Camptown?

[mike]

Anyone seen their site? I wonder what happened? I was never able to order from them but I was hoping one day, especially some of those new straws I thought were in production..? :eusa_doh:

http://www.camptownhats.com/

from their site...

"Dear Friends

Camptown Hat Company/Camptown Hats LLC is suspending operations for the foreseeable future. All outstanding orders will be filled or refunded, but no new orders will be accepted as of December 4, 2008.

Please check back for updates after the first of the year. Until then, thank you all for your patronage and interest and kind hearted words.

Be well

Ken Spassione
Camptown Hats LLC"

 

[cookie]

Could not compete with the USD Akubra prices ...look how many hats around here have been bought recently from Down Under suppliers and sources.

 

[retro50]

Could not compete with the USD Akubra prices ...look how many hats around here have been bought recently from Down Under suppliers and sources.

Oh, he was able to compete just fine. Problem was that he was not hatting full time and his day job took precedence. His product was an 80/20 beaver/rabbit blend, all American made, hand styled semi-custom fedora. Over on the Chronicles where I spend most of my time, Camptown hats were and still are in great demand. The price was really good too, Akubras are a mighty fine hat, but when it comes to having a hat made with a personal touch, well...

Other independent one-man operations similar to Camptown's, such as Penman Hats can hardly keep up to demand. I don't think it's the exchange rate.

 

[kaosharper1]

Yes, I love my Camptown Metro. I think it was well worth $175 though there are those who differ. I'm sorry to see that Ken couldn't keep it going.

 

[KY Gentleman]

I wanted to order one of their hats! Darn it!
I hope they continue to do business later, they had so great lookin' fedoras.

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

Oh, he was able to compete just fine. Problem was that he was not hatting full time and his day job took precedence. His product was an 80/20 beaver/rabbit blend, all American made, hand styled semi-custom fedora. Over on the Chronicles where I spend most of my time, Camptown hats were and still are in great demand. The price was really good too, Akubras are a mighty fine hat, but when it comes to having a hat made with a personal touch, well...

Other independent one-man operations similar to Camptown's, such as Penman Hats can hardly keep up to demand. I don't think it's the exchange rate.

80/20? Try 50/50. Not too mention lousy ribbon work and the brim is hand trimmed. Trust me, my Camptown looks it: Visibly uneven brim. Not to mention the "Streets of Cairo" look to the brim after the first rainstorm. Yes, I set it on the crown too dry. Sides now curl like a cowboy hat.

 

[bendingoak]

Oh, he was able to compete just fine. Problem was that he was not hatting full time and his day job took precedence. His product was an 80/20 beaver/rabbit blend, all American made, hand styled semi-custom fedora. Over on the Chronicles where I spend most of my time, Camptown hats were and still are in great demand. The price was really good too, Akubras are a mighty fine hat, but when it comes to having a hat made with a personal touch, well...

Other independent one-man operations similar to Camptown's, such as Penman Hats can hardly keep up to demand. I don't think it's the exchange rate.

Just wanted to update your information. The Camptown hat is a factory hat that Ken creases and cuts the brim to order. My hats are 100% beaver handmade by my hands only. They are custom sized to fit and completely hand made.

Im no longer in the fire service due to my chronic neck and back pain. I am only making hats right now and don't plain doing anything else.

 

[kaosharper1]

80/20? Try 50/50. Not too mention lousy ribbon work and the brim is hand trimmed. Trust me, my Camptown looks it: Visibly uneven brim. Not to mention the "Streets of Cairo" look to the brim after the first rainstorm. Yes, I set it on the crown too dry. Sides now curl like a cowboy hat.

I have to say that I never had this problem with my Metro, but I didn't have the brim trimmed. And I thought it was 80% rabbit and 20% beaver, not 50/50 which would have been a better mix.

 

[warbird]

I believe he also had a copy of the block used for the last Indy movie didn't he? Wasn't he supposed to be the guy to sell the mass made Adventurebilt hats that we all heard about? I wonder what happens to that? Seems a good project for some of our other hatters .

