Phoenix Hat Company

[Hurricane Jack]

This just tickles the hell out of me. My latest Ebay purchase. Adjustable cattleman's crease hat block. I marvel at the simple ingenuity. Middle spacers to make most all of the common size hats up to 7 3/4 as it sits and very easy to make additional spacers for even larger sizes. Also, not that anybody would want to, but tall enough to make up to an 8 1/2 crown. Yee Haw!
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Beautiful work of art, too.

 

[humanshoes]

Now that’s clever. As a bespoke hat maker would this be better than having several of the same blocks in different sizes?


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I don't think I'd want to iron felt bodies on this block as there is a chance that the seams would show up on the finished product. This makes sense to me mostly for my specialty blocks that I'm using for straw hats. Another drawback, there is no hole in the bottom so this cannot be used on my hat block spinner for pouncing. I already have plans to cut one of my Optimo style blocks in half and adding spacers.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This just tickles the hell out of me. My latest Ebay purchase. Adjustable cattleman's crease hat block. I marvel at the simple ingenuity. Middle spacers to make most all of the common size hats up to 7 3/4 as it sits and very easy to make additional spacers for even larger sizes. Also, not that anybody would want to, but tall enough to make up to an 8 1/2 crown. Yee Haw!
View attachment 186521

How does that work with only the length expanding? Does it start out at a standard oval and end with and extra extra long oval? Just curious.


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[jonesy86]

I don't think I'd want to iron felt bodies on this block as there is a chance that the seams would show up on the finished product. This makes sense to me mostly for my specialty blocks that I'm using for straw hats. Another drawback, there is no hole in the bottom so this cannot be used on my hat block spinner for pouncing. I already have plans to cut one of my Optimo style blocks in half and adding spacers.

Did someone mention straw hats?

 

[humanshoes]

How does that work with only the length expanding? Does it start out at a standard oval and end with and extra extra long oval? Just curious.


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I'd considered that Brent. You're right. Expansion will definitely elongate the oval, but I think the final band blocking will accomplish the oval desired.

 

[humanshoes]

She's working on it Jonesy, but my little elf doesn't put in the hours that I'm accustomed to. Could be the student is smarter than the teacher.

 

[humanshoes]

Beautiful work of art, too.

I agree Jack. Some dedicated craftsman spent some serious time putting this rig together.

 

[Hat and Rehat]

I don’t see why not. Making the blank would be about an hour long task for me. I don’t have a 6 axis CNC machine myself but I have a shop that I work with who does. It wouldn’t be the cheapest thing in the world to have them mill it that’s why I asked the question of whether hat blocks are a ‘universal’ size that is utilized for most hat sizes or if you would need one for each size.

If the block is just a perfect cylinder like a deep bowl for example it could also be made on a lathe pretty easily.

I would be happy to look into it further


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They made them on a lathe back when everyone wore wigs.
At some point, just when hasn't been mentioned in any hat history I have read,
they went oval, evolving into regular oval, long oval, and sometimes short oval.
The industry seems to have standardized around these shapes, but I bought a block on eBay that is fully round. It surprised me.
Ermatinger says round blocks were needed to make hats for Indians back in the day, so their heads seem to have been more round Than people of European lineage.
One resource I've learned from is a woman who learned her millenary skills on Europe.
She has a video or two on blocks on YouTube.
I've been making my own blocks. I had to buy blocks, and flanges in order to get the correct oval. Mine were close, but off just enough they would not be interchangeable with standardized ones. It would doom me to making every crown block, flange block and band block myself.

 

[jonesy86]

She's working on it Jonesy, but my little elf doesn't put in the hours that I'm accustomed to. Could be the student is smarter than the teacher.

Let me know if there are ever any factory seconds in 7 1/2.

 

[humanshoes]

Let me know if there are ever any factory seconds in 7 1/2.

Will do Jonesy.

 

[Bamaboots]

I don't think I'd want to iron felt bodies on this block as there is a chance that the seams would show up on the finished product.

They will, Rick. I've got an expandable block. I've spent condierable time working the seam lines out after ironing a little aggressively.

 

[humanshoes]

They will, Rick. I've got an expandable block. I've spent condierable time working the seam lines out after ironing a little aggressively.

What I figured Bama. This one will be just for straws which I hand form over the block. Hey, for half a C note I would've bought it just to look at.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My latest Phoenix, and sadly the last for the next several months. It’s a great hat...Rick doesn’t know how to make anything else.

6” open crown, 2 3/4” bound brim, and 2” wide ribbon. Granite 100% beaver fur felt.

I absolutely love the hat. Soft hand and lots of attention to details. Thank you, Rick!


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[humanshoes]

My latest Phoenix, and sadly the last for the next several months. It’s a great hat...Rick doesn’t know how to make anything else.

6” open crown, 2 3/4” bound brim, and 2” wide ribbon. Granite 100% beaver fur felt.

I absolutely love the hat. Soft hand and lots of attention to details. Thank you, Rick!


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The hat looks great on you Brent. I think we pulled off that vintage look you were going for. Wear it in good health my friend!

 

[steur]

My latest Phoenix, and sadly the last for the next several months. It’s a great hat...Rick doesn’t know how to make anything else.

6” open crown, 2 3/4” bound brim, and 2” wide ribbon. Granite 100% beaver fur felt.

I absolutely love the hat. Soft hand and lots of attention to details. Thank you, Rick!


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Fantastic hat, Brent, and great work by Rick. Perfect hat for you. Beaver 100 eh? Now Max will want one

 

[Woodtroll]

My latest Phoenix, and sadly the last for the next several months. It’s a great hat...Rick doesn’t know how to make anything else.

A great hat indeed, Brent, congratulations! Your comment about it being the last one for a while makes me wonder who tapped out first - you or Rick?

 

[Tukwila]

@deadlyhandsome , WHAT color is the ribbon. Love hat, color, specs, everything!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

@deadlyhandsome , WHAT color is the ribbon. Love hat, color, specs, everything!

Sorry, you’ll have to ask Rick @humanshoes
Rick showed me the color and I approved, but I don’t recall what it’s called.


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[deadlyhandsome]

A great hat indeed, Brent, congratulations! Your comment about it being the last one for a while makes me wonder who tapped out first - you or Rick?

I’m just catching my breath. I’ll be back...I have a silverbelly beaver and at least a couple Nutria hats in mind.


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[Rmccamey]

Very nice! That mid-gray goes with so many outfits, formals to jeans.

My latest Phoenix, and sadly the last for the next several months. It’s a great hat...Rick doesn’t know how to make anything else.

6” open crown, 2 3/4” bound brim, and 2” wide ribbon. Granite 100% beaver fur felt.

I absolutely love the hat. Soft hand and lots of attention to details. Thank you, Rick!


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