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Northwest Hats, Eugene, Ore.

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,838
Location
Central Texas

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,162
Location
North Texas
Silverbelly from Mike Miller arrived today. A thing of beauty. It's been in the mid 90s here. May have to wait a couple of months before wearing it out for the first time. But, as I enter this post, it feels very good on my bald head.

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First outing for my first felt from Mike Miller. My second felt from Mike is in the queue.

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jonesy86

I'll Lock Up
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4,610
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Kauai
I had a similar hat with a bit narrower brim that I sold to the good doctor Max aka @drmaxtejeda. I wanted a taller crown and wider brim. So I shamelessly stole (with permission) this combo from Doug aka @Tukwila. I find I really like Doug's collection.

It was finished today and will ship Friday. Silverbelly with copper ribbon. 5 3/4" crown, 3" brim front and back, 2 7/8" sides.

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Doug in his silverbelly. When I was describing what I wanted, as soon as I mentioned Doug, Mike Miller knew exactly what I wanted.
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I may have to order a “Doug” as well!
 

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,162
Location
North Texas

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,162
Location
North Texas
This arrived today. It's a Fepsa beaver felt made for Engel & Co. Hatters in slate-blue. It started out with a 6 1/2" crown (open) and 2 5/8" brim. I sent it to Mike Miller to work his magic. The result is a complete refurbishment. The crown is now 5 1/2" open and the brim is 2 3/4". He had to trim the brim to make it even all around. Before it was 2 5/8" in front and on one side. It was 2 1/2" on the back and the other side. I supplied the 1 5/8" striped gray ribbon.

24190EFE-3672-4761-99DE-D8DF8160A8FF.jpeg 749CFB16-4AF5-4490-AE31-4E3DDF578C9C.jpeg 3CEEAB08-8C1E-40E9-9233-1B5C0DE76CEC.jpeg AA010D58-3EC2-4D04-BCED-85A219C718E3.jpeg 2022FF52-ADDB-476A-A4E0-A2D5E4BC408B.jpeg D2907374-777A-45A9-BF76-AA551D014700.jpeg B9720A19-8F97-4E90-A0C8-E557F4861FDD.jpeg

This was how it looked originally.
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Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,838
Location
Central Texas
That makes a powerful statement, Bill. Very nice job by Northwest Hats. I have one in their queue myself and looking forward to getting it here.

This arrived today. It's a Fepsa beaver felt made for Engel & Co. Hatters in slate-blue. It started out with a 6 1/2" crown (open) and 2 5/8" brim. I sent it to Mike Miller to work his magic. The result is a complete refurbishment. The crown is now 5 1/2" open and the brim is 2 3/4". He had to trim the brim to make it even all around. Before it was 2 5/8" in front and on one side. It was 2 1/2" on the back and the other side. I supplied the 1 5/8" striped gray ribbon.QUOTE]
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
This arrived today. It's a Fepsa beaver felt made for Engel & Co. Hatters in slate-blue. It started out with a 6 1/2" crown (open) and 2 5/8" brim. I sent it to Mike Miller to work his magic. The result is a complete refurbishment. The crown is now 5 1/2" open and the brim is 2 3/4". He had to trim the brim to make it even all around. Before it was 2 5/8" in front and on one side. It was 2 1/2" on the back and the other side. I supplied the 1 5/8" striped gray ribbon.

View attachment 210984 View attachment 210985 View attachment 210986 View attachment 210987 View attachment 210988 View attachment 210989 View attachment 210990

This was how it looked originally.
View attachment 210991

very nice, Bill. Can we ask you to compare the felt to Winchester’s?
 

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,162
Location
North Texas
I bought this used directly from Nicholas Engel. He said it is approximately 20 years old. According to him the fur used is the same as is used in the Optimo 1000 hoods. Of course, I have no way of proving this one way or another. But, I will say that this Fepsa hood seems to me to be of better quality than the Winchester hats I have. (I have 7 beavers from Art Fawcett, 2 from Black Sheep, 2 from Gannon, 2 from Northwest, and 1 Penman). I assume all of those are Winchester hoods.

I talked with Mike Miller about the hat when he first received it. He agreed it seemed to be nicer than the Winchester counterparts. I don't know the price difference between a beaver Winchester hood and a beaver hood from Fepsa. But, since they aren't used that much in the USA, I would think the hatters don't think the price justifiable. It does have a nice hand and color is unique. It is lighter in weight than all the custom beavers I have except the ArtLite. Max aka @drmaxtejeda recently bought one used directly from Nicholas Engel. Maybe he can chime in with his opinions. He has way more hats to use for comparison.
 
Messages
10,832
Location
vancouver, canada
I bought this used directly from Nicholas Engel. He said it is approximately 20 years old. According to him the fur used is the same as is used in the Optimo 1000 hoods. Of course, I have no way of proving this one way or another. But, I will say that this Fepsa hood seems to me to be of better quality than the Winchester hats I have. (I have 7 beavers from Art Fawcett, 2 from Black Sheep, 2 from Gannon, 2 from Northwest, and 1 Penman). I assume all of those are Winchester hoods.

I talked with Mike Miller about the hat when he first received it. He agreed it seemed to be nicer than the Winchester counterparts. I don't know the price difference between a beaver Winchester hood and a beaver hood from Fepsa. But, since they aren't used that much in the USA, I would think the hatters don't think the price justifiable. It does have a nice hand and color is unique. It is lighter in weight than all the custom beavers I have except the ArtLite. Max aka @drmaxtejeda recently bought one used directly from Nicholas Engel. Maybe he can chime in with his opinions. He has way more hats to use for comparison.
As a comparison to Mike's pricing for a beaver custom....Nicholas Engel charges $1500 for a custom, raw edge brim, 100% Fepsa beaver belly fur.
 

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