Visit to SMITHBILT HATS, Calgary, AB.

[Rick Blaine]

I found myself in Calgary last week & made an obligatory visit to Smithbilt, western Canada's iconic hatmaker (The Stampede- as recently presented to Prince Andrew & Kate).

I had, about eighteen months ago, when last in town, met a falla' wearing a smithbilt jacket. Well I was wearing my Smithbilt Knight from the '5o's & we had a short chat and he told me he had been there 30+ years and to stop by when again in town -so I did.

Things were slow & they asked me if I would like to tour the workshop... -oh,hellyeah!

Please forgive my craptastic cellphone photos. I was assured that the owner would join us here, I hope he still will.

 

[job]

Rick, That had to be a great time. Thanks for posting

 

[Rick Blaine]

...a few more.

 

[fedoralover]

Always great to see all the different hat makers and their equipment. Thanks for posting. Do you know where they get their felt bodies??

fedoralover

 

[hatophile]

Thanks Rick. Do they make just Westerns or other hats as well?

 

[Rick Blaine]

Always great to see all the different hat makers and their equipment. Thanks for posting. Do you know where they get their felt bodies??

fedoralover

From Winchester, if I am not mistaken.

Thanks Rick. Do they make just Westerns or other hats as well?

Oh, no. They will make you anything you like. My "Knight" is a thin ribboned Strat/OR clone.

 

[tonyb]

On page 10 of this thread ...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?12662-Making-a-New-Hat&highlight=smithbilt

... is an excellent photo essay of a visit to Smithbilt from a budding professional photographer (he was a student at the time, as I recall) who was good enough to post his work here. (I don't believe we've heard a peep from him since. But if you're out there still, thanks very much, and don't be a stranger.) The thread was opened with a visit to JW Hats in Salt Lake, and that, too, is worth your time to check out. It appears that the Smithbilt essay has five fewer photos than it had when it was originally posted, something like four and half years ago. But there's still a bunch of cool shots there.

And thanks to you, too, Blaine. Like many others here, I really dig seeing hat-making operations -- big, small, all stops in between.

 

[Chepstow]

Rick, great tour and wonderful photos, I hope he had made you, a new hat!

 

[Rick Blaine]

On page 10 of this thread ...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?12662-Making-a-New-Hat&highlight=smithbilt

... is an excellent photo essay of a visit to Smithbilt from a budding professional photographer (he was a student at the time, as I recall) who was good enough to post his work here. (I don't believe we've heard a peep from him since. But if you're out there still, thanks very much, and don't be a stranger.) The thread was opened with a visit to JW Hats in Salt Lake, and that, too, is worth your time to check out.

Lovely!

Mr. Gerald was the man who said he would join us here & Larry is the guy I ran into in the SuperStore. I can't understand how that post got by me!
THANKS!

Rick, great tour and wonderful photos, I hope he had made you, a new hat!

Someday maybe. [huh]

 

[RBH]

Thanks for the trip Rick!!!

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks for the trip Rick!!!

:canada:

 

[Hoyt Clagwell]

Nice shots , thanks for posting Rick. Also, your flag picture reminded me I have to take mine down. Sandy was not kind to my flags. I have a long driveway with two hydro (electricity) poles and I fly The Maple Leaf on one and the Canadian Red Ensign, (in honour of my neighbor, whom I purchased the farm from, a WW II veteran) on the other.The wind broke the mounting bracket off the Red Ensign and carried it away, and tore my Maple Leaf in half. I usually try and leave them up until Nov.11th, but not this year.

 

[TPD166]

If anyone is interested, I just listed a Smithbilt western hat in the Classifieds:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...B-Smithbilt-Western-Hat-7-1-4-–-3x-white-felt

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Posting a link to this 2019 article on Smithbilt & the tradition of the Calgary Stampede hat.

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/201...w-the-classic-stampede-white-hat-is-made.html

 

[Bamaboots]

Posting a link to this 2019 article on Smithbilt & the tradition of the Calgary Stampede hat.

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/201...w-the-classic-stampede-white-hat-is-made.html

Enjoyed the read.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My second fur felt Smithbilt. I swore off the brand after briefly owning a white wool felt hat that was made for the tourist trade during the Calgary Stampede. Art Fawcett sold me a vintage Smithbilt and my opinion changed: the felt is wonderful, lighter than my 1950s Stetson No. 1 Quality hats. Thinner and more splitting the difference with dress weight felt. The hand is decent but not has just a bit of coarseness to it.
6” open crown and 3 1/2” wide brim.

The brim is the shape it is because I sized it up and that changed the tension and distorted the brim. I’m having the hat reblocked and a new sweatband put it so it should be back in shape when done.

 

[J Williams]

Interesting, I also always associated them with the crappy white wool hats. I'll have to find me one.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Interesting, I also always associated them with the crappy white wool hats. I'll have to find me one.

The White wool hats are awful even compared to other wool hats. The fur felt hats are an entirety different kettle of fish.

 

[johnnycanuck]

My wool scout hat is from Smithbilt and it’s fine. Gotten soft and a little floppy but hasn’t shrunk yet in rain and snow camping. The dignitary white hats are rabbit, but they are made to order. It’s the tourists white/off the shelf hats that are wool. I wouldn’t be scared of a nice vintage Smithbilt myself.
Johnny