Hat blocking service in Seattle?

[DickWhitmanMM]

Now that the great Mad Hatter is no more, I have a vintage Stetson I need cleaned and blocked, and don’t know where to start.
Who does this now? I live in greater Seattle area…
Thanks!

 

[Lew Decker]

Who was the great Mad Hatter?

 

[DickWhitmanMM]

A gentleman in Seattle who was well known and respected by all. I went to his store/service place around 2008 and he was THE go-to guy for all things hats. I heard he closed down his store and may’ve passed away. Not entirely sure, but he’s nowhere to be found.

 

[jlee562]

I don't think she is accepting reblocks at the moment, but it wouldn't hurt to check with Eclipse hat shop at Pike Place.

 

[Frunobulax]

A gentleman in Seattle who was well known and respected by all. I went to his store/service place around 2008 and he was THE go-to guy for all things hats. I heard he closed down his store and may’ve passed away. Not entirely sure, but he’s nowhere to be found.

Is the identity some sort of state secret? Why be coy?

 

[belfastboy]

Now that the great Mad Hatter is no more, I have a vintage Stetson I need cleaned and blocked, and don’t know where to start.
Who does this now? I live in greater Seattle area…
Thanks!

Did she close down? I was just in there last month. She has a wonderful collection of vintage hat makers tools that she inherited from the original owner. There are fewer and fewer hat makers that still handle refurbishments. I do them but located in Canada. Mail will run you about $24 each way. Mike at Northwest hats used to do restorations but not sure now...might be worth a check. Scott at FineVintageFedoras on Etsy (Wisconsin) advertises restorations.

 

[belfastboy]

I don't think she is accepting reblocks at the moment, but it wouldn't hurt to check with Eclipse hat shop at Pike Place.

Thank you. I mixed up The Mad Hatter with Eclipse. I am pretty sure she does refurbs. There is also www.devuonohats.com. she is a milliner but may stray into restorations.

 

[DickWhitmanMM]

Is the identity some sort of state secret? Why be coy?

Coy? That’s all I remember about him! Others in Seattle here likely know more. It was 15 years ago, dude

 

[belfastboy]

Coy? That’s all I remember about him! Others in Seattle here likely know more. It was 15 years ago, dude

The only full service hat shop I recall in Seattle was Bernie Utz but he was right downtown.

 

[DickWhitmanMM]

The only full service hat shop I recall in Seattle was Bernie Utz but he was right downtown.

I dug it up. This is from a post I made here in 2008:
Conley Hats, “The mad hatter,” is sir ALEXANDER CONLEY at 1112 34th Ave. (just south of East Union Street on 34th).
*He makes custom-made hats as well, very cool guy, he said he's 73.
That would make him about 88 today.

 

[DickWhitmanMM]

I dug it up. This is from a post I made here in 2008:
Conley Hats, “The mad hatter,” is sir ALEXANDER CONLEY at 1112 34th Ave. (just south of East Union Street on 34th).
*He makes custom-made hats as well, very cool guy, he said he's 73.
That would make him about 88 today.

And, I just found out he passed away in 2014: this is from a post I just found on Fedora Lounge:

[IMG alt="bendingoak"]https://www.thefedoralounge.com/data/avatars/m/6/6243.jpg?1461113199[/IMG]

bendingoak​

Vendor​

I'm so sorry to report with a heavy heart that master hatter Alexander Conley has passed away. I meet him a couple years ago and he opened his doors to me and we talked shop for a couple hours. He is a true gentlemen and great hat maker. Hatting world has lost a great one.

 

[DickWhitmanMM]

Coyness resolved.