Akubra Fed or ???

DblCoronaMS · Jan 9, 2008

I'm seriously thinking about getting a new Fed but I'm not sure if the 6" crown is going to be too tall. I like the dimensions of the brim and want to keep in that range. Can anyone recommend another hat that is comperable to the Fed but with a shorter crown?

As you can see to the left I have a short, fat face. I think 6" is going to be too tall. I plan to do the Indy bash or comperable on the hat.

Any help or ideas is greatly appreciated!!!

Don

genphideaux · Jan 9, 2008

DblCoronaMS,

Glad to see a fellow Mississippian here. I have a fed deluxe and I have a what I like to call a full face, the crown height is dependent on the size of the hat, they range from 5.5 to 6 per Hatsdirect and Jimmy Pierce. Mine is 5.75 in a 60 or 7 1/2, creased in a Raiders and I think it looks great. I have an adveturer coming from David Morgan and the crown is 5.5 but the brim will have to be trimmed to make it more to my liking. I had planed on doing the DM in a Last Crusade crease but after talking to Jimmy he said that the LC will make it look shorter and the ROTLA crease will give the apperance of a taller crown. I guess I'll have to wait and try it as an LC first then go to a ROTLA. On the COW several have gone to the DM bushman due to the straight or stovepipe crown and trimmed the brim. Personally, looking at your picture, I think a fed dlx with a ROTLA will take some getting used to after a tapered crown on your straw but once you do you will really like it, I know I do. Good luck.

Kaosharper1 · Jan 9, 2008

Akubra Adventurer 5.5" Crown

I just bought an Akubra Adventurer from David Morgan and it is very similar to the Fed but has a 5.5" crown instead. The brim is 3 1/8" in the front and back though. There is also the Squatter which also has a 5.5" crown. Bashing drops about 1/2" off the crowns though, so keep that in mind.

Edward · Jan 9, 2008

I bought a Fed Deluxe very recently - see photos in this thread, page 2:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=26009&highlight=Edward

I gave it what I think is a reasonable approximation of a Raiders bash. I was concerned that it would look crazy big on me (actually went for the brown first for the simple reason that if it didn't work on me I could then just treat it as an "Indy costume" piece lol ). When you set it down next to a fedora with a 4" crown you can see a definite difference, but once it's on to be honest I'd be hard pushed to see the extra height. The bigger difference is in the straight sides, but again it's very easy to acclimatise and I think much less apparent to others than it will (initially) be to yourself.

DblCoronaMS · Jan 9, 2008

Genphideaux,

Biloxi isn't far at all. I worked down there at the Clear Channel radio stations for about 6 months making the 130 mile round trip 5 days a week. I might have to take a trip down to the coast to put an eyeball on your hat. I've been looking at hats for a month now online and the vintage ones on Ebay and the one I like best is the Fed. I don't know if I'll go for the deluxe though, depending on my fundage situation. Looking at the hatsdirect page now and there's about a $60 difference.

I'm extremely new to this fedora business and would appreciate a glimpse.

Say when and I'll buy lunch/whatever.

Edward,

I saw your hat a couple of days ago. Very nice! I could get used to a lid like that.

Kaosharper,

I looked at that hat. I don't want that broad of a brim and don't want to have it cut down.

Great stuff guys! Keep it coming...

Edward · Jan 9, 2008

I'm impatiently awaiting the arrival of a regular Fed. I went for the deluxe in the brown for a bunch of reasons - partly just to treat myself to the "higher level" hat, partly because it is reputed to be a better "Indy" colour than the mid brown the regular is available in... things like that. The grey I ran with the regular, as much as anything because the Deluxe comes in only black or dark brown. No doubt I'll be posting about it once it gets here with my own thoughts (whatever those are worth!) on the difference between the two.

On price, I thought the difference was closer $40 than $60, but then I was working on an exchange rate between Aus dollars and UK £s. the Aus $ is worth about the same as the US$ at present here, maybe a little more. I've no idea what the relative direct conversion between Aus $ and US $ is, though.

genphideaux · Jan 9, 2008

DblCoronaMS,

Since we don't have enough posts to PM my email is my name here at aol.com, drop me a line.

cooncatbob · Jan 9, 2008

The problem for me wasn't the crown height but the width of the brim. I had to trim a 1/4 inch off the brim. With you full face I don't think you'll have a problem. Bob.

G MAN · Jan 10, 2008

I also recently bought the Fed Deluxe because I thought it looked so good on everyone here but I am not sure that it looks as good on me because of the high crown. If I had the chance to try it on at a store I would not have bought it but now I have no regrets and I am starting to like it but I'm still not there yet.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg203/Nobleton/DSC02610.jpg?t=1199925843

Kilgour Trout · Jan 10, 2008

Looks good G Man

Hey G-Man: Give it a bit of time. When I first got a taller crown Fed D, it seemed quite strange but really does grow on you.

I was wondering how high your front pinch and rear crease hight might be?
I've experimented and found that the difference between a 4.5 front pinch and a 5 inch can make quite a difference.

Have you tried bringing the front and back down?

Don't be afraid of playing with the height and the bash, it could only be a few tweeks to make it right for you.

It really look good though.

