Sourcing Hat Blocks

[ChicagoWayVito]

Sorry if I missed this on another thread somewhere but I had been thinking about where to get blocks from and after seeing the Guy Morse-Brown video did a some searching. Below is what I found, please add to it.

Wood Hat Block Makers
- Hatters Supply House (Mark Havens) http://hatterssupplyhouse.com (Blocks, flanges, other tools)
- JW Hats (US) http://www.jwhats.com
- Millinery-Ezone.com (US) http://www.auctiva.com/stores/viewstore2.aspx?id=517324&styleid=117&siteid=0
- LaMode West (US) http://www.lamodewoodhatblocks.com/
- Melbourne Hatblocks (AU) http://www.melbournehatblocks.com.au/
- Hat Blocks Australia (AU) http://www.hatblocksaustralia.com.au/
- Guy Morse-Brown (UK) http://www.hatblocks.co.uk/
- Hat Blocks Direct (UK) http://www.hatblocksdirect.co.uk/
- Boon & Lane Limited (UK) http://hatblockstore.co.uk/
- Hat Blocks Holland (NL) http://www.hatblocksholland.com/
- Van der Broek (NL) http://www.hoedenmallen.nl/
- Fred's Hat Blocks (US) http://www.fredraab.com/hatblocks/
- The Kacprzak Family Studio Hat Blocks (PO) https://www.etsy.com/shop/borsolino
- Wylde & Waite (UK) https://wyldeandwaite.com/hat-blocks/

Aluminum Hat Block Makers
- Korber Hats http://www.korberhats.com/tour.html
- Boon & Lane Limited http://hatblockstore.co.uk/
- Roberto Gerardi http://www.formecappelli.com/

Plastic Hat Block Makers
- Hat Shapers http://www.hatshapers.com/

Hat Block Sellers
- Wayne Wichern Millinery http://www.waynewichernmillinery.com/Millinery_Blocks.htm
- Manhatco http://manhatco.com/502/Workshop_Tools
- Manny's Millinery Supply http://shop.mannys-millinery.com/category.sc?categoryId=33
- Home Groan http://www.homegroan.com/millinery.html
- Hat Supply http://www.hatsupply.com/hatblocks.htm
- MacCullock & Wallis https://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/c/774/hat-blocks
- Easy Hat Blocks http://www.easyhatblocks.com/

 

[RJR]

Good info,this needs to be a "sticky".Ebay is occasionally a source but not reliably so.

 

[EstherWeis]

Most of mine are from Van Der Broek, other are vintage pieces I found here and there.

 

[emigran]

Thank you very greatly...

 

[Michael R.]

Boy I could really use a Block . I'll check these out . Some eBay prices are ... CRAZY ! Plus tough to get the size and Block you're looking for . Thanks Kevin !

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Updated wood hat block makers list. Added Wylde & Waite who seems to be a new hatter and block maker in London. I don't know anything about him other than what I found on Instagram. https://wyldeandwaite.com/hat-blocks/ In the original post you will see that he has been added to the wood hat block makers list. From his website I only saw blocks with straight sides and flat tops with rounded corner transition.

 

[RJR]

Boy I could really use a Block . I'll check these out . Some eBay prices are ... CRAZY ! Plus tough to get the size and Block you're looking for . Thanks Kevin !

What size do you need?

 

[Michael R.]

Smaller than 7 3/8 to get my Hats in with the sweats to smooth out the creases , I figure 7 1/8- 7 1/4 , but not sure , tail straight sided dome top .

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Updated wood hat block makers list. Added Wylde & Waite who seems to be a new hatter and block maker in London. I don't know anything about him other than what I found on Instagram. https://wyldeandwaite.com/hat-blocks/ In the original post you will see that he has been added to the wood hat block makers list. From his website I only saw blocks with straight sides and flat tops with rounded corner transition.

There is a gentleman soon to launch a business. Open Blocks. flanges made to cover range. Band blocks. All right here in the states....yes indeed. I understand he will be up and running soon. Im already in discussion on flanges. And I'd sure love a set of cloned stratoliner blocks and flanges, I only know they were acquire and are in hand. Will they be cloned....I do not know. But I bet the 52s are cloned.....tip?
There is also a business in New Jersey which I believe if still in business does block's and flanges also. I can find that for you. But I believe option A Is going to be the ticket for us. I won't tip my hand any further. But get in line....info soon and prices that are reasonable. Again to my knowledge computer generated profiles that were milled. Im drooling all over my keyboard...

