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Optimo beaver after a year
- Thread starter jake_fink
- Start date
- Messages
- 3,661
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I took a few pictures of it today to show how it's done in the past year that I've had it. I have literally worn this hat 3-4 times per week for over 15 months. It's extremely dusty (though it doesn't look it in pictures), but I did just brush it out before taking the pictures. The brim is also in bad need of a reflanging (it's quite warped from being handled nearly every day, though you can't really see it in these pictures.)
This hat has also been "preblocked", using some sort of machine that Graham spent a ton of money to get running. I'll let you guys do the talking about it.
http://www.conanthelibrarian.com/optimobeaver/optimobeaver.html
I took a few pictures of it today to show how it's done in the past year that I've had it. I have literally worn this hat 3-4 times per week for over 15 months. It's extremely dusty (though it doesn't look it in pictures), but I did just brush it out before taking the pictures. The brim is also in bad need of a reflanging (it's quite warped from being handled nearly every day, though you can't really see it in these pictures.)
This hat has also been "preblocked", using some sort of machine that Graham spent a ton of money to get running. I'll let you guys do the talking about it.
http://www.conanthelibrarian.com/optimobeaver/optimobeaver.html
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MattC
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 426
- Location
- San Francisco and New York City
works for me
As I said...
As I said...
- Messages
- 3,661
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The link is working fine for me at home, and now at work as well.
I'm not sure why you can't see it.
For questions of durability, I've worn this hat in two serious rainstorms for over an hour, and other smaller rainstorms. I've taken it camping several times, accidentally dropped it into dirt while wet, accidentally scraped it off my head with a pecan tree limb while getting into a tree stand, and accidentally rolled over it during sleep in my tent. It's an extremely durable felt.
The link is working fine for me at home, and now at work as well.
I'm not sure why you can't see it.
For questions of durability, I've worn this hat in two serious rainstorms for over an hour, and other smaller rainstorms. I've taken it camping several times, accidentally dropped it into dirt while wet, accidentally scraped it off my head with a pecan tree limb while getting into a tree stand, and accidentally rolled over it during sleep in my tent. It's an extremely durable felt.
- Messages
- 3,661
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Back when I got this hat, Graham was getting $600 for the pure beaver. I'm not exactly sure what he's getting for them now.
I have a pure beaver from Art, made when he first started making hats out of the beaver bodies, and I think it'd hold up well too, though I haven't put it to the test yet. It's silverbelly, and I'm a little squeamish about putting a nice white hat through hell. It's a thicker than the Optimo beaver, and quite a bit stiffer, but Art's going to take some of the stiffener out of it for me as soon as I send it up to him.
Back when I got this hat, Graham was getting $600 for the pure beaver. I'm not exactly sure what he's getting for them now.
I have a pure beaver from Art, made when he first started making hats out of the beaver bodies, and I think it'd hold up well too, though I haven't put it to the test yet. It's silverbelly, and I'm a little squeamish about putting a nice white hat through hell. It's a thicker than the Optimo beaver, and quite a bit stiffer, but Art's going to take some of the stiffener out of it for me as soon as I send it up to him.
Tudor
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 61
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Pre-Blocked?
Zohar,
What is "preblocked"? What does this machine do for a hat?
Dennis
Zohar said:
Zohar,
What is "preblocked"? What does this machine do for a hat?
Dennis
Cabinetman
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 331
- Location
- Central Illinois
I see what you're saying about the brim, but save that, I think it's done very well. Looks great!
Aerol
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 303
- Location
- Chicago, IL
rugged hats
My Optimos have been rained on and snowed on and still look great.
My Optimos have been rained on and snowed on and still look great.
- Messages
- 11,579
- Location
- Covina, Califonia 91722
The Good Stuff!
That is a nice hat!,
I like:
the color,
the ribbon,
the shape,
the brim with the edging on it.
That hat is definately part of the Good Stuff line.
That is a nice hat!,
I like:
the color,
the ribbon,
the shape,
the brim with the edging on it.
That hat is definately part of the Good Stuff line.
Matt Deckard
Man of Action
- Messages
- 10,046
Pre-blocking according to Graham is a process that went out right as mainstream hatting started to dissapear. The hat is blocked with extra hot steam on a special device then finished and then the regular blocking is done. supposed to release the tention in the felt that causes it to shrink. That's what I was told.
The hat looks great for the wear it has been through. I can't wait to see it in New York.
I'll be bringing my vintage for comarison... I still love my beaver nutria mixes from Optimo, though like all modern hats the crown shrinks. Sad though true as the shrinking is the only dilemna that you get from the Optmos. I have had several modern hats droop and form holes quickly, though the Optimos are sturdy.
Next time If he has a pre-block for the size crown I like (he said he didn't) I'll have my newer Optimos pre-blocked and see how I like the process.
The hat looks great for the wear it has been through. I can't wait to see it in New York.
I'll be bringing my vintage for comarison... I still love my beaver nutria mixes from Optimo, though like all modern hats the crown shrinks. Sad though true as the shrinking is the only dilemna that you get from the Optmos. I have had several modern hats droop and form holes quickly, though the Optimos are sturdy.
Next time If he has a pre-block for the size crown I like (he said he didn't) I'll have my newer Optimos pre-blocked and see how I like the process.
- Messages
- 4,119
- Location
- The Beautiful Diablo Valley
I am done.
All I can add to this discussion it that I sent my favorite dove gray heavyweight Opitmo to Art for a reblock. The Optimo was protecting me in the heaviest rain, we had side yard flooding, and the gutters were clogged. I didn't think to change hats. Well, this hat was SOAKED for over two hours, and you couldn't have had a wetter hat if you put it in a tub of water. Well, the hat tapered like a bad dog..and was totally unrecognizable from what it once was. It used to be the stellar looking high crown 40's hat with the wide band.
What resulted was a cheap, soaked, shrunk, flimsey, rabbit fur hat. So...Art worked on it for quite a while, and it arrived here the other day. It is very, very disappointing. The vintage hats that I have ..have NEVER done this. Art's pure beaver hats have not either. Now, this was an Optimo from about 5 or so years ago...and his quality has improved. But at this point, I will not buy another Optimo. Sorry.
All I can add to this discussion it that I sent my favorite dove gray heavyweight Opitmo to Art for a reblock. The Optimo was protecting me in the heaviest rain, we had side yard flooding, and the gutters were clogged. I didn't think to change hats. Well, this hat was SOAKED for over two hours, and you couldn't have had a wetter hat if you put it in a tub of water. Well, the hat tapered like a bad dog..and was totally unrecognizable from what it once was. It used to be the stellar looking high crown 40's hat with the wide band.
What resulted was a cheap, soaked, shrunk, flimsey, rabbit fur hat. So...Art worked on it for quite a while, and it arrived here the other day. It is very, very disappointing. The vintage hats that I have ..have NEVER done this. Art's pure beaver hats have not either. Now, this was an Optimo from about 5 or so years ago...and his quality has improved. But at this point, I will not buy another Optimo. Sorry.
Aerol
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 303
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Confused
Andykev, If your Mercedes was in an accident you wouldn't take it to a Chevy dealer for repair...or even to a BMW dealer.
Why didn't you just send your hat back to Optimo, and let them deal with it?
Andykev, If your Mercedes was in an accident you wouldn't take it to a Chevy dealer for repair...or even to a BMW dealer.
Why didn't you just send your hat back to Optimo, and let them deal with it?
