Photos of hatters tools

[hatsRme]

I wasn't sure about where to post this little piece of hat history, so please bear with me and re-post if needed.
In a second-hand shop in Rhode Island I spied a hat high up on the wall. The proprietor couldn't wait to fetch it from its perch, so she could demonstrate her (NOT for sale) retail hat "Grabber." (My term, not hers). Ever see one of these?!?

 

[belfastboy]

I wasn't sure about where to post this little piece of hat history, so please bear with me and re-post if needed.
In a second-hand shop in Rhode Island I spied a hat high up on the wall. The proprietor couldn't wait to fetch it from its perch, so she could demonstrate her (NOT for sale) retail hat "Grabber." (My term, not hers). Ever see one of these?!?
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No, closest I have come to something like that is a branch trimmer for trees.

 

[hatsRme]

No, closest I have come to something like that is a branch trimmer for trees.

Right! I have one.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Ever see one of these?!?

They were called giraffe grabbers & were used back in the day in old general stores & hardware stores.

Twenty yrs or so ago there was a modern version called the Happy Un Hooker, a play on the name of a certain columnist you might remember.

Or maybe it was the Unhappy Hooker, I can't remember.

 

[BobHufford]

I've seen hat box grabbers that utilized some sharp points on the ends or a row of teeth (although that seems like it would damage the box). Even bid on a couple, but didn't win. I haven't quite reached the point where I need one.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-hat-box-lifter-goods-handler-1755809240

 

[Zephyr Union]

A brief pause in the hat making action to build a suitable table for the newest member of the PHC family, the ASM 1107-1 sweatband sewing machine. An old Singer cast iron treadle base paired with some weathered mahogany boards I had lying around the shop added up to the antique looking table I was shooting for. Now it's time for this pricey ba***rd to either earn it's keep or get the hell out.
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Just got my asm , most definitely a hard mistress to tame! Spent the money trying to save my hands... now I’m back to hand stitching because I can’t quite figure it out, to my liking...

 

[Zephyr Union]

First sweatband sewn in with the new ASM 1107-1 machine. I had to make adjustments to the factory set up and I will definitely need more practice, but the actual installation, after the sweatband was prepped, took less than a minute. Goodbye hand stitching...forever.
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Looks sooo good

 

[Zephyr Union]

Life just got a whole lot easier in my little corner of the world.
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I have a similar machine from hi-steam , love it

 

[Zephyr Union]

My Chinese hat measuring device arrived yesterday. It seems to be well-made and solid. It’s simple, which I like, and I can’t see it wearing out. The all metal construction gives it a substantial feel.

It isn’t perfect. The spring steel conforming piece extends when you close the scissors type handles. The problem is that the steel extends in a near perfect circle. With some force you can get it to conform closer to the oval of your hat, but it’s not able to perfectly match the contours of the sweatband. The more oval (I’m a long oval) your hats are the less accurate the tool is. I’m also leery about using too much force to get it to conform.

Most of my 7 5/8 hats measure 7 1/2 or less on this device. Still, as long as you mentally compensate you can get close. You can also visually see how close the spring steel is conforming to the sweatband and get some idea of how accurate the measurement will be.

The first hat I measured is this 3X that I bought on ebay. The seller listed it as a 7 3/4:

This hat measured 6 7/8 and I doubt that it’s actually any larger than a size 7. When will people learn that the length of the head opening is not the hat size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I have one of those Chinese & a vintage one. I’d say the Chinese is a half size off

 

[Zephyr Union]

My Chinese hat measuring device arrived yesterday. It seems to be well-made and solid. It’s simple, which I like, and I can’t see it wearing out. The all metal construction gives it a substantial feel.

It isn’t perfect. The spring steel conforming piece extends when you close the scissors type handles. The problem is that the steel extends in a near perfect circle. With some force you can get it to conform closer to the oval of your hat, but it’s not able to perfectly match the contours of the sweatband. The more oval (I’m a long oval) your hats are the less accurate the tool is. I’m also leery about using too much force to get it to conform.

Most of my 7 5/8 hats measure 7 1/2 or less on this device. Still, as long as you mentally compensate you can get close. You can also visually see how close the spring steel is conforming to the sweatband and get some idea of how accurate the measurement will be.

The first hat I measured is this 3X that I bought on ebay. The seller listed it as a 7 3/4:

This hat measured 6 7/8 and I doubt that it’s actually any larger than a size 7. When will people learn that the length of the head opening is not the hat size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Zephyr Union]

I never thought I'd actually see one of these in person, much less have one in my humble little shop, but here she is. I have hats to make so I can't dive into the restoration right now, but I hope to restore this conformateur to it's original glory. A big thanks to our very own Dr. Max for rescuing this old beauty from the "box of oblivion" and for thinking of me as her new caretaker.
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Amazing , want to fully restore mine hahah

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Just got my asm , most definitely a hard mistress to tame! Spent the money trying to save my hands... now I’m back to hand stitching because I can’t quite figure it out, to my liking...

What issues are you having? My suggestion is to start with thread tension, mine likes the least amount of tension from the spring as possible.

By the way where did you buy your machine from? I think others here would be curious.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I had to buy this new as a 7 7/8 long oval 3 1/2” brim flange was tough to find on the vintage market. Strange. Luckily the Hatters Supply House of Colorado was able to make me one without any problem.

 

[humanshoes]

I had to buy this new as a 7 7/8 long oval 3 1/2” brim flange was tough to find on the vintage market. Strange. Luckily the Hatters Supply House of Colorado was able to make me one without any problem.

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That's a beauty Brent! I especially like that shallower flange profile.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

That's a beauty Brent! I especially like that shallower flange profile.

Thanks, Rick. It’s there #16 profile and it’s what Michael Gannon told me to order for the nutria western hats he made me. I think the #16 is what Gannon uses on most all of his fedoras.

 

[Zephyr Union]

Love finding these guys

 

[Zephyr Union]

I had to buy this new as a 7 7/8 long oval 3 1/2” brim flange was tough to find on the vintage market. Strange. Luckily the Hatters Supply House of Colorado was able to make me one without any problem.

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How much did that run ya?
I’m going to make a post on here soon, I have over 100 flanges I want to get rid off

 

[Zephyr Union]

How much did that run ya?
I’m going to make a post on here soon, I have over 100 flanges I want to get rid off

 

[deadlyhandsome]

How much did that run ya?
I’m going to make a post on here soon, I have over 100 flanges I want to get rid off

I Paid full price...$5. I’ll take all 100 flanges from you for $200. I mean I can get a cord of oak delivered for $250 and that’s way more wood.

Do you have a 7 7/8 or 7 3/4 block? Maybe a six inch #52?

 

[Zephyr Union]

We got a real ball buster here lol
Selling blocks at $38 a pop