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My new [old] No. 1 Quality Stetson "The Wildcatter"

RBH

Bartender
Thanks Manny...

All you have to do is find you an old hat. Where ever that may be, and just start to work on it. A cheap old wool felt is best to start with. [ to try out things you may like] But if a fur felt jumps out in front, dont pass it up [the fur is alot easier to work with.]
The bigger the brim the better, I like a 2 3\4 brim, so I look for at least a
3 1\2 to a 4 inch. If you have the big brim, you more than likely will have a tall crown. With converting an old western to a fedora, the c-crown is the easiest. Unless you have a hat block. The c-crown will cover up most any old western bash lines.
Im sure old western hat lovers hate to see what I have done to an old western hat. But I have to say that this old western hat has most likely seen more wear in the last 3 days than it has in the last 3 years. so all in all it is not a lost hat but a reclaimed one.
And let me tell you, the color, the felt and the FEEL of this hat is something you WILL not get with a new style fedora.
 

deanglen

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,159
Location
Fenton, Michigan, USA
ideaguy said:
I'm with Dean on this one- the lack of taper really makes the hat
stand tall, as it were; I'm trying to figure a way to gently stretch
a few hats and not grow a taper- I'm a straight-sided kind of guy-
or, if miracles do happen, the exact hat your showing with a
reverse taper would suit me dandy. You did a great job!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

As of 12-3-06, you're message box is full. Can't PM until you clear. I had this happen to me once.

dean
 
Messages
11,579
Location
Covina, Califonia 91722
RBH said:
I just had to get this. It will make the hat.
I think it will look good on the bow, kinda like the pins on a Stratoliner.
I plan on replacing the pin back with a clasp type pin. It was just to cool to pass up.
;) p.s. see what you started John.. :eusa_doh:
lol lol lol


<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7791/oilvu5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

That pin will definately nail it!
 

Fedorista

Familiar Face
Messages
73
You've mutilated/murdered what looked to be a beautifully preserved irreplaceable piece of long gone Americana.
 

deanglen

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,159
Location
Fenton, Michigan, USA
RBH said:
Murdered is a strong term... lets just say I put it out of my misery.




p.s. dont come back and see what I do to that old Resistol when it arrives in the mail.

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap ;)

dean
 
Messages
11,579
Location
Covina, Califonia 91722
Re-incarnation!

Fedorista said:
You've mutilated/murdered what looked to be a beautifully preserved irreplaceable piece of long gone Americana.
***
Actually, I'd call it enforced re-incarnation.

Here is the question:

Is the Stetson hat in question some increadably rare and important artifact of history, without peer?

Or

Was it a fairly well made, regular and ordinary, plentiful old cowboy hat that was unloved in it original condition and fated for a better more usable life as a Fedora?

I'd say the latter.
 

RBH

Bartender
John in Covina said:
***


..... that was unloved in its original condition and fated for a better more usable life as a Fedora?

I'd say the latter.

Thanks John,
I am by no means the first..
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=9491
and sure not putting myself up there with Art. But I have enjoyed seeing the results of my working the hats over into a fedora. The little bit I have done, I can see why Art, Steve and the others love making hats.
 

deanglen

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,159
Location
Fenton, Michigan, USA
RBH said:
Thanks John,
I am by no means the first..
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=9491
and sure not putting myself up there with Art. But I have enjoyed seeing the results of my working the hats over into a fedora. The little bit I have done, I can see why Art, Steve and the others love making hats.

Well HALLELUJAH, RBH!! You have certainly provided ample justification for such work with that forum thread link, (not that you really needed to);)

dean
 

Naltak

New in Town
Messages
26
Location
Florida
Wow RBH, that is one nice looking hat! Makes me want to add cowboy hats to fedoras I am always looking for, now that I see it doesn't have to remain a cowboy hat. If I ever find one, I may be asking you for pointers. Very nice touch!
 

RBH

Bartender
Wildcatter pin

Here is the pin on the 'Wildcatter'
looks pretty cool to me.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/628/qxc4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7565/qafa4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
 

DOUGLAS

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,777
Location
NYC
I gotta say that is one fine looking recreation. The whole package is cool. Damn good job RBH!!
 

deanglen

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,159
Location
Fenton, Michigan, USA
RBH, YOU"VE PERFECTED IT! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap The pin gives it the accent that completes it. I actually think a bound edge would not suit that hat, it's one tough man's hat, putting ribbon on the edge would "sissify" it! ;) Whatcha think?

dean
 

RBH

Bartender
reworked the Wildcatter

There was something about my 'Wildcatter' that I didnt like. I finally figured it out....the crown wasnt high enough.
After my redo of the western style, the crown was 4' almost all the way around. Almost but not quite a flat crown.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/7184/3wp7ca3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

After I studied what it was that just did not seem right, I rebashed the front to 4 5\8'

after the rebashed
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7219/redolda2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>


I think it looks alot better with the added height.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8529/redovd9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>


on my head

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/3195/wildwf7.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
 

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