Fedorafest III Stratoliner from Stetson

[Terry "The Hat"]

No, you can see it in the picture of the hat uncreased as well. It's my only complaint with the current Stratoliner.

Tom

I know on my Akubra Camp Draft and my Stetson 25 the ribbon will move up and down on it's own and you can push it back in place. That may be the same deal here. Plus, Tom had been messing with the hat a bunch putting in the dry bash so it may have just moved. I'm sure our hats will be of tip top quality or the Major will not let them out of the shop.

I've come to the conclusion that this Strat will probably be my only Strat. I've watched Ebay every day for months and I'd just rather spend $150 to $200 on a nice new Strat like this one and leave it at that. I love vintage hats but I'm not gonna pay twice as much as the rest of you just because I have a melon head-LOL!

 

[RBH]

As far as creasing this hat... anyone should be able to dry crease it just like they want.

 

[gtdean48]

No, you can see it in the picture of the hat uncreased as well. It's my only complaint with the current Stratoliner.

Tom

That was an issue reported about the prototype = good eye.
You can see some stitches just below the ribbon.
I had the same problem with my production grade HatCo Stetson Stratoliner as well.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

As a newbie to this thread - but a very interested one - I was wondering about the weight of the felt. I tried to catch that along the thirty some pages and may have missed it. Will it be as light a felt as with the Old School Strats?

 

[majormoore]

It is very lite and soft

Major Moore

 

[Mr. Lucky]

It is very lite and soft

Major Moore

I'm in!

 

[DougC]

the estimated time of availability has been reported in this thread to be in the fall of this year (2011). So, start saving your spare change....

 

[barrowjh]

Well, Hatco owns the rights to the Stetson name, and trying to have some competitor (Beaver Brand, Akubra, etc?) make an equivalent hat - a lot of folks may not want such a hat if it is not a Stetson, since it is targeted towards being a genuine Stratoliner re-make. So, Mike's options are limited. Our desire to have it at the lowest price point possible is not going to result in 'move to the front of the Q' attitude at Hatco's end either. I'm Ok with it, and appreciate Mike's willingness to jump into the middle of this fray, surely he knew we might be getting antsy if it drags out. In truth, it is not late yet, the original estimated delivery was fall, and it is still Summer, I think. We are all just jumping with anticipation, antsy.

 

[monbla256]

Well, Hatco owns the rights to the Stetson name, and trying to have some competitor (Beaver Brand, Akubra, etc?) make an equivalent hat - a lot of folks may not want such a hat if it is not a Stetson, since it is targeted towards being a genuine Stratoliner re-make. So, Mike's options are limited. Our desire to have it at the lowest price point possible is not going to result in 'move to the front of the Q' attitude at Hatco's end either. I'm Ok with it, and appreciate Mike's willingness to jump into the middle of this fray, surely he knew we might be getting antsy if it drags out. In truth, it is not late yet, the original estimated delivery was fall, and it is still Summer, I think. We are all just jumping with anticipation, antsy.

+:eusa_clap

 

[RBH]

Sorry if it sounds like I am crying about this, but really, I have built 185,000 square foot buildings in a years time with the vendors and crews that I have had to work with. So no, not complaining really just wanting to know in reality when this hat is to be available. We all know what the hat is to be and everything else. That can has been kicked for a long time. Does it need to be right? Yes. Is this a manned space operation? No. I don't find my wondering about a factual date this hat would be available to be a unreasonable request at all. In fact, in almost any business venture, things of that nature can either make a business proposal or venture "sink or swim". If you come to me and want to have me build you something and I tell you for a year or so that I have not a exact date to render my services, you know you are going to find someone else to do so, it is called, "doing business". Also there is no "scorn" directed at anyone involved at least not on my part.

The next time ... you can do it.



Its only been five months... and let me tell you. Mike, Matt and myself have worked our tails off. [behind the scenes]


Really... it will be soon.

 

[monbla256]

I can agree with it still being summer and if the hat is due in the fall, that is in part at least some time frame. My question was directed as to a date, week, month if known. I understand everything else involved. I appreciate everyone that is involved and has been "at it" to make this hat become a good hat for anyone to purchase.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the summer. Even if you had it now, you can't wear felts till AFTER Labor Day to paraphrase it ".... they ARE building it, so it will come "

 

[RBH]

".... they ARE building it, so it will come "

Damn... I really like that.

 

[monbla256]

Well, maybe the factors involved make it hard for anyone like me to understand how a simple request on my behalf of the "date" this hat would be available to be turned into a "scorn" thing or to be told I should do it next time. I have meant no ill will to anyone.

None taken. Hang in there

 

[RBH]

Well, maybe the factors involved make it hard for anyone like me to understand how a simple request on my behalf of the "date" this hat would be available to be turned into a "scorn" thing or to be told I should do it next time. I have meant no ill will to anyone.

