Sourcing Hat Blocks

[milandro]

does anyone know what happened to the Dutch company , Hatblocks Holland, making aluminum hatblocks?

The site is dead

They simply seem to have disappeared from the radar a few years ago (the latest I have found on line was 2016), judging by the size of their operation t

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

It has been some time and there are some updates needed to the list from post #1

Wood Hat Block Makers
- Hatters Supply House (Kip McLeland) http://hatterssupplyhouse.com (Blocks, flanges, other tools)
- JW Hats (US) http://www.jwhats.com (Unknown if JWs successor is manufacturing hat blocks or not)
- Millinery-Ezone.com (US) http://www.auctiva.com/stores/viewstore2.aspx?id=517324&styleid=117&siteid=0
- LaMode West (US) http://www.lamodewoodhatblocks.com/
- Melbourne Hatblocks (AU) http://www.melbournehatblocks.com.au/
- Hat Blocks Australia (AU) http://www.hatblocksaustralia.com.au/
- Guy Morse-Brown (UK) http://www.hatblocks.co.uk/
- Hat Blocks Direct (UK) http://www.hatblocksdirect.co.uk/
- Boon & Lane Limited (UK) http://hatblockstore.co.uk/
- Hat Blocks Holland (NL) http://www.hatblocksholland.com/
- Van der Broek (NL) http://www.hoedenmallen.nl/
- Fred's Hat Blocks (US) http://www.fredraab.com/hatblocks/
- The Kacprzak Family Studio Hat Blocks (PO) https://www.etsy.com/shop/borsolino
- Wylde & Waite (UK) https://wyldeandwaite.com/hat-blocks/

Lounge Member Hat Block Makers (Wood)
- @Rockwater has made some beautiful hat blocks for other members.

Aluminum Hat Block Makers
- Korber Hats http://www.korberhats.com/tour.html
- Boon & Lane Limited http://hatblockstore.co.uk/
- Roberto Gerardi http://www.formecappelli.com/

Plastic Hat Block Makers
- Hat Shapers http://www.hatshapers.com/

Plastic Hat Block Makers (3D Printed)
- Randal Alan (US) https://www.etsy.com/shop/RandalAlan

Hat Block Sellers
- Wayne Wichern Millinery http://www.waynewichernmillinery.com/Millinery_Blocks.htm
- Manhatco http://manhatco.com/502/Workshop_Tools
- Manny's Millinery Supply http://shop.mannys-millinery.com/category.sc?categoryId=33
- Home Groan http://www.homegroan.com/millinery.html
- Hat Supply http://www.hatsupply.com/hatblocks.htm
- MacCullock & Wallis https://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/c/774/hat-blocks
- Easy Hat Blocks http://www.easyhatblocks.com/

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It has been some time and there are some updates needed to the list from post #1

Wood Hat Block Makers
- Hatters Supply House (Kip McLeland) http://hatterssupplyhouse.com (Blocks, flanges, other tools)
- JW Hats (US) http://www.jwhats.com (Unknown if JWs successor is manufacturing hat blocks or not)
- Millinery-Ezone.com (US) http://www.auctiva.com/stores/viewstore2.aspx?id=517324&styleid=117&siteid=0
- LaMode West (US) http://www.lamodewoodhatblocks.com/
- Melbourne Hatblocks (AU) http://www.melbournehatblocks.com.au/
- Hat Blocks Australia (AU) http://www.hatblocksaustralia.com.au/
- Guy Morse-Brown (UK) http://www.hatblocks.co.uk/
- Hat Blocks Direct (UK) http://www.hatblocksdirect.co.uk/
- Boon & Lane Limited (UK) http://hatblockstore.co.uk/
- Hat Blocks Holland (NL) http://www.hatblocksholland.com/
- Van der Broek (NL) http://www.hoedenmallen.nl/
- Fred's Hat Blocks (US) http://www.fredraab.com/hatblocks/
- The Kacprzak Family Studio Hat Blocks (PO) https://www.etsy.com/shop/borsolino
- Wylde & Waite (UK) https://wyldeandwaite.com/hat-blocks/

Aluminum Hat Block Makers
- Korber Hats http://www.korberhats.com/tour.html
- Boon & Lane Limited http://hatblockstore.co.uk/
- Roberto Gerardi http://www.formecappelli.com/

Plastic Hat Block Makers
- Hat Shapers http://www.hatshapers.com/

Plastic Hat Block Makers (3D Printed)
- Randal Alan (US) https://www.etsy.com/shop/RandalAlan

Hat Block Sellers
- Wayne Wichern Millinery http://www.waynewichernmillinery.com/Millinery_Blocks.htm
- Manhatco http://manhatco.com/502/Workshop_Tools
- Manny's Millinery Supply http://shop.mannys-millinery.com/category.sc?categoryId=33
- Home Groan http://www.homegroan.com/millinery.html
- Hat Supply http://www.hatsupply.com/hatblocks.htm
- MacCullock & Wallis https://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/c/774/hat-blocks
- Easy Hat Blocks http://www.easyhatblocks.com/

Wow, this is a great update!

