Oldest US hatter steps down

[Mark Elliott]

Idaho’s Randy Priest is 79 years old, and the oldest active hatmaker in the country today. I learned this week, however, that due to failing health his days as a hatter are over, but that his shop - the SILVER TIP HAT CO.-will pass to a younger hatter. Here is the bio that I wrote on Randy for my book on hats (The Brim and the Crown):

Hatter Randy Priest began working on hats – building them, restoring them, selling them – before most contemporary hatters were even born. The recipient of a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Folk & Traditional Hats, Priest began in the late 1950’s by buying second-hand and pawn shop hats for a dollar and reconditioning them and selling them “off his head”. These days, he works a five-day week on his back-order of beaver felt Westerns, and is only now thinking of retirement. His says his customers are ranchers, working cowboys, and “city people”.

 

[Frunobulax]

Idaho’s Randy Priest is 79 years old, and the oldest active hatmaker in the country today. I learned this week, however, that due to failing health his days as a hatter are over, but that his shop - the SILVER TIP HAT CO.-will pass to a younger hatter. Here is the bio that I wrote on Randy for my book on hats (The Brim and the Crown):

Hatter Randy Priest began working on hats – building them, restoring them, selling them – before most contemporary hatters were even born. The recipient of a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Folk & Traditional Hats, Priest began in the late 1950’s by buying second-hand and pawn shop hats for a dollar and reconditioning them and selling them “off his head”. These days, he works a five-day week on his back-order of beaver felt Westerns, and is only now thinking of retirement. His says his customers are ranchers, working cowboys, and “city people”.

Tip of the hat to Mr. Priest.