Fine Hat Primer

[fmw]

I was in the mood to write this evening so I put up the beginning of a primer on fine hats on my blog. Check it out here if you have the time and let me know if you think it is worth finishing.

 

[Lefty]

Milan (small m) is named for Milan.

 

[DudeInBlack]

An excellent article, fmw. It teaches the fundamentals that every aspiring fine hat wearer should know (perfect for a rookie like myself ) in a clear, well paced, friendly fashion with great pictures.
A little rough at the very end. Might want to clean it up with a conclusion or a "to be continued...".

Absolutely worth finishing. I would love to learn more.

--

 

[fmw]

Thanks. It has no conclusion. I just wrote until I got tired and published it. I'll keep at it. Lefty, Thanks for the correction. I'll reword that.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Great job and not an easy task.

 

[flyfishark]

Excellent! I might actually learn something about hats. Thanks

 

[gtdean48]

Thanks. It has no conclusion. I just wrote until I got tired and published it. I'll keep at it. Lefty, Thanks for the correction. I'll reword that.

Think this is a typo = "By the way, if a hat isn’t had woven in or around Ecuador from toquilla "

 

[fmw]

Typo, indeed. Thanks. I haven't yet applied a spell checker to it even though the spell checker wouldn't have caught that one.

 

[bowlerman]

That's great, Fred! A perfect introduction-- wish I had read that a few years ago before I jumped in the water with no knowledge whatsoever!

Re: your homburg photo-- I've been under the impression that the pictured crease is simply a "center crease" where a center dent would imply a crease down the middle with two forward dents. I could easily be mistaken, however.

 

[bostonbrewer]

Great article and very useful for me since I'm just starting out with fine hats. If you ever look to add additional materials into your article, as bowlerman said, perhaps some definitions. What is a center crease, a center dent, an "indy"? What is a stingy brim (just a short 1.5" or less brim)?? Why can some hats have their brim repositioned and others either just flop around, or are stiff and can't move (is it the quality of the felt)??

I'm still learning, and your article was very helpful, thank you.

 

[Hoyt Clagwell]

Very easy to read enjoyable article.I like the common sense approach you take,not only in your blog,but your postings as well.While I don't always agree 100% with your point of view (98% would be close),I always look forward to reading what you have to say, and usually learn somthing.Thanks.

 

[hatophile]

Nicely done, fmw.

 

[Big Fella]

Great!! Please finish the article!!!

 

[Cliffnopus]

I think it's worth completing. well done.

Cliff

 

[John in Covina]

It is a wonderful start. Proof reading is always best when at some point you have others do it because if you are like me, you hear it in your head the way it is supposed to be and can gloss over errors without picking them up when re-reading.

 

[gtdean48]

... where a center dent would imply a crease down the middle with two forward dents. I could easily be mistaken, however.

What you describe is a center dent with a front pinch.

 

[John in Covina]

If you see pictures of modern Open Road hats from Stetson they have a center dent but have side dents in what some term a Cattleman's Crease. The same crease does get used on fedora type hats. I know I have seen Shemp Howard with the Cattleman's Crease and I think maybe Pres. Truman. If you look at the WWII and before pictures of the Presidents and the cabinette that crease comes on fairly regularly.

 

[gtdean48]

If you see pictures of modern Open Road hats from Stetson they have a center dent but have side dents in what some term a Cattleman's Crease. The same crease does get used on fedora type hats. I know I have seen Shemp Howard with the Cattleman's Crease and I think maybe Pres. Truman. If you look at the WWII and before pictures of the Presidents and the cabinette that crease comes on fairly regularly.

aka Alpine crease

 

[danofarlington]

If you see pictures of modern Open Road hats from Stetson they have a center dent but have side dents in what some term a Cattleman's Crease. The same crease does get used on fedora type hats. I know I have seen Shemp Howard with the Cattleman's Crease and I think maybe Pres. Truman. If you look at the WWII and before pictures of the Presidents and the cabinette that crease comes on fairly regularly.

FDR too.

 

[jlee562]

Bravo, a great read!