M.C. Gannon Hat Company

[deadlyhandsome]

So are you actually saying you have a hat with TOO much crown?

Hard to believe, right? Maybe it will turn out to be my preferred crown height! It’s easy to work with this much crown on a western, but on a fedora…I’m excited to try.

 

[ILB Frank]

Hard to believe, right? Maybe it will turn out to be my preferred crown height! It’s easy to work with this much crown on a western, but on a fedora…I’m excited to try.

Maybe you can do a double variation of a crease. Like Roy Rogers' double telescope.
Could be interesting. Post pics.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Maybe you can do a double variation of a crease. Like Roy Rogers' double telescope.
Could be interesting. Post pics.

That kind of crease takes a lot of crown. I did a double diamond on a western with a seven inch open crown and there was barely enough felt. The crown ended up a bit lower than I would have liked.

 

[Rumad]

Latest Gannon arrived today. Order was placed December 26th.

100% nutria fur felt in the color plum. 160g dress weight.
3” bound edge brim.
2” wide ribbon with frayed edge bow.
6 1/2” open crown. That’s not a typo. I didn’t ask for it to be that high, but it’s an honest 6 1/2” or maybe even slightly more! Not sure how this happened, but I suspect he used a past measurement given for a western he made me. I’m going to see what I can do with it.

The felt is my least impressive of my Sunrise nutria felts. Michael had to add stiffeners to this felt so that might be what I’m seeing and feeling. The hand isn’t bad, but it isn’t as nice as I’m used to. The color saturation also doesn’t seem to be as good as others Michael has made me. It’s still a nice hat, but it isn’t the heart racing hat I had hoped for. I think some brushing and steaming might mitigate the stiffener issues. The build quality is typical Gannon: FANTASTIC! Photos shown with a dry crease, but as is the case with all of my dress weight nutria felts from Sunrise, it will require steam to fully shape and to get the shape to hold. These nutria felts have more spring back than Winchester’s beaver felt.



Edit: Just to clarify, I only intended to express my mild disappointment with the Sunrise Hat Supply felt and NOT Gannon’s work. Michael Gannon did a great job on the hat, but this particular nutria hat body came with limitations and Michael couldn’t completely overcome them all…nor, I believe, could any hatter. I do like the hat, but it’s not perfect because the hat body wasn’t perfect. Just wanted to clarify.


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That’s a good lookin hat, Brent. That plum color, that looks pretty dang close to my old dye black cherry. How is it in person?

 

[Rmccamey]

Outstanding!

The ribbon really works well with the silverbelly. Dynamite details on your new hat. A record to boot!

Wear the hat with pride sir.

Best, Eric -

Thanks Eric. A bit of a departure for Michael but he did his usual outstanding build.

 

[Rmccamey]

I wish I had an old-dye black Cherry to compare it to.

It looks to have more red/purple than the old dye black cherry. Nice color and one I would not mind having myself!

 

[Zombie_61]

So are you actually saying you have a hat with TOO much crown?

Here's a photo of Brent arriving home that day with his new hat:

You tell us.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Latest Gannon arrived today. Order was placed December 26th.

100% nutria fur felt in the color plum. 160g dress weight.
3” bound edge brim.
2” wide ribbon with frayed edge bow.
6 1/2” open crown. That’s not a typo. I didn’t ask for it to be that high, but it’s an honest 6 1/2” or maybe even slightly more! Not sure how this happened, but I suspect he used a past measurement given for a western he made me. I’m going to see what I can do with it.

The felt is my least impressive of my Sunrise nutria felts. Michael had to add stiffeners to this felt so that might be what I’m seeing and feeling. The hand isn’t bad, but it isn’t as nice as I’m used to. The color saturation also doesn’t seem to be as good as others Michael has made me. It’s still a nice hat, but it isn’t the heart racing hat I had hoped for. I think some brushing and steaming might mitigate the stiffener issues. The build quality is typical Gannon: FANTASTIC! Photos shown with a dry crease, but as is the case with all of my dress weight nutria felts from Sunrise, it will require steam to fully shape and to get the shape to hold. These nutria felts have more spring back than Winchester’s beaver felt.



Edit: Just to clarify, I only intended to express my mild disappointment with the Sunrise Hat Supply felt and NOT Gannon’s work. Michael Gannon did a great job on the hat, but this particular nutria hat body came with limitations and Michael couldn’t completely overcome them all…nor, I believe, could any hatter. I do like the hat, but it’s not perfect because the hat body wasn’t perfect. Just wanted to clarify.


