Head Gear

[jd45]

I think I found the right forum to ask this question. I would like to contract with a hat maker to do one for me per my specs. I am sick to death of seeing cowboy hats on people with the same crown shape & the same pre-formed waterfall. I want a maker to make something for me with some distinctiveness, some uniqueness to it. I know it'll more than likely be pricey. I saw a guy wearing a hat several years ago that gave me an Idea of what I'd like mine to look like, and I should've gotten the name & number of his hatmaker right than & there, but I didn't, my loss. A medium height Montana Pinch crown; flat brim with a rolled edge; & small silk trim around the circumference; and a lanyard thru it to hang at the back of my head. I'd like the option to form my own waterfall, as little or as much as I determine. Do any of you have any hat makers' info? I'll appreciate any onfo you can pass along, thanx, jd45

[Mean Bob Mean]

IDo any of you have any hat makers' info? I'll appreciate any onfo you can pass along, thanx, jd45

These guys, Last Best West:

http://www.thelastbestwest.com/

[jd45]

hanx Bob, I appreciate the help. I see some pretty interesting stuff on their site. jd45

[Major 2]

Have look here http://www.benderhats.com/bellcrown.html

Tim Bender is as nice a fellow as you'll meet, and make fine hats to boot.

[Grenadier]

I second Mr. Bender. You will receive complete satisfaction with his service and product.

[jimbobborg]

You don't have a local hatter who will shape the hat to your specs?  Which reminds me, I need to call my hatter and see if the one I ordered is in yet.

[jd45]

Thanx guys.....you know jimbob, I ought to check here in the Chicago area just as a possible option, but I think I'd have had more luck back in the days when the stock yards were still open. I remember my mother getting me a Stetson for my 16th b'day from a western wear store that was right near them. jd45

[Mean Bob Mean]

Oh and this old character seems to know what he is doing:

http://www.riverjunction.com/Mens-Hats.html

If you want to get one in wool felt for a bit less to see if you like it, you might go this route.  His prices for 100% beaver are better than Last Best West's.  I am ordering a hat from these folks, do not have it yet so cannot testify.

[Octagonal Barrel]

With any of those hats mentioned above, I know you won't go wrong.

I'm thinking there are 2 parts to a good quality, unique hat.  The first part is the quality, and that certainly comes from the hat builder and quality of fur.  But I think the "unique" part comes from how the hat is "bashed."

If you have the money for a 100% beaver hat like the ones mentioned above, go for it.  I wish I had one.  But I've got a Resistol 3X that used to be a Cattleman's Crease - before someone stored it pretty much crushed sideways flat for a while and auctioned it off.  I got it off e-Bay for about $20.00.  I rebashed it myself, into a hat that remotely resembles Everet Hitch's hat in the film Appaloosa.  It's got a crease or two that won't come out, but that adds character.  Now, it's a really great "character" hat.  My Resistol cavalry style hat (favorite for everyday wear) and my Stetson homburg (which I rebashed into a high crown bowler) can't compare.  The point is, for a really unique hat the bash is pretty important.  And that is something an artisan can play with long after the hat is made, worn, and (in the eyes of some) ruined.

I haven't done business with him (too fun to try to do my own), but I suspect you may want to send Delmonico a PM about what you want.  He might have some options that are entirely different from the above excellent hats, but still entirely within your expectations.  Just a thought.

[jimbobborg]

Thanx guys.....you know jimbob, I ought to check here in the Chicago area just as a possible option, but I think I'd have had more luck back in the days when the stock yards were still open. I remember my mother getting me a Stetson for my 16th b'day from a western wear store that was right near them. jd45

I live 20 miles SW of Washington, D.C.  My hatter is 5 miles from my home.  I'd bet cash money that there's at least 3 shops in Chi-town that can and will do this.  Support your local businesses and since you're standing there while they're doing their thing, you can make corrections on the fly instead of sending the hat back because it isn't "Goldilocks," aka "just right."

