MY WIFE'S AKUBRA

[J.T.Marcus]

My wife looked over my shoulder, at my auction site watch list. She immediately said, "I want that one." It was an Akubra, Imperial Quality, pure fur felt, Jackaroo, with a beautiful vent hole pattern. It was also the right size (We can both wear a 57 or 7 1/8.). She had a birthday coming up, so I went for it, and got it for less than my max bid. This was the seller's picture:

It arrived quickly, and out of the box looked exactly like the auction photos. Then I put it on my head. It had shrunk, more than one entire size. (I don't suppose anyone else has ever had an Akubra do that!) I could have returned it, but I would have been out shipping costs, both ways. I decided to go to work.

I removed the sweatband, and the hatband. Once I soaked the body and put it on the right size wooden block, I discovered this hat has more taper than any I've ever worked on. It took several days of resoaking and reblocking, but I got there. I also had to slit the sweatband at the back seam, since the sweatband had also shrunk. Here it is finished up.

I was rather surprised that Akubra had glued the hatband in place. There is one spot of excess glue, which I haven't been able to remove. It's not obvious from a few feet away, but it's there (and you know how that sort of thing can bother us).

Was it worth all the time and effort? Well, the current crop of Akubra Jackaroos don't have this:

And nothing else, in my collection, has vent holes like that. Besides, my wife still likes it and wants it (even more, since it now fits).

 

[carter]

Nice job JT.

You could remove the leather ban and replace it with a grosgrain ribbon or a pugaree. That would cover the glue mark

Congratulations to your wife. She wears it well.

 

[indycop]

Good job JT!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Is this the first time she has worn a hat or has she been wearing and we just didn't know?

 

[KObalto]

Beautiful work

It looks great on your wife! A spouse with the same hat size? Now there's potential trouble!

 

[Razzman]

Great job J.T. :eusa_clap It's a great looking hat. Your wife looks very distinguished in it. She wears the hat quite well. :eusa_clap

 

[fatwoul]

Yes, very good work, JT. However...

...How come when you pose for a picture, there is invariably a painting of some delightful nubile behind you, but when your wife poses, all she gets is a bit of a fountain? Personally I could live without paintings of strapping dudes in the background, but it seems like something of a disparity. lol

 

[tandmark]

Hiya,

Now *that* is one lovely job! Looks great on your spouse as well.

All in all, the results make me feel a bit braver about doing really major surgery on hats, instead of the cautious touch-up and stretching kinds of things I've done so far.

Two questions I've got, though:

Once I soaked the body and put it on the right size wooden block

What did you soak it in? Naphtha, Stoddard solvent, isopropyl alcohol, water?

Where'd you manage to score a wooden block?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Mark George]

Very nice JT!

I especially like how the brim ended up. Very swoopy!

Mark

 

[bolthead]

Great job JT, looks really good on het as well. You think she'll share?

 

[Vintage Betty]

Great job!
And your wife looks beautiful. Now she's gotta join the "what hat are you wearing today?" thread.

And yes, she absolutely needs to pose in front of art with bare-chested men and palm fronds.

Vintage Betty

 

[indycop]

Yes, very good work, JT. However...

...How come when you pose for a picture, there is invariably a painting of some delightful nubile behind you, but when your wife poses, all she gets is a bit of a fountain? Personally I could live without paintings of strapping dudes in the background, but it seems like something of a disparity. lol

lol lol lol lol lol

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Two questions I've got, though:

What did you soak it in? Naphtha, Stoddard solvent, isopropyl alcohol, water?

Where'd you manage to score a wooden block?

I soaked it in water. That's how felt is made, in the first place.

As for the block, I stumbled across two of them, in an antique mall. Both are the right size. One is for an open crown; the other is a diamond crease.

Thanks for asking.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Thank-you for all the encouraging words about my work.
My wife has been wearing hats for years. She does not, however, do computers, and has repeatedly indicated she has no desire to start now.
She does, however, appreciate all the gracious compliments. She has been smiling, all evening.
Her name, by the way is Dee.

Finally, for Fatwoul and Vintage Betty, We aim to please, but this is the best I could do to meet your request.

The hat is her absolute favorite (though she has nearly as many as I do). It is a Burlington Coat Factory, black fur felt, made in the Czech Republic. It's about six to eight years old. I think she likes it because, on the right side, it has a pronounced "Jed Clampett" droop. I once offered to fix it for her, but she got a horrified look on her face!

 

[Lamont Cranston]

Nice Hat

The Vent Holes are a nice touch. It is a great pattern.

 

[carter]

Dee and JT, This is a lovely photo. :eusa_clap

 

[Vintage Betty]

Dee and JT, Thhis is a lovely photo. :eusa_clap

I agree. :eusa_clap

She looks like a cat that just ate the cream. And she should, in that lovely hat.

Thanks for the art request too!

Vintage Betty

 

[Barb]

She looks wonderful!

And you are quite the craftsman! This is really an art and I'm very impressed with the restoration type work you've done.

 

[deelovely]

Yes, very good work, JT. However...
...How come when you pose for a picture, there is invariably a painting of some delightful nubile behind you, but when your wife poses, all she gets is a bit of a fountain? Personally I could live without paintings of strapping dudes in the background, but it seems like something of a disparity. lol

Haha! I noticed that as well!

 

[deelovely]

Thank-you for all the encouraging words about my work.
My wife has been wearing hats for years. She does not, however, do computers, and has repeatedly indicated she has no desire to start now.
She does, however, appreciate all the gracious compliments. She has been smiling, all evening.
Her name, by the way is Dee.
Finally, for Fatwoul and Vintage Betty, We aim to please, but this is the best I could do to meet your request.

The hat is her absolute favorite (though she has nearly as many as I do). It is a Burlington Coat Factory, black fur felt, made in the Czech Republic. It's about six to eight years old. I think she likes it because, on the right side, it has a pronounced "Jed Clampett" droop. I once offered to fix it for her, but she got a horrified look on her face!

Much better background... very nice photo... wonderful job on the hat... and NICE name that your wife has!!

 

[K.D. Lightner]

J.T. Your wife looks lovely in her hats. We gals do look great in those hats, don't we?

You certainly did a good job on rejuvenating the Akubra. I was glad to note that she put the green feather back on, that was a pretty feather.

karol