Photos of hatters tools

[John Galt]

Having a lot of difficulty finding canton flannel here in the UK (and yes, I saw the ebay listing you refer to John and gave that a miss). Is there a British term for it?

I believe this is also called cotton "duck," but I don't know if that term is used on your side of the pond.

 

[TheDane]

Cotton duck is something else. Canton Flannel is what you would call it in DK, too ... don't know about UK?

 

[John Galt]

Olė, I think we are on the same page. I think you are also right about my word choice.

As for irons, here are some examples. I am still looking for the little oval iron.

The two on the far left are "standard" sad irons. They are larger, heavier & wider, with sharp tips.

The next one is a French style iron that is a little wide, but I've seen in hatter's collections & often sold as a hatter's iron. Probably is, based on the rounded front edge.

The next three are similar to a standard sad iron but have rounded fronts & are smaller/narrower.

Then there's the Mahoney, and two brim irons.

One of those is scalloped on the edge so as not to burn a ribbon, and is for renovating. The other is not, and was for the first build.

 

[John Galt]

As Olė pointed out, the bottoms are often rounded on hatter's irons, front to back and /or side to side :

 

[TheDane]

As Olė pointed out, the bottoms are often rounded on hatter's irons, front to back and /or side to side

Well, those two actually are convex, John. What were they used for? I can't see, why you would want that curve - at least not for fedora work.

Could it be for ironing the brim (of a stiff hat) on a curling board?

 

[John Galt]

Well, I honestly don't know. I've never used either. They were too rusty until yesterday. The Mahoney is often identified as a polishing iron, and has diamond shaped divots in the bottom. I've sanded it, but am still having trouble getting rust out of the divots.

It is rounded front/back and side/side.

The other is only slightly curved on the bottom, and only front to back. Maybe they were used on a particular board or other basement of some kind, I've never seen discussion of this in any of my books.

 

[Hatter4]

John, Two good books on sad irons are 1 A Collector's guide of Pressing Irons & Trivets by Ester S. Berney. and 2 The Evolution of the sad Iron by A.H.Glissman. Both books also have a section on hat irons, worth checking out.

 

[John Galt]

Thanks so much Oliver! I was hoping you would weigh in on this. Any corrections, additions, thoughts?

 

[mayserwegener]

Time for a seance!

 

[John Galt]

Thanks for the photo, which raises a question I've always had: Why don't hatters wear hats? I've seen so many of these photos, and in the vast majority (probably all) of them, no hats. I'm thinking it was a superstition...

 

[mayserwegener]

I think it's just official formality.

Here is one for you. From the same JHS photo series.

From same JHS photo set, at work. These simple hand made styles were common (in Europe) for the workers.

At Borsalino.

 

[Hatter4]

John, did you see my posts #853 & #854?

 

[John Galt]

Yes, I saw those great rounding jacks & the rope curl shackle. They are great! Thanks for posting.

 

[John Galt]

The large irons here look similar to the Mahoney. Definitely some tollikers there too.

 

[Miamibruno]

JG - Thanks for your response to my query about the irons. Very much appreciated. I love to learn as much as I can. Thank you.

Hatter4 - Those were great rounding jacks. I do love when there is something of the person who used it (wore it) left behind.

 

[John Galt]

I love to share & learn here.

Here's your pusher downer, teak oil over poplar. It still needs polyurethane.

Tomorrow the runner downer.

I like to make tools that are a pleasure to hold.

I was thinking of a slogan like:

Manhandled Hat Tools - "You can handle our Junk" or

"Can you handle our Junk?" Or

"You'll love handling our tools." Or

"Our tools are a pleasure to hold."

"You'll love the feel of our Tollickers."

"You won't believe our Tollikers"

"You'll love holding our Wood"

TM & Copyright

 

[John Galt]

I think it's just official formality.

Here is one for you. From the same JHS photo series.

Thanks!




"Faint hat never won fair lady"

 

[John Galt]

Here's the prototype of the new Tollicker in progress. I first oiled it with teak, but then did stain the poplar base to match the handle.

It's drying before the handle is attached and will then be sealed & finished.

I traced the shape from an old foot tolliker, and scalloped the edge a bit. It's hand sanded at 150, 220 & 320, so it's very smooth and hard.

Manhandled Hat Tools - "Ask to see our Tollickers!"

Should work nicely.

 

[Lotsahats]

:eusa_doh: :eusa_clap

 

[Hatter4]

John, your tollicker looks very good. Would like to see it when you are finished. good luck on your venture.