Hatco Tour

[buler]

These are my pics from the HATCO outing. They are in order as I took them. I'll caption the ones that I remember what was going on.

B

Old logo Stetson truck. Wish it was still full of period hats...

Flipped this pic to show the Resistol Hats sign on roof of factory

Arrival at the outlet store

Inside the outlet store

Matt introducing us to Dan

Hat bodies as they arrive at the factory

 

[buler]

HATCO factory and outlet store tour cont..

 

[buler]

HATCO factory and outlet store tour cont..

Pouncing area

Lots of old equipment still in use

Brim pouncing

If you look close at the bottom right of the hat in the top row far right you can see the flame from the guy "torching" the hats

 

[buler]

HATCO factory and outlet store tour cont..

Blocking

Brim trimming

Smile your on camera...

 

[buler]

HATCO factory and outlet store tour cont..

Brim trimming

Liner sewing

Liner tips

Sweatbands

 

[buler]

Liner tip selection

Heidelberg tip printing machine

Sweatband stamping

You can see the Stetson die layed out

 

[buler]

HATCO factory and outlet store tour cont..

Finishing workers doing western bands

Josh spotted some of the new Strats

I'll post pics from the straw factory later.

B

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

I'm going to bring this thread back to the top for a little while. A buddy of mine went to Garland Texas to pick up an antique car so I gave him a list and had him stop by the Outlet Store. He called me yesterday and I was able to pick up very good quality Stetson Stratoliner in Silverbelly and one in Caribou for $150.00! My buddy also picked up a fedora hat off the sale rack for me but wouldn't tell me what it was. He said it was only $20 so I'll just have to wait and see. I just ordered one of the Stratoliner Milans the other day so I've just picked up four new hats this week-LOL!

 

[gtdean48]

Nice scores!

I'm going to bring this thread back to the top for a little while. A buddy of mine went to Garland Texas to pick up an antique car so I gave him a list and had him stop by the Outlet Store. He called me yesterday and I was able to pick up very good quality Stetson Stratoliner in Silverbelly and one in Caribou for $150.00! My buddy also picked up a fedora hat off the sale rack for me but wouldn't tell me what it was. He said it was only $20 so I'll just have to wait and see. I just ordered one of the Stratoliner Minlans the other day so I've just picked up four new hats this week-LOL!

 

[RBH]

Really nice!

 

[Mark Butcher]

That Heidelberg is old school. It was one of the first presses I ran when I started in the printing trade. This looked like a very cool tour.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Great pictures, they show good details of the work being put into making hats! Thank you very much for posting them here for all of us to view!

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Yeah, I can't believe how this thread had dropped with little or no comments. I actually meant to pin my comments to the other HatCo Tour where they toured the Outlet Store but I found this one very interesting.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

It's a Hat Extravaganza at my house today. My Milan Strat showed up Fed Ex from MensHats.com, my Silverbelly Strat showd up from the HatCo Outlet UPS and my buddy made it back from the HatCo Outlet with my Caribou Strat and a nice Dobbs in Brown that he thought I'd like. Now................how and I going to hide all of these hats? LOL

 

[Duper]

Happy Hatapalooza Terry!

 

[DJH]

Could have been worse, Terry. You might have been out and your wife there to receive these packages!

 

[MCGMB]

Very nice tour, and pics! Thanks for posting.

Whenever I've called the outlet store, they've been very nice and fast with service. Glad to see the operation and hear that the experience there was positive.

 

[RockyNomad]

Sorry to bring this thread back but I've been considering my first fedora. I'm considering an Akubra or a Stetson. I like the sutley and almost pulled the trigger on one on eBay but it had a hole in it so I decided against it. Money is a big factor. How does it work shopping over the phone through the outlet and can you get some pretty good deals?

 

[MCGMB]

As long as you know your size along with the model and color of hat you want, and they ha e it (they don't always) it works beautifully. The prices will almost certainly be lower than what you can find elsewhere for new stock, but exactly how much less is variable.

Do your research beforehand, and give 'em a call.

 

[RockyNomad]

I was reading in another thread how the quality of modern Stetsons has gone downhill. Has that improved since the thread started a few years ago or should I look more for an Akubra?