jhe888
One of the Regulars
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- 265
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- Texas, United States
I can't say anything about their felt hats, but a motorcycle cap I got from them is very well made and was a bargain.
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Sterkowski hats...opinions/experiences wanted please
- Thread starter ManofKent
- Start date
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- 10,927
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- My mother's basement
Looks like a real bargain, Lieutenant.
How's the felt quality seem to you? And the finish? It wouldn't surprise to hear that it has a finer hand than Akubra (if there is any fair rap on Akubra, that's it, but they're so darned serviceable and durable that it is easily forgiven).
I could see a guy buying a couple of those as everyday, nothing special kinda hats, and then reblocking them after they have seen some use and are starting to show it. A decent body can take it, and it could be made into whatever crown style the wearer prefers.
How's the felt quality seem to you? And the finish? It wouldn't surprise to hear that it has a finer hand than Akubra (if there is any fair rap on Akubra, that's it, but they're so darned serviceable and durable that it is easily forgiven).
I could see a guy buying a couple of those as everyday, nothing special kinda hats, and then reblocking them after they have seen some use and are starting to show it. A decent body can take it, and it could be made into whatever crown style the wearer prefers.
Ianthepilot
New in Town
- Messages
- 20
- Location
- North-Central Massachusetts
A not so little write up about Sterkowski's fur felts.
I picked up a grey fur felt number by Sterkowski not too long ago. I know there isn’t too much information about these hats available online and that’s actually a part of what drove me to make an order. Some folks over on the New Hat thread thought it’d be a good idea if I did a little write up about the hat, so in the interest of adding my own little contribution to the collective knowledge of the fedora lounge, here’s what I’ve got to say about it.
Shipping
First off, the shipping was easy enough. It took them three days to prepare the hat, and it took ten for it to get to the States. The hat sold for 55$, with shipping it went for 68$ and some change. The box it came in was simple. Very simple. Sterkowski’s seems to be most known for their wide assortment of caps which quite a few members here seem to be fond of, as well as their sewn wool hats in the fedora/trilby style, and these are the manner of hats that do well enough being bagged up and shipped in a box without any kind of support or protection, and it was this same method that was used to send the fur felt hat I now have sitting beside me. I would perhaps have prefered a basic cardboard insert that would have held the hat by its crown since the method of shipping used cocked up the back of the brim a bit and unlike LT’s hat which happily sprung back to shape, mine is still somewhat lopsided, but ultimately, the hat is just fine. Certainly isn’t keeping me from wearing it almost daily.
All that was involved in the hats shipment
The Felt
Now, onto the hat itself. It certainly is a fur felt. Sadly, the only fur felt hat I’ve got on hand to compare it to is an old Adam Porkpie by the Miller Bros Hat Co, and this particular number is too many sizes too small for me and it’s lived a rough life, but I’ll say what I can about how the felt compares. The felt of the sterkowski feels thicker to me, maybe just a hair more substantial than that of the Adam. It’s also hairier, if that’s the best way to describe it. Holding them both up to the light, the stray hairs jutting from the sterkowski seem to be a fair deal longer than those on the Adam. For all I know, the Sterkowski might look and feel just as the Adam does if I shaved or sanded it, suggesting that it may just finished a bit more roughly. I’m not sure how much this speaks of the denseness or quality of the felt on the sterkowski compared to the Adam. Sadly, I’m not experienced enough with felts to tell. It does feel like a solid enough hat, either way. Not something that feels like it needs to be babied. You guys will hear about it if I learn otherwise. The felt is also rather firm and definitely more difficult to ‘work’ than the Adam, but that seems to be the case with most newer hats. It is responding to my attempts to soften the felt with light kneeding.
Here's a Closeup on the felt, followed by a picture in natural light for color.