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

P.s. It's great to see another Canuck on the Lounge.
There are at a least a few Torontonians! Canadave being the Premier Lounger eh!

Cheers

genphideaux · Jan 10, 2008

G-Man,

I have to agree with Kilgour Trout, I think if you lowered the back by .75 of an inch from the front, you would have the right side look and maybe try and get the snap to break more behind the front of the crown this will make it bow more. I does look good with the jacket.

Kilgour Trout · Jan 10, 2008

What do you think?

What do you think genphideaux, a bit of steam to bring the front brim down?
Maybe a bit on the sides?
Akubra's are great, as they have a wack of stiffener in them that allows multiple steam's.

I know I may sound like a barbarian but I like a lot hate stiffener in a hat.
They eventually loosen up but it's nice to have things stay put when you're on the fly out the door.

Cheers
Kilgour

G MAN · Jan 10, 2008

Kilgour Trout / genphideaux

Thanks for the help, Since that picture was taken I played with the hat a few times. I just measured the front pinch at 4.5" and the rear at 4" .I also had to change the centre dent to a diamond type of bash so that it would sit better on my head. This seemed to look better to me.
I would like it to bow more so I will have to work on that snap.
Thanks again,
Gil

Kilgour Trout · Jan 10, 2008

Just a bit of steam eh

Hi G Man: Just get a kettle going, and run the front of the brim (top and bottom) over the steam (7 to 10 inches away) until it you feel the felt loosen or become pliable.
Then turn the hat to look at you, and hold the brim on either side of the front and allow the hat to tilt back.

Wait till it cools and there you have it.
If you don't like the first result just re-steam and adjust to your liking.
You might want to do a search on hat bashing.

I know there was a good one Johndy did over on the, Indygear.com site.

Sorry if you already know this. I thought I'd just mention it, just in case.
Cheers
Kilgour Trout

DblCoronaMS · Jan 10, 2008

genphideaux said:
DblCoronaMS,

Since we don't have enough posts to PM my email is my name here at aol.com, drop me a line.

Will do!

Man but you guys are helpful! I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with the regular Fed. I'm not going for a pure Indy look but i have always like that style. No stingy brim for me! I'm still trolling Ebay for vintage fedoras. I see a bunch that I love but they don't seem to be the right size. Tons of size 7 and I'm a 7 1/4.

I'm going to a track day with a Ferrari club on Saturday and I wish I had something better to wear than my Tilley. I can't wait to get my Panama back from Art. I got tossed in a swimming pool with the hat on my head. Not fun.

Thanks again!

Spellflower · Jan 10, 2008

I've never found my Federation's crown to be too tall, but like Cooncat Bob, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the brim. I have noticed that it seems more appropriate on loungers with larger heads and fuller faces.

The great thing about a tall crown is that it gives you a lot to play with in bashing. My Akubra Fedora is much shorter, and much more limiting as a result.

One caution about the regular Federation: mine's been great, but after a year of regular use in different weather and repeated steamings, it's tapered mightily, and the sweat has shrunk enough to make it tight even with a buzz cut. When Hats Direct tells you to err on the side of a larger hat, LISTEN! Akubra sweatbands shrink like Chicago votes: early and often!

genphideaux · Jan 10, 2008

Kilgour Trout said:
What do you think genphideaux, a bit of steam to bring the front brim down?
Maybe a bit on the sides?
Akubra's are great, as they have a wack of stiffener in them that allows multiple steam's.

I know I may sound like a barbarian but I like a lot hate stiffener in a hat.
They eventually loosen up but it's nice to have things stay put when you're on the fly out the door.

Cheers
Kilgour

On most of my hats I just use a spay bottle of water from my well here on the home place, when away from home I use distilled water. Don't want to get the taper or shrinkage thing started. The best crease I have done was after a down pour. Just recreased a fairly straight sided Cabele's Stetson open crown 5.25 that I have had for 7 years using cold well water to see what a straight side in 4.5 front and a 4 back C-crown with a Raiders brim would look like on a 2 3/8 width and to show DblCoronaMS his options when we get together. Still like the fed dlx height at 4 7/8 front.

Fatdutchman · Jan 10, 2008

You'll get used to the high crown...to the point where anything smaller looks funny.

I have a Federation, a Campdraft, and a Squatter. The Federation was about 5 3/4" high, the Campdraft 5 1/2" and the Squatter was between 5 1/4" and 5 1/2".

Campdraft:

Squatter:

Federation:

indycop · Jan 10, 2008

Fatdutchman said:
You'll get used to the high crown...to the point where anything smaller looks funny.
Federation:

I still have to get one of those! I love that color!

DblCoronaMS · Jan 10, 2008

I went to Meyer The Hatter in New Orleans today and looked at hats. I tried on a Stetson fedora. 7 1/8, the size of my Panama Bob Montecristi, was too small. 7 1/4 was a great fit. I also tried an Akubra Snowy River in 7 1/4. The crown rested on the top of my head and the band was loose. I tried on a different style with a taller crown in 7 1/8 and it was perfect.

I'm a bit leery about buying a hat online, particularly coming from Australia. I'd hate to wait for the hat, get it, try it on only to have to send it back for another size.

On the bright side... I picked up a Cavanagh newsboy that I really like.

Akubra Fed or ???

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