Baron Hats

[DnSchlng]

Anyone know Baron Hats in California. What ia everyone's opinion on their hats?

 

[BigSleep]

I live about 10 minutes from them.

Had some work done there and was so disappointed that I swore I wouldnt go back.
I did go back and have a ribbon put on a hat. That transaction went well.
Their focus seems to be on hats for films and servicing regular Joes isnt high on the list.
The quality of the hats they have on display did not impress me. They looked and felt cheap.

All in all not impressed at all.

 

[rcinlv]

Nice, but expensive

I have a Cliffhanger from Baron's.

I like the hat and wear it frequently, but I think there are better hats for the money out there. The crown is very stiff (Cowboy Hat-esque).


For their 100% Beaver hats, the prices are around $100-200 more expensive than alternatives that can be found. For a "custom hat" in the Indy style, look at Adventurebilt (I know, I know. LONG wait time), Jimmy Pierce, or Camptown Hats. If you have something else in mind you can always contact JPD, Art, or Camptown...

just my 2 cents...

Cheers,

RC

 

[hatflick1]

My experiences with Barons have been largely positive. I have had several hats re-blocked, new ribbons added and brim trim work done. The staff has always been cordial and their craftsmanship has been outstanding. I also own a Baron's custom fedora which was in a barrel in the back. I had been given permission, after begging, to rifle through the old hats piled up in the stock room. Word is, they plan to restore these vintage fedoras and get them out on the floor. It has yet to happen. Indeed they get busy filling orders for films, TV shows and cruise ship entertainers and theme parties.

 

[Jef Costello]

Baron rocks IMHO

I’ve noticed some good comments on Baron Hats, but also some people who seem to get a bit “prissy” about them. I’m from New Orleans, where people actually still wear hats (Fedora’s are taking over “stingy brims” all over town which is great to see). A good hat, like a good cigar is so very hard to find, especially made in America. I ordered my first Baron Hat on a trip to the West over ten years ago, and I’ve never had so many compliments, and having looked at Fedora’s all over the states, I’ve never had one made with such craftsmanship. I was back out to the West in July of this year, and visited Baron for the first time. Their museum of hats was amazing (most of the hats they had made themselves), their service couldn’t be better and Mark, the master hatmaker worked with me for over two hours (okay, I was a bit of a pain in the butt wanting everything perfect, and asking a million questions). He even let me into his “inner sanctum” where he actually hand blocks the hats. I’ve been told by friends who know hat makers, that this is a rare thing. They are very secretive about their workshops. I’ve since found that there are maybe half a dozen people in the country who can do what Mark does, or even less now that two of the greats have retired. And there is no other shop in the world with their history. The hats that I saw at their shop that were made by Baron were all not only first rate, but in some cases, better than I’ve ever seen before. The stitch work, the quality of the fur felts, the perfect shaping were like nothing else I’ve ever seen. One person on this lounge said something about other hats being “stiff” or poor quality. First off, there is a style of hat that a lot of people like (not me), that is hard as a helmet, and hats are made specificially for them. More to the point, I’d like to ask the fellow Fedora Lounger, if these hats he was feeling were actually Baron custom made, or other hats. The Baron store is also a retail store and they sell regular hats as well (Broner, Borsalino, etc.). These are sold, I’m sure for those who come into the store, and want to buy something, but can’t afford a custom Baron. Those hats are of a lessor quailty. But you get what you pay for. As for the price of a Baron, I would suggest you check out the very few other custom hatmakers who make hats with Baron’s quality, and you’ll see that if anything, Baron is a bargain for what you get… a hand crafted hat, made in a procedure which we all know will be gone in the next thirty years or so. And they use only 100% Fur Felts and Beavers, which I believe they get overseas and are exclusively processed for them to their specs. This is wonderful. I mean, we all know that in no time, everything will be machine stamped with faux-fur in China (most are already).

I have right here at my desk two more Fedora’s that Baron has made for me, along with a replica of Connery’s neo-Fedora (okay, it’s not a Fedora, but I like to call it one) from “League of Gentleman”. These are works of art. I honestly would like to find out why some people seem to put an almost “political” spin on Baron, as if they have a personal agenda, rather than reporting, without emotion, the simple quality of the work, and the fact that we should all be celebrating one of the last true American hatmakers who still make the hats the way we love them. I fell in love with the Fedora when I was four years old, wearing my fathers, which was made by a famous hatmaker here in New Orleans. It wasn’t just the style I loved, but the quality of the hat itself, and frankly, besides Baron, I’ve never found this any where else (with a new hat, that is). I’m sure there are a lot of better ways for someone to make a living, and Baron is there to keep a long (I’m not sure how long they’ve been in business but it has to be over fifty years) tradition alive. You feel the passion for hatmaking there. That alone is worth their praise and admiration from the keeper of the Fedora like ourselves! Thanks for listening!

 

[rcinlv]

I think you misunderstood what I said in my earlier post, or I poorly stated what I meant to say. I love my CUSTOM "200X" Beaver Cliffhanger. I wear it all the time! It is a great hat. And Mark was a joy to deal with... But I stand by my statement that for the money, there are better deals out there. The Cliffhanger, when I bought it, was $475. An Adventurebilt Fortune and Glory hat, in 100% Beaver, is $250 on the site, with a discount of $25 for members of COW and TFL. Adventurebilt, BTW, is THE hat being used in the upcoming IJ film. That makes a difference of $225-250...

I'm not saying that Mark Mieja doesn't do a good job; I'm not saying that his hats are not of the finest quality. I believe that they are, and that he does. I'm saying that the crown on my Cliffhanger is VERY stiff (not a comment on quality, but on stiffness) and must be steamed in order to change the "bash," unlike my AB (grey), ABD "Aviator," (see avatar) Stetson 100, Stetson Whippet, Stetson Stratoliners, and Borsalinos. It resembles in stiffness (of the crown) I find in my custom O'Farrell Cowboy hats.

So, to reiterate: Baron's makes very nice hats. I own a couple. They are of the highest quality. They are, however, on average, more expensive than equally custom, equally nice hats out there.

OBTW- lived in NO a few years back. Love the town. Is Meyer the Hatter still open for business?

Cheers,

RC

 

[fatwoul]

There was an online article recently which inaccurately attributed the Indy IV hats to Baron. Though I'm sure Baron themselves were not a party in this deception, I thought this would be a good point to reiterate that to new visitors who may be looking for "the real thing".