Hat Renovation by Art Fawcett

[Andykev]

I sent five hats to Art. They were trashed...three felts and two Panama. The felt hats included two vintage, that were at one time my very favorite "go to" wear. Of course, everyday wear of a "Dove" gray hat, including wearing at the Skeet field..they became filthy. The black ribbon on one was totally split in the front, and the felt had actually changed color many shades darker from the dirt and grime.
I also sent one of my first "Optimo" felts which I had gotten from Chicago...going on 10 years ago. This hat was a disaster as well.

The Panama's were also horribly "FILTHY". One had a split/tear in the straw, the other (a very nice long ago Panama Bob hat) had an unwoven edge. Both these hats were candidates for the Halloween scarecrow.

But, since at least one of the Panama's was a very nice weave, I sent it to Art hoping for a miracle.

So far, three have come back from "overhaul" by Art. WOWOOOOOWW!

The straw with the broken edge..Art bound the brim. It's a beautiful job. It actually IMPROVED the hat and the "snap" of the brim. He worked magic to get out YEARS of grime. I have almost a NEW hat. I think he replaced the sweatband as well..it looks new and this fits better now than before. Ribbon was changed as well. Yes..it is now almost a new hat.

This proved that you can really "save" a hat, either straw or felt...when you send it to someone who KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

The felt is clean and actually matches the color "hidden" under the ribbon. You know...those light color hats that get dirty, slowly over time. You "peek" behind the ribbon to see that, "Oh my"! ..it's quite a bit lighter under that ribbon.

The felt has the original sweatband and liner..since being a vintage hat, Art kept is true to that as best as possible.

Again..my HAT is off to Art!

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Great work Art! Glad he can do refurb work again.

 

[RBH]

Looks great! Well done gents!!!

 

[hatophile]

Wow, I knew Art could do custom, but those are fabulous!

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

That's how Art started doing refurb work.

 

[Andykev]

Yes, long ago. I remember those days in Crockett, and then in Rodeo. I spent many hours watching the master.
One hat has not yet arrived from the "hat hospital". I am anxious for the final delivery, since it too is a vintage "dove gray" hat.

 

[Rogera]

Wow great work Art and congrats on your "new" hats Andykev!

 

[Art Fawcett]

Thanks Kevin, I wondered why I hadn't heard from you and now I know!! Sorry, I missed this thread till now. Yes Gents, I am still doing renovations and once the new website is finished they will be listed for general public consumption.

oops, did I say new website out loud?

 

[jlanderson]

Thanks Kevin, I wondered why I hadn't heard from you and now I know!! Sorry, I missed this thread till now. Yes Gents, I am still doing renovations and once the new website is finished they will be listed for general public consumption.

oops, did I say new website out loud?

uh oh. my fedora-sporting (hat)crack dealer is ratcheting it up a notch.

I. AM. DOOMED.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Just posted Art pricing for Hat Renovation.
http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/Fedora_Lounge.htm

Yes I am working on a whole new website. For Art Mobile friendly and all.

 

[1mach1]

Wow, great news. Nice looking work!

 

[matei]

Back in 2007 (?) or so I sent a few hats to Art, who resurrected them from their decades of neglect, made them look and feel new!

 

[Pa Fig]

What is - "stripping a hat?"

I noticed on your website that it said: cleaning, stripping, and shaping.

 

[hatsRme]

My guess would be to remove detachable parts, like ribbon, sweatband, feather, etc. But I'm not a hatter.

 

[RBH]

What is - "stripping a hat?"

I noticed on your website that it said: cleaning, stripping, and shaping.

Serious?

 

[LuvMyMan]

Wow...Pa Fig, your very last sentence, "thanks for being so uncouth".....very uncalled for, to say the least. Have to say, or at the very least wonder, your purpose????

 

[tonyb]

I see he deleted that last sentence a few minutes ago. I suggest he go back and delete the rest of it, lest he give us all the more reason not to take him seriously. I mean, even more than he already has.

 

[Pa Fig]

I see he deleted that last sentence a few minutes ago. I suggest he go back and delete the rest of it, lest he give us all the more reason not to take him seriously. I mean, even more than he already has.

A before & after Resistol - no caustic solvents - just steam - my customer took me seriously - and paid me extra - and gifted me a 1940s Wool Gabardine shirt.

 

[tonyb]

Well, I'm glad your customer is satisfied. It looks like a dirty hat to me.

I don't doubt that much can be done with steam alone. And I know for certain a lot can be done with soap and water. Just as I know that solvents have their place, as does a large assemblage of blocks and flanges and specialty machinery and ribbons and sweatbands.

But what the heck, according to your website you've done tens of thousands of hats! So I suppose we should all defer to your superior knowledge.

 

[tonyb]

Why such animosity, you ask. Go back and read your own posts.

Working at a Western wear shop doesn't make one a hatter. Your website says ...

"
My name is Pa Fig. I love old hats.

And I restore them. And after tens of thousands of hats done - modern and not,
I find
the oldest hats present the greatest challenge & exhibit in all qualities -
the greatest reward. "

The, um, unorthodox grammar aside, what I read here is a person claiming to have "restored" tens of thousands of hats. It at least strongly implies that. Pulling hats out of a box at a Western wear shop and shaping them with the help of a steamer is indeed experience, but there's a whole lot more to being a hatter than that. Indeed, that's barely scratching the surface. Most everybody who frequents this forum can do that. And more, in many cases.

So yes, I remain a "guy" who is is a "hard sell."