Schubert Hats--Australian Model--Clipper hat review

[crismans]

I have gotten into hats through the Indiana Jones movies (yes, I can feel some of you cringing, but it has let to a general like of hats that I didn't have before). One hat from the movie that I always wanted was the "clipper" hat he wears as he is boarding the plane in Raiders (he also wears it in the scene on the steps in Washington at the end of the movie). A friend of mine has started making hats to the Raiders movie (matched to whatever scene you like the best) and I decided to take a shot and am very glad I did.

I received my Schubert Hats, Australian model a couple of days ago and I couldn’t be more pleased. The bash had popped out a little, so I'm working it back in (so any problem inherent in the bash are all mine, not Kurt's and this explains why the bash is sharper in the last two pics than the first since I'd worked its some more). The hat is a very substantial rabbit that feels like it could take a ton of abuse. The pouncing job is excellent with a nice smooth finish. The brim was nice and floppy right out of the box. The crown, while a little stiff at first, is really beginning to break in as I wear it and keep working the bash. The ribbon work is very good as is the stitching. The sweat is black with a gold band and Schubert hats written in cursive font. Very classy as is the plain white liner. As far as the feel of the sweat, it is very nice and soft and conforms well to the head. As for the ribbon, it has very nice bow work.

The hatter has tried to get as close to the Clipper hat in color as possible. No easy task as arguments have raged over this hat’s color for years. However, to my eye and in my mind, he has gotten EXTREMELY close to the color you see on screen, which is exactly what I was going for.

The shape is pure Raiders. I know that my friend has put a lot of energy into working on getting the block shape right and it shows up in spades once you have the finished hat in hand. I think he really nails the block shape.

I have searched for the Clipper hat for a while. I bought an Akubra in moonstone but never could “grow into it”. Nothing against the hat, but the color was more CS grey than Raiders and, as has been well documented, I never could get the center bash deep enough without it riding on my head.

This hat has delivered everything I was looking for and more. I couldn’t be happier with it and look forward to wearing it with my wardrobe that doesn’t venture into “earth” tones.

Here's some pics (ignore the grimace on the last couple. It's not the hat, I promise. It was 90 degrees + and bright as could be!)

He's got a website if you're interested in seeing some of his other work.

http://australianmodelhat.com/

 

[Tone]

Well, he's got a Raiders crease in it that you see in any self-styled Indy hat nowadays on a few on his website...but...reminds me of a Todd's Costumes Downtowner in gray (or maybe a FED IV in a center dent instead of the usual C-Crown?) for some reason.

Really? $500 for a custom rabbit felt?

 

[crismans]

The crown is definitely taller than an akubra. I can never get the center dent deep enough in an akubra without it touching my head. No problem with this one.

 

[Tone]

Don't know if it's taller by much when you see both in an actual center-dent. You could C-crown that one, too, and give it the same FED IV look, I suppose.

 

[elvisroe]

Interesting, I've never heard of them before I guess they're pretty new on the scene[huh] I'd like to know a bit more about the hatter, not a stack of info on the site yet.

Nice looking hats - although the "distressed" look reminded me of the spray-on-mud they sell to make your SUV look more adventurous! Still, even with the fake mud they're a damn sight better than those ridiculous "official" Indy hats. I like the way he's ducked copyright by linking to the toy hat sights, the comparison certainly works in his favour!

Glad you like your clipper.

 

[hatophile]

I will say, Crismans the hat looks very good on you, and I especially like the setting with the vintage Ford, beautiful color!

 

[Tone]

The crown is definitely taller than an akubra. I can never get the center dent deep enough in an akubra without it touching my head. No problem with this one.

Taller than which Akubra?

The Campdraft and FED III;
The Bushman and Adventurer;
or the FED IV and Squatter?

What's the deep enough center dent look like on you in that from the top?

 

[crismans]

Taller than which Akubra?

The Campdraft and FED III;
The Bushman and Adventurer;
or the FED IV and Squatter?

What's the deep enough center dent look like on you in that from the top?

Taller than the Fed IV. The overall crown shape is different as well, imo, closer to the Raiders look (which isn't a surprise since, it's my understanding, the Fed IV was based on a vintage block which approximates the Crystal Skull look).