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WHO made Johnny Depps hats for Public Enemies

barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
Gold

Price of gold in 1932 was $20.67. Today, about $900 or so, or a multiplier of more than forty. Dividing today's Optimo prices ($550 ?) by that factor (43.5), is around $12.65. Keynsian socialism can really distort some prices, but the relationship between scarce goods (such as labor) and gold just keeps coming back to haunt them and expose their fraud, for those with eyes. Fur felt hatting is VERY labor intensive.

I noted in the movie that JD wore the oxblood hat only with the full regalia; sort of a 'uniform' for entering a downtown bank disguised as wealthy patrons. That might explain a slightly better than just 'off the shelf' accessories (hat), as it was intended to look wealthy, not ordinary. In 1932, a hat that cost more than $10 would have been 'upscale.'
 

feltfan

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,190
Location
Oakland, CA, USA
And, of course, some might say that a $7.50 hat from the
mid-30s is nicer in many ways than a $500 hat made today.
Depending on the hat.

As has been discussed to death here, there were skilled
hat making masters, economy of scale, and material supplies
in the 1930s Optimo can only dream about. To say nothing
of aesthetics.
 

mcarthur

Familiar Face
Messages
72
Location
new england
mcgocl.jpg

Optimo Oxblood
 

Alucard73

One of the Regulars
Messages
246
Location
Texas
I also doubt the people at Public Enemies paid $500.00+ a hat either. With 75 hats plus promotional benefits, I am sure something was worked out.
 

Garrett

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,781
Alucard73 said:
I also doubt the people at Public Enemies paid $500.00+ a hat either. With 75 hats plus promotional benefits, I am sure something was worked out.

Optimo probably just did the main character's lids. The extras were probably done by Baron Hats or something of the like.
 

Ande1964

Practically Family
Messages
556
Location
Kansas
Alucard73 said:
I also doubt the people at Public Enemies paid $500.00+ a hat either. With 75 hats plus promotional benefits, I am sure something was worked out.

Graham himself told me his price is his price, even for Hollywood.

Don't know what was worked out for PE, but that's what he told me.

Anj
 

The Lark

One of the Regulars
Messages
125
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Dillinger's hat

Just wandering what particular sort of hat Mr Depp is wearing in his portrayal of John Dillinger?

I mean apart from the obvious answer - "a fedora"

Apologies if this question has already been asked in another thread.
 

Garrett

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,781
This is an Oxblood (color) 30's "style" fedora made by Graham Thompson of Optimo hats in Chicago. I am not aware of the exact proportions.
 

OldHatGuy

New in Town
Messages
4
Location
Trenton, NJ
Optimo Hats

Are you happy with the hat you purchased from Optimo and with their service? I called them the other day, and the hat I was interested in was selling for $550.00! That seems on the high side unless there's something really special about their product....
 

Aureliano

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,753
Location
Macondo.
OldHatGuy said:
Are you happy with the hat you purchased from Optimo and with their service? I called them the other day, and the hat I was interested in was selling for $550.00! That seems on the high side unless there's something really special about their product....

Hand made, superb quality felt, exquisite finishing. Worth every penny.
 

M_Jones

One of the Regulars
Messages
255
Location
Fortress of Solitude
scotrace said:
NINE threads asking this question are now ONE.

Ooh, I had a very bad Lord of the Rings joke in mind but I will let it pass....

Does anyone have any new information regarding Graham bringing this felt color back? It just might be enough to get me to finally order one of his hats....
 

BobC

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,378
Location
Central IL
M_Jones said:
Ooh, I had a very bad Lord of the Rings joke in mind but I will let it pass....

Does anyone have any new information regarding Graham bringing this felt color back? It just might be enough to get me to finally order one of his hats....

Optimo told me in the late spring or early summer that they were trying to get the oxblood felt for the fall. I was told if I ordered a hat in August I would have one of the first produced in late September. I was also told the crown height and brim width of which I remember the brim width is about 2 1/4". The crown height escapes me now, but I posted it somewhere earlier. They said the hat will sell for $600.
 

Bruce Wayne

My Mail is Forwarded Here
BobC said:
Optimo told me in the late spring or early summer that they were trying to get the oxblood felt for the fall. I was told if I ordered a hat in August I would have one of the first produced in late September. I was also told the crown height and brim width of which I remember the brim width is about 2 1/4". The crown height escapes me now, but I posted it somewhere earlier. They said the hat will sell for $600.

actually, the price is $550.
 

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