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Phoenix Hat Company

Messages
18,279
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
Beautiful work of art, too.
 

humanshoes

One Too Many
Messages
1,446
Location
Tennessee
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.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
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'll Lock Up
Messages
4,610
Location
Kauai
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

One Too Many
Messages
1,446
Location
Tennessee
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.
 

Hat and Rehat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Denver
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.
 
Last edited:
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
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.

d46cc7d8cc84be476154c6a6d925dde4.jpg


f686f89d7a25c11f7734ab9025a9482c.jpg


0440d6ec7d4c4d265b312cbe025ad83a.jpg


e6d124912c0ee694db7917cf27eb8eb8.jpg


cd811049f8882cb78c79761ec1c0b372.jpg


7b49ffb5d4598666540438f1cd761666.jpg


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ff8a9ab67f77dd9feb47fc62301d7e88.jpg


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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

humanshoes

One Too Many
Messages
1,446
Location
Tennessee
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.

d46cc7d8cc84be476154c6a6d925dde4.jpg


f686f89d7a25c11f7734ab9025a9482c.jpg


0440d6ec7d4c4d265b312cbe025ad83a.jpg


e6d124912c0ee694db7917cf27eb8eb8.jpg


cd811049f8882cb78c79761ec1c0b372.jpg


7b49ffb5d4598666540438f1cd761666.jpg


6bf3a604ed68fee70168991cf9c81ca2.jpg


ff8a9ab67f77dd9feb47fc62301d7e88.jpg


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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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!
 
Messages
18,588
Location
Nederland
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.

d46cc7d8cc84be476154c6a6d925dde4.jpg


f686f89d7a25c11f7734ab9025a9482c.jpg


0440d6ec7d4c4d265b312cbe025ad83a.jpg


e6d124912c0ee694db7917cf27eb8eb8.jpg


cd811049f8882cb78c79761ec1c0b372.jpg


7b49ffb5d4598666540438f1cd761666.jpg


6bf3a604ed68fee70168991cf9c81ca2.jpg


ff8a9ab67f77dd9feb47fc62301d7e88.jpg


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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Fantastic hat, Brent, and great work by Rick. Perfect hat for you. Beaver 100 eh? Now Max will want one:D
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,935
Location
Central Texas
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.

d46cc7d8cc84be476154c6a6d925dde4.jpg


f686f89d7a25c11f7734ab9025a9482c.jpg


0440d6ec7d4c4d265b312cbe025ad83a.jpg


e6d124912c0ee694db7917cf27eb8eb8.jpg


cd811049f8882cb78c79761ec1c0b372.jpg


7b49ffb5d4598666540438f1cd761666.jpg


6bf3a604ed68fee70168991cf9c81ca2.jpg


ff8a9ab67f77dd9feb47fc62301d7e88.jpg


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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

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