Art Fawcett VS Hall of Fame

[daizawaguy]

Awesome! Post more...

 

[SoulmanRKC]

I have two of Art's hats; he's a great artist.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Frussel, Cliff, Bowlerman, Issac, and Diazawayguy; Thanks taking a look at my new Vintage Silhouette.

My new VS hat accompanied me this morning. The hat will spend its wearing life working to provide me some protection, cover and style. I put it to work this morning. I spent time watching local hawks pester the neighborhood owl. I do not know if they were just teasing, a territory issue or prey jealousy. Their calls and splendor made for an enjoyable watch.

My hat of choice is my new Vintage Silhouette. Dog walk, splitting some wood, and bird watching was the hat's first morning chores. Welcome hat to my world!

Here are some quick photos this from this morning. I have not had time to stage the scene or put up any fancy, dancy lighting.

Hat profile;

Top view;

Liner shot;

Ribbon;

I truly am pleased with the hat. I am off for scheduled obligations. I will update later.

Thanks for looking at my new prized fedora, Eric -

 

[DesertDan]

Magnificent VS Eric, you wear it very well! Congratulations sir!

 

[kaosharper1]

Very nice. No pinches in the crown too I notice.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

DesertDan and Kaosharper1; Thanks for taking a look. No pinches - Mr.Fawcett provided the fedora as such. I have left it as. I appreciate your posts.

Eric -

 

[Rodkins]

DesertDan and Kaosharper1; Thanks for taking a look. No pinches - Mr.Fawcett provided the fedora as such. I have left it as. I appreciate your posts.

Eric -

Just so you know - sometimes with new custom hats the side dents pop out during shipping. This may not be the case but it does happen.
It looks great as is - it's a true beauty

 

[Short Balding Guy]

On the to topics of side dents: I have read the huge number of posts before heading out to request to become an Art Fawcett client. I am impressed with the hats I have seen. Other VS hatted folks, should I add side dents?

 

[Cicero]

For me side tends if i had the choice.
Ads more character to the hat imo.
By the way, very nice lid. :eusa_clap

 

[Rodkins]

On the to topics of side dents: I have read the huge number of posts before heading out to request to become an Art Fawcett client. I am impressed with the hats I have seen. Other VS hatted folks, should I add side dents?

It's all about you. Dry bash them in and see if you like it better - if not, don't change it.

 

[kaosharper1]

It's all about you. Dry bash them in and see if you like it better - if not, don't change it.

I'm with Rodkins. Pics show that not having dents was common in the early 20th century, and yours looks great that way.

 

[DJH]

Other VS hatted folks, should I add side dents?

Eric, it looks good as it is, it will look good with the dents. Whatever works for you!!

 

[monbla256]

On the to topics of side dents: I have read the huge number of posts before heading out to request to become an Art Fawcett client. I am impressed with the hats I have seen. Other VS hatted folks, should I add side dents?

To be honest, what does it matter if it has side dents, front pinch or none? It's YOUR hat and should reflect what YOU want it to look like

 

[Art Fawcett]

I'm so glad you are happy with it SBG but it left here with front pinches and Rodkins is right. Because the hat is so soft it often looses it's pinches in shipping and you should be able to just caress them back in with light pressure. It doesn't look bad the way it is but not what I intended.

 

[RBH]

Hey Art.
Remember when you worked on my Sportaire in Monteagle?
The felt is so soft. The crease relaxed so and I finally just let it settle into the crease it wanted to be.
Sometimes your creations take on a life of their own!

 

[Art Fawcett]

Was that before or after the lightning RBH?? I honestly don't remember even working on it.. geeze..I'm gettin old

 

[RBH]

Yes... it was along about the time Tom Dean took drunk.

 

[Art Fawcett]

THAT could never happen!!!

 

[gtdean48]

THAT could never happen!!!

Never has....never will....I have no recollection of which it is you two are speaking of.....you must have me mistaken with some folks coming out of Detroit....

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Steamed in side dents.

This morning before morning chores and getting off to the business I steamed in side dents. The Rowena steamer was filled with distilled water and heated up. Steaming was a breeze. It did take more steam than some of the other stiff vintage hats that I have worked on. More steam - but easy. Next time I will spray some water directly on the hat and then use steam.

Results:

Felt observations: As other posters have noted on this thread, the lighter colors are more pliable and clay-like when touched or molded. When I touch my Sahara felt VS hat the metaphor that pops to mind is that the hat is the cashmere of felts. It has generally cashmere feel - very soft, malleable and wear ability. I am very careful of my cashmere sweaters. The woven fibers do not take do well under abrasive wear as do a wool item. This is exactly were the metaphor breaks down for this hat felt. I have brushed the wood chips off, brushed the hat off from branches knocking it off this morning, wiped the dew and brown dirt off resulting from the branch and finally brushed away the finger marks from the barista (pretty young lady) who picked up and admired the hat off the table early this morning. The marks and daily dirt come right off! This lighter felt moves a bit in the gusty winds, but has memory of the crease. I am very pleased and continue to learn from my experience wearing the fedora. The felt has a great texture. It is not smooth, but has a rougher dimension. The pics that Rabbit showed on earlier pages are true for this felt also. Up close it appeals to the eye. In fact, if the barista is an example, it intrigues the viewer to desire to touch the felt. The barista said it drew her to touch it even though she knew not to.

Ribbon work: Ok, I have an under-grad degree in Mech-Eng. and should qualify that I enjoy knowing how things are built. I own up that I did take apart our family lawnmower as a child and put it back together. I just wanted to see how it worked. Admittedly I found that they had added some parts that apparently the mower did not need to work. With said background given; the ribbon work, under close scrutiny is marvelous. Last evening I pulled a glass up to vintage Stetsons, Adam, Lee, Borso.,Cav's and Maysers and had a close look at ribbons. What an education in details of work. Art Fawcett's ribbon work stands TALL in comparison to the best of those ribbons. I would say that it is the tops when it comes to subtlty of the folds, colors and attachments.

More reflections to come ..........