Photos of hatters tools

milandro · Dec 3, 2019

really, I was simply asking, politely, a favor. Lots of flack for simple courtesy.

Will never mention again. Thank you.

Hat and Rehat · Dec 3, 2019

Thank you.

deadlyhandsome · Dec 4, 2019

milandro said:
really, I was simply asking, politely, a favor. Lots of flack for simple courtesy.

Will never mention agin. Thank you.

I don’t even notice it anymore. It’s just part of the background that I no longer see.

I hope you weren’t offended; it wasn’t my intention.

Hat and Rehat · Dec 4, 2019

milandro said:
really, I was simply asking, politely, a favor. Lots of flack for simple courtesy.

Will never mention again. Thank you.

I apologize for my abruptness as well.
Maybe I've become jaded by too much time on the internet, but there are people who for some reason get their jollies inserting themselves into forums just to sow seeds of strife.
I'm probably too quick to suspect people, and apologize.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Hat and Rehat · Dec 8, 2019

I've been much less prolific posting in hat wearing and new hat (shhh ... I do have a couple) threads, but it isn't because my interest (infatuation) has waned.
Hatmaking and hatmaking tools has just been my preoccupation. Two reblock, resize, rebuilds in sizes other than my own called for expanded tools.
Pictured are my first two self made flanges. The third shot includes the vintage ones I used for reference. I also have two prototype rounding jacks almost ready for prime time, as well as a couple of tollikers in the works.
My shop has a spinner, and I also have a cabinet partly converted to a box steamer.
The vintage flanges are; a Borsa 7 1/4 by 2 3/4 and a Hatters Supply House Chicago, #85, 7 1/8 by 2 1/2. My late 40s or early 50s Marathon, even thought it is extremely soft, still retains an amazing amount of flange. It drops onto the Borsa like hand in glove. I have a Pilgrim OR clone, probably early 60s, that is still pretty crisp. It fits the HSH Chicago the same way.
I adjusted those dimensions for my 7 5/8 by 2 1/2 (which I need to correct the woodburned numbers on), and the 6 5/8 by 2 3/8, hopefully giving me very similar brims, a little higher aft than fore with a nice snap.
The larger one is for a reworked early 50s 3X OR, now 7 3/8. The smaller one for a reworked Bradmore, very soft velvet felt, but damaged, 6 1/2, for my 5 year old grandson.
Both will be bound edge and skinny ribbon with a teardrop or diamond crease, like smaller brim Strats.

abe ny · Jan 10, 2020

Fedoras4Life said:
bushed

where can i buy this ?

abe ny · Jan 10, 2020

Hat and Rehat said:
I've been much less prolific posting in hat-wearing and new hat (shhh ... I do have a couple) threads, but it isn't because my interest (infatuation) has waned.
Hatmaking and hatmaking tools have just been my preoccupation. Two reblock, resize, rebuilds in sizes other than my own called for expanded tools.
Pictured are my first two self-made flanges. The third shot includes the vintage ones I used for reference. I also have two prototype rounding jacks almost ready for prime time, as well as a couple of tollikers in the works.
My shop has a spinner, and I also have a cabinet partly converted to a box steamer.
The vintage flanges are; a Borsa 7 1/4 by 2 3/4 and a Hatters Supply House Chicago, #85, 7 1/8 by 2 1/2. My late 40s or early 50s Marathon, even though it is extremely soft, still retains an amazing amount of flange. It drops onto the Borsa like hand in glove. I have a Pilgrim OR clone, the probably early 60s, that is still pretty crisp. It fits the HSH Chicago the same way.
I adjusted those dimensions for my 7 5/8 by 2 1/2 (which I need to correct the wood burned numbers on), and the 6 5/8 by 2 3/8, hopefully giving me very similar brims, a little higher aft than fore with a nice snap.
The larger one is for a reworked early 50s 3X OR, now 7 3/8. The smaller one for a reworked Bradmore, very soft velvet felt, but damaged, 6 1/2, for my 5-year-old grandson.
Both will be bound edge and skinny ribbon with a teardrop or diamond crease, like smaller brim Strats.

is this for sale?

abe ny · Jan 10, 2020

Redfokker said:
The crown iron came from a shut down hatter I think. He had a machinist spiff it up and install a power system that is modern and controllable. I only saw it work without a hat in it, but it is really cool. In it's day, it was belt driven from above. I'm sure you could call him and he would be more than happy to talk about it. He is a great guy and loves to talk hats!

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/attachments/76269/
This press works with steam to press and shape hat brims and crowns (I think). All this stuff is magic to me. All I know is that he produces the most wonderful custom hats. His efficiency is going to be greatly enhanced by these additions. When we were talking the issue of "hand made hats" came up, he shared that his hats are still "hand made", just like the hat companies of the golden age with these vintage machines.

how does those this work?

abe ny · Jan 14, 2020

Fedoras4Life said:
Flannel

where can I get this?

humanshoes · Jan 16, 2020

The elusive electric Maillard Straw Hat Brim Press now has a new home in the Phoenix Hat Company workshop. I believe these were designed just to flatten brims on boater/skimmer type straw hats, but, with the use of pressing cloths to eliminate segment marks, I don't plan to limit it's use to straws. It's built like a tank, weighs in at nearly 40 pounds, and was clearly made to give many lifetimes of service. It's likely 100+ years old so I'd say it's lived up to it's end of the bargain and it's not done yet. I'm very happy and grateful to be able to give this rare and beautiful old press a new and useful life in my little shop.

abe ny · Jan 16, 2020

is this for sale or what?

humanshoes · Jan 16, 2020

Not likely in my lifetime abe ny.

