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The Conversion Corral

Randall Renshaw

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,782
Location
Nahunta, Ga.
B1D6EF07-F01D-4AE0-81E2-15872AD9EB8B.jpeg
Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching.
8D670EF8-3F5F-43C0-A580-F47A21E63BF1.jpeg
Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform.
12E3FBFB-A49E-4EFE-BBB5-1BED3E86F491.jpeg
0D6C6BF6-401D-4DBA-8C09-39556014D57F.jpeg
072A6B2E-90A7-4253-9CC6-DAC645932840.jpeg
4D27EF19-80B6-46A7-A7D0-5A97A2C7B94E.jpeg

Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after.
02B2AC0F-6068-4940-9103-45103EC3F2DE.jpeg
59ACF801-DF04-4761-A098-35CBE17AD808.jpeg
 

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,126
Location
North Texas
View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057
The bow work is awesome!
 
Messages
18,936
Location
Central California
View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057


Where does the line form? Love the bow!
 
Messages
10,946
View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057
Dang Randall. Nice work.
 

Woodtroll

One Too Many
Messages
1,216
Location
Mtns. of SW Virginia
View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057

That project sure turned out well. Very nice work!
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,396
Location
Denmark
Super job, Randall. Outstanding bow!

View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057
 

Randall Renshaw

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,782
Location
Nahunta, Ga.
The bow work is awesome!

Where does the line form? Love the bow!

Dang Randall. Nice work.

That project sure turned out well. Very nice work!

Super job, Randall. Outstanding bow!
Thanks, guys! Means a lot to me that y’all like this one. Next is a cleaned up, re-blocked late 50s RDL western that’ll be sporting a new campaign bow, lightly rolled edge and Calvary crease.
 

Tukwila

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,382
Location
SW of Antifa Central (PDX)
View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057
Your execution in all of your work is flawless. I'm so impressed by what you can do. And, WOW! on that ribbon treatment! Home run!
 

Randall Renshaw

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,782
Location
Nahunta, Ga.
Your execution in all of your work is flawless. I'm so impressed by what you can do. And, WOW! on that ribbon treatment! Home run!
Thanks, Doug!
Just today I’ve thought up an easy way to jerry rig my sewing machine to be able to see better the line I’m trying to sew.
The big plastic sewing foot is all in the way, but if I remove the front half of the plastic guard I could better see the penciled track lines I always draw on the felt of the brim edge. A simple fix like that will definitely allow for straighter and more uniform rows. Wish I didn’t have to learn, or figure out everything the hard way, can I get a witness?!!!
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
View attachment 364058 Vintage re-creation for an FL client who has ordered two.
This is my first duel color bow.
I’ll definitely be making one for myself soon!
I combined a vintage burgundy bow from a Dobbs, that needed a new hatband, and the original black bow for an all old school fedora.
Added 3 light gray decorative rows of brim edge stitching. View attachment 364069 Brim up or down this reimagined late 50s conversion rocks, thanks to a great St. Regis platform. View attachment 364070 View attachment 364067 View attachment 364059 View attachment 364068
Included a few before pics. A nice hat before and a nice hat after. View attachment 364056 View attachment 364057
Killer ribbon work Randall! That color combo just jumps out.
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,613
Location
Central Ohio
I've always wanted to have a nice clean vintage Stratoliner in my size. It's one of those hats on my bucket list. But, I've given up on ever finding one, let alone being able to afford one if I ever found it. So, I have to make own version of one. I got into my scrap pile of discarded hats that I stripped down and saved and came across this recent vintage 4X Stetson OR body, probably 1990s. I found a good O'Farrell sweat band that I reused on it, and came across a salvaged brim binding that I'm in the process of sewing on. I have to go through my collection of salvaged ribbons and see if I can find a matching 3/8. I've got the sweat sewn in and the binding basted onto the brim and I'm in the process of sewing it on. Here's my Scrapoliner still in the process of being pieced together with salvaged material. I'll have more when it's finished...
IMG-20211020-082320677-HDR.jpg
 
