What makes you A Master Hatter ?

[SHARPETOYS]

Is there a school or test you take? Or is it a title you give yourself ?
When are you a master. Is it after you make so many hats.
I've always been curious about this !! :cool2:

 

[fedoralover]

I'd say it's when OTHERS recognize your knowledge, skill and expertise. When OTHERS come to you to fix a problem no one else can fix, or to do a job very few others can handle.
A person can call themselves anything they want, but it's only when others recognize you as such that the title becomes legitimate.

fedoralover

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Very good

I'd say it's when OTHERS recognize your knowledge, skill and expertise. When OTHERS come to you to fix a problem no one else can fix, or to do a job very few others can handle.
A person can call themselves anything they want, but it's only when others recognize you as such that the title becomes legitimate.

fedoralover

Some "idiot" i saw on the web called another hatter a bootblack hatter. Have you ever heard of that? I have heard of jackleg for other trades. I think it means Jack of all trades.

 

[Panamabob]

The only guys I see who call themselves Master Hatters are egotistical, arrogant, and have a Napoleon Complex! :beer:

 

[SHARPETOYS]

The only guys I see who call themselves Master Hatters are egotistical, arrogant, and have a Napoleon Complex! :beer:

I know what you mean. I find it hard to believe he sells anything to anyone :cheers1: I only know one that fits that mold.

 

[Matt Deckard]

If it's who I think it is.
That hatter came in telling us how he wore wool hats. Then talked of how he didn't know much about nutria and how it would make for a bad hat. He had the all beaver hats that don't shrink which then shrunk. He claimed to make hats better than vintage though they are not.
He may know alot, though he has alot to learn. More book smart than field smart. He talks about how he buffalos people into believing he knows his stuff and how it's all a sales technique then when you call him on the carpet and link to the page the page where he mentions this the page gets deleted. He'd state things as facts without knowing the truth.
The hatter I am talking about used to have a page up showing other online sellers how to entrench themselves and use psychological tactics to get the sale. I think I know who you are talking about.

His sales technique is "persistance wears down resistance" and in many cases it works.

 

[Andykev]

Someone who is great at making hats?

I have heard Dave Brown called a master hatter, on the web page. I have also seen Graham Thompson called a master hatter, or was trained by one.

What constitutes a master hatter? Who knows. It is like being a professional. You are one once someone is willing to pay you for your services, on a regular basis.

That goes back to the world's olders profession, and anything else you can think of.

 

[Panamabob]

I guess I've got two floating in my mind.

Sterling Sharpe was a good football player.

Hawaii 5 O was a great TV show.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Boy, does THIS one look like a good candidate to stay away from!!!
I like fedoralovers take on the term. Anyone can say it, but customers will prove it.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

I think i understand

Boy, does THIS one look like a good candidate to stay away from!!!
I like fedoralovers take on the term. Anyone can say it, but customers will prove it.

So the customers gave the term/name Master Hatter to the hat maker, not the hatter himself ?

 

[Mr. Rover]

Perhaps a hatter becomes a Master Hatter when the hatter has acquired enough skill to be able to take on an apprentice. Like when they refer to Graham being trained by a Master Hatter, perhaps that means that he is accomplished in teaching others in the art of creating a perfect hat.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Sharpie, I can only speak of the Masonry field with real authority. The term Master Mason is not used in this country but rather from England and europe. There the apprenticeship was 7 years ( don't know if it still is) and that was just a beginning. The term refers to a Mason that is proficient in every phase of the trade, even things the common person wouldn't think of. Someone who has mastered brickwork, blockwork, stonework, welding ( yes welding), glass block, commercial, residential, refactory ( masonry is/was used extensively in manufacturing), glass works, and shipbuilding.. Are you aware that the boilers on ships are brick lined in special brick?
If you put all that together you can legitemitely call yourself a "Master" in the field with no arguements.
I have to assume that the same basics are used in the hatting field. Only a Master can build fedora's, tophats, bowlers, boaters, tricorns, etc all with proficiency, leading me to believe I will never achieve the status as there just isn't enough learning time left for me.
Hope this helps

 

[fedoralover]

Well then Art, how about we recognize you as a Master "Fedora" hatter. Nothing wrong with specializing.

regards fedoralover

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Master Hatter

Well then Art, how about we recognize you as a Master "Fedora" hatter. Nothing wrong with specializing.

regards fedoralover

To Art F.

With the power of many dead beavers and like rodents we here at the lounge crown you Master Hatter.!! :drum: :cheers1: :beer:

 

[Panamabob]

And in Spanish (at least in Ecuador)...Maestro.

 

[jamespowers]

To Art F.
With the power of many dead beavers and like rodents we here at the lounge crown you Master Hatter.!! :drum: :cheers1: :beer:

One word---AGREED!

Regards to all,

J

 

[Art Fawcett]

Thanks for the confidence Gents....boy...the pressure is REALLY on now...

 

[gcollins]

The only guys I see who call themselves Master Hatters are egotistical, arrogant, and have a Napoleon Complex!

....Or start making hats for the President and be in a class by yourself.

GREELEY, COLO–Trent L. Johnson, a custom hat maker and owner of Greeley Hat Works, Inc., has created a second hand made cowboy hat that will be presented to President George W. Bush by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association convention for inauguration. The hat was designed and hand made by Trent L. Johnson hatter and owner of Greeley Hat Works. Silver King Silversmiths finished off the sand-colored pure beaver hat with specially designed antique sterling silver buckle with a 14-carat gold “W�. It also has a special carrying case designed by Jim Russell of Hammer Plastics. It features the Presidential Seal and is felt lined to match the hat. It also has a unique sweatband. The sweatband features a two color foil stamped George “W� Bush logo, is hand laced kangaroo in the back, and has a matching liner. The portfolio accompanying the ensemble was hand carved by Andy Stevens of Stevens Saddlery. It also features laser carving by Huston Graphics.
The NCBA commissioned Johnson to create the one of a kind hat; it will be presented as a gift to the President from the Association and Greeley Hat Works. In 1998, the industry association commissioned Johnson to create a limited edition hat to mark its 100-year anniversary. A hat is built for the association President each year.
Greeley Hat Works was also asked to build a one-of-a-kind hat for President Bush’s appearance at the NCBA convention in Denver in 2002.
Johnson's shop in downtown Greeley was founded in 1909. The 33-year old hat maker was an apprentice for nearly four years before purchasing the shop in 1996. Under contract with Brent Black, Panama Hat Company of the Pacific, his hats have adorned the head of many celebrities, such as Martin Sheen (the other President), Charlie Sheen, Bill Cosby, Arnold Schwartzeneggar, Michael Crichton, and many more. Greeley Hat Works, along with Brent Black, also supplied the straw hats for the movie, "The Legend of Baggar Vance." In the fall of 2004 Trent L. Johnson was commissioned to build “America’s Mayor� Rudy Guliani a hat by the Republican National Committee. Toby Keith, Red Steagall, Sean Combs’ Jeweler, Baxter Black, along with many other celebrity heads are topped off by Greeley Hat Works.

 

[Panamabob]

Here go my questions again... "Under contract" with Brent Black, yet I've been told from the horse's mouth that he blocks his own hats. CoRnfusion! :cry: I asked Trent if he would block a hat for us and he said he had a non compete with BB, now I see he has a contract with BB. I wonder how that guy in Florida gets his hats blocked???????

 

[gcollins]

Business is business, my main man. Buy a hat, things may or may not change.