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That plum color is fantastic! Love it.

 

[steur]

Latest Gannon arrived today. Order was placed December 26th.

100% nutria fur felt in the color plum. 160g dress weight.
3” bound edge brim.
2” wide ribbon with frayed edge bow.
6 1/2” open crown. That’s not a typo. I didn’t ask for it to be that high, but it’s an honest 6 1/2” or maybe even slightly more! Not sure how this happened, but I suspect he used a past measurement given for a western he made me. I’m going to see what I can do with it.

The felt is my least impressive of my Sunrise nutria felts. Michael had to add stiffeners to this felt so that might be what I’m seeing and feeling. The hand isn’t bad, but it isn’t as nice as I’m used to. The color saturation also doesn’t seem to be as good as others Michael has made me. It’s still a nice hat, but it isn’t the heart racing hat I had hoped for. I think some brushing and steaming might mitigate the stiffener issues. The build quality is typical Gannon: FANTASTIC! Photos shown with a dry crease, but as is the case with all of my dress weight nutria felts from Sunrise, it will require steam to fully shape and to get the shape to hold. These nutria felts have more spring back than Winchester’s beaver felt.



Edit: Just to clarify, I only intended to express my mild disappointment with the Sunrise Hat Supply felt and NOT Gannon’s work. Michael Gannon did a great job on the hat, but this particular nutria hat body came with limitations and Michael couldn’t completely overcome them all…nor, I believe, could any hatter. I do like the hat, but it’s not perfect because the hat body wasn’t perfect. Just wanted to clarify.


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Can't say anything about the feel of the felt of course, but the hat sure looks wonderful from the pics, Brent. I don't think the crown height is out of proportion at all in relation to the brim width.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Steaming and brushing really helped the felt. Oddly, I no longer see the slight blotchiness that I thought was an issue with color saturation. The hand still isn’t as nice as my other nutria Gannons or any of his beaver felts, but it’s still completely acceptable.

I’m including photos in indirect natural light and in direct sunlight.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Steaming and brushing really helped the felt. Oddly, I no longer see the slight blotchiness that I thought was an issue with color saturation. The hand still isn’t as nice as my other nutria Gannons or any of his beaver felts, but it’s still completely acceptable.

I’m including photos in indirect natural light and in direct sunlight.

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Brent the direct sunlight pics really capture that felt well. Grand hat! I do not see a "big crown." The proportions shown in the pics appear to be working for you. The side pic shows the hat to be almost as tall as the length of your face. I believe this is well within "perfect hat proportions."

Aside: I remeber this link, https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hat-life-yearbook-1946.86490/post-2102585 that Carouselvic posted up in 2016. Rules can be broken, but I remember this as a guideline.

Do you Brent, what did you take inspiration from with your new hat?

Cheers, Eric -

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Brent the direct sunlight pics really capture that felt well. Grand hat! I do not see a "big crown." The proportions shown in the pics appear to be working for you. The side pic shows the hat to be almost as tall as the length of your face. I believe this is well within "perfect hat proportions."

Aside: I remeber this link, https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hat-life-yearbook-1946.86490/post-2102585 that Carouselvic posted up in 2016. Rules can be broken, but I remember this as a guideline.

Do you Brent, what did you take inspiration from with your new hat?

Cheers, Eric -

Thank you, Eric. I enjoyed reading Vic’s hat guide again.

After shaping and a deep crease with a small center dome, I agree that it doesn’t look too tall at all. In fact, the more time I spend with it the more I like the hat. I wasn’t as excited upon receiving this Gannon as I wanted to be but it’s growing on me fast. I think the small issues I had with the felt were a result of the extra stiffeners Michael had to add. With steam and brushing those issues have mostly resolved. I do think that Gannon’s beaver hats are marginally nicer, but the nutria offers new colors and bigger proportions which are important at my hat size.

I don’t know that I could say that I took inspiration from anything when I commissioned this hat. I’ve long wanted an old dye black cherry but I waited too long. I did see this as a city or dress hat with the wide ribbon. I saw the color looking better dressed up and not my usual outdoorsy style where it would look more like a novelty.

Cheers,
Brent

 

[Short Balding Guy]

I don’t know that I could say that I took inspiration from anything when I commissioned this hat. I’ve long wanted an old dye black cherry but I waited too long. I did see this as a city or dress hat with the wide ribbon. I saw the color looking better dressed up and not my usual outdoorsy style where it would look more like a novelty.

