Phoenix Hat Company Video

[Bamaboots]

Very nice, John. That's some fine work.

 

[humanshoes]

Thanks for the kind words John. The hat looks great on you! Made for a beautiful fall day in Tennessee and a romp with the dog.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

I do not know how I have missed this thread.

@humanshoes your lids look great. I hope to see pictures of your work posted here, I also love seeing hats in progress (ie. just blocked hat bodies, etc.)
Both videos are cool. The cigar box instruments are fascinating and this is the first time I have even heard of them. You look to be very proficient with a spokeshave.

If I were to attempt a homemade hat block, something simple. Straight sides, flat top, with a round over radius to make the transition. Would you go with a spokeshave and check your work with a profile cutout card or go with a router?

 

[scotrace]

How did I miss this last year? We appreciate the plug!

 

[barrowjh]

Oh No! Not another one!
Yes, another refurb by Rick Walker / Phoenix Hats.

This hat was a $12 antique store find and we made it look great in Covington at Buckaroo Hatters with a tooled leather band:


At home, that really nice leather band found its way to this hat instead:


That left the navy blue uniform hat looking rather plain, and after some use as a beater, the original sweatband began to tear. Decision time - can or keep? I was discussing this hat with Rick Walker when I picked up the bowtie Stetson 3XB last month, and he showed me a really nice looking orange ribbon, and I could not resist. So, that $12 hat got a new sweatband w/initials, a Phoenix Hats liner, and a new ribbon!



another look at that frayed ribbon work-



Nice work, Rick!
It was a uniform hat, lot of shellac, still just a beater, but now it is a sharp looking beater! Why not? 'tis the season!

 

[barrowjh]

I should add that if you compare the 1st picture with the leather band to the subsequent pictures, you may notice that the stampede string holes moved to the back. The front of the crown had numerous holes punched through it to attach various badges (I presume that was the reason) so Rick reversed the orientation after blocking it, moved the weaknesses to the rear of the hat. Those stampede string or chinstrap grommets had been just forward of the center of the hat, after the refurb they are just aft of center. Again, nice work Rick!

 

[Redfokker]

Oh No! Not another one!
Yes, another refurb by Rick Walker / Phoenix Hats.

This hat was a $12 antique store find and we made it look great in Covington at Buckaroo Hatters with a tooled leather band:


At home, that really nice leather band found its way to this hat instead:


That left the navy blue uniform hat looking rather plain, and after some use as a beater, the original sweatband began to tear. Decision time - can or keep? I was discussing this hat with Rick Walker when I picked up the bowtie Stetson 3XB last month, and he showed me a really nice looking orange ribbon, and I could not resist. So, that $12 hat got a new sweatband w/initials, a Phoenix Hats liner, and a new ribbon!



another look at that frayed ribbon work-



Nice work, Rick!
It was a uniform hat, lot of shellac, still just a beater, but now it is a sharp looking beater! Why not? 'tis the season!

That Navy is something special. What a great choice to go with that contrasting ribbon. Nice restoration, daily driver!

 

[RJR]

That Navy is something special. What a great choice to go with that contrasting ribbon. Nice restoration, daily driver!

+1

 

[Frunobulax]

Great save, Barrow.

 

[humanshoes]

How did I miss this last year? We appreciate the plug!

Your welcome scotrace. Credit where credit is due.

 

[humanshoes]

I do not know how I have missed this thread.

@humanshoes your lids look great. I hope to see pictures of your work posted here, I also love seeing hats in progress (ie. just blocked hat bodies, etc.)
Both videos are cool. The cigar box instruments are fascinating and this is the first time I have even heard of them. You look to be very proficient with a spokeshave.

If I were to attempt a homemade hat block, something simple. Straight sides, flat top, with a round over radius to make the transition. Would you go with a spokeshave and check your work with a profile cutout card or go with a router?

I use a cut out template, low profile spoke shave, and a cabinet scraper followed by sanding...lots of sanding.

 

[humanshoes]

New baby in the Phoenix Hat Company hat shop. A 1947 Singer 44-90 that was produced specifically to make fine leather gloves. It is a walking foot machine with very narrow presser feet for sewing right up to the edge of the material. With a few mechanical alterations, the addition of a proper binding attachment, and a lot of practice, this big beauty will now have a new and productive life in the shop and save me hours of work.

 

[barrowjh]

I picked up another refurb from Rick a couple weeks ago and he showed me the new machine; will help with bound edges.

 

[barrowjh]

A Phoenix Refurb on the Road - San Diego

A trip to see our granddaughters - all three pics do not show off the nice bowtie ribbon treatment by Rick, but it is the hat he refurbished only a few months ago -

In Legoland CA, with Albert Einstein (and Marissa, Emma, & Hannah L to R)


With son Richie on a Seal boat tour


At Children's Pool in La Jolla (AKA seal beach)