Northwest Hats, Eugene, Ore.

[mikespens]

Does anybody know anything about this apparent custom hat maker? Seems to have a brick and mortar store in Eugene, Ore. All I could find was a fairly new Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwest-Hats/430701690275477

Oh yeah, and this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

[DJH]

Mike, I believe the Dualist style hat shown in the Facebook photos is the one that Fedoralover here at the Lounge owns.

He also wrote about Northwest Hats in one of the threads here I think.

Here's the website: http://www.northwesthats.com/

 

[randooch]

I hope to meet the owner tomorrow when I drop off a hat that needs some attention. I'll report back!

 

[mikespens]

Thanks David. I googled but for some reason didn't come up with the website. I found the Fedoralover post you referred to and his Dualist style hat has a different ribbon treatment than NWHs Facebook page:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...w-Hats-Here!&p=1480433&highlight=#post1480433 post #18560

He didn't really give much info on his Dualist so guess I'll PM him about it. Still curious of any experiences with this hatter.

 

[mikespens]

I hope to meet the owner tomorrow when I drop off a hat that needs some attention. I'll report back!

Randall, well how cool is that? Thanks, look forward to your report. I go down to Eugene every April so was looking forward to checking out the store.

 

[seabass]

Mike is making a hat for me. A Duelist similar to fedoralover's but
with a monti top & brimbinding to match the ribbon.
Seems like a nice guy

 

[mikespens]

Hi Che, should have known you'd have an inside track on this. How long is the wait?

 

[seabass]

Hi Mike
last night we finished the details via emails & he said he will get right on it he mentioned a little more than a week..
He is thorough about getting the details, I told him i want a clone of fedoralovers but with matching to ribbon brim binding & just under 2 1/2 on the brim...
I really did like fedoralovers hat & i just followed his lead he posted his email somewhere here....he had some nice cuencas also & gave me the option of the monti body..
so well see... i feel good about everything so far... no conformer sent out so fit will be the primary concern.
anticipation sets in,,, you know the feeling...
I will keep folks posted... cant wait for randooch's feelings.

 

[fedoralover]

I have seen many of Mike's creations in person and he does a great job. He made the Dualist for me from a vintage Cuenca body. It turned out great and I always get compliments on it when I wear it. He has renovated about about 6 hats for me, reblocks, sweats, edge bindings, ribbons. All was excellent work. I can whole heartedly recommend Mike for any hat work you want done. His number is 541-515-0422. Just give him a call, he loves hats and will make what ever you want at excellent prices.

fedoralover

 

[seabass]

Fedoralover
thank you for posting the info a while back....
I sure dug your hat & will soon sport one similar.
say how about some pics of the reno's & more of your duelist

 

[fedoralover]

I have a few that I've snapped pics of. Here's a Monti reworked by Mike.
Before:

After:

No before on this one, but it's a borsalino I've had for almost 10 years. It had that great tight and light floppy felt body typical of vintage borsys but the edge binding was gone and the thin ribbon all frayed. The sweatband was marginal so I just had a new one put in as well. Mike said it was a challenge putting the edge binding on such a floppy felt, but it turned out great. I've never wanted to spend the money for the shipping to have this one reworked, but with Mike less than 10 minutes away from my house it was a no brainer to finally take it out of the closet and have it done and now it is one of my go to hats for around town.

And for those that haven't seen it, here's a repost of the Dualist. Actually I kinda like the name "Pandora" better for it. But a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. And this one did turn out sweet.

I might add that I've had numerous friends here locally take hats to Mike for reblocking and shaping and others that had him make them a hat and they all turned out equally good.

fedoralover

 

[mikespens]

Thanks for the details Che and also for your input Rich. Rich convinced me in a PM and I was going to try and wait until April when I'm in Eugene to visit Northwest Hats shop but the Pandora/Dualist tug maybe too strong to resist for that long. I am going to try and wait to see how Che's fit turns out before I make the call. Glad the wait time isn't toooo long Che. You can do it!

 

[seabass]

Nice pics !
Thanks for posting those.

 

[randooch]

Well, I just missed Mike in the "shop." (He owns a Budget truck rental business, and some of his offerings are on display in the lobby.) I took two pictures, and he is fine with my posting them here:





Heck of a nice guy by phone.

 

[mikespens]

Thanks for the post Randall. Well I guess that's one way to keep overhead down and probably a good backup to have a real job. Not too many guys making a living making mens hats. Hats look nice as do the prices. No sales tax in Oregon!

 

[randooch]

I found a fairly beaten up Stetson Twenty awhile back that needed some serious attention. My naptha bath helped a lot, but the sweat was shot, and the sorry overall shape was beyond the reach of my tea kettle, so off it went to Mike at Northwest Hats. He cheerfully took on the project and offered to reblock it from its original 7 3/8 to 7 1/2. A good idea, as it had plenty of brim to play with! (It's 2 3/4 inches now - just right!)

So here's my "new" 1960's Stetson, which fits like a dream:



It's a soft tan shade that I really like. He sent it to me open-crown, per my request. I'm trying some shallow dents for a change:



Mike even reinstalled the original sweatband bow, a good touch and a nod to its former incarnation:


Thanks, Mr. Miller, for a job well done.

 

[seabass]

here's my North West Hat's Pandora.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

here's my North West Hat's Pandora.

Che; WAY COOL! You have a special way with the color combinations sir!

Eric -

 

[seabass]

Thank You Eric !
this combo of Steel & Monti. is a very good mix & easy mix & match !

Randooch,
The 25 looks Alive !
love the work he did on your 25 & great color also !
Mine is a great fit also....

 

[mikespens]

Che; WAY COOL! You have a special way with the color combinations sir!

Eric -

+1 Hey Eric, new shades? Like the new avatar.