 

[Michael R.]

What size do you need?

Thanks RJ !

There is a gentleman soon to launch a bbusiness.Blocks. flanges. Band blocks. All right here in the states. I understand he will be up and running soon.
There is also a business in New Jersey i believe and he does blocks crowns. I can find that for you. But I believe option A Is going to be the ticket for us. I won't tip my hand any further. But get in line....info soon.

Thank you Tim !

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Kevin I like your avatar!

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

I appreciate all the communication. Bring a friend and drop a post.

Bolthead: photo session Tuesday for Harv.

 

[RJR]

Smaller than 7 3/8 to get my Hats in with the sweats to smooth out the creases , I figure 7 1/8- 7 1/4 , but not sure , tail straight sided dome top .

Unless you have a strong reason to source a wooden block I wonder if a couple of hat shapers would do.Google-hatshapers.com.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Unless you have a strong reason to source a wooden block I wonder if a couple of hat shapers would do.Google-hatshapers.com.

That link didn't work for me, this one should http://www.hatshapers.com/; they are also in the first posting for plastic hat blocks. These only run about $28 each unless you need something custom from them.

 

[Michael R.]

Thanks guys , I looked at them , the Straight Sided Dome is $38 , I think . Here's Matt's Vid from Monster Bash Thread using it ...

It would work . Plus I put my name in to be messaged by Mark DeCou on Etsy when he gets caught up , for a few Band Blocks in 7 3/8 LO . He was recommended , but Art makes them , too .

That link didn't work for me, this one should http://www.hatshapers.com/; they are also in the first posting for plastic hat blocks. These only run about $28 each unless you need something custom from them.

I heard if I kept looking a Wood Hat Block would (ha) eventually pop up on eBay .

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

Plus I put my name in to be messaged by Mark DeCou on Etsy when he gets caught up , for a few Band Blocks in 7 3/8 LO .

I hope Mark get caught up on his backlog soon enough. His wife unfortunately passed away in January from cancer so there was a period of time where he wasn't working. Very sad!

Do you know pricing on band blocks from Art?

Honestly at some point I will buy my own bandsaw and just make all the band blocks I could ever want and route over the edges.

 

[RJR]

Thanks guys , I looked at them , the Straight Sided Dome is $38 , I think . Here's Matt's Vid from Monster Bash Thread using it ...

It would work . Plus I put my name in to be messaged by Mark DeCou on Etsy when he gets caught up , for a few Band Blocks in 7 3/8 LO . He was recommended , but Art makes them , too .



I heard if I kept looking a Wood Hat Block would (ha) eventually pop up on eBay .

That's the Shaper I have and I had Mark make me a couple of band blocks.

 

[Michael R.]

RJ , Mark's wife died in Jan. of Colon Cancer , so he is behind , plus the loss . I figured he might make Blocks , too . Thought about a "Licker" , I know its spelled differently , but he makes a couple of Hat Makers Kits , not cheap , but well made and important hard to find stuff . He's an Artist and Craftsman ! Are the Band Blocks expensive RJ ?

 

[Michael R.]

I hope Mark get caught up on his backlog soon enough. His wife unfortunately passed away in January from cancer so there was a period of time where he wasn't working. Very sad!

Do you know pricing on band blocks from Art?

Honestly at some point I will buy my own bandsaw and just make all the band blocks I could ever want and route over the edges.

Art's are $35 , plus I think he uses the conformer , so its exactly your Head Shape . If you've already been measured I guess he has the card to do one .

 

[RJR]

RJ , Mark's wife died in Jan. of Colon Cancer , so he is behind , plus the loss . I figured he might make Blocks , too . Thought about a "Licker" , I know its spelled differently , but he makes a couple of Hat Makers Kits , not cheap , but well made and important hard to find stuff . He's an Artist and Craftsman ! Are the Band Blocks expensive RJ ?

To be honest with you its been quite awhile ago,I bought two and don't remember what he charged.