I am with 256 on this... none taken.
But while not so direct this post does state when we were thinking the hat would be a go-a-head,

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...from-Stetson&p=1248009&viewfull=1#post1248009

And let me add, I am not sure what liner and sweat will be used.

 

[JimWagner]

Just out of curiosity, did Hatco/Stetson still have the original blocks for the original Stratoliner?

 

[DougC]

Great question...

 

[T Rick]

Well, I have been hopeful that this hat would "materialize" for purchase. I have already spent a wad of money on hats this year, and although I am not complaining at all, it would be nice if something really set in stone would be made public on this entire new stratoliner as to when it will really be available. Being in business for myself, and knowing about building and manufacturing, it seems there should be some point when those in control should have been able to state when this hat would be available instead of a continued debate on what this hat is going to be like or look like. When it is available, I will purchase one.

Sorry if it sounds like I am crying about this, but really, I have built 185,000 square foot buildings in a years time with the vendors and crews that I have had to work with. So no, not complaining really just wanting to know in reality when this hat is to be available. We all know what the hat is to be and everything else. That can has been kicked for a long time. Does it need to be right? Yes. Is this a manned space operation? No. I don't find my wondering about a factual date this hat would be available to be a unreasonable request at all. In fact, in almost any business venture, things of that nature can either make a business proposal or venture "sink or swim". If you come to me and want to have me build you something and I tell you for a year or so that I have not a exact date to render my services, you know you are going to find someone else to do so, it is called, "doing business". Also there is no "scorn" directed at anyone involved at least not on my part.

I can agree with it still being summer and if the hat is due in the fall, that is in part at least some time frame. My question was directed as to a date, week, month if known. I understand everything else involved. I appreciate everyone that is involved and has been "at it" to make this hat become a good hat for anyone to purchase.

Well, just a quick and obvious answer. The reason a date hasn't been set yet is because they don't have an actual date yet. Building a structure is one thing (as a GC I presume, you have your choice of crews, subs and suppliers- you do business with who you choose, and are not necessarily tied to any proprietory items, and are in a position to substitute acceptable equivalents as the need arises).

This particular project OTOH, is a collaboration (first hitch, there are outside entities with a large amount of control which is a stumbling block to 'hurrying things along"). There are minutia of details to be worked out and agreed upon (in construction, we'd look at it as a simple change order, and have the Buyer/Customer sign off, and this often happens as the construction is ongoing- not possible on a project such as this, where specific properties need to be agreed upon and ability/intention for adherence to them assured prior to beginning production, let alone announcing a date).

I've seen projects like this (small run, custom watches by smaller manufacturers) go into months, even years beyond their initial announced/planned dates of availability. Granted, a hat deals with far less detail and less production hassle than a watch. But the assurances still must be there by all parties, with all satisfied in the ability to handle their end of the deal prior to making an announcement of availability (Major Moore is quite obviously keen to see that once he makes such an announcement, he will not have to "make excuses" for his partners in the venture, Hatco, AKA Stetson Proper). He's being responsible, and cognoscente of the fact that some here would wail and moan if such an issue developed. He's simply not going to announce a date until he's confident it will be met (this being my own take on what I've seen here).

When the date is available, it will certainly be posted here. He's said so himself. Also said that time is approaching. To ask him to do more at this point is unreasonable, and is asking him to speculate and call that speculation fact. I've gathered he has far too much integrity to allow that to happen. He'll give us that date when his confidence is high that it will be met.

 

[rlk]

Just out of curiosity, did Hatco/Stetson still have the original blocks for the original Stratoliner?

Hatco is a licensee for manufacturing hats for the Stetson Corporate entity with no direct link or continuity with the original Stetson manufacturing sites. The facility made(makes) Resistol hats so those would be the only older blocks they might have.

 

[gtdean48]

Hatco is a licensee for manufacturing hats for the Stetson Corporate entity with no direct link or continuity with the original Stetson manufacturing sites. The facility made(makes) Resistol hats so those would be the only older blocks they might have.

For true & I am not so sure how usable the original blocks would be after this long.
HatCo gave away a good many "experienced" blocks when we visited.
I know some hatters have blocks from the original Strat days.
Those used by the factory would be well used I'd say....

 

[JimWagner]

Hatco is a licensee for manufacturing hats for the Stetson Corporate entity with no direct link or continuity with the original Stetson manufacturing sites. The facility made(makes) Resistol hats so those would be the only older blocks they might have.

Thanks. So it would be safe to say then that the process of coming up with this hat involves a fair amount of work researching the actual dimensions of the original Stratoliner from existing vintage samples, getting the weight, stiffness, hand and color as close as possible to the original in spite of not having one in new condition and retooling the factory to actually produce them at an affordable price point in less than a year?

Tall order and hats off to those making this happen, both at Hatco and the FL.