Hat and Rehat · Jan 18, 2020

Not at this point.

humanshoes · Feb 3, 2020

New addition to the hat shop. The elusive Singer 108W20 binding machine. It didn't come with any binder attachments, but, incredibly, College Sewing in the UK has most of the binder parts for sale. This old beauty was sold "for parts or repair", but after some quality time on the workbench it's now sewing like a champ. It may or may not make my life easier, but I do love the old iron.

deadlyhandsome · Mar 10, 2020

The timing really worked out for me. First, @belfastboy pointed me to a flange in my size and then Art Fawcett made me a great deal on a flange stand. I don’t have any ideas about making my own hats, but it’s nice to be able to do repairs and refurbishments on your own. This 7 3/4 long oval flange for a 2 5/8” brim will get lots of work. I’d like to get a few more flanges for wider brims too.

belfastboy · Mar 10, 2020

deadlyhandsome said:
The timing really worked out for me. First, @belfastboy pointed me to a flange in my size and then Art Fawcett made me a great deal on a flange stand. I don’t have any ideas about making my own hats, but it’s nice to be able to do repairs and refurbishments on your own. This 7 3/4 long oval flange for a 2 5/8” brim will get lots of work. I’d like to get a few more flanges for wider brims too.

View attachment 219137 View attachment 219138 View attachment 219139 View attachment 219140 View attachment 219141 View attachment 219142 View attachment 219143

That flange looks to be in great shape. 3 of my flanges arrived today and I have 2 others in the mail. They are in pretty good shape a few dings in one of them but easily repaired. I am good from 7 1/8" up to 7 5/8". I passed on the 7 3/4" one. Now if only I could find the same deal on blocks!!

deadlyhandsome · Mar 10, 2020

belfastboy said:
That flange looks to be in great shape. 3 of my flanges arrived today and I have 2 others in the mail. They are in pretty good shape a few dings in one of them but easily repaired. I am good from 7 1/8" up to 7 5/8". I passed on the 7 3/4" one. Now if only I could find the same deal on blocks!!

Thanks you for leaving me the 7 3/4. I really appreciate the help.

humanshoes · Mar 10, 2020

deadlyhandsome said:
The timing really worked out for me. First, @belfastboy pointed me to a flange in my size and then Art Fawcett made me a great deal on a flange stand. I don’t have any ideas about making my own hats, but it’s nice to be able to do repairs and refurbishments on your own. This 7 3/4 long oval flange for a 2 5/8” brim will get lots of work. I’d like to get a few more flanges for wider brims too.

View attachment 219137 View attachment 219138 View attachment 219139 View attachment 219140 View attachment 219141 View attachment 219142 View attachment 219143

Good get there Brent. One doesn't see too many of those larger size flange blocks on the market, especially in a long oval. Kudos to bb for turning you on to that one and to Art for giving you a good deal on the stand. I've been watching with great interest as several of my friends fall further down the rabbit hole.

deadlyhandsome · Mar 10, 2020

humanshoes said:
Good get there Brent. One doesn't see too many of those larger size flange blocks on the market, especially in a long oval. Kudos to bb for turning you on to that one and to Art for giving you a good deal on the stand. I've been watching with great interest as several of my friends fall further down the rabbit hole.

I just want to freshen hats up, and maybe do some minor Restoration. I’m leaving the heavy lifting to the experts.

T Jones · Mar 12, 2020

As everyone probably already knows, I purchased a custom plastic block from Randal Alan. I did three quick back to back refurbs on it and I couldn't be happier with it. I had a particular profile that I wanted and he nailed it perfectly with his 3D imaging. I had a few other wooden custom blocks made for me and none came close to getting the profile I wanted. As far as holding up, I haven't had any problems with it at all so far. So, yeah. I'm very happy with it and I plan to get a couple more from him of the same profile but in different sizes. So, this has me interested in some of the other stuff he has, like brim flanges and brim curlers, etc....anyway, here's what I've done so far

My Randal Alan block: front and side views

4X Resistol Western refurb on the RA block:

Puerto Fino on the Randal Alan:

My latest test subject. Borsalino on the Randal Alan block, (to be completed later on):

...and these were all mid quality hats, including the Borsalino, (which is nowhere the near the felt quality of its vintage predecessors). In fact, I think I liked the Puerto Fino quality better than the more recent Borsa.

DISCLAIMER: to paraphrase Rick @ humanshoes , "I have no personal stake in the success or failure of Randal Alan's enterprise and I haven't requested or received any future special considerations."

I just simply like Randal's work...

Photos of hatters tools

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