Banjo Paterson musings

After a year of wearing a Sydney market fake Akubra Territory with a poorly cut down brim I finally took the plunge and got a real Banjo Paterson.
I measured my head several times and got 59cm on every occasion so confidently ordered from Hats Direct. It finally arrived - yahoo! - but was way too big - boo hoo! But, after having my fears allayed by reading some of the similar experiences of Loungers, I stuck the foam in and it fits fine, circumferentially speaking.
HOWEVER the Banjo has one of the lowest crowns with a wide crease, which is one reason why I bought it (the others being a relatively narrow brim, gorgeous overall shape and the fact that it just called out to me in a way that makes me feel like reviewing my doubts about reincarnation!) So if I just balance the hat on my head the floor of the crease sits on the very top of my head and the sweatband is not 'engaged'. Pulling the hat down untill the sweat grips means the crease floor bulges up (is this the correct way to wear a hat of this type?). If I pull the hat down as I feel like doing (I think as a result of only wearing woolly hats and cloth bush-hats before) the floor bulges right up. Is this a general finding because I really don't think I have a cranial deformity?! I wonder if anyone reshapes the crease to put a sort of 'bubble' in the bottom of it, giving a bit more headroom without pushing it up every time with the top of your dome?
I know this is a rather quizzical post but the game is all rather new to me and I worry I have made a bad choice.

Akubra Hats

...are the best hats made! Though this forum is immense, I have read a thread somewhere here that the Akubra hats will shrink SLIGHTLY to fit your head. I have the Stockman, which was my correct size 58cm, and I too had to fill with foam around the sides. After a period of wear, I removed the foam, and the hat fits perfectly. Don't worry, give it time. The Akubra will shortly become your best friend.

A couple of "Banjo's" were my first quality type fedoras. I got both colors and the Fawn is my "go-to" hat, I find I wear it more than any other. The charcoal is ok, but much darker than I like so use it more for bad weather.

Finally it's my turn to post this! Yahoooo!

worthlesswithoutpics

I purchased a fawn Banjo in April. It's my first "real" hat so to speak, and it seems to be the one that ends up on my head each morning as I leave he house for work....regardless of which hat I think I'm reaching for!!

It gets softer and better fitting each day with normal wear...

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww308/phragment/S5021023.jpg
The crease bulging up
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww308/phragment/S5021013.jpg
Normal crease - unworn
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww308/phragment/S5021025.jpg
Hat worn in the way that creates minimal bulging
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww308/phragment/S5021024.jpg
Hat pulled down how I would like to wear it -maximum bulging

Looks fine to me

Bushman Jack -

I don't think you have a problem here. There are many hats, including many Akubras, that incorporate that little bulge into the crown as part of the bash. Sure, maybe the Banjo is a bit neater without it, but it is not distracting or bad looking.

I have been dealing with a similar problem with a vintage Akubra Snowy River that I got on the 'Bay recently, and I wondered about the huge size of the bulge when I had the hat fitting right. But I went on the David Morgan website to look at their stock images of the same hat, and was amazed to see their sample hat with a dome that stuck way up above the crown! Mine's not that bad, so I figured I was okay.

Check it out (Snowy River):

http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=83

Then go look at their images of the Banjo and you will see their sample also bashed with a bulge. Seems like it's normal:

http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1


You can dampen the crown of your hat with some distilled water, adjust the bulge so it accommodates your head, and when it dries you'll have a custom bash that fits you perfectly.

Enjoy your hat!

It's been just about a year since I bought my Banjo Paterson. Since then, I've purchased a Fed IV Deluxe, a Stylemaster, and a Stetson Open Road. I also restored my old Stetson Fedora, and my dad gave me a nice Stetson cowboy hat. I mention this because I'm still new at hatology, but I've got all these experiments going. I call them experiments, because as far as I can tell, each hat is constantly changing, softening, responding to the weather, molding to my head, bending to my handling habits.

And of course, the angles change with my mood - each of these hats is surprisingly versatile.

Plus, my point of view changes day to day. One day, the Banjo looks huge and ridiculous in the mirror. The next day, with different clothes or a better mood, it looks fantastic.

I think I'm saying that time is an element in hat appearance and hat/wearer relationships. The Banjo is my go-to hat for outdoor pursuits because it feels good and has earned my trust in the elements. I don't even look in the mirror anymore... Give the hat some time, play with it. Make it your own. Z

Musing

deanzat said:

...I mention this because I'm still new at hatology, but I've got all these experiments going. ... Give the hat some time, play with it. Make it your own. Z

Click to expand...

Nhmmmph!



Many creases in the hatology there are....

Hmmmpppllff...

Wise words one and all - thank you for your input fellas.

The bubble in the top of the crown is something I incorporate when I bash my Akubras and they are taller crowned than the banjo...

Campdraft...


Fed IV...


These started out a little big. After wearing, they conformed to my head.

So yesterday I went out in heavy rain with the hat pulled down low over my ears then let it dry out. Bingo - custom bash!
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww308/phragment/S5021026.jpg

Now I can wear it how I like it and the bubble accommodates my noggin most snugly.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww308/phragment/S5021027.jpg