Beaver content

[SonOfaPreacher]

Hello all! I have some very interesting news. Someone in the felting industry has just informed me that for some years now that the actual beaver content is minimal at best in the making of hoods- capelines, ect. They also stated that if a pure beaver hood was to be sold in todays economy, would cost more than most folks could afford. This is disturbing news to say the least, I will not however relese the name of said informant. Please don't misunderstand, I am not here to slander anyone, I am just interested in the truth of this information. If anyone here can help explain this revelation I would be very greatfull.
SoaP

 

[Spellflower]

I hate to break it to ya, but that doesn't seem like news. Most hats on the market today are rabbit, and don't claim otherwise. The few production hats that are pure beaver are very expensive, like these:





The irony is that Art will make you a pure beaver hat for significantly less than the manufacturers will. It's still a lot of money, more than most people could afford, but it's not like it's prohibitive to such hats being made.

According to other recent discussions, the likelihood is that pure beaver has always been a rare, deluxe option, but never a standard in production fedoras.

 

[SonOfaPreacher]

Thanks for the info!

Thanks! I do have a bit more to add. It seems that China is buying up tons of raw materials including the raw furs for felters, (price and demand) driving prices so far up that what once used to be a norm is now the cream of the crop. Those vintage lids are looking more attractive than ever.
Cheers!

 

[MrFusion]

Try this thread.

 

[Art Fawcett]

I can guess where you got your info SoapP, but it isn't true. What I buy are called 100% beaver by the felter and trust me, they are still affordable, otherwise I would be charging alot more for my hats. It's true that the price of fur has gone up, but it sounds like you're source is selling snake oil.

 

[majormoore]

I will back Art up on his reply, I trust my felter and I have been there many times and watched the softest beaver fur going into the vat to make the blank.

Yes the price of hat bodies has gone up , but my felter still use's the amounts needed to make the differant hat bodies.

Buy your hats from people like Art and you will never get cheated on what you order and what you get in a hat body, he doesn't sale snake oil, he sells hats, and his felter stands behind him and me and all the others that buy his hat bodies.

Mike Moore

 

[SonOfaPreacher]

Thanks Art!

I am fairly new to the art of hatting and fedoras in general, but have done tons of research into this artform. So I very much appretiate all the input and facts as I can. Art thanks for your wisedom on this subject. I am always seeking knowlage and what and how of it, and sometimes you come upon something that make one go, 'hum?'. And to be real honest I am still unsure what would cause a person to pop-off with a comment as this, I am truely puzzled! Art, you sound as if this is not a new subject, could you fill me in? PM if you need to. Mike thanks for the second, I was feeling a bit unsure of the products out there. And please don't get me wrong, I will not take anyone's idea's/opinions at face value until proven otherwise. You guys are great and please keep me on the straight and narrow!
Thanks Agian.
Son P.

 

[AlanC]

Was this person tied to one on of the major hat companies?

 

[SonOfaPreacher]

Was this person tied to one on of the major hat companies?

Not directly, Alan. I wish I know more or could find some hard evedince to say if they are blowing smoke or just trying to pawn off inferior products.
To top it all off I do not want to get to namey yet as 'slander' could get thrown around. So far the concensis is that this person might be a loon, they seem to crop up all the time.
Cheers to all.
SoaP

 

[Spellflower]

It's my understanding that Akubras are still all wild hare. Rabbits are an invasive species in Australia, and the Aussies would love to eradicate them. They introduced the virus to do just that a while back, and it was almost successful in doing so. But the thing about rabbits is that they breed like rabbits, so the population quickly surged again. Bad for native Aussie species, good for hat wearers.

 

[AlanC]

To top it all off I do not want to get to namey yet as 'slander' could get thrown around. So far the concensis is that this person might be a loon, they seem to crop up all the time.

No, I don't think you should name him. It just seems that it simply might be rationalization for why the major hat companies don't offer a better product for their often high prices.

I remember back when HATCO was posting he wouldn't disclose the actual beaver content to the various X's describing it as a trade secret. That may be, but the entire point of the original X system was to describe felt quality. Now it only demonstrates how many X's you can fit on a sweatband.

Our custom hatters have no problem disclosing their felt content. I don't know why anyone would unless they have something to hide.

 

[MrFusion]

Our custom hatters have no problem disclosing their felt content. I don't know why anyone would unless they have something to hide.

I think you hit the nail on the head, AlanC.
Quality of your felt should be a selling point, not a trade secret.

 

[jimmy the lid]

I remember back when HATCO was posting he wouldn't disclose the actual beaver content to the various X's describing it as a trade secret.

That explanation always seemed counter-intuitive to me. Seems like keeping the felt content a secret is an approach that is designed to help the manufacturer at the expense of the consumer.


Cheers,
JtL

 

[Spatterdash]

I've always wondered why any business would do something so distracting and confusing, but I have an opinion on hat makers specifically.

A custom hatter generally is trying to build a relationship with a customer for repeat business. Therefore they tend to be more up front about the felt and the process and so on. Dishonesty will find them quickly and hang on their necks like a slain albatross. A bad reputation never dies a true death.
Not that all custom hatters are honest, mind you, but custom hatters are more likely than the big hat houses.
Mass producers probably began embracing the "Mystery of the X!" the moment the market burped, as early as the late forties, and they've kept at it because it works. We've all heard someone brag about the X's of a hat. It's the Secret Ingredient, the Eleven Herbs and Spices of hat suppliers, and be it factual or fantasy, it creates an aura of prestige that suckers some people in.

Luckily, serious hat buyers tend to turn to the internet in the absense of a neighborhood hatter, and the information is available to make an informed choice. I think it is likely that anyone spouting off large numbers of X's or tales of legendary rare beaver felt to make a sale will find that more and more of the hat-wearing population has no patience for such snake oil.
This is the age of information, and marketing scams just don't have the staying power they used to.

 

[AlanC]

Yes. Until an 'X' is clearly defined (not simply as "better") they carry no weight at all.

 

[GWD]

How much tolerance is there to "blue" humor in this forum? I could have a field day with the title of this post.

Sorry, but it struck me funny.

 

[AlanC]

^Not much. Sorry.

 

[MAB1]

A vintage low X factor may actually be a finer felt than a 50X new.

Ya never know till you hold it in your hands.

 

[GWD]

^Not much. Sorry.

Not a problem, just thought I'd ask.

 

[Spatterdash]

GWD,

Don't feel bad. Every single hat fan has been struck by the equation...

beaver + X rating = humor

Oh, yeah. We've thought of hundreds of 'em.