Akubra Overload

[RobFedoraField]

exact opposite

I'm fairly pleased with what I've done, though I wish I were better at shaping beyond center dents. [huh]

Randy

nice crease, and i'm the exact opposite, I wish I was better at center dents, I can never seem to get the two sides to have even height and curvature.

:eusa_doh:

 

[Rodkins]

Potential Counterfeit Akubra

I sent an email to Akubra corporate regarding the "Sundowner". I will post any responses.

 

[W4ASZ]

I sent an email to Akubra corporate regarding the "Sundowner". I will post any responses.

Thanks. I'm interested to know.

Do a net search of "pur fur felt" with your favorite engine(s). You'll get hits from sellers, but I didn't see any results from Akubra itself or the biggies like EA, David Morgan, or Hats Direct. Perhaps I missed them as it was rather late last night when I looked.

Significance ? Maybe none.

 

[theinterchange]

nice crease, and i'm the exact opposite, I wish I was better at center dents, I can never seem to get the two sides to have even height and curvature.

:eusa_doh:

Thanks, I originally came from the world of Indiana Jones hats, so center dents are fairly easy for me. It takes more concentration to even make anything else look like I put no real thought into it.

Randy

 

[Mr E Train]

I sent an email to Akubra corporate regarding the "Sundowner". I will post any responses.

I looked at the liner of my Squatter, and it looks similar to yours; the screen printing is black, and the liner itself is gold. The plastic cap of the liner is much thinner than my other two Akubras and is somewhat "crinkly" to the touch. On the sweatband "SQUATTER" is printed in block letters like yours on the front of the sweatband, and then "PURE FUR FELT" underneath that. On one side of the sweatband it says it was made expressly for Outback Trading Company, PA. I bought it from bolthead in the classifieds, pics here.

 

[W4ASZ]

Thickening the Plot ...

I have dealt with this seller on da Bay before and would not hesitate to do so again. See what he says about a "Sundowner" he offered. This is from the listing :

"I HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AN UNUSUAL VINTAGE AKUBRA FEDORA. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANOTHER LIKE THIS MODEL. THE HAT HAS A DEFINITE OPEN ROAD STETSON, OR STYLEMASTER AKUBRA FLARE. IT IS AN AKUBRA SUNDOWNER MODEL AND I CANT FIND ANYTHING ON THIS STYLE ON THE SEARCHES. IT IS OF PURE FUR FELT CONSTRUCTION AND IS MUCH MORE SUPPLE AND SOFT THAN THE TYPICAL AKUBRA HAT. THE FELT IS PLIABLE AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH NO BITES, STAINS, ETC. THE INNER LINER IS VERY CLEAN AND UNSTAINED, THE SWEAT BAND IS SOFT AND SUPPLE WITH NO LOOSE THREADS AND THE GOLD LETTERING LIKE NEW, THE HAT SHOWS VERY LIGHT USAGE. THERE IS A SMALL GOLD COLORED HORSE LOGO PIN ATTACHED. IT HAD AN UGLY BRAIDED HORSEHAIR OUTTER BAND WHICH I CHANGED TO A ONE INCH GROSGRAIN RIBBON. THE BRIM MEASURES 2 7/8 INCHES AND HAS A GROSGRAIN FINISHED OUTTER EDGE LIKE A STYLEMASTER OR CAMPDRAFT. THE CROWN RISE 4 1/2 INCHES FRONT AND TAPERS TO 4 INCHES REAR FOR A CLASSIC FEDORA BLOCK. THE SIZE IS TAGGED AT 59 71/4, USUALLY A 59 INDICATES A 7 3/8 SIZE BUT THE TAG SAY OTHERWISE. THE ACTUAL SIZE IS A LOOSE 7 1/4 OR SNUG 7 3/8. THE OVAL MEASURES 6 5/8 INCHES BY 8 1/8 INCHES. THE HAT FITS ME WITH A TAD OF WIGGLE ROOM AND I WEAR A FULL SIZE 7 1/4. THE AKUBRA COMPANY MADE SOME HATS FOR STETSON IN AUSTRALIA IN THE PAST IN THE OPEN ROAD FORM BUT I CAN COME UP WITH NOTHING ON A SUNDOWNER. THE QUALITY IS VERY GOOD, IT IS ON A PAR WITH SOME OF THE OLDER OPEN ROADS I HAVE HAD THOUGH A BIT DENSER WITH MORE BODY IN THE FELT. OVERALL THIS IS A NICE LOOKING VINTAGE AKUBRA IN WHAT I WOULD TERM VERY GOOD CONDITION AND YOU WONT LIKELY SEE ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT. THE SHIPPING WILL BE $9.88 TO THE LOWER 48 UNITED STATES. ALASKA, HAWAII, AND INTERNATIONAL RATES ON REQUEST. THANKS FOR LOOKING"

I have a couple of excellent Resistols I purchased from this seller, and he does know whereof he speaks and speaks not with forked tongue.

More to consider !

P.S. Listing of seller who sold to above seller, with pics.

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330462829948

 

[Mr E Train]

I was already about 80% convinced that the hat was authentic and possiby a specialty item made for a particular retailer.

 

[W4ASZ]

An authentic hen's teeth rarity, then.

 

[Neophyte]

Thanks to Colby Jack and his Akubra Bushman, I think I know what my next hat woud be!

