Photos of hatters tools

[ChicagoWayVito]

Did you ever discuss this with Art or Mike at NW Hats? They have brim presses made by a millwright from the old Beaver Factory that cost a fraction of factory made ones. I know Mike loves his as it saves him a ton of time and produces a better finished brim.

I did discuss this with Art and I paid a fair amount more for my brim press than Art or Mike did. The price seemed to go up with each pressing being made. I probably paid $1,800 more than Art and $900 more than Mike when I got mine last year. I do love it though. It comes with a set of regular oval inserts, extra cost if you also want a set of long oval inserts too. It might cost a fraction of factory made ones but the cost is not trivial. By far the most expensive item that I have purchased for hat making. I could order almost 36 hat blocks for the cost of that press. It is a great press and the craftsmanship is great. One of the reasons I am teaching myself to weld and would love to get started in milling to.

 

[humanshoes]

I did discuss this with Art and I paid a fair amount more for my brim press than Art or Mike did. The price seemed to go up with each pressing being made. I probably paid $1,800 more than Art and $900 more than Mike when I got mine last year. I do love it though. It comes with a set of regular oval inserts, extra cost if you also want a set of long oval inserts too. It might cost a fraction of factory made ones but the cost is not trivial. By far the most expensive item that I have purchased for hat making. I could order almost 36 hat blocks for the cost of that press. It is a great press and the craftsmanship is great. One of the reasons I am teaching myself to weld and would love to get started in milling to.

Great info here CWV. I've not done the pricing but suspected it would not be an inexpensive proposition. It's that whole cost vs benefit equation again. On the one hand, I would certainly like to turn out a more consistent and time efficient product. On the other hand, unless done strictly for personal enjoyment with no thought to cost, the end user will generally be asked to pay for those improvements. If I had a third hand, which I could really use, I'd also say that I really enjoy my simple little hat shop without all the bells and whistles to worry about.

 

[humanshoes]

Another tedious job in the hat shop just got a whole lot easier. Wind/trolley cord buttons made using the C. S. Osborne 16L die set for fabric covered buttons and my cheapo Harbor Freight press.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Another tedious job in the hat shop just got a whole lot easier. Wind/trolley cord buttons made using the C. S. Osborne 16L die set for fabric covered buttons and my cheapo Harbor Freight press.
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Nice when I find time to take some pictures I will post images of the canvas backed button backs. They might also have some flat backs for #16.

 

[humanshoes]

Nice when I find time to take some pictures I will post images of the canvas backed button backs. They might also have some flat backs for #16.

That'd be great. I'd like to know who your supplier is. They're harder to find than I thought they would be.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

That'd be great. I'd like to know who your supplier is. They're harder to find than I thought they would be.

www.workroombuttons.com they carry the canvas backs in #16; I had emailed them about #16 & #18 flat backs and indicated that they can get them and that the might start stocking them. I don't see any listed on their website so I just emailed them back and will let you know what they say. If they have then I will be ordering some for myself. I have the same Osborne dieset that you have.

 

[humanshoes]

www.workroombuttons.com they carry the canvas backs in #16; I had emailed them about #16 & #18 flat backs and indicated that they can get them and that the might start stocking them. I don't see any listed on their website so I just emailed them back and will let you know what they say. If they have then I will be ordering some for myself. I have the same Osborne dieset that you have.

Thanks for the info CWV. I found their website yesterday and ordered some wire back buttons from them. I'd also like to stock some in the flat back.

 

[Bamaboots]

Picked this up a couple of months ago. Puts out copious amounts of steam but the cast aluminum housing will get hot. Need to find a proper bottle. For now a growler will fill in.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Picked this up a couple of months ago. Puts out copious amounts of steam but the cast aluminum housing will get hot. Need to find a proper bottle. For now a growler will fill in.
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I would love to see a photo of the steam output from this machine so I can compare it to the modern Jiffy Steamer that I have.

 

[Bamaboots]

I would love to see a photo of the steam output from this machine so I can compare it to the modern Jiffy Steamer that I have.

I'll try to do that for you.

 

[Bamaboots]

I would love to see a photo of the steam output from this machine so I can compare it to the modern Jiffy Steamer that I have.

CWV, you are a photographer that does some great work. I'm a hack that longs for a Polaroid. I didn't realize that a steam pic would be so difficult. First I tried one indoors that was useless. Took it outdoors and of course the wind picked up. A black door mat provide wind cover and a black background. Hope this gives you an idea.

 

[humanshoes]

CWV, you are a photographer that does some great work. I'm a hack that longs for a Polaroid. I didn't realize that a steam pic would be so difficult. First I tried one indoors that was useless. Took it outdoors and of course the wind picked up. A black door mat provide wind cover and a black background. Hope this gives you an idea.
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That's a great old steamer Greg. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when old things work better than new things, but your steamer seems to have a better output than even my Jiffy J-4000.

 

[steur]

Picked this up a couple of months ago. Puts out copious amounts of steam but the cast aluminum housing will get hot. Need to find a proper bottle. For now a growler will fill in.
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Good catch, Greg. That is a beast of a thing!

 

[humanshoes]

I finally got around to making a quick and easy sliding measurement tool for hat crowns. Simply constructed from a stainless steel ruler and a piece of scrap oak. Definitely more accurate than my previous method.

 

[Bamaboots]

Good catch, Greg. That is a beast of a thing!

Thanks, Stefan. If I can find a gallon glass jug like these were fitted with it will be a beast.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

While not exactly a hat making tool, it can be used to make fabric covered buttons for wind trolleys. The press is a curtain grommet press from Rowley Company and the button die is from CS Osborne.

Close up of the #16 button covered with ribbon. These use canvas backed buttons that are primarily used in the Bridal Industry. Just trying them out while I source flat backs for the buttons.

 

[Ryan Ram]

I was fortunate enough to acquire a Singer 107-1 and thought I’d post some photos. I’m by no means a veteran hat maker, formally worked in real estate in NYC and quit my job to pursue making hats full time. Excited to have embraced this passion.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

I was fortunate enough to acquire a Singer 107-1 and thought I’d post some photos. I’m by no means a veteran hat maker, formally worked in real estate in NYC and quit my job to pursue making hats full time. Excited to have embraced this passion. View attachment 158203

Just beautiful...really great looking machine. I'd there a story to tell about how you found this? I love vintage machines and am lucky to have a 108w20 for brim work.

 

[mayserwegener]

Nope. This dog won't hunt that bird Bowen. Singer made the 46-100 just for unreeded sweatbands. It's basically a heavy duty fur sewing machine with a special attachment.
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Museo dell’Arte del Cappello di Ghiffa, March 14, 2017

Click On Photos to Enlarge

 

[GHT]

The Singer 107-1 clone costs in excess of two and a half thousand dollars, so that original is not only a rare find, but a practical and budget conscious deal. It's also very satisfying to work on any original Singer.

This may be a useful tip, Singer made many machines for the domestic market, some of those models had, what Singer describes as, a free arm. The sewing bed could unclip leaving an arm, useful for sewing shirt sleeve cuffs, or any other circular part of a garment, like a hat band.

My wife doesn't make hats but she's a dab hand at repair and hat band replacement. Here's the Singer 222K that she uses. Note the hand crank, designed for those off the electric grid in their country, it's also very useful for slow sewing. The second picture is of a 1960's Singer, this model was of the 400 range as in the 401 or the 404. Singer called it The Slantomatic because the sewing needle enters the fabric on a slant, much like a hand sewn finish. There were many versions of this machine, like the 600 and 700 series. They cost top dollar at the time, but nowadays you can pick one up quite cheaply. The free arm is ideal.