 

[AntCarter78]

I am a newbie. I was referred to this website as a starting point. I am in search of hatblocks. I did a search thinking that this has been asked before and nothing came up.

What is a source of blocks and tools? I am very eager to proceed, but need a basic tool set.

My background is in carpentry, jewelry, painting, multimedia and some leather working.
I'm willing to make tools if needed.

Thank you for any help.

 

[belfastboy]

I am a newbie. I was referred to this website as a starting point. I am in search of hatblocks. I did a search thinking that this has been asked before and nothing came up.

What is a source of blocks and tools? I am very eager to proceed, but need a basic tool set.

My background is in carpentry, jewelry, painting, multimedia and some leather working.
I'm willing to make tools if needed.

Thank you for any help.

I began assembling my hat making equipment about 3 years ago and in that time have shopped the world via the internet. In what country are you located?
Have you settled on your size range?
Have you determined what shape/height/profile you need?
What style flange are you after?
I have picked up bits & pieces on Ebay for good prices but in the larger sizes it takes patience as they don't come up often. Ebay is a good source for the smaller sizes....they come up regularly at good prices. The best wooden blocks are from Guy Morse Brown out of the UK and HatBlocksPoland both on Etsy. True craftsmen using Linden wood for their blocks but they are pricey....top of the chain.
There are sellers using 3D Printed PDA blocks but the pricing is not that much cheaper and in my view no where near the quality and durability of wood. But there are hatters that use them and like them.

If you are interested in more detail send me a PM and we can continue this there or via email.

In the beginning I made my own hand tools, tollicker, puller & pusher downer, flange stand. I even made a flange but it took me too damn long so decided my best bet was to buy it from a skilled craftsmen and free my time to make hats.

 

[AntCarter78]

I began assembling my hat making equipment about 3 years ago and in that time have shopped the world via the internet. In what country are you located?
Have you settled on your size range?
Have you determined what shape/height/profile you need?
What style flange are you after?
I have picked up bits & pieces on Ebay for good prices but in the larger sizes it takes patience as they don't come up often. Ebay is a good source for the smaller sizes....they come up regularly at good prices. The best wooden blocks are from Guy Morse Brown out of the UK and HatBlocksPoland both on Etsy. True craftsmen using Linden wood for their blocks but they are pricey....top of the chain.
There are sellers using 3D Printed PDA blocks but the pricing is not that much cheaper and in my view no where near the quality and durability of wood. But there are hatters that use them and like them.

If you are interested in more detail send me a PM and we can continue this there or via email.

In the beginning I made my own hand tools, tollicker, puller & pusher downer, flange stand. I even made a flange but it took me too damn long so decided my best bet was to buy it from a skilled craftsmen and free my time to make hats.

I began assembling my hat making equipment about 3 years ago and in that time have shopped the world via the internet. In what country are you located?
Have you settled on your size range?
Have you determined what shape/height/profile you need?
What style flange are you after?
I have picked up bits & pieces on Ebay for good prices but in the larger sizes it takes patience as they don't come up often. Ebay is a good source for the smaller sizes....they come up regularly at good prices. The best wooden blocks are from Guy Morse Brown out of the UK and HatBlocksPoland both on Etsy. True craftsmen using Linden wood for their blocks but they are pricey....top of the chain.
There are sellers using 3D Printed PDA blocks but the pricing is not that much cheaper and in my view no where near the quality and durability of wood. But there are hatters that use them and like them.

If you are interested in more detail send me a PM and we can continue this there or via email.

In the beginning I made my own hand tools, tollicker, puller & pusher downer, flange stand. I even made a flange but it took me too damn long so decided my best bet was to buy it from a skilled craftsmen and free my time to make hats.

I'm in the US. Tennessee and South Carolina.

I'm interested in forming my own crowns, but I tend to like the fedora. Wide brim mostly.

22" to 23" circumferences. 4 1/2 to 5" tall.

I currently do not have any blocks and am shopping. Asking for any advice before I spend tons of money on items that really might not be what I'm looking for.

 

[belfastboy]

I'm in the US. Tennessee and South Carolina.

I'm interested in forming my own crowns, but I tend to like the fedora. Wide brim mostly.

22" to 23" circumferences. 4 1/2 to 5" tall.

I currently do not have any blocks and am shopping. Asking for any advice before I spend tons of money on items that really might not be what I'm looking for.

