Optimo Cowboy Conversion

[Rick Blaine]

As this was not a DIY project I felt it was less than worthy to include in the “conversion corral” thread.
Prior to my post-graduate education in all things hats here at the FL, I purchased a Stetson 25 sold to me as an Open Road.
I was quite P.O.’d when I finally realized that it was not an O.R. but a C.B. hat. I mulled over my options & then had a brainstorm….I contacted Mr. Graham at OPTIMO HATS in Chi-town and asked him if he could turn this:

Into “The Mitchum” model fedora they offer in their bespoke hats. When he replied in the affirmative I packed that sucker up along with two others in need of refurbishment & off they flew to Chicago. And here are the results:

I teardropped the crown to an extreme & couldn’t be happier with the results. A C-note for the conversion turned a beater I'd rarely wear to a "steppin' out" hat that I wear rarely (cuz' I don't "step out" much any more).

 

[Aerol]

Wow!

Great hat!. Graham does wonderful work. He's my #1 go-to guy.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Rick -- that is just amazing! Good for you! I have long admired the Mitchum as one of Optimo's best looking lids, and the transformation from your "C.B." to a Mitchum is really incredible. Very sharp looking lid, my friend. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL

 

[RBH]

SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!!!!!!!!
Rick that is one nice hat!!!
Great job ...but hey... show us a pic of it on!

 

[Jerekson]

WHOA!

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Wowie, good conversion, great hat!

karol

 

[indycop]

Awesome hat!!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[deanglen]

I think it would have been fine in the Conversion Corral, but I'm just glad to see it anywhere, Rick. Very nice!

dean

 

[jimmy the lid]

Rick -- do you mind sharing the specs on that lid? Width of brim? Height of crown? Width of ribbon?

Cheers,
JtL

 

[fatwoul]

Very, very nice, Rick. As deany the genie (sorry dg lol) already said, it would be a more-than-worthy contribution to the corral, but regardless where it appears, I am very glad to have seen it.

I think you need a certain extra confidence to wear a paler felt; a confidence I don't yet have.

 

[AlanC]

Very, very sharp.

 

[Duck]

Fantastic looking lid, Rick!!! Love that bash!!!!!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Nathan Flowers]

Wow, that is a nice piece of felt.

 

[Razzman]

Wow! Fantastic. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[DOUGLAS]

Beautiful!!

 

[indycop]

Very, very nice, Rick. As deany the genie (sorry dg lol) already said, it would be a more-than-worthy contribution to the corral, but regardless where it appears, I am very glad to have seen it.

I think you need a certain extra confidence to wear a paler felt; a confidence I don't yet have.

You just like the dark side!!lol

 

[ideaguy]

just did a conversion a couple of weeks ago-didn't look anything
like what you got back...think Graham did something wrong, or uh,
maybe I did something wrong, but WOW wotta hat!!:eusa_clap

 

[Akubra Guy]

Thats a BEAUTIFUL conversion. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap I want one like that and I have several vintage CBH's that could be used. How much $$ so I can budget!

Jerry

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks for the positive feedback gents & please forgive my lateness of my response(s), that darn real life keeps rearing its' ugly head.

Rick -- do you mind sharing the specs on that lid? Width of brim? Height of crown? Width of ribbon?

Cheers,
JtL

I will measure out the specs when I get home so I can be exact. (& attempt a self-portrait, still not my forte', I am afraid)
Frankly in retrospect I am a bit surprised that Optimo consented to the conversion. It was probably less than tactful of me to request a design similar to one of their signature lids... :eusa_doh:
but they are nothing if not gracious & customer oriented. Really a super shop.

Thats a BEAUTIFUL conversion. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap I want one like that and I have several vintage CBH's that could be used. How much $$ so I can budget!

Jerry

The top o' the line refurb, tearing down the hat to its constituent parts & reblocking/rebuilding was runnin' right at a hundred bucks...

 

[Akubra Guy]

Worth every penny and then some for those results!