Fedora Lounge dress hat test

[Marc Chevalier]

Okay... here is what we are going to do.
We're going to do an official test.

November 17 at the Queen Mary open to public view.
The Fedora Lounge will come up with the criteria.

The hats will be submitted to the tests equally. All hatters are welcome to enter their fedoras.

More to come.

Practically none of this seems worthy of controversy, except for the line in blue. It raises a question: which persons are the Fedora Lounge in this case? Does it include such loungers as, say, Fedora and Pilgrim? Or does it exclude certain loungers?

We all consider ourselves to be part of the Fedora Lounge. Therefore, it seems reasonable that the more knowledgeable "hat people" among us would see fit to ask questions about the criteria, or even to help in determining it. Again, the opening post does say that "The Fedora Lounge will come up with the criteria." So ... who, in the case of this contest, is "the Fedora Lounge"?



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[WEEGEE]

Visigoth--

Weegee, this is hilarious: not only do we have hats and press cameras in common, but also Continental philosophy... (which ought to be directed, of course, at hats and press cameras, rather than lesser fields of inquiry like ethics and metaphysics).

Yes...Post Post Modern.


Marc Chevalier

So ... who, in the case of this contest, is "the Fedora Lounge"?

Only Rod Serling knows...after all it is no ordinary hat...!

 

[Andykev]

I prefer show and tell to destructive testing

Gee, I was hoping that hatters, like Art, Graham, Dwayne, Aaron, Dave Brown...anyone else , oh, Gary White. Extend this opportunity to invite all the hatters for a "TRUNK SHOW", where LOTS of folks can see them side by side. Not everyone has the same qualit standards or budget. Let the hats speak for themselves.

I have over 60+ hats...as most of you know. I will NOT let someone "test" my best or favorite vintage fantastic hat withou knowing WHAT the hell is going to happen to it. I don't need a "Test" for anyone to admire, and feel my hat when I doff it to offer it for examination. You be the judge when you hold my lid. I brought about 8 hats to Art's shop before he moved, when Mr and Mrs MK came. MK saw SEVERAL of my beauties. That is all the "test" I need.

 

[MK]

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Everyone is chomping at the bit and being very demanding for information. If you will look in the events forum you will see that most of the people in question have been in Seattle for the get together we had. It makes it rather difficult to profide you with a decent reply in the span on one minute....which is how much time I have been on The Fedora Lounge the past few days. With all the crazy interpretations and misunderstandings by some individuals, the last thing I want to do is make a hasty reply.

I will attempt to bring clarity to this tomorrow after I have had some sleep. Until then I am shutting this down.

 

[MK]

OK

This has been a crazy thread. A big reason was that it was posted to hastily. The test was my idea born out of the jousting between Fedora & Matt over felt. Fedora (Steve Delk), was putting forth a challenge to Matt. A test is a good idea...but not at some log cabin where no one can see it except a few individuals and just to settle an argument between two people. A credible test that will be a benefit to the community would be one that is above board AND not one being performed or designed by the manufacturer. It truly needs to be performed by a non-biased party.

Matt and I were discussing this and he loved the idea and wanted to post it right away. I wanted to wait and present a well thought out plan….and not the day before leaving for the Fedora Lounge get together in Seattle. He wanted to squelch the challenge Steve was presenting and posted it anyway. He now regrets that due to all the misunderstanding it has caused.

I have to take responsibility for my attitude as well. I didn’t care for the agenda of the public challenge Steve put forth. I was very irritated that the Fedora Lounge was being used for this stunt. It set me off…that and having to deal with this when I wanted to wait and present my full idea in a proper way….and not having time to deal with this fire that was growing. I snapped at a few people here and I apologize for that. Pilgrim’s post was fine. I read it in the wrong spirit. Sorry about that. I am back on my feet and won’t let my buttons be pushed again on this. This is not about the jousting but to perform a service that will help people make better choices. I think it will help everyone in the hat community on some level.

Now…let me explain what we are doing.

The test on November 18th:

The purpose: To determine how different fur felts endure rain. This is the biggest question people concerning quality about hats. If I wear it in the rain, will it shrink? There are many other attributes that you could test…and perhaps at another time we will, but this test will be to judge a hats ability to withstand rain and not shrink or lose its shape once dried.

We will conduct this just like Consumer Reports. We will be speaking with large hat makers; custom hat makers and most importantly felt body manufacturers to determine the criteria of the felt test. We will be very inclusive in planning this. When we have had input from all the parties mentioned above we will share that with you here. Please be patient. We want to be very thorough.

Some people might say that “These guys aren’t hatters. They are not qualified to do this test”. I would never take Chevy’s word on the reliability of their cars. I would want an independent party to test them. Like I said above we will build this test with the very best input from the best people in world. No one company will be able to skew the criteria to favor their product….because their competitor will be sure and point that out. I am in the magazine business. We do this all the time. It will be a fair test.

Now that I have hopefully presented our position more clearly, I will reopen this thread and I trust we can have a more constructive dialog on the subject.

Enjoy!

 

[Visigoth]

Well, since rain is the enemy in question, I'd like to report on the first certifiable Hat Miracle. My fifties Knox Premier, which had a slight taper, got soaked in the rain last night, and when it dried it was *untapered*.

