Garrett
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,782
Sorry Bill, the original auction photos are long gone. Our own member, Nolanf was the original owner. Perhaps he can chime in with the originals.
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The Conversion Corral
- Thread starter Davidson
- Start date
Sorry Bill, the original auction photos are long gone. Our own member, Nolanf was the original owner. Perhaps he can chime in with the originals.
HeyMoe
Practically Family
- Messages
- 698
- Location
- Central Vermont
On-going Knox 15 project
I picked up a nice Knox 15 at a flea market a while back for a song. The hat had a 3" bound brim that just made the hat feel like an awning over my 5'5" frame although I loved the fact that it had a 5 1/2" open crown. I decided to trim the brim down to 2 3/8" and keep the center dent bash to try to give it a 30's ish look. I used a compass and a tailor's chalk pencil to mark the trim line and a rotary cutter to do the trim which reduced the amount of sanding I had to do. Currently working in a tighter pinch. Sides of the crown remain at the 5 1/2" height.
I thought I would keep the thin ribbon, but I realized this morning that I am just not a fan of thin ribbons so I will be replacing it with a wider ribbon (open to color suggestions).
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I picked up a nice Knox 15 at a flea market a while back for a song. The hat had a 3" bound brim that just made the hat feel like an awning over my 5'5" frame although I loved the fact that it had a 5 1/2" open crown. I decided to trim the brim down to 2 3/8" and keep the center dent bash to try to give it a 30's ish look. I used a compass and a tailor's chalk pencil to mark the trim line and a rotary cutter to do the trim which reduced the amount of sanding I had to do. Currently working in a tighter pinch. Sides of the crown remain at the 5 1/2" height.
I thought I would keep the thin ribbon, but I realized this morning that I am just not a fan of thin ribbons so I will be replacing it with a wider ribbon (open to color suggestions).
BEFORE:
AFTER:
DOGMAN
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,625
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
Looking good,really like the tall crown.I am also a wider ribbon guy.Can't wait to see it with a wide ribbon.
- Messages
- 13,672
- Location
- down south
Looks nice HeyMoe. Great color hat. A copper or bronze color ribbon would make that hat scream, or some shade of gold, but I'd probably end up with plain black if it were mine, just to make it more wearable with different stuff.
HeyMoe
Practically Family
- Messages
- 698
- Location
- Central Vermont
I think I am going to end up with just plain black or dark brown. Boring but it will allow me to wear the hat more often so it can be in my regular cycle. If the hat were lighter I think it would lend itself to some more color options.
HeyMoe
Practically Family
- Messages
- 698
- Location
- Central Vermont
UPDATE: I could not find any good ribbon locally so I harvested a ribbon of a 30's vintage project hat that I have. On the old hat the ribbon looked greenish brown, on the new hat, it is obviously green. Unfortunately the ribbon was shorter as the vintage hat is a smaller lid so I was not able to use the pleated style ribbon that it came with and had to convert it into a standard bow. In doing this I was not able to get enough ribbon to make the bow "tie/knot" so I mixed it in with tan and dark brown leaving the green section in the middle.
- Messages
- 13,672
- Location
- down south
Great job HeyMoe!
Blackthorn
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,568
- Location
- Oroville
I like that bow!
Joao Encarnado
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,776
- Location
- Portugal
Well done!
- Messages
- 15,259
- Location
- Arlington, Virginia
Looks nice, Hey Moe. Fantastic bow!
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Here's a 70's/80's Resistol 3X conversion that I just finished. I have converted it a couple of times, but I am finally satisfied with the final product.
I wanted to give it a 1900's western dress hat look with a thin ribbon. I blocked it with a Graeco block which is straighter than any block I have ever seen. I would venture to say its even straighter than a Columbia block. Pounced that thick western felt WAY down to a lighter dress weight. (that eliminated any felt spidering as well) I sanded the inside of the crown and added a leather sweatband which I had done some work to. Lastly, I added an old school thin ribbon which I used from original 40's/50's ribbon stock that I bought.
It originally looked like this.....
It had a tall but ROUND crown, thick and rough pounced felt, and was loaded with shellac. It also had a really uncomfortable fake leather sweatband.
Shortly after purchasing the hat, I changed the ribbon, gave it a more natural crease with side dents, and changed the brim shape slightly......
I wanted to give it a 1900's western dress hat look with a thin ribbon. I blocked it with a Graeco block which is straighter than any block I have ever seen. I would venture to say its even straighter than a Columbia block. Pounced that thick western felt WAY down to a lighter dress weight. (that eliminated any felt spidering as well) I sanded the inside of the crown and added a leather sweatband which I had done some work to. Lastly, I added an old school thin ribbon which I used from original 40's/50's ribbon stock that I bought.
It originally looked like this.....
It had a tall but ROUND crown, thick and rough pounced felt, and was loaded with shellac. It also had a really uncomfortable fake leather sweatband.
Shortly after purchasing the hat, I changed the ribbon, gave it a more natural crease with side dents, and changed the brim shape slightly......
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
cont......
After about 6 months, I decided I wanted a fedora....so I chopped the brim to 2 1/2 inches wide, gave the crown a fedora crease, but left the crumby sweatband and rough original pouncing.
I wore the hat, but I never liked the way the felt looked or felt. It was also still very heavy and the sweatband was very uncomfortable to wear. I decided it needed a total redo....so I took the hat apart, hand sanded everything down with multiple grits of sandpaper. I went from 80 grit, then 100 grit, 220 grit, 400 grit, then finally 600 grit. I must have sanded off half its felt and weight. Now the felt is smooth as silk and very easily shaped with no spidering. Reblocked the body, flanged it, added a custom sweatband, and tacked on a ribbon/bow.
I finally love this hat and will leave it just like this from now on. It finally comfortable to wear.
After about 6 months, I decided I wanted a fedora....so I chopped the brim to 2 1/2 inches wide, gave the crown a fedora crease, but left the crumby sweatband and rough original pouncing.
I wore the hat, but I never liked the way the felt looked or felt. It was also still very heavy and the sweatband was very uncomfortable to wear. I decided it needed a total redo....so I took the hat apart, hand sanded everything down with multiple grits of sandpaper. I went from 80 grit, then 100 grit, 220 grit, 400 grit, then finally 600 grit. I must have sanded off half its felt and weight. Now the felt is smooth as silk and very easily shaped with no spidering. Reblocked the body, flanged it, added a custom sweatband, and tacked on a ribbon/bow.
I finally love this hat and will leave it just like this from now on. It finally comfortable to wear.
- Messages
- 15,259
- Location
- Arlington, Virginia
Nice work Josh. I really like it too. Looks great with that center crease and the thin ribbon! Bravo!!
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Thanks so much!
- Messages
- 15,083
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Look at you all brim up!... love the old school ribbon bow. You are a talented hat whisperer, my friend.
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Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Thanks Alan & Bill!! :yo:
I love wearing this one as a brim up! I have another conversion on the block right now that I will be posting in the next week or so. Its a off-white longhair which I gave a very deep cupped flange and tall straight crown. It looks like something from the 1915-1918 period.
