Custom made hats from thefedorastore?

[Historyteach24]

Hey guys I have been researching some hat options for the holiday season and i noticed that the fedora store.com offers custom made hats from Beaver brand. As I am a relative noobie when it comes to brands I was wondering what you guys know about beaver bran hats and the hatters and the fedora store? As always any help would be appreciated. I do not know when I could afford such a luxury but it would be nice to have a little input.
Cheers

 

[VetPsychWars]

I got this one, basically styled like a Stratoliner:

It's a good quality hat and it's worth what they charge. It did indeed take about six weeks to get.

Tom

 

[Historyteach24]

Thanks man that is a sharp hat! Did you go with a fur felt or suade felt. I notice there is a huge price difference

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

Check out this thread:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?25596-Beaver-Brand-impressions

The Fedora Store uses Beaver Brand hats to do their customization on. I own a Beaver Brand hat, which I wear every other day, an 8X whatever that means. The hat is kind of stiff compared to my other hats, but it is a Stoney River, not a Fedora. The prices at Fedora store are NEARLY what Major Moore, Jaxonbilt, Tony @ Tumwater, and Black sheep hatworks charge. The Fedora store is probably a good place to get started though.

You might also check out Beaver brand's website:

http://www.beaverbrandhats.com/

The site has some specials including the Stoney River with a leather band. IF you live close to a hat shop, you can get that changed to a ribbon if you want to. $95 is a GREAT price for that hat. I paid more than $175 for it at Levine's in downtown StL. Don't buy a wool hat, they shrink in the rain, you'll be sorry if you buy one.

Later

 

[Historyteach24]

Thanks brother appreciate the information

 

[Historyteach24]

I know not to buy wool but I am curious about the suade/fur felt finish. Anybody ever handled one of those? Also on this website I can custom make a 100 percent fur felt for 180 dollars that seems reasonable enough.

 

[Historyteach24]

Let me know what you guys think
http://www.thefedorastore.com/Clearance-Special-Beaver-Brand-Grand-Bea-p/grand beaver-premade.htm

 

[1961MJS]

I know not to buy wool but I am curious about the suade/fur felt finish. Anybody ever handled one of those? Also on this website I can custom make a 100 percent fur felt for 180 dollars that seems reasonable enough.

Hi

I think Hatman Jack has one in his store, but I didn't touch it. It looked "furry". PERSONALLY I wouldn't wear one, too 1970's pimp for me. The prices I saw for a Beaver Brand Fedora (Customized) were $244.95, plus shipping. The current custom hat I'm in the process of ordering is $275 and that includes shipping. Those are 100% Beaver too. Check Vintage Silhouettes (Art Fawcett), Tumwater Hats (Tony B), Buckarro Hatters (Mike Moore), Black Sheep Hatworks, Falcon Hattery, and I'm sure that I'm missing one or two.

If you know your hat size and you want a fedora, you might want to call the Stetson outlets at Saint Joseph MO, or Garland Texas. A Stetson Temple is currently $130. People run them down, but I wear mine opposite the Beaver Brand that I have.

If this is your first hat I strongly suggest that you go to a real hat shop where the hatter will give you an honest opinion of what looks good on you. Levine's in StL is out on the note by the way. Our local guy says, make sure you're wearing the hat and the hat isn't wearing you.

Later

 

[DJH]

Hey Teach, I'm sure these Beaver Brand hats are fine, but a lot of the fun of getting a custom hat is working with the actual hatmaker.

Some excellent custom hatters have pricing that is very competitive with the $180 from the Fedora Store.

Check out rabbit felt hats from Falcon Park for $125 and Black Sheep for about $190. I just got an Indy hat made by Garrison Hatters for $175.

These are all good craftsmen and worth checking out.

 

[1961MJS]

Let me know what you guys think
http://www.thefedorastore.com/Clearance-Special-Beaver-Brand-Grand-Bea-p/grand beaver-premade.htm

Hi

The whole grand beaver thing may be why those are left over. If you read the following link you'll see that the Grand Beaver is pretty long.

http://www.beaverbrandhats.com/content/Hat+Quality+%26+Finishes.content_detail/1575.0.1.1?content_id=1575-440e88f7fb065b6450745e62265ed439

I'm concerned you'll be spending $175 on a hat you won't like. A furry black dress hat is a little different than a furry fawn colored Indiana Jones hat too. They have fawn left by the way. Be SURE you want it. You may end up with a nicely made hat that you don't like.

Later

 

[Historyteach24]

This isn't my first hat but much of the problem is that there is not a hatter within 500 miles of where I live. Sad existence!

 

[1961MJS]

This isn't my first hat but much of the problem is that there is not a hatter within 500 miles of where I live. Sad existence!

For example, you know you want a 5 3/4 inch open crown with a 2 5/8 inch brim, and you want the brim flanged into a snap brim. If you're good with the furry finish, you could jump on that like a monkey on a jelly doughnut. If you're wondering about it, don't do it.