I kid you not.

The rain seems to have restored my hat.

 

[jamespowers]

Well, since rain is the enemy in question, I'd like to report on the first certifiable Hat Miracle. My fifties Knox Premier, which had a slight taper, got soaked in the rain last night, and when it dried it was *untapered*.

I kid you not.

The rain seems to have restored my hat.

That's actually not all that unusual. I have had it happen to me as well. I have even had a good soaking make a moth eaten hat look much better. The moth tracks disappeared! [huh]

Regards,

J

 

[Andykev]

Rain.....I have lost a $400 hat already..

Maybe it may rain sometime soon after this heat wave ends, and I can wear my Optimo in the rain again. Maybe it will untaper.

I decline to participate or "enter" a hat if that is what is going on. I have had one modern hat ruined, but another vintage was absolutely unscathed. It has been rained on again and again and again.

It is a vintage Cavanagh. So I know what vintage vs. modern already is. I had to spend money to have Art try to rescue the Optimo from the trash can. He worked heroics, but I seldom wear it anymore because the rabbit fur tapered like a big dog. I don't want to risk any of my hats, since having 60, I am not buying anymore, except one pure beaver from Art in the fall. He is saving me a felt body.

Now if anyone wants pictures of the above disaster, that I can give you. I can also soak the Cavanagh in the swimming pool and photo it also.

 

[BellyTank]

I'd keep any hat you like away from a chlorinated swimming pool.

BT

 

[jamespowers]

Maybe it may rain sometime soon after this heat wave ends, and I can wear my Optimo in the rain again. Maybe it will untaper.

We both know that isn't going to happen. Unless you want a hat for your dog to wear, I wouldn't take that hat out into the rain again. I was speaking vintage in my case. In fact, I think you have seen the hat before it got rained on.

Regards,

J

 

[Andykev]

My DOG needs a good hat, thanks for the suggestion.

When I said Swimming Pool...I don't have one

I have an inflatable swimming wading pool about 7 feet long, we set it up for our golden's to play in. That has plain hose water in it, and the municipal water supply chlorine evaporates from it quickly.

Hummm, fit my dog? Yep. And fit for a dog too. No more for me. "Those in the know avoid Optimo" in wet weather. Not a drizzle. RAIN. Nice hat in dry weather. Looks good. Maybe the "product lable police" will someday insist on adding a warning label: " CAUTION WEARING HAT IN RAIN CAN CAUSE SUDDEN AND RAPID SHRINKAGE".lol

 

[Aquia33]

I have a Million X Platinum Beaver by Art Fawcett that I will put up. Oh! sorry wrong forum, we tell the truth here... :eusa_clap

There are 10 of Arts "Eddie G's" out here How do you plan on breaking a 10 way tie!!!

 

[WEEGEE]

With You Brother

Aquia33

There are 10 of Arts "Eddie G's" out here How do you plan on breaking a 10 way tie!!!

Don't need no tests just a testament the "Eddie G" is a hat of hats.

 

[Pilgrim]

MK, thanks for taking time to add information, and thanks for the gracious and appropriate tone you set. Sounds like an interesting event.

 

[Art Fawcett]

For the record

After discussing the possible tests and the spirit in which they will be conducted I'd like everyone to know that I support the comparison testing that is being discussed. I will be helping with the criteria and will be submitting hats to work with as required in the testing. I have complete faith in MK to conduct the testing in an open and fair manner using criteria from different experts in the hatting industry so I would ask that all parties in this " my opinion is better than your opinion" to take a deep breath, let this test come together, and let's see what we all can learn in the process.

 

[jamespowers]

After discussing the possible tests and the spirit in which they will be conducted I'd like everyone to know that I support the comparison testing that is being discussed. I will be helping with the criteria and will be submitting hats to work with as required in the testing. I have complete faith in MK to conduct the testing in an open and fair manner using criteria from different experts in the hatting industry so I would ask that all parties in this " my opinion is better than your opinion" to take a deep breath, let this test come together, and let's see what we all can learn in the process.

If it has your support and input into the criterion then it is good enough for me. :eusa_clap Boy, those are going to be some exacting standards.

Regards,

J

 

[MK]

.

After discussing the possible tests and the spirit in which they will be conducted I'd like everyone to know that I support the comparison testing that is being discussed. I will be helping with the criteria and will be submitting hats to work with as required in the testing. I have complete faith in MK to conduct the testing in an open and fair manner using criteria from different experts in the hatting industry so I would ask that all parties in this " my opinion is better than your opinion" to take a deep breath, let this test come together, and let's see what we all can learn in the process.

Thanks for the kind words...and the show of support. I appreciate it.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

We need thoughtful reflection not whimsy. Fedoras are a serious business.

Hm, I have been enjoying this board with light hearted whimsy. I shall stop that IMMEDIATELY! And become more serious.

 

[Aerol]

Wet Dogs

My dog has never shrunk from the rain, although he shrinks from the rain. He's a psycho poodle who loves to swim but hates the rain.

Hey, what did Graham at Optimo say when you told him that your hat shrunk from the rain? Just curious.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Hm, I have been enjoying this board with light hearted whimsy. I shall stop that IMMEDIATELY! And become more serious.

Too funny... lol Good one...