Photos of hatters tools

[moehawk]

Sometimes inpiration for improvised tools comes from unlikely places. Such as the other day, in the toy store with my little 7 year-old niece. She had just launched into a spiel about why I should buy her the must-have thing that day, a brick of air-dry modeling clay. "But Uncle, I can make so many cool things with it"....and the idea as born. I grabbed a block of Fimo Soft for myself (yes, she got her toy too) and set to work once I got home. I found a piece of metal trim with a nice angle in it lying in the shop, rolled out a worm of clay, pressed it into the angle to shape it and baked it. Let it cool, it set and was still flexible enough to bend over my block.
Behold! The Optimoe.

Not bad for being inspired by a second-grader.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

That will need a bit of work to be rust free.
Still a nice tool.

 

[John Galt]

Not sure where the rust you mention would come from Joao, there being (I think) no source of oxidation, but I'm no chemist so will defer and simply say: Well done! I love thinking outside the box, and this is a great example. We take inspiration where we find it - out of the mouths of babes if it suits. I think the end result is much better than the blocking cord that Ermatinger suggests would provide (although no such thing existed in his time).. My salutations for the inspiration, your muse was well found sir!

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Not sure where the rust you mention would come from Joao, there being (I think) no source of oxidation

I was talking about the curling tool you got...

 

[John Galt]

Oh! Well, a little WD-40, sandpaper and oil - and polyurethane if needed, ought to take care of that. Treating it like an old cast iron frying pan should yield good results, I think ;-). My brother is a welder and should, I hope, be able to fix the broken connection.

 

[moehawk]

TY, John. It puts the fun into functional for sure.

 

[EstherWeis]

So i just bought this, now only figuring out how it works.
I wanted to see if it would work on felt.
If it doesn't so be it, i'll use it for the rare leather strap every once in a while


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[John Galt]

Esther, I have seen different styles in this country - similar but made of metal throughout. Please let me know how it works. Probably good if it is sharp.

Here's a vintage Osborne of the type I've seen, found just now on eBay:

 

[John Galt]

My full-crown stretchers

Domke & Ulme

Garvé

The Hatters Supply House

Love the Art Deco styling on the THSH stretcher!

Two came with this handy little tool:

I have not plugged any in yet. The Garvé has this ancient attachment, and no cord.

 

[John Galt]

Found on the bottom of the Garvé - might be helpful to someone seeking to renovate one:

 

[John Galt]

I may have posted this electric curling shackle once before, but think not, because it was buried. There is no branding I can find.

On second thought, I seem to vaguely recall Oliver (Hatter4) saying it was offered in a HSH catalogue.

 

[Frunobulax]

Optimoe! HAHA!

John, I believe Joao was referring to the corrosion on your iron, not moe's device.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Optimoe! HAHA!

John, I believe Joao was referring to the corrosion on your iron, not moe's device.

Yes I was

John Galt: Nice crown stretchers. Not common around here.

 

[John Galt]

Fruno, it took me a while ;-)

Joao, thanks! I think I've got another buried around here somewhere.. There's hat stuff all over my house.

 

[John Galt]

Not strictly a hatter's tool, but a very cool item. Although mounted on a wall in the photo, this under-the-seat hat caddy used to be commonplace in theaters & courthouses and the like back when every man and most women wore a hat every day.

A couple of the local old courthouses where I practice law still have these under the old wooden fold-down seats. I just picked an original on eBay for a very reasonable price.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Doesn't it forces the brim being supported by the wall? Probably heavier hats will get a "deformed" brim over a long time there.

 

[Frunobulax]

Doesn't it forces the brim being supported by the wall? Probably heavier hats will get a "deformed" brim over a long time there.

It's not meant for long term. As John said, they would be located under theater seats and the like. Places where there was likely no hat check. So your hat would be in it for a short time only. And if under your seat, would be hanging upside down, anyway.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

It's not meant for long term. As John said, they would be located under theater seats and the like. Places where there was likely no hat check. So your hat would be in it for a short time only. And if under your seat, would be hanging upside down, anyway.

Designed to be under a seat, not on a wall. Of course under a seat it will be there for a short period of time, but mounted on a wall, you can leave it there for a loooonger time.

 

[John Galt]

João,

You are right, I am sure, but it is no worse and probably better than a hat hook, which deforms a crown over time and sometimes results in a tear. I picked up a custom 100% beaver hat once that had been ripped right in the center of the crown when someone in a hurry grabbed it off a hook. A 1/2 turn re-block & some grommets to hide the hole & balance the hat gave it a new life. So you see, not all renovations are "destructive" [emoji6]

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Or that felt hat was really weak or that man had such a grip and a lot of strength in his hands.
I don't say all renovations are destructive. Some are, some are not.