I have purchased blocks from around the world.
The best but most expensive: HatBlocksPoland, Guy Morse Brown both have websites and Etsy sites
Good and less expensive: Olala on Etsy. She is in France, sculpts them out of a resin. They work well, she willmake them to your specs. I use them for sizes I don't have a lot of demand. RA Hat blocks 3D printed out of PDA plastic in NY. I have a set from Lithuania but I don't think he is in business any longer.
There is a block maker in Italy, HatBlocksItaly on Instagram. His items look good, he makes them the old fashioned way, hand forming out of wood. The problem with European suppliers is the postage charges are high.

Hatters Supply House/Colorado is a big supplier but their lead time is looooong. I cancelled an order for 3 flanges after 5 months and had 3 months more to wait. Check their website.

I currently have an order in with a local Vancouver woodworker who is embarking on venture to make blocks. He has quoted me two weeks. If you can wait I can give you a report on their quality. He will be cheaper than the market average.
Check Tim @purebeaver on Instagram. He sells all things hat related. Equipment, felts etc. Pricey but he may have quicker delivery. Two days ago there was a seller here looking to unload a full set of blocks for a great price. I passed on it as they had flat tops, no domes at all. Might be worth a look.
Check out a new hatter in Lexington KY...BlueGrassHattersSociety. He was selling some items a while ago. He may have some items or can direct you to someone closer. In the meantime get clear on the sizes, profiles, footprint (long oval, regular oval or?) as the custom makers need to know. Hatters Supply has a good page on their website that shows the profiles of their offerings using industry standard pattern numbers.

Any other questions feel free to ask.
Where do you source your felts?

 

[AntCarter78]

I have purchased blocks from around the world.
The best but most expensive: HatBlocksPoland, Guy Morse Brown both have websites and Etsy sites
Good and less expensive: Olala on Etsy. She is in France, sculpts them out of a resin. They work well, she willmake them to your specs. I use them for sizes I don't have a lot of demand. RA Hat blocks 3D printed out of PDA plastic in NY. I have a set from Lithuania but I don't think he is in business any longer.
There is a block maker in Italy, HatBlocksItaly on Instagram. His items look good, he makes them the old fashioned way, hand forming out of wood. The problem with European suppliers is the postage charges are high.

Hatters Supply House/Colorado is a big supplier but their lead time is looooong. I cancelled an order for 3 flanges after 5 months and had 3 months more to wait. Check their website.

I currently have an order in with a local Vancouver woodworker who is embarking on venture to make blocks. He has quoted me two weeks. If you can wait I can give you a report on their quality. He will be cheaper than the market average.
Check Tim @purebeaver on Instagram. He sells all things hat related. Equipment, felts etc. Pricey but he may have quicker delivery. Two days ago there was a seller here looking to unload a full set of blocks for a great price. I passed on it as they had flat tops, no domes at all. Might be worth a look.
Check out a new hatter in Lexington KY...BlueGrassHattersSociety. He was selling some items a while ago. He may have some items or can direct you to someone closer. In the meantime get clear on the sizes, profiles, footprint (long oval, regular oval or?) as the custom makers need to know. Hatters Supply has a good page on their website that shows the profiles of their offerings using industry standard pattern numbers.

Any other questions feel free to ask.
Where do you source your felts?

Thank you for the info and suggestions. I appreciate it.

So far etsy for most of my purchases

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you for the info and suggestions. I appreciate it.

So far etsy for most of my purchases

I will keep you posted on my new supplier once I received this new set. I just check this morning and the full set of blocks is still for sale on the Classifieds here in the Lounge.

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you for the info and suggestions. I appreciate it.

So far etsy for most of my purchases

If you are in the USA then check out Millinery Warehouse out of NY city. I really like their felts both rabbit and beaver (when they have it). Felts are from Ukraine, top quality at a fair price.

 

[ChicagoWayVito]

I just came across this block maker in France: Didier Laforest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hatsblocks.laforest
Their website unfortunately is down: www.hatsblocks.com (in case it comes back up)

 

[belfastboy]

I just came across this block maker in France: Didier Laforest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hatsblocks.laforest
Their website unfortunately is down: www.hatsblocks.com (in case it comes back up)

I watched a YouTube of the Italian block maker...in his 80's. His family has made the blocks for Borsalino for many years. He does it like this guy the old school way with spoke shaves & chisels.....(Like Guy Morse Brown as well) It will be interesting to see if my guy here in Vancouver can make the CNC machine work. He wants to write the program so he can design the one block and then have the computer size each up up automatically so he does not have to program again for each size. Mostly he is interested in blocks with the fedora bash....the hard ones. He is not sure how he will make the tipper.....yet. I have just commissioned a set of open crown and some basic flanges.