Winchester hat corporation

[univibe88]

All I can say is "if you need new custom hat, buy one from those hatters that buy the bodies from Winchester Hat Corp, let's keep Americans working"

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[BobC]

All I can say is "if you need new custom hat, buy one from those hatters that buy the bodies from Winchester Hat Corp, let's keep Americans working"

Mike Moore, aka Major Moore

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[steppenwolph]

All I can say is "if you need new custom hat, buy one from those hatters that buy the bodies from Winchester Hat Corp, let's keep Americans working"

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[RBH]

All I can say is "if you need new custom hat, buy one from those hatters that buy the bodies from Winchester Hat Corp, let's keep Americans working"

Mike Moore, aka Major Moore

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[portolan]

Here are some more pics of the factory tour

showing things that others haven't shown yet. I felt like a kid in a candy store in that dress felt room. Picked out a moss green beaver felt....can't wait!

 

[RBH]

Great photos.. looking forward to more !!!!!

 

[indycop]

Those that got there early enough Friday did the tour. Others, like me, were there for the Saturday part of the gathering...

They left without me!! :eusa_doh: lol lol

 

[besdor]

I dont think there are more than 6 companies in the world who make their own fur bodies. Most of them buy from Thepsa and Tonak and Polkap.




Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[cookie]

Akubra Exports to China

http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/02/09/hats-off-to-akubras-chinese-venture/

http://www.akubra.com.au/News.aspx?id=46

 

[BobC]

Here are some more of my pictures of the Winchester Hat Corporation facillity. Jimmy the Lid is creating a thread that more accurately documents the felting process, but I wanted my pictures to be available to him for supplementation of his own should he choose to incorporate them.

Thank you, Jim. Yours is destined to be one of the most valuable threads on the Fedora Lounge.

Steaming the new hat bodies causes fur fibers to lock together and shrinks the newly made bodies. Bodies are passed through the steam then turned and passed through again repeatedly.

The next step involves dying the new hat bodies. Two methods are used. One involves waving the bodies in a large vat of solution. The other involves injecting the dye solution into the bodies.

The day we were there, they were making gray bodies. The stack on the right below is beaver bodies. The other stacks are rabbit. While they appear to be the same or similar, the difference is most obvious to the touch. The beaver is much softer than the rabbit.

 

[BobC]

Opening the hat bodies, forming the crown and brim...

 

[BobC]

Drying and sanding...

Nearly finished bodies are dried at 120 degrees.

Some sanding does occur at the factory before these gems are ready for sale to Major Mike Moore, Art Fawcett, Tonyb and any of these other gentlemen whose talents we so much appreciate.

Further sanding results in a finish called a satin finish, if my memory serves, in which the nap of the felt is more raised.

I'm hesitant to speak for the other gentlemen who participated, but in my case if Mike or Art or Tony had had tables set up outside after this tour they could have sold A LOT of hats that day.