needed band block coaxing...
I think this is one of the reasons I like my Akubras so much--their size 60 blocks and my head seem to be almost the exact same shape, so their hats fit very well.

Just a thought--assuming the use of a conformateur isn't an option for whatever reason, couldn't someone with a "long oval" head take one or two of their hats that fit comfortably, measure the inside(s) of the crown(s) front-to-back and side-to-side, and send those measurements to their hatter? I know it wouldn't account for "unusually shaped" heads, but at the very least I would think it would result in a better fit than trying to put a "regular oval" hat on a "long oval" head.
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
I think this is one of the reasons I like my Akubras so much--their size 60 blocks and my head seem to be almost the exact same shape, so their hats fit very well.

Just a thought--assuming the use of a conformateur isn't an option for whatever reason, couldn't someone with a "long oval" head take one or two of their hats that fit comfortably, measure the inside(s) of the crown(s) front-to-back and side-to-side, and send those measurements to their hatter? I know it wouldn't account for "unusually shaped" heads, but at the very least I would think it would result in a better fit than trying to put a "regular oval" hat on a "long oval" head.

Absolutely


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
This is one Art made for me from measurements taken with the device he sends out

It cost basically nothing and is absolutely priceless

It keeps any hat custom or off the shelf fitting perfectly

aba2a01de5977b59449589d95b0554c0.jpg

b8fb589817f03026ce88028c1d86fe67.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
+1 I made my own from the head pattern Mike Miller gave me. I cut one out of the stiff foam insulation made for houses. It serves me well. I also cut a couple out of 1 1/4 wood like the one above, it could use some extra sanding to make it perfect.
13Sep17 Pedigree Boater former.jpg
 
Messages
18,185
I built a couple of my own from my Mike Miller hat size pattern. They are a little fussy to make, still need to some sanding on one of them. I think I'll have Art make me one.
Shouldn't be a problem for an ol' setbuilder such as yourself. I traced the pattern from my original, both top & bottom because there is an ever so slight taper between the two. I tried to measure the difference between the two. I found it was so slight it was difficult to set the blade at such an angle, so I ended up approximating the taper with a spindle sander.
 

FedOregon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,134
Location
Oregon
But is Michael using a LO? Or a regular oval. My other customs aren't LO. Nor is the 52 I've blocked some on.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.
When Michael made my first Gannon he told me he didn't have any LO blocks. He told me has has them now, though. So I would say only in the last few months did he make any hats from LO blocks.

I would say that most of the LO vintage hats I have fit best, but not all.
 

MatthewPace

New in Town
Messages
29
Hello Gentleman,

I'm new here and am looking to purchase my first vintage fedora. I've managed to find a beautiful Royal Stetson 6 3/4 in Chestnut. It appears to be in decent condition and is close to the brim size I prefer as well. I am however unsure on the price. It's a '47 - '64 era Stetson that's made of felt. Being new to this game I am unsure if the price tag is worth it. It's listed as $299 or best offer. My birthday is this week and I'd love to grab it as a gift to myself. Any thoughts? The below picture is one of the photos of the fedora
Screen Shot 2017-10-15 at 11.13.14 PM.png
 

FedOregon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,134
Location
Oregon
Hello Gentleman,

I'm new here and am looking to purchase my first vintage fedora. I've managed to find a beautiful Royal Stetson 6 3/4 in Chestnut. It appears to be in decent condition and is close to the brim size I prefer as well. I am however unsure on the price. It's a '47 - '64 era Stetson that's made of felt. Being new to this game I am unsure if the price tag is worth it. It's listed as $299 or best offer. My birthday is this week and I'd love to grab it as a gift to myself. Any thoughts? The below picture is one of the photos of the fedora View attachment 89490
If you wear a size 6-3/4 then you can do a lot better than that. Look on ebay some more and you'll see what I mean. Are you sure that's your size?
 

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