Haven Hats

[Rick Blaine]

I just got this lovely 100% Beaver from a hatter out of Loveland, Colorado.
Does anyone know who this is?
I did a quick scan of the horizon and Greeley Hat Works is the only name I have yet come up with...little help?[huh]

 

[Bob Roberts]

Doesn't the hatter know...? It is nice.

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[Rick Blaine]

Doesn't the hatter know...? It is nice.

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He does not self-ID. I have axed (as is said down h'yere) and have as yet received no reply, but thanks, I never would've :censored: thought of that, Chief.

 

[Bob Roberts]

He does not self-ID. I have axed (as is said down h'yere) and have as yet received no reply, but thanks, I never would've :censored: thought of that, Chief.

Duh. Who the hatter in Colorado is...? You of all people should know...

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[Rick Blaine]

...and why is that?

 

[Bob Roberts]

...and why is that?

You bought it from him...

 

[Rick Blaine]

...sure Bob. Thanks.

 

[Bob Roberts]

...sure Bob. Thanks.

Wlcm Rick...

 

[Rick Blaine]

Please forgive me, English is a second language, to wit;

Might there be anyone else, someone more acquainted, perhaps, with the trade or someone involved in CASS or SAS or maybe someone who has visited, has/does currently live in/near the town of Greeley in the State of Colorado who, would have an educated, informed, relevant to the OP, speculation? [huh]

Thanks.

 

[Lotsahats]

Intriguing! Sent a note of enquiry, and I'll share what I find out.

You bought it from him...

RB bought it on eBay, though, and that doesn't necessarily give anything more than a fictitious name and address. It doesn't really identify the hatter.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks, Philly. A trenchant, incisive, shrewd game plan. :thumb:

 

[Bob Roberts]

Well... The "OP" didn't state that, or for that matter, what "hatter" he purchased the hat from... Only stated the he bought it from a "hatter" in Colorado... and most "hatters" do have "some" idea who their vendors are, or more appropriately where their hats come from... Excuuuuuuuuuuse me!

 

[Rick Blaine]

Well... The "OP" didn't state that or for that matter what "hatter" he purchased the hat from... Only stated the he bought it from a "hatter" in Colorado... and most "hatters" do have "some" idea who their vendors are, or more appropriately where their hats come from... Excuuuuuuuuuuse me!

No, Mea culpa. My misunderstanding, Bob.
Regards, Rick

 

[Bob Roberts]

And a hellava nice hat... No worries Rick.

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[Rick Blaine]

I'll let ya'll know

BTW -he has a few more that look just as sweet at insane prices, 1/8. 1/4 & 3/8s I think.

 

[majormoore]

I have a very strong thinking, this is the guy I trained early this year , he name is Mark Havens, he is just starting to make a few hats and is selling them as he turns a few out,

Major Moore

 

[tonyb]

I have no idea who crafted your hat, Blaine. I have relocated to the Denver area, been here a year now, and I have yet to meet anyone in the hat business other than the people at Greeley Hat Works and at the Goorin Bros. store on Larimer Square. But I noodled around a bit online a few months ago and turned up a couple-three hat-making types in the general vicinity.

There are literally hundreds (at least) of people making hats for profit across this great land of ours, most of whom we will never hear of around here. This is especially true in the world of Western lids. Custom cowboy hat makers have popped up like brew pubs in recent years. Seems that every month or so I hear from somebody looking to add custom hats to their Western wear and/or custom boot-making business, asking if I would be so good as to help them locate equipment, materials, etc. I'm being nothing but truthful when I tell them I wish I could be of more help to them, seeing how what I tell them is often what they'd already figured out before they called.

I like that hat. It's a simple design, and one fairly unchallenging to execute. Raw edge, simple bow. Nothing about it says "signature" to me.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks

I have a very strong thinking, this is the guy I trained early this year , he name is Mark Havens, he is just starting to make a few hats and is selling them as he turns a few out,

Major Moore

Thank you Major Moore!

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks!

I have no idea who crafted your hat, Blaine. I have relocated to the Denver area, been here a year now, and I have yet to meet anyone in the hat business other than the people at Greeley Hat Works and at the Goorin Bros. store on Larimer Square. But I noodled around a bit online a few months ago and turned up a couple-three hat-making types in the general vicinity.

There are literally hundreds (at least) of people making hats for profit across this great land of ours, most of whom we will never hear of around here. This is especially true in the world of Western lids. Custom cowboy hat makers have popped up like brew pubs in recent years. Seems that every month or so I hear from somebody looking to add custom hats to their Western wear and/or custom boot-making business, asking if I would be so good as to help them locate equipment, materials, etc. I'm being nothing but truthful when I tell them I wish I could be of more help to them, seeing how what I tell them is often what they'd already figured out before they called.

I like that hat. It's a simple design, and one fairly unchallenging to execute. Raw edge, simple bow. Nothing about it says "signature" to me.

Quite likely I've vastly underestimated the number such craftsmen.

I don't know all of southern Alberta, but I have been around & that is real cowboy and cattle country.
I sure would like to find someone there! All I know is Smithbilt.

 

[tonyb]

It's a contagion, Blaine. Hatters attract other aspiring hatters. Who in turn attract other aspiring hatters.

I'm cool with it, really. So long as no one directly steps on ground I cultivated (leastwise not without asking first), I'm happy for another person to swap tips and materials and stories with. Just about all hatters are mostly self-taught, and some of us are better self-teachers than others. I've had some things that really should have been apparent to me (forehead slapping moments, you know) brought to my attention by people with less overall experience.

Especially with relatively simple hats (as most Western hats are), a person would need but a few blocks and a few flanges in a few sizes, and a smallish assortment of tools and machinery (of types both specific to hat-making and more generic) to be up and running.

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of a Western wear trade show, you really ought to finagle a way in. You'll see among the exhibitors there makers of Western hats, most of which are pretty much the same as the others you'll see there, seeing how almost all of them are now using Fepsa bodies and are crafting those bodies into hats of very similar styles. Some of these are pretty good sized operations, and have their products in cowboy shops all across the land. And I'll bet you dollars to donuts you've never heard of a one of them before.