Dimensions
Sterkowski’s specialises in sewn hats. Blocked felt numbers don’t seem to be their bread and butter and that is fine, though perhaps they will offer more in the future. Because of this, I think it’s probably safe to assume they don’t have a wide ranging variety of blocks to make felt hats on. This approach works for some, but not for everyone. Since Dimensions tend to help those in the know decide on whether a hat would work for them or not, I’ll include them here. The brim is about 2 3/8“ wide. The hat band is 1 9/16“ tall. The front of the crown measures 4 1/4“ tall, the back 3 7/8“, and the tallest part of the crown seems to be about 4 3/4“ tall. Carefully unbashing the center dent it comes with gives me a measurement of about 5 1/2“tall. All of this is, for reference, on a hat they made size 7 5/8, their largest size available. There’s a fair bit of taper in the crown as you get higher up it, it certainly isn’t wide and flat on top like some hats, and so there isn’t a huge amount of felt to play with if you’re one who loves deep and bold creases, but if your main concern would be the tapering of the side, I feel like working in a decent diamond bash would straighten up the front/back profile nicely. I’ve done the same to a black wool hat I picked up a few years ago and it turned it from one I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror wearing into one I actually get a fair bit of foul weather enjoyment out of, so I’ll likely be doing the same thing to this hat at some point in the future when I feel the felt has softened a little bit more with use.
Here's pictures of the side profile, the front, the slightly lopsided back, and a few other pictures showing how it's made, Sweatband and liner.
My Thoughts
Ultimately I’m quite happy with it. I know it may not be the same as a quality stetson or one of Art’s masterpieces, but for someone who doesn’t want to throw down a hundred or more dollars on a lid, or someone who wants a less expensive hat to wear on questionable days instead of their prize numbers, or even just someone young and stupid like I am who none the less wants to try to at least look the part because ‘if a man doesn‘t have a lid he isn‘t worth talking about’, This works. This works very nicely. I just want to put a diamond bash in it, get the kink out of the back of the brim, and maybe figure out how to smooth out the hairiness of the felt a little bit if such a thing can be done (can it? Help a guy out here!), and then I’ll be in business.
Now, I think I might type up another update, hopefully one a bit less longwinded, after I’ve had the chance to wear the hat in a fair bit more. How a hat reacts to being worn is such an important part of what determines quality and whether it’s worth the money, so I’ve got to give my take on it when the time is right. Until then, unless you guys have questions that’s all I’ve got to say about that.
I picked up a grey fur felt number by Sterkowski not too long ago. I know there isn’t too much information about these hats available online and that’s actually a part of what drove me to make an order. Some folks over on the New Hat thread thought it’d be a good idea if I did a little write up about the hat, so in the interest of adding my own little contribution to the collective knowledge of the fedora lounge, here’s what I’ve got to say about it.
Shipping
First off, the shipping was easy enough. It took them three days to prepare the hat, and it took ten for it to get to the States. The hat sold for 55$, with shipping it went for 68$ and some change. The box it came in was simple. Very simple. Sterkowski’s seems to be most known for their wide assortment of caps which quite a few members here seem to be fond of, as well as their sewn wool hats in the fedora/trilby style, and these are the manner of hats that do well enough being bagged up and shipped in a box without any kind of support or protection, and it was this same method that was used to send the fur felt hat I now have sitting beside me. I would perhaps have prefered a basic cardboard insert that would have held the hat by its crown since the method of shipping used cocked up the back of the brim a bit and unlike LT’s hat which happily sprung back to shape, mine is still somewhat lopsided, but ultimately, the hat is just fine. Certainly isn’t keeping me from wearing it almost daily.
All that was involved in the hats shipment
The Felt
Now, onto the hat itself. It certainly is a fur felt. Sadly, the only fur felt hat I’ve got on hand to compare it to is an old Adam Porkpie by the Miller Bros Hat Co, and this particular number is too many sizes too small for me and it’s lived a rough life, but I’ll say what I can about how the felt compares. The felt of the sterkowski feels thicker to me, maybe just a hair more substantial than that of the Adam. It’s also hairier, if that’s the best way to describe it. Holding them both up to the light, the stray hairs jutting from the sterkowski seem to be a fair deal longer than those on the Adam. For all I know, the Sterkowski might look and feel just as the Adam does if I shaved or sanded it, suggesting that it may just finished a bit more roughly. I’m not sure how much this speaks of the denseness or quality of the felt on the sterkowski compared to the Adam. Sadly, I’m not experienced enough with felts to tell. It does feel like a solid enough hat, either way. Not something that feels like it needs to be babied. You guys will hear about it if I learn otherwise. The felt is also rather firm and definitely more difficult to ‘work’ than the Adam, but that seems to be the case with most newer hats. It is responding to my attempts to soften the felt with light kneeding.
