Cavanagh edge question

[Brad Bowers]

Any idea who might be able to produce a new hat with a Cavanagh edge?

Just dreaming here, but I now think the hat I've been pursuing might be a silverbelly color, which I figure will be next to impossible to find in a good vintage hat with a Cavanagh edge. I'm sure the cost would be prohibitive, but are there any felt manufacturers still capable of doing this?

Brad Bowers

 

[Matt Deckard]

The last made Cavanagh edges I saw were on hats from the 60's.

Optimo says they can still make Cavanagh (mode, self felted) edge hats. The only problem is, if they did make them they would have to do a full line of them, not just one. The brim width would be locked in unless you want to cut the cavanagh edge off.
The process is done when the body for the hat is made.

I'd be for them copying the Bogart hat with a cavanagh edge.

sort of like my 1940's borsalino here which i think looks just like Bogarts hat.

 

[jamespowers]

I think there is someone producing these but they are from old stringy brim bodies and thus would not have the brim length you, or I, desire. I think the only way you could get such a single hat created is to find New Old Stock hat bodies somewhere with the Cav edge. Your chances of finding these are very slim though. I agree with Matt. I doubt someone would be willing to felt just one body and do that much work on just one. Then again, given enough money, someone might be willing to try just about anything.

Regards to all,

J

P.S. If you find someone who is willing to do it, let me know.

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Matt Deckard
sort of like my 1940's borsalino here which i think looks just like Bogarts hat.


Didn't Bogart advertise Borsalino hats? I thought I saw an old ad with him in it. So a Bogart hat could well be the Borsalino. I wonder what brand he wore in all of those movies. Most of them do look like many vintage Borsalions I have seen.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Andykev]

Bogie Hat Ad

Bogart did ads for lots of products, here is one for Resistol Hats.

 

[jamespowers]

I like it! Would it be possible for you to send that ad along to me privately? You can guess what I am going to do to it. I wonder how Bogie would look in a Streamliner or perhaps a Collegiate. "Here's looking at the crease Kid."

Regards to all,

Justin

 

[Brad Bowers]

I wonder how many Optimo would have to produce to be persuaded to do a Cavanagh edge. If it was under fifty or so, I bet we could find the members here to order enough. I'd love to have one.

Brad

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Brad Bowers
I wonder how many Optimo would have to produce to be persuaded to do a Cavanagh edge. If it was under fifty or so, I bet we could find the members here to order enough. I'd love to have one.

The operative question is at what cost? I am sure it is feasible because it has been done before. Tell him you will help him remove the chain stitches after the felting is done to save on labor costs. Maybe that might help. I bet that is one tedious job!

Regards to all,

J

 

[STHill]

Originally posted by Brad Bowers
I wonder how many Optimo would have to produce to be persuaded to do a Cavanagh edge. If it was under fifty or so, I bet we could find the members here to order enough. I'd love to have one.

Brad

You could count me in.

 

[jamespowers]

Re: Bogie Hat Ad

Originally posted by Andykev
Bogart did ads for lots of products, here is one for Resistol Hats.

Here is what the ad would look like today.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Andykev]

You ought to change your name

Well done James!

You should change your name to "Madison Avenue Guy" or something.

At this rate, Art will have 10 dozen hats sold thru your ads!

 

[jamespowers]

Yeah, the only problem is that Bogie's family might not like his image being used. I suppose we could sell quite a few before the lawyers send the cease and desist order. LOL Then we could go on to another celebrity.
It really doesn't take much to revamp an old ad though. With the computing power we have nowadays, you could make anyone feel like Michelangelo. LOL My wife tells me I could be like Darren in Bewitched. I said that if she could do magic then neither of us would be working. LOL LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Matt Deckard]

A better look at a cavanagh edge
No stitching. the hat is made this way when the body is created Most of the hats I find have this edge.

for refference, here is an over welt that is stitched

 

[jamespowers]

Wow, you must be looking in the right places. I find bound edges, under welts and Cavanagh edges---I overlook the overwelts. They look cheesy to me for some reason.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Matt Deckard]

hmm interesting!
I have not run into an underwelt yet
I don't think Root has either.

Alot of bound edges, alot of Cavanagh edges, a few raw and a couple overwelts (I have a blue overwelted hat with a wide brim) but no underwelts.

 

[jamespowers]

I thought underwelts would be common sense they have the best chance of fool one into thinking the hat has a Cavanagh edge.
I have an old brown Stetson that has an underwelted edge. It is interesting in the sense that it is stitched twice around. It is stitched once around in front of the underwelt then on the underwelt. I am guessing that it was done to produce the correct shape of the edge.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Matt Deckard]

The only underwelt I have seen in MK's bogie that Optimo made
can you show pics of yours?

 

[jamespowers]

I will see what I can do when I get home. At the office today I have my Bat Masterson so that won't do me much good for pictures.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Brad Bowers]

Matt,

What are the specs and brand on that hat with the Cavanagh edge? That's almost exactly the style I'm looking for to duplicate William Powell's hat, except his was a dove grey or similar shade, with a slightly shorter ribbon.

Brad

 

[Matt Deckard]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14065&item=8129395577&rd=1

Just a standard Borsalino you find on the shelf at Marshall Field & Company.