I ordered that custom one based on the Stetson temple being slightly too narrow brimmed (2 and a half), and the Beaver Brand being a little too big at 2 7/8 (cut down locally). My Sun Bodies are all 5 3/4 inch open crowns. You could probably get an idea of what you want by checking the crowns and brims one what you already have. After you do that, you can work the brim size on any custom or the Fedora Store.

Later

 

[m0nk]

I think that Falcon Park Hattery has better prices with a comparable wait time and quality to Beaver Brand. I currently have 2 Akubra Fed IVs and thought about getting another one of those, in black, but for me it would require another brim adjustment and the price would be the same as going for a custom Falcon Park hat, so my choice will be, when I'm ready for the next one, to go with Falcon Park. I'm also on the waiting list for a custom Penman, but that one isn't black.... and of course, everyone needs a nice black hat.

Hope that helps.

 

[Historyteach24]

Is falcon park on the fedora lounge? When I have the funds I would like to talk to him directly. Also I checked out the prices and it looks like I would need to settle for rabbit finish. The only fur felt hats I have is a beaver fur stetson. I have never handled rabbit fur. Is it of good quality? Does it blow away wool felt? Again any help is appreciated.

 

[m0nk]

Is falcon park on the fedora lounge? When I have the funds I would like to talk to him directly. Also I checked out the prices and it looks like I would need to settle for rabbit finish. The only fur felt hats I have is a beaver fur stetson. I have never handled rabbit fur. Is it of good quality? Does it blow away wool felt? Again any help is appreciated.

Any fur felt is better than wool, and all of my regularly worn hats now are rabbit fur. As I mentioned, I have two Akubra Fed IVs and I also have a Bushman, plus the Penman hat I'm purchasing is rabbit. Beaver fur is certainly of a higher quality, but I'm personally ok sticking with rabbit as I believe that as long as the hat overall is of good quality, the difference between beaver and rabbit fur isn't as important. I suppose that's a personal choice, though.

 

[Historyteach24]

Makes sense I didn't want to sound like a hat snob. I am far from it I got lucky and found a Stetson beaver fur Saxon model half price is the only reason I could afford it lol. This is exciting I tell ya because it is IMPOSSIBLE to find vintage hats exactly the way I want them in my size and according to this price list I can get a quality custom made hat for a damn good price. Now the endless hours of trying to decide what color(s) brim width etc! lol

 

[monbla256]

Is falcon park on the fedora lounge? When I have the funds I would like to talk to him directly. Also I checked out the prices and it looks like I would need to settle for rabbit finish. The only fur felt hats I have is a beaver fur stetson. I have never handled rabbit fur. Is it of good quality? Does it blow away wool felt? Again any help is appreciated.

You don't have to go thru the Forum to reach Falcon Park, just Google them and contact them directly. As to wool vs fur felt, fur felt is very much the BETTER material to make a quality hat from. Be sure and check the "Details" section on the Beaver Hats description and you will see they are described as " ... a fur felt blend mixed to our specifications." I would say this would indicate a predominately rabbit fur hat with very little if any beaver in it. Rabbit fur has been used in quality mens hats for over 100 years now so it is probably good. I know of very few production made fur felts made in beaver these days, but there are a few but they are not in that price range. If you need pure beaver then one of the many custom folks refered to here might be the way for you to go

 

[scottyrocks]

Beaver fur is generally denser and less prone to shrinkage (beavers pretty much live in the water!). It can therefore be felted more densely. It is more waterproof (soak-through) and resistant (to shrinkage). However, if you're not going to be standing out in the rain for hours on end, it can be hard to justify the price difference especially if you're on a limited budget.

I have many rabbits and one rabbit/beaver blend. All my rabbits are great hats that have been in the rain and come out smelling like a rose. There's nothing 'wrong' with a rabbit.

 

[1961MJS]

Is falcon park on the fedora lounge? When I have the funds I would like to talk to him directly. Also I checked out the prices and it looks like I would need to settle for rabbit finish. The only fur felt hats I have is a beaver fur stetson. I have never handled rabbit fur. Is it of good quality? Does it blow away wool felt? Again any help is appreciated.

Hi

Bunny fur doesn't blow away Wool in texture etc. What it DOES do, is provide a water proof (more or less) material to build a hat from. What happens to your wool sweater when you wash it and dry it? It now fits Ken (Barbie's friend). Wool shrinks when wet, it doesn't hold it's shape, and is an all around bad hat material.

Later

 

[m0nk]

Yeah, when it comes to fur felts, you won't see the sort of shrinkage that you would with a wool hat. A wool hat will loose it's shape after being worn in rain, and may shrink to the point where it doesn't fit. There are also plenty of rabbit felt hats that are nearly as strong as beaver... just look at any Akubra. I wear mine in all weather conditions, and I'll do the same with the Penman when it arrives, too. Plus, if beaver brand hats are actually a blend, then aside from possibly a slightly smoother finish, there may not be nearly any noticeable difference.