Here's a Closeup on the felt, followed by a picture in natural light for color.
Dimensions
Sterkowski’s specialises in sewn hats. Blocked felt numbers don’t seem to be their bread and butter and that is fine, though perhaps they will offer more in the future. Because of this, I think it’s probably safe to assume they don’t have a wide ranging variety of blocks to make felt hats on. This approach works for some, but not for everyone. Since Dimensions tend to help those in the know decide on whether a hat would work for them or not, I’ll include them here. The brim is about 2 3/8“ wide. The hat band is 1 9/16“ tall. The front of the crown measures 4 1/4“ tall, the back 3 7/8“, and the tallest part of the crown seems to be about 4 3/4“ tall. Carefully unbashing the center dent it comes with gives me a measurement of about 5 1/2“tall. All of this is, for reference, on a hat they made size 7 5/8, their largest size available. There’s a fair bit of taper in the crown as you get higher up it, it certainly isn’t wide and flat on top like some hats, and so there isn’t a huge amount of felt to play with if you’re one who loves deep and bold creases, but if your main concern would be the tapering of the side, I feel like working in a decent diamond bash would straighten up the front/back profile nicely. I’ve done the same to a black wool hat I picked up a few years ago and it turned it from one I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror wearing into one I actually get a fair bit of foul weather enjoyment out of, so I’ll likely be doing the same thing to this hat at some point in the future when I feel the felt has softened a little bit more with use.
Here's pictures of the side profile, the front, the slightly lopsided back, and a few other pictures showing how it's made, Sweatband and liner.
My Thoughts
Ultimately I’m quite happy with it. I know it may not be the same as a quality stetson or one of Art’s masterpieces, but for someone who doesn’t want to throw down a hundred or more dollars on a lid, or someone who wants a less expensive hat to wear on questionable days instead of their prize numbers, or even just someone young and stupid like I am who none the less wants to try to at least look the part because ‘if a man doesn‘t have a lid he isn‘t worth talking about’, This works. This works very nicely. I just want to put a diamond bash in it, get the kink out of the back of the brim, and maybe figure out how to smooth out the hairiness of the felt a little bit if such a thing can be done (can it? Help a guy out here!), and then I’ll be in business.
Now, I think I might type up another update, hopefully one a bit less longwinded, after I’ve had the chance to wear the hat in a fair bit more. How a hat reacts to being worn is such an important part of what determines quality and whether it’s worth the money, so I’ve got to give my take on it when the time is right. Until then, unless you guys have questions that’s all I’ve got to say about that.
tropicalbob
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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- miami, fl
I'd order one of these in a minute if they came in larger sizes. )^#%@ it!
- Messages
- 17,466
- Location
- Maryland
Nice write up! The felt is not densely felted so it's not going produce a great smooth finish (if that is the desire). This might be a price factor (my guess) or for a desired look / finish (ask them about it). You might try steam and brushing in the direction of the nap (most likely counter clockwise) and see if it will smooth out. You could also try pouncing it further (I am sure someone will suggest this) although personally I wouldn't.
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- 17,466
- Location
- Maryland
They said they don't use PolkaP felt bodies. I don't think they revealed their source. The price point would have to impact the grade of felt they can use.
ManofKent
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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- 3,039
- Location
- United Kingdom
It doesn't look at all bad for the money - from the photos it looks as good as the many re-badged Tonaks most of the UK hatters sell (at a higher price point). I wonder whether the felt is Tonak?
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Yes it could be TONAK but they would need to confirm. There are also other Euro sources out of Slovenia, Romania, Spain and Portugal (others?).
Last edited:
KingAndrew
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 312
- Location
- Shanghai
The flange (curve) of the brim enables you to snap it down in front and up in back, which is a look most folks like. However, to flatten it out, use a damp towel and a standard iron. Lay the towel over the brim (to prevent any scorch marks) and iron back and forth, just as you would to take wrinkles out of a shirt. Be careful and start with a moderate heat, warming up until you start to see results.