Besides the probs listed above he also seemed to have tremendous problems with getting hats to folks in a reasonable time period. For a hat that was essentially machine made and hand shaped, that is not so-called custom, it took a long time. By the way those hats are 50/50, no way they are 80/20 from the ones I handled. I don't know if the delays were Ken's fault or the manufacturer.

He has a family and law practice and everyone has to focus right now on what really is the best use of their time. I don't blame him. I also think it is very hard to start something back when you stop it for a period of time.

I wish him the best.

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

I believe he also had a copy of the block used for the last Indy movie didn't he. Wasn't he supposed to be the guy to sell the mass made Adventurebilt hats that we all heard about? I wonder what happens to that? Seems a good project for some of our other hatters .

Besides the probs listed above he also seemed to have tremendous with getting hats to folks in a reasonable time period. For a hat that was essentially machine made and hand shaped, that is not so-called custom, it took a long time. By the way those hats are 50/50, no way they are 80/20 from the ones I handled. I don't know if the delays were Ken's fault or the manufacturer.

He has a family and law practice and everyone has to focus right now on what really is the best use of their time. I don't blame him. I also think it is very hard to start something back when you stop it for a period of time.

I wish him the best.

Yes, his Legend 1957's (Crystal Skull block) went out first thing, leaving Metro And FM customers waiting for many months.

50/50 and super thick.

 

[bendingoak]

Yes, his Legend 1957's (Crystal Skull block) went out first thing, leaving Metro And FM customers waiting for many months.

50/50 and super thick.

Thats not true. The CS block is not what Ken was using. The block Ken is using is Steve old Raiders block.

 

[warbird]

Thats not true. The CS block is not what Ken was using. The block Ken is using is Steve old Raiders block.

I was under the impression he was using the new block. There was supposed to be a mass manufacture of I thought, the Crystal skull made by someone other than Steve. I thought Ken was that person. That is the info I had.

Mabe you are right and the hat he was mass making was the original Raiders hat for those who still wanted that and didn't want to wait for a Steve hat and wanted something at less cost.

 

[bendingoak]

I was under the impression he was using the new block. There was supposed to be a mass manufacture of I thought, the Crystal skull made by someone other than Steve. I thought Ken was that person. That is the info I had.

Mabe you are right and the hat he was mass making was the original Raiders hat for those who still wanted that and didn't want to wait for a Steve hat and wanted something at less cost.

I'm sure on that one. I talk with Steve and ken from time to time. Steve and Marc wouldn't share the CS block. The old Raiders block is the one he shared with ken and myself.

 

[warbird]

I'm sure on that one. I talk with Steve and ken from time to time. Steve and Marc wouldn't share the CS block. The old Raiders block is the one he shared with ken and myself.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[jnicktem]

Maybe the CS hat you're thinking of for mass production is the Henry, by Adventurebilt. Here's some more info:

http://www.adventurebiltdeluxe.com/henry.php

 

[bendingoak]

Maybe the CS hat you're thinking of for mass production is the Henry, by Adventurebilt. Here's some more info:

http://www.adventurebiltdeluxe.com/henry.php

"the Henry" is not blocked on the CS block.

 

[jnicktem]

Oh, I know that. I was just thinking that the mass production Indiana Jones hat that Warbird was thinking of was the Henry.

 

[bendingoak]

Oh, I know that. I was just thinking that the mass production Indiana Jones hat that Warbird was thinking of was the Henry.

ooops, my bad.

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

OK, my bad. The 1957 was based on the Raider's Block.

My point was that customers who ordered a 1957 well after customers had placed orders for Metro and FM hats, got their 1957's well before the Metro and FM customers got their hats.

1957 based on Raiders..... Well the "1957" made me Think it was a CS. Bet I am not alone in having had a misconception in that regard.

Well 175 bucks later? Much Later. I have another hat to toss at the next informal trap shooting event.

And they were adverted as 50/50

 

[warbird]

I have to say that I never had this problem with my Metro, but I didn't have the brim trimmed. And I thought it was 80% rabbit and 20% beaver, not 50/50 which would have been a better mix.

They may be 80/20 rabbit to beaver. My assumption was you meant it was 80 /20 beaver/rabbit. It definitely is not that. That is the typical staple body and for $175 I'm certain it is a staple body.