Beaver Brand Hats, gone?

[GBM]

Auction of Beaver Brand Hat company's equipment is on July 20th

http://m.estatesales.net/estate-sales/461313.aspx

 

[besdor]

Very interesting!! I'm sure there will be many hatters making a trip down there. I spoke to one of the major factories here and they aren't interested in the machinery. I hope it stays here in the USA. Anybody going to the auction.?

 

[RBH]

It's hot here!!!

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jedwbpm]

So what is the Major buying and who else is there. give us the dirt. They should have a bunch of our hat liners that we paid for there kicking around too.

Jeff

 

[Geldoc]

It's sad to see all that equipment and associated materials, plus the hats, going out at auction. Hope some of you give it good new homes.

 

[besdor]

I spoke to a fellow hatter who went down to the auction today. He told me that most of the "good stuff" was already sold off over the past few months. I guess we will here about what was left over shortly.

 

[RBH]

So what is the Major buying and who else is there. give us the dirt. They should have a bunch of our hat liners that we paid for there kicking around too.

Jeff

Meet a lot of nice folks.
We saw liners from everyone that bought Beaver Brand.
Mike made out like a bandit!
I will post photos when I get home.

 

[barrowjh]

Very good news! Sounds like a fun field trip.

 

[TomS]

I just saw some blocks from the auction on ebay. The seller indicated he got them at the auction...

 

[RBH]

I just saw some blocks from the auction on ebay. The seller indicated he got them at the auction...

Get ready to see a ton of hats on E-Bay also.
I did not buy any to sell, but I did get a silverbelly thin ribbon for $15.00!

 

[RBH]

Among the items Mike got were two finger
blockers and the back end of his 250 full
of vintage ribbon.
I hope to post photos in the next day or so.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Beaver Brand Hat Blocks on eBay.
http://bit.ly/14tQ6v2
http://bit.ly/12FbND3
http://bit.ly/14tRH3T
http://bit.ly/14tROwf
http://bit.ly/14tRQEC
http://bit.ly/14tRUUO
http://bit.ly/14tRXzV
http://bit.ly/14tS5iW

24.99. BIN


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[RBH]

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/38...closing-after-more-than-150-years-in-business

 

[RBH]

We are now on our way home.
It's been a tiring but productive 3 days.

 

[bowlerman]

Nice article! It will be interesting to see who picks up the name.

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

 

[Geldoc]

Yes, that's a nice article. Great to see Mike interviewed. He spoke for all of us.

 

[TheDane]

How do you do, gentlemen. I'm actually not as new as I may look. I have had a profile some years now, but I'm ashamed to say, that I haven't been contributing. I have been reading a lot, but now must be the time to start giving something back to this fantastic community

I do not hope I have chosen the wrong thread for my 'debute'. I have quite different experiences with Beaver Brand, than I have read here - and I certainly don't hope, I offend any feelings by telling my story.

In April 2010 I bought a customized Beaver Brand hat from TheFedoraStore. A banker grey fedora in silk-finish - C-crown - 4' (3/8") brim binding in steel - 19' (1 3/4") crown ribbon in dark steel with a 'contrast-bow' (inner-tail and small knot detail in steel).

When I received it, the crown had a very clear crease or ridge in the back, just above the ribbon. Probably from a stretcher or band block. I found that quite annoying, as the sweat and it's execution also was rather disappointing.

After a little over a year the break line was floating down the back of my neck. The snap in the back looked like the gutter, I pour my 'used beers' into at my local blues club. No kidding! The brim actually looked like it was flanged over a helix!

After two years the brim binding had faded from steel grey to something between beige and salmon. The contrast details in the bow/knot turned the same color. Or rather: The visible (sun exposed) areas of the contrast details turned the same color.

At the time I didn't have a suitable sewing machine with a walking foot, so I just cut of the binding - reducing the width from 2 3/4" to 2 5/8". Though not the original intention, a working solution. I re-flanged the brim and changed the crown ribbon to a vintage 19' dark steel grosgrain - also with contrasting details.

All in all I have an okay beater, that I paid a little over $250 for (plus the $40 in shipping - and 30% in customs and Danish VAT of the price incl. shipping. I'm used to the latter, though)

A couple of years ago I therefore decided, that I had bought three BB-hats: My first - my last - and my very only! I'm so sorry to say, but I have never handled or owned such a lousy hat. Not before - not since.

Anyway, I'm very well aware, that BB used to make great hats back in the day. I know, cause I've handled a few. On the other hand I can't say, that the one I bought in 2010 came even close to that standard - or any standard for that matter.

To end this long 'essay', I will just stress two things:

1) I never abuse my hats. The BB had never been in a real shower. It had just been in two very light 'drippings' and it was dried in a proper manner.

2) I would never(!) hold TheFedoraStore responsible for the poor quality. I'm sure he sold the hat in the best of faith, and it's impossible to forecast, when a ribbon will begin to fade, when you don't know it's origin, type of dying (yarn-dyed or not, dye quality, and so on) and history.

When I saw the headline of this thread, I didn't wonder at all. As the sum of comments grew, I had to look quite wide to find the guts to write my story, though. Now, please don't shoot the messenger-boy

 

[majormoore]

Just rolled back into home, it was a wonderful trip for me, I got two finger blockers, if and when you find one for sale with the brass rings, they start around $10,000.00 . I did not pay that for mine, but if I were to sale one, that is what it would take. Picked up a moter driven table top brim cutter, other parts to keep my three brim curling machines I am rebuilding to last another 75 plus years. And ribbon I think to go from here to the moon and back, and about 300 hat blocks.
My back is killing me of all the boxes of stuff I bought and several of my friends that own two huge hat plants here in the USA load up all the equipment they both bought for thier hat plants.

I have the truck full , plus the trailer packed full. It will take me about two weeks to go through the ribbon, and get all the colors and widths in order and on the shelfs in the warehouse.
I will be moving the big brim puller that can pull brims 6" plus in the back shop in about three weeks have to move some things and make room, will hook the boiler I have for it up at that time.

I am very happy with all the wonderful hat equipment and ribbon that I was able to buy this weekend.
Major Moore
Buckaroo Hatters

 

[majormoore]

Yes I was there in Feb of this year and bought several hat equipment items as did Winchester Hats to us in the plant that they have.

There was a 100s of hat equipment still left for the sale this past Sat.

I could not be more happy than I am right now.

Major Moore

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Great Mike glad you where able to pick up a lot of equipment. Will have to make it down there and see it all.