Last edited:
Messages
10,946
I've always wanted to have a nice clean vintage Stratoliner in my size. It's one of those hats on my bucket list. But, I've given up on ever finding one, let alone being able to afford one if I ever found it. So, I have to make own version of one. I got into my scrap pile of discarded hats that I stripped down and saved and came across this recent vintage 4X Stetson OR body, probably 1990s. I found a good O'Farrell sweat band that I reused on it, and came across a salvaged brim binding that I'm in the process of sewing on. I have to go through my collection of salvaged ribbons and see if I can find a matching 3/8. I've got the sweat sewn in and the binding basted onto the brim and I'm in the process of sewing it on. Here's my Scrapoliner still in the process of being pieced together with salvaged material. I'll have more when it's finished...
IMG-20211020-082320677-HDR.jpg
Looking great so far Terry!
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,613
Location
Central Ohio
I've always wanted to have a nice clean vintage Stratoliner in my size. It's one of those hats on my bucket list. But, Iv given up on ever finding one, let alone being able to afford one if I ever found it. So, I have to make own version of one. I got into my scrap pile of discarded hats that I stripped down and saved and came across this recent vintage 4X Stetson OR body, probably 1990s. I found a good O'Farrell sweat band that I reused on it, and came across a hat band that I'm in the process of sewing on. I have to go through my collection of salvaged ribbons and see if I can a matching 3/8. I've got the sweat sewn in and the binding basted into the brim and I'm in the process of sewing it on. Here's my Scrapoliner still in the process of being pieced together with salvaged material. I'll have more when it's finished...
IMG-20211020-082320677-HDR.jpg

Looking great so far Terry!
Thank you Blare!
 

Pkyoakum

One of the Regulars
Messages
116
Just finished doing a quick fedora conversion from this '50s era Resistol 10 Homburg. A fellow Lounger gave this one to me. This is a super nice hat and the felt quality is amazing. I always wanted to try a Homburg but when I put it on, it was obvious that a Homburg just wasn't me. The hat is super clean inside and out and all original. I didn't take anything apart for this quickie conversion. The biggest skill set required for this one was care and patience...and having a fedora brim flange helps. Pretty easy if you take your time. I just ironed out the to flatten out the kettle curl and then ironed again on a brim flange. Unlike my other conversions, I didn't strip this one down. I wanted to leave all that was original to the hat intact. For the crown, all I did was to pop out the center dent to an open crown and then I misted it damp with water from a spray bottle, not soaking. From then on, it was easy. I recreased the crown to my preferred tear drop....

Before
Homburg-1.jpg


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Homburg-17-A.jpg


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Homburg-20-A.jpg


On the head
Homburg-4-A.jpg


Homburg-9-A.jpg


Homburg-10-A.jpg
You did an amazing job. The hat looks great on you. I also received a beautiful 1950s Borsalino Homburg and is in mint condition. I just don't like the look on me seeing the underside of the brim while looking straight ahead. I used my hand to straighten the curl on the sides, so it looks flat and the look is great. Now I need t find out if is possible to straighten the brim so it lays flat while maintaining the curled Homburg curl. I wished I had a cheap had to experiment on because I don't want to damage this one. Any suggestions?
 

Attachments

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T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,613
Location
Central Ohio
You did an amazing job. The hat looks great on you. I also received a beautiful 1950s Borsalino Homburg and is in mint condition. I just don't like the look on me seeing the underside of the brim while looking straight ahead. I used my hand to straighten the curl on the sides, so it looks flat and the look is great. Now I need t find out if is possible to straighten the brim so it lays flat while maintaining the curled Homburg curl. I wished I had a cheap had to experiment on because I don't want to damage this one. Any suggestions?
Thank you buddy! If that pic you took was after you flattened the sides out, I think it looks good on you the way it is. With my hat, I have a brim flange that I used to get mine to look that way.

I also have a RD Stetson Homburg that I converted too. This one I took apart and re-blocked. I also had to take the brim binding off to iron the brim curl flat so it could be flanged properly. Unfortunately, though, I wasn't able to reuse the binding as I planned since the brim circumference changed when I ironed out the curl and reflanged it. I was able to reuse everything else, except for the sweat, that was original to the hat...

Before:
Homburg-Royal-De-Luxe-6-A.jpg


After:
IMG_20211219_080817223.jpg
 

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