Choosing a hat

[Oregon Bill]

... is not as easy as one might think. I've been to Clearwater's and Tim Bender's sites and still am not seeing the one that strikes the right chord for me -- something late 40s early 50s. What I'll probably end up with is something slouchy and then try to let the weather ruin it some.
Closest I now own is a SunBody palm leaf with low crown and very broad brim. Oddly, this style is correct for the TrekBoers of what is now South Africa as they left the British-controlled Cape to found Natal, the Transvaal and the Orange Republic, late 1830s in to the 1840s.
What all are you folks wearing?

[Oregon Bill]

Don't think I could wear this one:
Texas Dragoon, 1844 ...

http://daguerreian.org/fm3/detail2.php?Databasenumber=324

[Wahkahchim]

YIKES! That is one spectacular head piece! 

[Major 2]

Where I can't help much with style...that's personal.

I have friend that looks right in anything he puts on.
Most of the time a hat I might like, I won't like on me ....I don't know why.
I will put in a plug for Tim Binder,  I went with the Bell Crown.

I also have a Telescope Crown

[Oregon Bill]

Major: I'm kind of the same way. Hard to find a hat I like on me. I have heard nothing but good about Tim's hats.

[captmack]

Best places I have found for hats are:

www.riverjunction.com

www.goldengatewesternwear.cm

www.dirtybillyshats.com

[Wahkahchim]

Capt. Mack, which styles do you recommend as being 1840's/1850's correct?

[Sacramento Johnson]

Howdy!
I came across this hat at "Brims and Trims" hat company while in Texas about a year and a half ago.  I opened up the crown a bit  and then wore it at the Texas State SASS match last May when I was trying to do an early 1860's Texican character, complete with my hand made botas, Henry, '58 Remies in Slim Jims, big roweled spurs, red padre beads and Rio Grande Camp knife spear point bowie.  It's pretty soft but not floppy (yet!) I don't know if the dimensions are really period correct for that time/place, but living in a very hot/bright climate, I prefer as much shade as possible!  If I were to do an 1850's Texican, I'd go with this hat as well.  
(The brown spot of the right side of the hat is a nipple pick stuck in the hat band; handy place to keep it!)

[Oregon Bill]

Sacto, that's a nice outfit!

[Sacramento Johnson]

Why thank you kindly, Bill!

It's a very comfortable get-up and works well!

[ChuckBurrows]

Probably the most common western hat of the period were similar to the boss of the plains style (Stetson DID NOT invent the cowboy/western hat - he just produced a high quality version) i.e. 4" flat or slightly rounded crown and a 4-5" brim. The most common colors were white (could be white wool felt or silver belly), black, and drab - a yellowish brown. Edges would be bound or unbound - your choice.
Another common style was the planter with a telescope style crown and wide 4-5" brim. Crazy Crow sells a straw hat in this style for a reasonable price (Sunbody made I believe)

My current hat is one of Tim Bender's - I had him make one up using the medium crown bowler 4" high with a basically flat bound edge brim of 4.25" (I wanted a 5" wide brim but I wear a size 8 1/4 so 4.25" was as wide as he could get). Color is in Sierra which is close to silver belly. For $110.00 plus shipping he's hard to beat. FWIW - I've owned several custom hats over the years, from various top end makers and in 100% beaver as well as the lower quality fur felts and Tim's quality is on par with the best of them.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi Guys

Crazy Crowe had this hat on sale for $36.95 ... for wool ... not even a closeout item .... I bought one, and if I get three or four shoots out of it, for $37  I figure its a wash .... *S*

http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CCTP&Product_Code=4535-021-1&Category_Code=751-100-000

[Major 2]

Probably the most common western hat of the period were similar to the boss of the plains style (Stetson DID NOT invent the cowboy/western hat - he just produced a high quality version) i.e. 4" flat or slightly rounded crown and a 4-5" brim. The most common colors were white (could be white wool felt or silver belly), black, and drab - a yellowish brown. Edges would be bound or unbound - your choice.
Another common style was the planter with a telescope style crown and wide 4-5" brim. Crazy Crow sells a straw hat in this style for a reasonable price (Sunbody made I believe)

My current hat is one of Tim Bender's - I had him make one up using the medium crown bowler 4" high with a basically flat bound edge brim of 4.25" (I wanted a 5" wide brim but I wear a size 8 1/4 so 4.25" was as wide as he could get). Color is in Sierra which is close to silver belly. For $110.00 plus shipping he's hard to beat. FWIW - I've owned several custom hats over the years, from various top end makers and in 100% beaver as well as the lower quality fur felts and Tim's quality is on par with the best of them.

What he SAID...about Tim Binder 

I have the bell Crown which is a tad earier but same fine quality.....

8 1/4    know wonder you have so much talent.... in that size brain case !

[Oregon Bill]

After talkign with Tim, I ordered the medium bowler crown in dark brown with 4-inch brim. Think I'm gonna like it!

[Caleb Hobbs]

Great looking hat, Bill. Congratulations.

[Oregon Bill]

Thanks Caleb.  Funny thing is it turns out I am also a long oval. My ex-wife had convinced me that I was a blockhead ...

[Caleb Hobbs]

 

[Fingers McGee]

I generally wear this Beaver Brand hat:

[Caleb Hobbs]

There's another good looking and correct style hat, a nice looking outfit, and an ... interesting drinking buddy. I wish the both of you a very Merry Christmas.

[Oregon Bill]

Fingers, that's a nice outfit. And it looks like you can pay for your drinks in that bar with bananas!