[1961MJS]

Hi

I own both a Jaxonbilt Montana peak hat, and several western style hats from Mike Moore at Buckaroo Hatter.  Depending on where you live, you can go to a local.

http://www.jaxonbilthats.com/

Roy Jackson is in Idaho.

http://www.buckaroohatters.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buckaroo-Hatters-Custom-Hats/167951053225315

Mike Moore is in Covington TN, just north of Memphis about 20 miles.

Both can make pretty much any style hat you'd like.  Both are reasonably priced, both will send you an adjustable deal to get your hat size.  I STRONGLY suggest getting help using it.

Later

[yahoody]

I'd like the option to form my own

I've been forming and reforming hats for decades. Done dozens of them over the years.  Did one yesterday and one last night for a buddy.

It is easy.  First time all it takes is a little courage on your part, a tea pot and some water.  Some times lots of water.  The better quality of hat. (the X factor) the easier they are to work on IMO.

A medium height Montana Pinch crown; flat brim with a rolled edge; & small silk trim around the circumference; and a lanyard thru it to hang at the back of my head.

You can buy pretty near any quality of hat you want with an open crown (think a dome like Hoss use to wear) and a flat "bound edge" which is what you are call a "silk trim" edge.  The "rolled edge" can either be a smaller pencil roll or a bigger kettle curl.  Either is easy enough to do by hand and some patience.  The lanyard is called a "wind string" an can be set in the sweat/head band by flattened cotter pins or via small holes in the brim (mo better IMO) and again easy enough to do with a leather lace  and a slide.

6" crown is a Medium high crown, 4 /12 to 5" a good size brim.   I have 3 100% beaver hats from 3 makers.  And a few 5X to 10 X I use almost every day.   Many of them duplicates of a similar shape.    Good 10X and 20X hats really are generally better than good 5X hats.  Sad part about it  no way to tell until you have the hat in hand.  Good 10X or 20X can be a damn nice hat and every bit the equal for the most part as a 100% beaver hat.  And  you can buy at least two and may be three good 20X hats for the price of one 100% beaver today. 

One of my favorite Brands that I think is an exceptional value is Rodeo King hats @ 5X and better.
Akubra is another.

Here is one that makes a good donor for a project like yours...but there are other colors as well.   Hat bands are easy to change...not so the bound edge.

https://www.discountwesternwear.com/Men's/Cowboy-Hats/rodeo-king-7x-open-crown-rust-hat-1869.aspx

As mentioned previous, River Junction is hat heaven for me for a do it yourself hat in any style.  Lots of bound edge hats there to make up your project.

http://www.riverjunction.com/Mens-Hats.html

or a good source of Rodeo King hats :

http://www.wildwestmercantile.com/cgi-bin/Category.cgi?category=6100&type=store

I have hats that are getting on 40+ years old that have been professionally cleaned and rebuilt (reblocked, new head band and liners) a couple of times.  All of them still see some use.  IMO it pays to buy the very "best" hat you can afford.   Few will ever really wear one out if you take even reasonable care of them.  Might loose it or get it stolen...but wearing one out aint all that likely if you know where to send them once they get pretty ratty.

All three hats shown have open crowns of various sizes, (Rodeo Kind is 4", Bailey is a  tall 7" and Beaver is a 6"),  flat brims for the most part with a bound edge, open in front and a pencil curl on the back 1/3rd.  Only the beaver lacks a wind string.

1 year old 5X Rodeo King


25 year old pisture of a 5x Bailey that I've changed some for shape.  Looks more like the Rodeo King in the picture above now.  But still a favorite I wore often.  Did yesterday on a 30 mile ride.  Hat still looks almost new! 


3 year old Beaver from Montana Mad Hatter


My current hat maker/renovator/fixer is:

http://www.northvalleyhatco.com/oldwest.html

http://www.northvalleyhatco.com/buckaroohats.html

North Valley is a good place to look around at the many styles and quality of felt he offers......music is fun as well

Besides Resistol, Bailey  and Stetson other quality customers makers I have used and can recommend:

http://www.mackeycustomhats.com/

http://www.dbarjhat.com/

[yahoody]

Over the last couple of months I've bought hats for a friend, my family and myself.

Most please (like MOST pleased ever!) with the quality, price and service @  http://www.mackeycustomhats.com/

Pretty much jumping for joy over their efforts actually