An affordable latter day Whippetesque Fedora?

[JohnnyB53]

Now that the Akubra Campdraft is available in Glenn Grey, for those wanting the pre-WWII Whippet look, couldn't you bash the Campdraft into a C-crown and put a 1-5/8" ribbon on it?

Another alternative is to do what Indycop is doing--take a Federation, trim the brim to 2-5/8 or 2-1/2" all around and bind the edge.

 

[gtdean48]

What about seeing if Akubra would make their Whippet with a wider brim?[huh]

 

[dawgvet]

I have thought about the ribbon swap myself as I want a grey dress hat to wear with a suit but like the wider ribbons for dress wear. I may have to pull the trigger and find out. Oooohh, this forum could be dangerous

 

[gtdean48]

VERY dangerous. My glen grey campdraft is on the way Jed. I'll let you have a close look at it.

 

[kiltie]

What about seeing if Akubra would make their Whippet with a wider brim?[huh]

THIS seems like the most likely cure. With the advent of the Federation for vintage and Indy hat lovers and the Camp Draft, along with several other "meatier" blocks and open crowns ( Squatter, Bushman, etc...), Akubra seems to be willing and able to fill the needs of hat wearers. Sorry Hatco, but your single half-a$$ed attempt to placate avid hat wearers with the Nostalgia was just sad. It's especially disappointing considering there's nothing I'd rather do that support an American hat making company, but right now two modern Stetsons is plenty.
I'm sure the current state of the economy will have a lot of bearing on current hat production, advertising, etc..., but Stetson full on missed the boat by not aggressively marketing the Nostalgia. It didn't have to be in 24 colors, but honestly; how much to set up a parallel model with a brim binding, with a thinner ribbon treatment, etc... Then market them with those kitschy retro-style ads? Same block, three hats, more colors?
I seem to be about to start a rant :rage: .

 

[Colby Jack]

I suggested that Hatco start a custom side like a lot of the gun companies have...Market special lids and customize to buyers wants...:eusa_clap

 

[JohnnyB53]

I suggested that Hatco start a custom side like a lot of the gun companies have...Market special lids and customize to buyers wants...:eusa_clap

It's also been a very successful part of the business models of guitar mfrs Gibson and Fender for the past dozen years. There is a strong parallel to the gun mfrs and to Hatco products Stetson, Dobbs, and Resistol--American icons with a rich history of trend-setting high quality manufactured goods. Gibson and Fender both have large thriving custom shops. It's a great way to offer the mass-produced goods to the ... er... masses, and prove they can "still make 'em like they used to." The Gibson and Fender custom shops typically have a 6-month to 1-year backlog on orders. Adjusted for inflation, the standard items in the Fender Custom shop cost about the same as they did before 1965 when Leo Fender ran the company.

It also provides great opportunity for professional use and endorsements, which in turn helps sell the mass-produced guitars and amps. You could get a similar thing going if Hatco got involved in filling custom orders for period movies and other artistic endeavors that require hats--Broadway productions and road shows f'rinstance.

 

[JohnnyB53]

I have thought about the ribbon swap myself as I want a grey dress hat to wear with a suit but like the wider ribbons for dress wear. I may have to pull the trigger and find out. Oooohh, this forum could be dangerous

Make it easy on yourself. For $10 you can get a clip-on puggaree from Miller Hats in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

Get a glen grey Campdraft and a black puggaree; put the puggaree on when you want to dress up and take it off for boots and a jeans jacket.

 

[HATCO]

We already do custom orders. There just has to be a minimum order placed. I don't think carter was able to get the necessary minimum for a open crowned open road. He can tell you better than I if he got the minimum people or not. I'd try to make sure it would go through if he got the minimum and he found a hatter to order them through.