I love the Fed IV!!

I will have to do a side by side, but i think the crown is taller but I am not certain.

 

I hear you. I was just being flippant about that dire movie.

 

I've never owned a Penman, but I would expect them to be very different beasts from the Akubra. The Akubra is a production line hat, while the Penman is individually custom made. The Akubra is rabbit or rabbit /hare, while the Penman is beaver or beaver/rabbit. The Penman is also several times the price of the Akubra. Penman is a hat I'd buy to wear on special occasions; the Akubra is a solid daily driver. Horses for courses. I do love the look of the Penman coloured felts, especially the green, and the freedom to choose the ribbon colour is a big plus. If Akubra did a dealwhere I could order a Fed IV type hat and spec things like ribbon colour, a wind trolley, and brim binding, I'd bed in serious financial trouble....

 

I live just over the hill from John Penman's shop in Hillsboro, Oregon. John also sells his own factory, or production, hat called the Everyman. That's what I have, and posted above. It's a blend of rabbit/beaver, but is a very good hat. Better than most modern Stetsons, IMO, except the Excellent Quality Stetsons which are 100% beaver felt. Even then, I think the construction is certainly as good or better than a modern Stetson or Akubra.

The Everyman Indy (EI) hat has great felt and is a substantial hat. It's tough enough to wear out and about as a daily driver, even in nasty weather. But it's also nice enough to wear with a suit and tie, IMO, or nice casual dress. The price has gone up recently, but so have prices generally. Even though it's a factory built hat, the EI is well made and has good felt (not Winchester; sourced from South America) and should last for generations with decent care.

I also own the Everyman Non-Indy. While I love the color of the Granite felt (grey with brown hues running throughout), this hat is not the same quality felt as the Indy hat. Mine is bashed like a Bogart or Casablanca Penman hat, but it doesn't fit true to size like the Indy version either. The 60cm was way too tight, and the 61cm I have is too loose... I have considered selling my Bogart Everyman, but I do love the color so much...

 

The Indy Everyman is not a custom, really. It is a factory made hat fitted out by John as an Indy hat to his very high standards. The price is just under 3x the current price of an Imperial Fed IV, and not quite 2x more $$ than the Heritage grade Fed IV.

If I was starting over again right now, knowing what I know, I'd go for an Indy Everyman over either of the Fed IVs.

 

Ah, not the same ones I've looked at, then. I'm not in the market for US hats any more, alas. Akubras from Aus still seem reasonably priced, but everything US-based has shot up in price with the weak pound, alas. I'll be waiting until that changes. Double the price of a Fed DLX is more than I'd spend generally, though for something special it wouldn't be unthinkable.

 

The liner and sweat of the Everyman clearly distinguish it from a Penman custom made hat. You can go to the Penman website and see the Adventurebilt hat liner as well.

Everyman Indy:


Penman Custom:

 

Sorry for commenting on an old post, but I realized I made an error in my terminology. What I had said before was in reference to a rake, not a taper. I'm still learning here [emoji846]

Ryan
Hat size: 7 1/2

 

Ah. Yeah, "rake" and "taper" are two different subjects. I try to give all of my hats at least a little rake because I like the look, but between the shape of my head and the way I wear them it's been difficult for me to get the backs of the crowns low enough for the look I'd really like. I'm sure most here would advise me to raise the front of the crowns, but to my eye that makes the crown look too tall when viewed from the front, especially on the Fed IV with it's relatively narrow brim width on the sides. Yeah, I'm an odd creature.

 

I'm with you. Crown height and brim width need to be proportionate, at least to my standards. I'm personally not a fan of too much rake (again, proportions), but I think it suits others well. My next purchase is going to be an "Indy" hat of some sort. I was originally wanting to get a Fed IV, but if the funds will allow, I may go the custom route. I'd like to have a crown height of something near the Raiders hat, but maybe with a little more width in the brim. We shall see.

Ryan
Hat size: 7 1/2

 

Sounds like you want a Fed III.

 

I think Johnny is the one who sported the only Fed III that I've seen, and I honestly can't recall the dimensions of it. I'm guessing they're no longer in production, so finding one would be a challenge. Especially when folks tend to hang on to their Akubras. I am considering the custom route in the hopes of getting something with higher quality felt, and any minor tweaks I may want as far as dimensions go. I have nothing against Akubra, but my understanding is they can't hold a candle to a good custom.

Ryan
Hat size: 7 1/2

 

Yes, and I was one of the people who said it, even though I have IVs and a III.

The IIIs are larger versions of the IV in every dimension. That's why I mentioned it here, as you said you wanted a slightly bigger (my words) Indy hat.

Yes, Fed IIIs are hard to find used because they have been out of production for some time, and people do hold on to their Akubras. That should say something about the overall desirability of these hats, although they not as well finished as customs. I proudly wear mine as often as I wear my more expensive hats.

 

Well, after hemming and hawing about it for some time, I just pulled the trigger on a Federation IV, in Moonstone. I've ordered from Hats Direct multiple times, which has always resulted in a good experience. Now I just need to hide this from my spouse and mother-in-law, otherwise I'm sure they'll arrange another intervention into my habit

 

Or maybe an Adventurer from David Morgan. It has the larger brim.

 

After some considerations, comtemplations, cogitations and cerebrations, I pulled a trigger for Federation IV. Ordered hats are Federation IV Deluxe black and heritage fawn. I was also fixated to order brown color as well, but it seemed quite close to Cedar Brown color for Campdraft in my collection.

I might get it later at some point once there's space in shelf

 

(Lack of) shelf space is never a good reason for not acquiring more hats.

Congrats on your acquisitions.

 

You realize, of course, that you're now mandated to post photos in this thread after you receive your new Fed IVs. Preferably after you've creased them; head shots would be nice.

 

..and they arrived today. Creasing these hats is going to be burdensome. Open or pinched telescope creases, while easy to do, may not fit them. And teardrop creases trigger my OCD if the side dents are not aligned

 

Embrace asymmetry; your life will become a lot easier.