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Optimo: Canadian Gray (Lightweight Smooth Felt)

B

Barry

Practically Family
Messages
693
Location
somewhere
Edit: Sorry, the title should read "grey" not "gray."

I was in Chicago with my family last month and stopped by Graham's shop. I settled in on the Canadian Grey felt color. I typically do better with a brim no longer than 2 1/2 and a not-so-high crown. This fedora has a bit of a snap brim. I really like the edge. The felt is super-soft and smooth.

There are so many colors and styles it was difficult to make a decision. Btw, I brought in a hat that I wanted to have cleaned. It was a 7 1/4 fedora, from a hatter in London. I'm guessing the hat was originally made in the 1930s or thereabouts. He completely refurbished it and resized it - it's perfect as well. I'll get some pictures up soon.

Size: 7 5/8 and 1/16th exlo
Color: Canadian Grey
Crown: A little over 4 1/2
Brim: 2 1/4 (bound 8-9L edge)
Ribbon: 16L
Windcord

I love this hat! I'll post a photo of myself wearing it soon.

optimocg2.jpg


optimocg3.jpg
 
barrowjh

barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
Beautiful Hat! Graham sent me a card with his new colors, and I am really drawn to the nickel grey and the willow green in the lightweight smooth. Were those colors available when you visited the shop? What did you think of them?
 
B

Barry

Practically Family
Messages
693
Location
somewhere
barrowjh said:
Beautiful Hat! Graham sent me a card with his new colors, and I am really drawn to the nickel grey and the willow green in the lightweight smooth. Were those colors available when you visited the shop? What did you think of them?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments everyone.

barrowjh: I think I remember the Nickel Grey but I'm not 100% sure. I don't remember the Willow Green though. I'm pretty sure I saw a hat in Silvertone - the lighter of they greyish hats. It's somewhat similar to an old Stetson that I own.

The blue long hair felt hats are just stunning. I also thought the "Cream" colored felt was beautiful. It is available in "Classic Smooth." I think it would look perfect paired with a red, brown or rust (even better) colored ribbon.
 
airforceindy

airforceindy

One of the Regulars
Messages
263
Location
Anchorage, AK
Optimo resizing...

Barry, fantastic hat! Looking forward to seeing the refurb that Graham did on your Brit fedora. Can he really resize that much? From 7 1/4 all the way up to 7 5/8? I picked an old Stetson 8X cowboy that I'd like to Stratoliner-ize, but I need to get it from 7 3/8 up to 7 5/8. Please advise this noob!

By the way, to all the Loungers, it's a pleasure to join the Lounge now after lurking about for a year or so! To clue you all in, my current hats are a Steve Delk AB and a Optimo re-blocked Akubra Federation Deluxe; they have yet to show up on my doorstep, but I'll be posting those when they have been received. And, yes, I DID start out at the COW: hence the Indy hats:p In the meantime, prepare for the onslaught of stupid questions!lol

Regards, Andy
 
deelovely

deelovely

Practically Family
Messages
617
Location
Jacksonville, FL
airforceindy said:
Barry, fantastic hat! Looking forward to seeing the refurb that Graham did on your Brit fedora. Can he really resize that much? From 7 1/4 all the way up to 7 5/8? I picked an old Stetson 8X cowboy that I'd like to Stratoliner-ize, but I need to get it from 7 3/8 up to 7 5/8. Please advise this noob!
By the way, to all the Loungers, it's a pleasure to join the Lounge now after lurking about for a year or so! To clue you all in, my current hats are a Steve Delk AB and a Optimo re-blocked Akubra Federation Deluxe; they have yet to show up on my doorstep, but I'll be posting those when they have been received. And, yes, I DID start out at the COW: hence the Indy hats:p In the meantime, prepare for the onslaught of stupid questions!lol
Regards, Andy
Click to expand...

Welcome airforceindy!:D
 
B

Barry

Practically Family
Messages
693
Location
somewhere
airforceindy said:
Barry, fantastic hat! Looking forward to seeing the refurb that Graham did on your Brit fedora. Can he really resize that much? From 7 1/4 all the way up to 7 5/8? I picked an old Stetson 8X cowboy that I'd like to Stratoliner-ize, but I need to get it from 7 3/8 up to 7 5/8. Please advise this noob!
Regards, Andy
Click to expand...

Andy -

Yes, he did resize it that much. I was surprised as well. I actually brought the hat in thinking I would just be able to get it cleaned up with a new ribbon. Graham asked if I wanted everything original and then he refurbished it. One thing to keep in mind is that this hat had a very, very high crown and a short brim. The sweat was weird it was a black fabric sweat with a beige/white cotton-like lining behind the fabric. I guess it was meant to be a crushable hat, maybe? The new sweat is leather. He also replaced the liner but I have the original here at home. I'm pretty sure the body was mercury felted - it's very soft and smooth.

Barry
 
airforceindy

airforceindy

One of the Regulars
Messages
263
Location
Anchorage, AK
mercury, eh?

Wow, I've talked to a few other folks about those, and they are apparently a highly-coveted item! The hat that I have has about a 6.5-7" crown, it's just in great need of a reblock and deep cleaning. I believe it was a ranchers hat; it's pretty grimy and 'well loved'. Can't complain too loudly for only $5 though, right? Graham should be recieving my Fed Dlx within a couple of days (if not, already), so I will ask him about it when he contacts me. Will you be posting pics of the re-worked Mercury?

Thanks for the welcome, everybody!
Regards, Andy
 
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