Has anyone ever had a bespoke fedora made from Baron hats?

[feltfan]

How come I never see Britney Spears when I come by to get custom fit for a hand blocked fedora from you Tony?lol lol lol

She's always up at Art's place.

Did Baron really make 25,000 hats for Seabiscuit?

 

[Mulceber]

They were probably felted platic, so the vast majority of the hats were probably machine made and took very little time. -M

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Did Baron really make 25,000 hats for Seabiscuit?

I thought that someone said that Art rented out some hats to the movie.

 

[Fedora]

I thought that someone said that Art rented out some hats to the movie.

yeah, if my memory is correct, Art did indeed. And I think, vintage hats. But, not really sure.

Lots of plastic hats in those crowd scenes, or so I was told. Not from Art though.

You know, Barons sure has a nice shop, and I think Mark is a decent guy too. I can't say anything bad about their hats either. I have seen one in hand, and it looked like high quality craftmanship to me. They certainly know how to make a hat, and I would imagine they have a great list of celeb clientele. And somewhere in that shop is Bogey's block. I can't imagine the prior owner ever throwing it away! So, has to be there, somewhere.

There is a particular number 51 block that really nails the look of the crown. And I believe it is a 6 inch block too. All of the dome, due to its shape, creases deep down into the hat, to lend that final crown height. I made one a few years ago with this block, and it looked dead on to me. Just needed a cavanagh edge to top it off. But, alas, I had none.

 

[jlee562]

I was just on the Baron's website and they made a bunch of faux "stunt" hats for Seabiscuit, as well as real ones.

 

[kaosharper1]

I was just on the Baron's website and they made a bunch of faux "stunt" hats for Seabiscuit, as well as real ones.

But Art supplied Jeff Bridges' hat and Baron sells a reproduction for really big bucks.

I can't speak for their bespoke hats, but Baron did do a nice cleaning and reblock on a Stratoliner for me.

 

[John in Covina]

If I recall correctly Art did supply some fedoras for the important cast members.

The beautiful bluish colored fedora for Jeff Bridges was from Art, but is was actually a vintage J.C. Pennys Marathon hat!

 

[Art Fawcett]

You Gents are correct, I rented every 1930's hat I owned to the production including the main one that Bridges wore ( still have it) and Mark had the plastic flocked hats made I believe in Mexico for the background hats. I have taken issue in the past with Baron's deceptive tactics on their website so that's old ground for me. He is a nice guy and a good hatter but good grief, he doesn't have to stoop to intimating the making of hat's that he hadn't made. This Public Enemy hat made by Graham is another example of the deception.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Bart...I'll tell Britney you said hello..

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You Gents are correct, I rented every 1930's hat I owned to the production including the main one that Bridges wore ( still have it) and Mark had the plastic flocked hats made I believe in Mexico for the background hats. I have taken issue in the past with Baron's deceptive tactics on their website so that's old ground for me. He is a nice guy and a good hatter but good grief, he doesn't have to stoop to intimating the making of hat's that he hadn't made. This Public Enemy hat made by Graham is another example of the deception.

Dropping off a couple of hats to be reblocked today Graham said what he is doing is very underhanded & a bad business practice in general.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Graham & I are in sync there BW. The question in my eyes is is why? Barons is a decent hat co...they don't need to deceive to be successful, do they?

 

[RBH]

Graham & I are in sync there BW. The question in my eyes is is why? Barons is a decent hat co...they don't need to deceive to be successful, do they?

No they dont.. thats why I like folk like you and Mike.

Never done business with Graham but everyone here says he is great and thats all I would need.

 

[handlebar bart]

It's nice that we have the option to get fantastic hats from good and honest guys. Art and Mike will continue to get my business because they are genuinely good AND make amazing hats. And I can understand why guys would get a Indy hat from Steve for the same reasons.

 

[handlebar bart]

Bart...I'll tell Britney you said hello..

lol lol I bet she couldn't find Oregon on a map.

 

[Mulceber]

Graham & I are in sync there BW. The question in my eyes is is why? Barons is a decent hat co...they don't need to deceive to be successful, do they?

I imagine it has something to do with costs. Baron charges more for some of their hats than even Optimo. Maybe the section of LA they're in charges especially high rent? If that were so, it would explain why Mark feels the need to charge exorbitant prices and seize every customer he can, even by deceit. Not saying that excuses such practices - if it's true that they're that desperate, they could easily move to a cheaper location. Just a little speculation on why he feels the need to be dishonest. -M

 

[Brad Bowers]

Ah, it's Hollywood. The whole town is built upon an industry to illusion. We shouldn't be surprised in the least.

Brad

 

[Mulceber]

Also, I would imagine that pride has something to do with it - as Steve pointed out, Mark took it hard that Baron's didn't get the Indy IV contract - seeing as they're the "hat maker to the stars" and are located in LA, it's kind of a slap in the face to them when a movie buys hats from someone else, so they may be trying to save face. -M

 

[majormoore]

Art, Steve, Tony and myself hand block, using our arms and back to pull, and pull a hat body onto a block. Then spend the time to hand sand the crowns and brims, there are some very old machines still in use in some hat shops that are just wonderful.

It is nice no matter who the hatter may be, if you are in the area of any hat shop that makes hats, to stop by and take a tour of what machines and hand tools are used in making good hats. I know all of us over here who makes hats, or at least we try to make a hat, like showing off what we have in our shops that we use. When I am open people come in and just want to know what that is or that and how do you use it.

Steve , Art and Tony all three make wonderful hats, even if they don't have movie stars and rockers walking thier shops, they make and sale hats to those people that work hard and want a good hat, for the hard earned money they spend , not like the rich, who just want to say they have a high $$$$ hat, I still think that there is more of the comman folks that are the back bone to the hatters than the rich and famous.

Just my 2 cents.

Major Moore

Major Moore

Mike Moore of Buckaroo Hatters better get on the ball... he has one over 100 years old and made out of wood.

point of it is ... our lounge membership has many fine hatters that use many vintage tools no longer readily available. And make fine hats the old fashioned way.
And you can trust what they say to be fact.