How Great Thou Art

[MK]

Over the past month I have bought two vintage fedoras from Art. I thought I would share them.....the photos, not the lids.....with you.

First I bought a vintage Borsalino. The felt is so soft it is constantly moving. A breeze often flips my brim up. I really like the hat. It is very comfortable. I want to change the ribbon though. I just don't care for the little, low contrast ribbon. I am thinking a one inch brown.

The other is a vintage dead stock Resistol. You can read about it here:
http://fedoralounge.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1038

Thanks to Art, my herd of hats is moving up.

 

[Renderking Fisk]

I would bet the farm that you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re going to be hearing a lot about the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWorks of Art?¢‚Ǩ? in the very near future.

Here?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a pic from this past winter of my Akubra Federation Deluxe.

Bashed it myself, and it was a pretty good fedora. I would even go so far as saying it was ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Best Fedora?¢‚Ǩ¬¶?¢‚Ǩ?

Again, from this past winter.

Now, here?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a pic of me from The Fourth Weekend. This is after too many snow and rain storms.

I was itching to get it blocked and bashed by a profession thanks to you guys. I love Steve Fedora like a brother and I would have asked him to do mine but his blocks aren?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t my size and I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t want to impose on him anymore then the group already has. People have been singing Art?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s praises so I thought I would give him a shot.

After a couple of PM?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s I sent it off. I posted a couple of posts saying I had sent it off and then members of his fan-club sent me E-Mails telling me what kind of treat I was in for.

[Here's a look at the Top that's too big for me to post here.]

Guys, Art?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not just a pro he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s also a good friend of the group and very easy to get along with. After speaking to him over the phone, I got the feeling he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a real gem: Man of principle and a true craftsmen of his trades.

In closing, I'll be doing a lot more buisness with Art in the future. If you want a real solid work hat that looks great, get an Akubra. If you want that fedora serviced by a pro and a gentleman, send it to Art.

 

[jamespowers]

Yep, dropped by Art's today to pick up my Knox Homberg and Dobbs Fedora. I would like to participate with pictures but I do not have a digital camera so..... Well, anyway, the Dobbs was pretty much a moth eaten mess but Art made it look nearly new with a cool new block that gave it new life. It looks much better now with that block than the post-modern hobo block that it had when I got it. LOL
This trip also gave me a chance to leave off a Stetson for a total refurbish (the Uncle Jed look was not quite cutting it), yes a Stetson , and see a NOS Resistol that I could not live without. It is about the same color as yours MK. I told you Art had a time machine.
Ren, I told you Art would make you happy. If he can please me, and I am pretty picky (translated a pain in the a**), then I can recommend him. Out of all the people that I have had clean and block hats for me (names concealed to protect the guilty LOL ); Art has been the one who is most interested in attention to detail. He even sees things I miss.
So hats off to the Doyen of Hatology.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Andykev]

You guys stop it.

Art wears a hat almost my size. If you keep this up, he will grow a size or two...

Come to think of it, KEEP IT UP. When his head swells with pride, I can pick up his personal hats which obviously will no longer fit!

Ren, I opened your box, and touched your Akubra. It is a fine hat.

It wasn't that bad, and was clean, just a reblock for the taper.

I didn't know what caused the crease in the crown, front to back on the top.????

I watched Art do his magic..and left with your hat still "on the block" ..

Haven't seen the finished item, and most likely won't.

Art and I are having lunch next week via airplane, so I am sure to hear the story. You will be pleased.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Thank you gentlemen!!! Andy, I can feel it getting bigger already, good thing you are LOADED...some great hats may be coming your way.

 

[fedoralover]

MK said: "I want to change the ribbon though. I just don't care for the little, low contrast ribbon. "


Looking at old Stetson hat ads I've noticed that the Stetson Stratoliner had this type of narrow ribbon and was advertised as a "Town and Country" hat, while the Whippet, which had the 1 1/2 inch ribbon was put forth as a dress hat. I have several fedora's with this narrow ribbon as well and while not being my favorite it does give a different flavor to the hat. I wear them in a more casual setting.

I have a borsalino that looks pretty much identical to yours and it is one of my favorites as well. How about a pic of the inside if possible.

regards fedoralover

 

[MK]

This is the most comfortable hat I own.

 

[havershaw]

Beautiful hats, all. RF, yours looks particularly great, in my opinion.

MK, my all-time favorite Borsalino that I own has that same liner. I can only echo your statements - it's the most comfy hat I've ever owned. I probably wear that one more than any other hat I own. I wonder if the gold writing in the liner means something. I've handled a couple other borsalinos with this liner, and they all feel like the same type of thin, dense felt - very malleable and very comfortable. I have a bunch of other vintage Borsalinos, but the one with the gold liner takes the proverbial cake.

 

[fedoralover]

Mine is identical to yours. I can say it is a fantastic hat, enjoy.

fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by MK

This is the most comfortable hat I own.

I have one of these in brown and one in gray/olive. The only difference is the background of my gold logo is a tan color. The thing I enjoy most is the corrugation at the front of the hats. It not only makes it cooler to wear but the fit is greatly improved because of it. I my opinion that is what makes the hat more comfortable.
They also have a nice wide brim. I like 'em. Tell Art to fire up the time machine to bring back some more---in size 7 5/8 of course. LOL
Glad to be part of such an austere group of hat connoisseurs.

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

I forgot to ask, what year did this hat come out? Anyone know??

thanks fedoralover

 

[MK]

I would love to see pictures of the Borsalinos you guys have like this. Please share them with us.