Good luck!
Good luck!
ingineer
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,088
- Location
- Clifton NJ
Ianthepilot;
Thank you for a great review. That was far better than I could have done.
Packing leaves a lot to be improved.
I now have had my Sterkowski for quite a few months and have treated it like I stole it.
It has been thrown on the sideboard and floors, left on the sun porch, worn in the rain and so forth.
I am hard on hats and expect them to be resilient as my westerns.
The felt on mine did not seem to be that hairy, just a little plusher than than an Akubra,perhaps that’s a variation in what is a mass produced hat. Truly much better handle than a wool hat.
Pic of Stetson modern vs Polski
My only real compliant is the line in the felt above the ribbon that looks as if it was formed / creased on a press.
Most probably I could remedy this with the tea kettle, but have not bothered and has diminished with age
Yeah, serviceable might be the operative word, but for this price....
Again thanks for a very good write up, strange that this hatter has so little to say, and that there is so little variety in his fedoras, not really a custom hatter. Styling is very old world.
Still ,Always say this wrong,,,Dobra Robota!
Richard
Thank you for a great review. That was far better than I could have done.
Packing leaves a lot to be improved.
I now have had my Sterkowski for quite a few months and have treated it like I stole it.
It has been thrown on the sideboard and floors, left on the sun porch, worn in the rain and so forth.
I am hard on hats and expect them to be resilient as my westerns.
The felt on mine did not seem to be that hairy, just a little plusher than than an Akubra,perhaps that’s a variation in what is a mass produced hat. Truly much better handle than a wool hat.
Pic of Stetson modern vs Polski
My only real compliant is the line in the felt above the ribbon that looks as if it was formed / creased on a press.
Most probably I could remedy this with the tea kettle, but have not bothered and has diminished with age
Yeah, serviceable might be the operative word, but for this price....
Again thanks for a very good write up, strange that this hatter has so little to say, and that there is so little variety in his fedoras, not really a custom hatter. Styling is very old world.
Still ,Always say this wrong,,,Dobra Robota!
Richard
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There is also ŠEŠIR in Slovenia.
http://textil.stfi.de/partex/detail.asp?ID=60114&bi_lang=6
This is an interesting article but you have to run it through a translator.
http://www.delo.si/clanek/147884
This article is more recent and has production photos.
http://www.delo.si/druzba/panorama/za-gosposkim-pokrivalom-je-veliko-garanja.html
http://textil.stfi.de/partex/detail.asp?ID=60114&bi_lang=6
This is an interesting article but you have to run it through a translator.
http://www.delo.si/clanek/147884
This article is more recent and has production photos.
http://www.delo.si/druzba/panorama/za-gosposkim-pokrivalom-je-veliko-garanja.html
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Dreamofgilgamesh
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 313
Those hats look like a very good deal for the price, I'm tempted. However, looking at the pictures on ebay the brim appears to be flat all the way round, rather than snapping down at the front and up at the back. Is that the case chaps or is it just the photos that give me that impression?
Ianthepilot
New in Town
- Messages
- 20
- Location
- North-Central Massachusetts
Ingineer, It's good to hear that these polish numbers hold up over time. I have to agree about the crown shape, it doesn't have the boldness of a nice hand bash, but I'm hoping after one rainstorm too many I'll have to do something about it whether I want to or not.
Dream of Gilgamesh, if you're looking for a plethora of pictures that aren't just product photos on Ebay, Etsy, etc, I posted a bunch of my own hat on page 5 of this thread, and there are other photos members took scattered throughout as well. The simple answer is that it does snap up and down in the back.
Dream of Gilgamesh, if you're looking for a plethora of pictures that aren't just product photos on Ebay, Etsy, etc, I posted a bunch of my own hat on page 5 of this thread, and there are other photos members took scattered throughout as well. The simple answer is that it does snap up and down in the back.
I ordered mine today! It should be here in time for my birthday. I thought it looked like a good beginning fedora, (something tells me this may the first step to an addiction). 
I would have never done it except for the advice at this place. Now, I can't wait.
I would have never done it except for the advice at this place. Now, I can't wait.