Collecting akubras

[hatflick1]

Here's a collection I had never seen before.
I do wish there were a few more pix.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...ats&um=1&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&hl=en&tbm=

 

[Brian Niebuhr]

I've seen this picture before and love it! Looks like some of my old hats. I have a few old stetsons looking like that. Someday my Akubras will look the same. Nothing better than a beat up ol' Akubra! Except maybe a box on your doorstep.

 

[hatflick1]

Agreed. Akubras always seemed like a hat that
should be worn hard, put up wet.

 

[Missouri Mason]

I can say for sure that my Akubras are the toughest hats I've ever owned. Not the finest made, but definitely the toughest.

 

[gtdean48]

Besides the repairs to the torn felt, do you think those hats ever went for a cleaning & re-blocking? My guess is No...

 

[hatflick1]

I agree. I can't imagine that cleaning and blocking seemed important to the blokes
wearing the hats even if there was a hat shop anywhere near the remote outback.
And in looking at the pile, I am reminded of the Cowboy Poetry Festival I 'attended
in Elko, NV, years back. Several custom western hat makers were on hand and
displaying. I asked one if working cowboys actually bought 400-dollar hats.
"Time payments," was the response. "I've received some checks that
actually had blood stains on them," the vendor said.
Clearly, this was sent from a working cowboy who,
I am assuming, like an outback Aussie, would have little time or patience
to keep his prized hat clean.

 

[nigeloscar]

I visited an art centre in outback Australia, where some famous aboriginal artists had sat in the dirt and painted ..(rover Thomas, jack Britten) and what I particularly loved was a wall that had 5/6 of their beaten up akubra's...
The owner refused all offers for a sale ..