My new [old] No. 1 Quality Stetson "The Wildcatter"

[RBH]

Here is a couple of pics of my newest 'old' Stetson. All it has is
No. 1 Quality Stetson
in the liner. It seems to be vintage as the felt has that feel to it. The crown is fairly soft but the brim is fairly stiff.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2108/1rl9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9026/wildcatterbh3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3706/25556853tpnu2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2299/25556927tpxs9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6764/3wp7.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

And here it is [was] before I worked it over into a fedora style.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6485/25556370tpix9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/723/brown2ww3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[deanglen]

Now that's what I like to see! A man, a hat, and a plan! Darn fine job RBH; put that baby on and let's see it on your noggin! Modding is where it's at! I love the lack of taper! My BCF cheap hats have a tendency to have taper, I suppose because they short the amount of fur felt by keeping the crown low and tapered. I hope you enjoyed making that one! It's great! Is there a bound brim in this hat's future?

dean

 

[RBH]

Is there a bound brim in this hat's future?

dean

If I can get up the nerve.
By the way Dean, how was the wedding?

 

[deanglen]

Nerve? Patience is the key.

dean

 

[Simon82]

Would've never guessed its Western heritage!

RBH,

Yet another wonderful addition to your thin-ribbon collection.:eusa_clap

Nice work -- interesting how the old Cattleman crown wasn't the pronounced "m" (from the front) that it is today (can't stand that on today's western hats).

Nevertheless, there's no shortage of Western hats and too few classic fedoras, so three cheers for your latest work!

 

[ideaguy]

I'm with Dean on this one- the lack of taper really makes the hat
stand tall, as it were; I'm trying to figure a way to gently stretch
a few hats and not grow a taper- I'm a straight-sided kind of guy-
or, if miracles do happen, the exact hat your showing with a
reverse taper would suit me dandy. You did a great job!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[deanglen]

I have found that center dent bashing is the key to avoiding taper, IF the hat when open crowned is aleady tapered. If not tapered when open crowned, it will result in reverse taper, if the center dent is deep enough. I know that RBH, IDEAGUY and myself, lean toward C-crowns, but I have found you need zero taper in the open crown to avoid taper with the C or tear drop crowns. I have a "L" charcoal color hat from BCF that I steamed and pushed out the crown to its full openess, and it has taper already in it. I originaly C-crowned it, but got taper that looked reminiscient of Chico Marx's hat. I switched to a center dent, pushed deep enough to reduce taper, especially in the rear. There is still some taper, but a lot less noticable.

dean

 

[RBH]

Thanks everyone !

I think the key to non taper is a tall crown.
Like Dean I think 'most' modern hats now have a shorter crown. Im sure that the crease style does play in to it somewhat, but the main cause is short crowns.

 

[John in Covina]

The Wildcatter!

Man, that turned out really cool! i picture that hat on the top of the head of a tough Wildcatter oil man out to check up on how the drilling is going on his latest wildcat well.

Best wishes!

Here is a couple of pics of my newest 'old' Stetson. All it has is
No. 1 Quality Stetson in the liner. It seems to be vintage as the felt has that feel to it. The crown is fairly soft but the brim is fairly stiff.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2108/1rl9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8962/2oy8.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3706/25556853tpnu2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2299/25556927tpxs9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6764/3wp7.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

And here it is [was] before I worked it over into a fedora style.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6485/25556370tpix9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/723/brown2ww3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[RBH]

The Wildcatter !!!

The Wildcatter !

THANKS JOHN!!!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap
You just gave my Stetson [that had no name{other than No 1 Quality}] a name.
And a COOL one at that.

 

[deanglen]

TERRIFIC NAME! John nailed it! "The Wildcatter" by RBH. I like the sound of that!

dean

 

[deanglen]

I think the key to non taper is a tall crown.
Like Dean I think 'most' modern hats now have a shorter crown. Im sure that the crease style does play in to it somewhat, but the main cause is short crowns.

You're right. If the crown is tall enough, centerdented or otherwise will make no difference. If the crown is short, taper is harder to avoid. I should have written: "Crown heigth is the key. A centerdent will help reduce the taper somewhat, but when you're out of felt, you're out of felt, and to completely eliminate the taper, or achieve reverse taper would require reducing the crown to an unwearable heigth." I hope you'll post a shot wearing "The Wildcatter" , RBH. Or are you manfully stitching a bound brim onto it even as I type this? Then again, does a bound brim suit a rough and tumble hat like "The WIldcatter"? Hmmmm.


dean

 

[PeeWee]

Nice job..I'll keep my eye out for a western hat to make the transform.

 

[John in Covina]

What it means, The Wildcatter.

Glad to help, it was fun. A while back, a famous hatter asked about names and I sent a list of names.
My reason for all of them is to harken back to an earlier age and find a name that resounds with elements of what we are looking for in adventure, travel, stately, grand or gritty.

The picture of this hat said outdoors and man of action, with the sense of leadership, but not in the grand wealthy way of inheritance but someone that earned it, and took chances when it seemed the cards were right.

The old "Wildcatters" that drilled for oil didn't have the fancy stuff we have now, but could read the geologists report and look at the land and say, "Here, we drill right here!"

So there is some boom and bust in that hat but the resiliancey to pick youself up and start all over again, with the ability to scrap it up when necessary.

Wear it in good health and adventure!

 

[RBH]

The "Wildcatter" in action

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/1510/wc1ba1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[RBH]

Glad to help, it was fun. A while back, a famous hatter asked about names and I sent a list of names.
My reason for all of them is to harken back to an earlier age and find a name that resounds with elements of what we are looking for in adventure, travel, stately, grand or gritty.

The picture of this hat said outdoors and man of action, with the sense of leadership, but not in the grand wealthy way of inheritance but someone that earned it, and took chances when it seemed the cards were right.

The old "Wildcatters" that drilled for oil didn't have the fancy stuff we have now, but could read the geologists report and look at the land and say, "Here, we drill right here!"

So there is some boom and bust in that hat but the resiliancey to pick youself up and start all over again, with the ability to scrap it up when necessary.

Wear it in good health and adventure!

WOW John, you are good.
You nailed it for me. Thats the feeling I get from this hat. A tough yet classic kinda look.
Thanks...

 

[deanglen]

Can't help but appreciate that hat, RBH! AWESOME photo. Brings out the rich brown of the felt...and the ribbon. You'll be getting orders for "The Wildcatter"!

dean

 

[RBH]

This will make it" The Wildcatter"

I just had to get this. It will make the hat.
I think it will look good on the bow, kinda like the pins on a Stratoliner.
I plan on replacing the pin back with a clasp type pin. It was just to cool to pass up.
p.s. see what you started John.. :eusa_doh:
lol lol lol


<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7791/oilvu5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[deanglen]

The pin is the coup de grace! MORE PICTURES! DIFFERENT ANGLES! Are you thinking about your next one?

dean

 

[Manny Tavares]

A very, very nice looking hat. I like the style and the crown height is perfect.