 

[Rodkins]

I have dealt with this seller on da Bay before and would not hesitate to do so again. See what he says about a "Sundowner" he offered. This is from the listing :

"I HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AN UNUSUAL VINTAGE AKUBRA FEDORA. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANOTHER LIKE THIS MODEL. THE HAT HAS A DEFINITE OPEN ROAD STETSON, OR STYLEMASTER AKUBRA FLARE... THANKS FOR LOOKING"

I have a couple of excellent Resistols I purchased from this seller, and he does know whereof he speaks and speaks not

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330462829948

This is the same hat I have and the seller I bought it from and apparently the seller my seller bought it from.

 

[Rodkins]

I sent an email to Akubra corporate regarding the "Sundowner". I will post any responses.

Hello Mike, thank you for your email.* We did make "The Sundowner" but have not done so for many years so it must be an Akubra, albeit an old one...
Kind regards, Jenny Newham.* jenny@akubra.com.au

 

[Methuselah]

most were bought online from Hats Direct in Oz.

members here all spoke very highly of their service so I was confident I'd get what I wanted (and I knew my accurate head size). To back up the good opinion people have of Hats Direct - I ordered some Christys' hats from the UK the same day as some akubras from Oz - the akubras arrived first!

very best,

Paul.

Crikey, you weren't joking. I ordered on the night of the 19th, and it arrived first thing this morning (the 24th) !!!!! They must have a special hat rocket-ship.

 

[W4ASZ]

Hello Mike, thank you for your email.* We did make "The Sundowner" but have not done so for many years so it must be an Akubra, albeit an old one...
Kind regards, Jenny Newham.* jenny@akubra.com.au

Well. my friend, it looks like you got a good one there. The picture posted by a previous seller of the hat's exterior strongly resembles, to my eye, the hat in the Popular Science ad, though it is bashed differently and may be a different color. I do like it and congratulate you on the acquisition.

I think this case is closed !

 

[Neophyte]

Trying to decide between a DM Bushman or a DM Squatter in Moonstone...I want a brim wider than the Campdraft. Believe it or not, that 2 7/8'' brim doesn't cut it sometimes lol. I keep looking back through Colby Jack's Bushman photos and the DM moonstone Squatter in the Travelling Hat thread.

 

[theinterchange]

Trying to decide between a DM Bushman or a DM Squatter in Moonstone...I want a brim wider than the Campdraft. Believe it or not, that 2 7/8'' brim doesn't cut it sometimes lol. I keep looking back through Colby Jack's Bushman photos and the DM moonstone Squatter in the Travelling Hat thread.

The Bushman is from time to time, temptation for me. It has a wider brim than even the Squatter, something to bear in mind since you're interested in a wider brim.

Randy

 

[Neophyte]

I am aware. The thing that is holding me back is that I already have an earth-tone, wide-brimmed hat in my green Campdraft, and I'm not really sure if I like the look of that Nullarbor Tan. Doubtless it would go with a lot of my wardrobe, but I just don't really like the look of tan hats without a contrasting ribbon.

I think what I will do is go through the search function of the lounge, see what all color combos I find people wearing with Moonstone, and see if I have enough corresponding colors to justify the Squatter.

Honestly, I really, really didn't know what I was doing with that first willow green Squatter I had. I shaped it with hot water (which I now know can induce taper if done repeatedly), made the bash too deep and the side dents too long, and the pinch to tight. The result was a nasty low, tapered crown with a 3'' brim, which you can imagine is rather silly in appearance, at least on me. This time, though, I know what I'm doing lol!

The catch is, whatever hat I purchase will need to be reblocked to Long Oval. The Squatter, I imagine, has a more round-ish(?) crown than the Bushman. In my mind, it seems like there is a greater chance of the long oval process developing taper in the Squatter than in the Bushman.

:eusa_doh: OH, the decisions! I gotta make one in the next couple of months, because come November, the weather here gets...unpredictable...

Oh yeah, and congrats(!) on that straw whippet!

 

[theinterchange]

Know What You Mean

It's amazing how much thought we're sometimes required to put into a hat purchase.

I agree that it seems more likely that a Squatter will taper quicker. Especially having owned one, and comparing it to photos of the Bushman.

Thanks, I'm really enjoying the Whippet. It makes a nice change of pace.

Randy

 

[Neophyte]

It's amazing how much thought...
I agree that it seems more likely that a Squatter will taper quicker.
Randy

Too true, too true...

That's what infuriates me, because I really, really, really want the Squatter in moonstone. I really do need to stay away from the Travelling Hat thread lol.

That whippet is definitely a smart-looking lid. I like the contrasting edge binding.

 

[theinterchange]

Too true, too true...

That's what infuriates me, because I really, really, really want the Squatter in moonstone. I really do need to stay away from the Travelling Hat thread lol.

That whippet is definitely a smart-looking lid. I like the contrasting edge binding.

That's the way I was with the silverbelly Campdraft. The color didn't suit me as there was too much yellow in it, and I didn't go a good shaping job [center dent instead of a diamond or teardrop] so the crown looked incredibly high on me. I'm currently thinking of giving a vintage silverbelly Open Road a try.

The contrasting edge binding is what really makes the Whippet for me. Too bad I can't really wear it again today, I'm about to run errands and we're expecting rain any minute... won't do to get it wet!

Randy

 

[Neophyte]

That's the way I was with the silverbelly Campdraft. The color didn't suit me as there was too much yellow in it, and I didn't go a good shaping job [center dent instead of a diamond or teardrop] so the crown looked incredibly high on me. I'm currently thinking of giving a vintage silverbelly Open Road a try.

The contrasting edge binding is what really makes the Whippet for me. Too bad I can't really wear it again today, I'm about to run errands and we're expecting rain any minute... won't do to get it wet!

Randy

I'm guessing you're not an umbrella man, huh lol?