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Photos of hatters tools

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18,930
Location
Central California
Has anyone seen one of these?

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It’s being sold as a hat making tool.
 
Messages
18,930
Location
Central California
I recently bought a package deal of hatters tools on eBay. I was after the rounding jack, but some other basic tools were part of the deal (puller downer, foot tolliker, etc.). There was also an old iron and this tool shown in the photos. The business part is solid and it’s a heavy piece. I think the mass does some of the work and also holds heat. This isn’t a tool I need, but I’m sure I can find someone who will be able to but it to use.

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humanshoes

One Too Many
Messages
1,428
Location
Tennessee
That is what I was thinking. I have been making a lot of flat brims with pencil curls and my steam irons are too large to fit for a final press. I was thinking this would work for that and to help set the break.
I believe that is, indeed, a foot tolliker iron that can be heated on a hot plate. It appears that there has been an additional heat shield added that is not original to the tool. I also see that someone outlined in ink where that heat shield should be cut to allow the tolliker to work snugly against the hat crown at the brim break. I'd either cut it down or remove it entirely.
 
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humanshoes

One Too Many
Messages
1,428
Location
Tennessee
I recently acquired another antique curling shackle and I'm struck by the size difference between the old shackles and the modern production models from JW Hats. In first pic are shackles, new and old, that are both marked 5/8 and in second pic are shackles, new and old, that are both marked 3/8. The new models look to be at least twice the size, or more, of the old ones. I'm going to experiment a bit to see which are accurate, but I'm guessing it'll be the old ones.
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Messages
17,233
Location
Maryland
You might want to take a look at this photo. Partial View of the Brim Curling and Binding (Soft Felts) Department, Mayser Ulm (1925). It's grainy but you can see their setup. There is a lot of experience (specialized work) in this room. The the pentagon hatters tables (used for all specialized work) were standard in Europe up to WWII. Not sure if they were used in America. The lady on the left is applying brim binding. If you click on it should expand (2707 x 2108).

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Messages
19,119
Location
Funkytown, USA
This is the third time I’ve missed out on one of these hat stretchers. I thought it would be handy to have the hat on the stretcher and move it in front of my steamer. This one sold today on eBay for $226 plus shipping! Yikes! I didn’t want it that bad.

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They're handy as hell for just what you want it for, and for smoothing crowns out to open them. I lucked out and found one for $25 in an antique shop. $226 sounds more like one of those electric Garve stretchers.
 
Messages
18,930
Location
Central California
They're handy as hell for just what you want it for, and for smoothing crowns out to open them. I lucked out and found one for $25 in an antique shop. $226 sounds more like one of those electric Garve stretchers.

Yeah, I have a Garve and it works fine, but I wanted one of these small crown stretchers to easily rotate it as I steam the hat. Maybe I’ll get lucky next time.
 
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