Beater Brotherhood

[ruvort]

I can understand some natural patina for character... but I will never understand the desire to have a truly beaten looking hat. At some point an article of clothing loses its character and makes the wearer look unkempt and shabby.

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[BobHufford]

At some point an article of clothing loses its character and makes the wearer look unkempt and shabby.

I think that's the point...

 

[ruvort]

I think that's the point...

Seems rather ungentlemanly, but to each his own I suppose.

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[Zombie_61]

I can understand some natural patina for character... but I will never understand the desire to have a truly beaten looking hat. At some point an article of clothing loses its character and makes the wearer look unkempt and shabby.

I am unkempt and shabby, so the look suits me. But seriously, I completely understand your opinion. Wearing a hat which has seen as much "wear and tear" as the hats in this thread exhibit isn't a desirable look for everyone. But I appreciate the extremely casual nature of that look, and almost every "defect" tells a story. If I had such a hat I certainly wouldn't wear it with a suit and tie, but for something like a picnic, a backyard barbecue, or a day at the beach, why not?

 

[jonbuilder]

I can understand some natural patina for character... but I will never understand the desire to have a truly beaten looking hat. At some point an article of clothing loses its character and makes the wearer look unkempt and shabby.

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There was a time in the not so distant past when men most work outdoors and had but one hat worn for protection from the elements. There is a market for new hat that try to look the part

 

[Zombie_61]

There was a time in the not so distant past when men most work outdoors and had but one hat worn for protection from the elements. There is a market for new hat that try to look the part

There is definitely a market for artificially distressed hats, but I'm not a fan. I appreciate artistry, but sometimes my practical side wins out and I just can't see damaging a perfectly good hat in that way just so some schmuck with more money than brains can "look the part". It's one thing if a hat earns its "scars" honestly through years of service, but anyone wearing a fake beater is just perpetuating a lie.

 

[RJR]

File pic of a Peters Brothers SO,reblocked and shaped several times.

 

[scottyrocks]

I have a coupla/few beaten (meaning 'beyond beater') hats.

Unfortunately, the most recent one is my Fed III. I love this hat but it has almost completely lost its ability to hold a shape.

I've already not only reblocked it, but took it apart and reversed the entire hat front to back because a hole was beginning to form at the top of the front pinch.

I got the hat well-used, but wore it, myself, for years, right up until almost a year ago now.

I like hats with character, but this one is now beyond what I would consider wearable-in-public.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi, Most hatters sell "distressed" hats. I prefer to do my own distressing. On that subject, I wore my John Wayne Fort Apache hat in the rain at Shiloh military park the day after I walked out of Mike Moore's shop. I haven't done that enough for it to look distressed though.
Later

 

[Robieman]

Hi, Most hatters sell "distressed" hats. I prefer to do my own distressing. On that subject, I wore my John Wayne Fort Apache hat in the rain at Shiloh military park the day after I walked out of Mike Moore's shop. I haven't done that enough for it to look distressed though.
Later

How about posting a pic of the hat, if you don't mind. I have 3 of his. Would like to see how yours came out.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi, it will be a bit, I'm at work. I have a few.....
Later

 

[Jerm]

Hey, somebody just called my borso ugly. I think that's just unkind....

Which borsalino is that exactly

 

[DeaconE]

Searched old threads for "beater" and work hats and found this one. Hope it's ok to pull up a thread this old...

About a year and a half ago, I started working part-time at a local funeral home. I liked it so much, I decided to go full-time. I needed a hat for graveside services in the typical South Georgia heat. I've worn hats for a long time, but usually western style straws. My wife was going to town and I asked her to see if any of the department stores had a black fedora. She came home with a black 100% cotton "outback style" hat from a Rose's Dept. Store for $12. Worked for me...

This is what it looked like in that year and a half. It was worn in all kinds of weather except snow, which we may have once every 4 or 5 years. I've since cleaned it and gotten out a lot of the sun damage with black liquid shoe polish. I've sprayed it down with water repellant stuff and still grab it for rainy days. It's a great hat.

 

[Killick]

This is a VS Custom from Art Fawcett. It's the light weight beaver from VS. I really wasn't wearing the hat as it just didn't feel right, (didn't care for the light weight felt). I was putting together a Halloween costume, an old western type codger character. So I transformed the hat into this. I used some weathering powders and some oil and dirt. Some may think it is sacrilegious to 'ruin' a nice hat but as I said I wasn't wearing it. Anyway...

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Check out this thread about hat creases - https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hat-creases.9833/ . In regards to changing the diamond to a pork pie crease, the above linked thread would be appropriate.

If you wish feedback as to your changes, I imagine that your adding the hat to this thread should garner some feedback - https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-wearing-today.94860/page-2728.

Glad you are wearing that fine VS fedora. My preference would be the original, but I say make it yours.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is a VS Custom from Art Fawcett. It's the light weight beaver from VS. I really wasn't wearing the hat as it just didn't feel right, (didn't care for the light weight felt). I was putting together a Halloween costume, an old western type codger character. So I transformed the hat into this. I used some weathering powders and some oil and dirt. Some may think it is sacrilegious to 'ruin' a nice hat but as I said I wasn't wearing it. Anyway...

Your title doesn’t really match your post. We use “bash” to mean the crease or shape of the crown.

 

[Frunobulax]

Your title doesn’t really match your post. We use “bash” to mean the crease or shape of the crown.

I think he misspelled "trash."

 

[MisplacedHillbilly]

This is a VS Custom from Art Fawcett. It's the light weight beaver from VS. I really wasn't wearing the hat as it just didn't feel right, (didn't care for the light weight felt). I was putting together a Halloween costume, an old western type codger character. So I transformed the hat into this. I used some weathering powders and some oil and dirt. Some may think it is sacrilegious to 'ruin' a nice hat but as I said I wasn't wearing it. Anyway...

Not bad I reckon, but speaking for myself I prefer a earned patina to a forced patina

 

[Thundercolt]

Beater hats are the tough love icon of the headwear community. They may not be expensive, or socially dignified attire, but they show you’ve got style and do their job none the less. So, let’s hear it for the lids commonly worn by the salt of the earth working folks, the everyday misfits, artistically inclined, and tragically hip souls, who dare to venture out into the world each day sporting their Beaters.

Okay, so let’s see those Beater hats!

 

[Frunobulax]

Beater hats are the tough love icon of the headwear community. They may not be expensive, or socially dignified attire, but they show you’ve got style and do their job none the less. So, let’s hear it for the lids commonly worn by the salt of the earth working folks, the everyday misfits, artistically inclined, and tragically hip souls, who dare to venture out into the world each day sporting their Beaters.

Okay, so let’s see those Beater hats!

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https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/show-off-your-beaters.9361/