I love the Fed IV!!

[gtdean48]

Band ribbon = ribbon used to as hatband, short for 'hatband ribbon'

 

[T Jones]

My Fed IV appears to have a taper in open crown state...it looks different to me compared to other pics on this site. What do you guys think? The lettering on the sweat band says "FEDERATION" ! Did I get an older model? If so, Hats direct screwed me!

View attachment 16197

I think it's because the crown took on the shape of the balloon you used to re-block it.

 

[carranty]

My Fed IV appears to have a taper in open crown state...it looks different to me compared to other pics on this site. What do you guys think? The lettering on the sweat band says "FEDERATION" ! Did I get an older model? If so, Hats direct screwed me!

View attachment 16197

Didn't you say the hat is four years old? Any hat will develop taper over that time period. Also, you may have a long oval shaped head, if so, as the hat adjusts to your head shape, it will develop a bit of front to back taper.

Also I second T Jones's comment; if you gave the hat a good soaking and used a balloon in place of a hat block, that could definitely increase any taper.

 

[Bad Co]

My Grey Federation has a taper like that .
I wound up putting a diamond bash in it .
None of my other Federations have it

 

[chum]

If it was suppose to be a new model, that does look like a lot of taper for a Federation IV. My Fed has "Federation IV" stamped on the front of the sweatband. Post a pic of your sweatband. Maybe you did get an original Federation. If you did, it might have some extra value to a collector. I don't really know if any Akubras have much value to a collector though.

Sweatband pic

 

[chum]

OK...made a nice discovery! Still love my hat! Now that it has aged and it has been through several rain and snow storms, not to mention me soaking with distilled water to try to restore to open crown...I have discovered that I can dry shape it !


Now I think I can change the bash to fit my mood for the day! So who cares about taper! Still a nice hat!

 

[chum]

Didn't you say the hat is four years old? Any hat will develop taper over that time period. Also, you may have a long oval shaped head, if so, as the hat adjusts to your head shape, it will develop a bit of front to back taper.

Also I second T Jones's comment; if you gave the hat a good soaking and used a balloon in place of a hat block, that could definitely increase any taper.

Did not know that you could actually stretch the felt by using something other than a block. I do have a long oval shaped head, too!

 

[Landman]

Based on the sweatband picture it looks like one of the original Federations. I think they used a different block on those than the newest version but I'm not sure about that.

Also from the picture it looks like it has been stretched quite a bit. Wetting the entire hat and stretching it can certainly cause the crown to taper. However, in the last photos you posted I think the hat looks very nice. I don't see a lot of taper in those photos. A diamond crease would also straighten the sides up more but I think it looks great like it is. Has some nice character to it.

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

If only the postage from Oz to the U.K.wasn't so much, Hats Direct want a whopping $49, that's almost twice as much as Everything Australian charges and over half the price of the hat itself!

 

[javadave61]

You've all seen the Fed IV a million times.... but on on me!

Here's my contribution to the national archive of Akubra Fed IV (Imperial) photographs...

 

[tropicalbob]

Now I'm thinking about a Fed IV. That color is also very nice.

 

[stratcat]

Looking good Javadave!

 

[Bob Roberts]

MEEEEEE TOOOOO... its like mass contagion or mass hysteria.

 

[1mach1]

Ordered my first Fed IV in Moonstone today (Imperial). The Akubras fit me so well, it was a no brainer, really. Not to mention the great price!!

 

[moontheloon]

Ordered my first Fed IV in Moonstone today (Imperial). The Akubras fit me so well, it was a no brainer, really. Not to mention the great price!!

my Heritage Fed IV is among my absolute favorites

when visiting JJ Hatter a few weeks back one of the guys there couldn't tell if it was modern or vintage until I took it off and exposed the interior

I hate to admit things like this ... but sometimes I go into my office where all my hat boxes are, take the Fed IV out of it's box just to handle it and say .... damn that's a nice hat !!!



... and unlike my CDs and Bushman it fit like a glove straight out of the box with no shrink time wear needed ... and still has not budged after plenty wear ...

 

[Bob Roberts]

my Heritage Fed IV is among my absolute favorites

when visiting JJ Hatter a few weeks back one of the guys there couldn't tell if it was modern or vintage until I took it off and exposed the interior

I hate to admit things like this ... but sometimes I go into my office where all my hat boxes are, take the Fed IV out of it's box just to handle it and say .... damn that's a nice hat !!!



... and unlike my CDs and Bushman it fit like a glove straight out of the box with no shrink time wear needed ... and still has not budged after plenty wear ...

Mutual admiration Society. I'm on the fence abt the Imperial grade vs. Deluxe. My Deluxe has nice soft sides and took the pinch EXACTLY how I liked it. I'm so afraid the Imp will have stiffer sides...

 

[T Jones]

I'm thinking about getting a Fed IV. Do they seem to fit true to size?

 

[Bob Roberts]

I was told to order up by Hats Direct. Little roomy on me but better than snug.

 

[T Jones]

I was told to order up by Hats Direct. Little roomy on me but better than snug.

Do they seem to fit more snug than a Campdraft? That's the biggest drawback to ordering online. You don't have the benefit of trying one on before you buy it.

 

[ingineer]

Terry;
I don't know about the heritage but the base grade imperial seems to run about a half size smaller than the Campdraft
I seldom wear it and there is no longer need for any filler.
for reference: i'm a 60.3 and the hat is a 61
OZ dollar is at a real low right now