Cheers,
Brent

Brent, I agree with "dressy" hats not working with the outdoorsy essentials. I am going to use your description of dressy outdoors fedoras as being more a "novelty" in the future. Excellent word choice.

I totally understand how the felt issues find themselves backseat to the whole, the gestalt. Gannon added stiffeners to the nutria felt. Cool. How in the world do you add stiffeners? Adding shellac? I get caught tonight thinking about I added shellac (bug parts) to thinner for sealing a guitar top. Seven coats of shellac later the guitar top was sealed. Curious as to what stiffens the felt.

I thank you Brent, for the opportunity to have a Gannon in Winchester blue-mist (Art Fawcet beaver felt). Any of the acknowledged issues with the felt have disappeared over time as I have just been enjoying wearing the hat. Some small discolorations have all but disappeared to my eyes. The whole hat is much greater than its parts.

I am thinking about your fedora tonight Brent. Cheers sir.

 

[tamz0r]

New hat day and another great hat from Gannon (my 2nd.) I was going for the classic Bogart look and Michael nailed it perfectly. I asked for his soft vintage treatment and he delivered on that too. Couldn’t be happier.

specs if you’re interested: granite beaver felt, 22 ligne black ribbon, 5.75 in open crown, 2.5 in brim width.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

New hat day and another great hat from Gannon (my 2nd.) I was going for the classic Bogart look and Michael nailed it perfectly. I asked for his soft vintage treatment and he delivered on that too. Couldn’t be happier.

specs if you’re interested: granite beaver felt, 22 ligne black ribbon, 5.75 in open crown, 2.5 in brim width.
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What a great classic look. A triumph for Michael and you.

 

[belfastboy]

Brent, I agree with "dressy" hats not working with the outdoorsy essentials. I am going to use your description of dressy outdoors fedoras as being more a "novelty" in the future. Excellent word choice.

I totally understand how the felt issues find themselves backseat to the whole, the gestalt. Gannon added stiffeners to the nutria felt. Cool. How in the world do you add stiffeners? Adding shellac? I get caught tonight thinking about I added shellac (bug parts) to thinner for sealing a guitar top. Seven coats of shellac later the guitar top was sealed. Curious as to what stiffens the felt.

I thank you Brent, for the opportunity to have a Gannon in Winchester blue-mist (Art Fawcet beaver felt). Any of the acknowledged issues with the felt have disappeared over time as I have just been enjoying wearing the hat. Some small discolorations have all but disappeared to my eyes. The whole hat is much greater than its parts.

I am thinking about your fedora tonight Brent. Cheers sir.

Yes, hatters use good ol' school shellac as stiffener. Clear is hard to find but the SuperBlonde does not discolour even the lightest felt. I use a very light mixture of shellac flakes and lab quality denatured alcohol, brush it on, let it dry and if it needs more give it another light coat. Far easier to do multiple light coats than put on too much and have that 'oh shit' moment and having to rinse it out.

 

[Pellie]

New hat day and another great hat from Gannon (my 2nd.) I was going for the classic Bogart look and Michael nailed it perfectly. I asked for his soft vintage treatment and he delivered on that too. Couldn’t be happier.

specs if you’re interested: granite beaver felt, 22 ligne black ribbon, 5.75 in open crown, 2.5 in brim width.
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Nice, you look very happy with it. And i think i understand that ;-) Can you also make a picture wearing this hat snap down?

 

[steur]

New hat day and another great hat from Gannon (my 2nd.) I was going for the classic Bogart look and Michael nailed it perfectly. I asked for his soft vintage treatment and he delivered on that too. Couldn’t be happier.

specs if you’re interested: granite beaver felt, 22 ligne black ribbon, 5.75 in open crown, 2.5 in brim width.
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Fantastic hat. Congrats!

 

[tamz0r]

Nice, you look very happy with it. And i think i understand that ;-) Can you also make a picture wearing this hat snap down?

normally id oblige you but the brim on this one doesnt seem to want to stay snapped down, and im planning on wearing it brim up anyway so up it will stay. but heres a pic of a similar hat from gannons facebook with the brim snapped down hth

 

[Woodtroll]

New hat day and another great hat from Gannon (my 2nd.) I was going for the classic Bogart look and Michael nailed it perfectly. I asked for his soft vintage treatment and he delivered on that too. Couldn’t be happier.

specs if you’re interested: granite beaver felt, 22 ligne black ribbon, 5.75 in open crown, 2.5 in brim width.
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The big smile says it all! Michael makes fine hats, and this one looks great on you. Congratulations, hope you get years of happy wear out of it!