The Shadow's Fedora...

[Spats McGee]

Gotta admit, I think Duck's is a good rendition. Nicely done, Duck.

 

[Duck]

Thanks, guys. About the only black hats I wear are westerns, so I used one of the spares to play with.

 

[Daoud]

Another "The Shadow" Hat!!!

Boys, I am comin' a little late to this party, but I have here what I believe to be a faithful replica of the infamous fedora of Lamont Cranston's alter-ego-

This started out as an Amish hat made by Flying Cloud. I got it VERY cheap, although it is a well-made hat- built like a tank and about as pliable. Stiffest hat I ever encountered- felt like it was carved out of wood, only lighter.

Anyway, it wasn't going to get worn, by me anyway. So, after seeing this thread, I decided to re-invent my Amish hat as something a bit more exciting, a bit noir. So I opened the crown up, which took some doing. Got it nice and round then proceeded to crease it. After studying a bunch of Shadow portrayals, it seemed to me that what was wanted was a good deep center crease with VERY exaggerated dents on the side- almost a cattleman's crease but flared out at the top as you see.

I need to hit it with another good wallop of steam and get the dents set in a little deeper- they popped back out a little. Like I said, Flying Cloud must buy their stiffener by the tanker-truck load. The 3 1/2" brim is slightly curled in back and a bit more so in front. The ribbon is about the right width. All in all, I think it is a pretty good rendition.

 

[Torpedo]

Hi Daoud,

I think you have nailed it! The narrower ribbon matches better the references, too.

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Craig Robertson]

Yoiks, Doud! That's very faithful...good job! The Pulp character, like many, was exaggerated in many ways, and I think the hat he wore was exaggerated a bit too.

 

[Akubra Man]

Yep ... you got it right. :eusa_clap

 

[Daoud]

Thanks, y'all. Well, that's the thing- when re-creating a hat from a comic book, you can't let yourself be bound by reality too much- it will only cramp your style. Exaggeration is the key. To be completely accurate, the crown should probably be even taller and the brim wider. And then have a bunch of run-ins with evildoers to get that lumpy look which this one has not yet acheived .

 

[just_me]

Daoud - are you going to wear it?

 

[Belegnole]

Wow Daoud, You did better than the Hollywood guys and all their money.....nice job!

 

[Daoud]

Thanks again. I'm just an old improviser from 'way back.

As far as wearing it, I dunno....it's pretty dramatic-looking; not your all-occasion hat. It needs to be worn, though, to loosen it up a little. It's awfully rigid.

 

[just_me]

Thanks again. I'm just an old improviser from 'way back.

As far as wearing it, I dunno....it's pretty dramatic-looking; not your all-occasion hat. It needs to be worn, though, to loosen it up a little. It's awfully rigid.

I think it's great looking. Go for it!

 

[Woodfluter]

Found a couple of things that may help in the quest....
Of course the series took a number of forms from radio to pulp to tv to the movies. The most idealized hats were the comic or pulp covers where the crown of the hat is deformed. It almost apears as if the hat has had a wee bit if shrinkage. In the serials and earlier movies it was a more normal fedora.

1940's series:

This was not a conscious effort to emulate, but I believe it turned out somewhat like the hat in the Victor Jory movie poster.

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Movie crown a tad higher and straighter from the front, perhaps, and ribbon wider (but was stingy in the pulps!) An Akubra "Rodeo" with 3.5" brim cut down to 2.75", crown reshaped, and new ribbon made - yes, it's navy blue on a black hat.

- Bill

 

[tonyb]

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Movie crown a tad higher and straighter from the front, perhaps, and ribbon wider (but was stingy in the pulps!) An Akubra "Rodeo" with 3.5" brim cut down to 2.75", crown reshaped, and new ribbon made - yes, it's navy blue on a black hat.

- Bill

That's nice, Bill. Who did the modifications?

 

[Woodfluter]

That's nice, Bill. Who did the modifications?

Umm, that would be moi. I've gotten good enough at trimming brims by hand that I can't see that it's been altered at all (scissors, then tiny plane, then files, then flame to burn off stray bits of felt). Crown mods as per innumerable steamy threads on this fine forum. Ribbon...I really need to get something decent, but used rayon here, having figured out a way to differentially stretch it and make it curve to match taper. But rayon/cotton would be better, youbetcha.

I got this hat for rather little on eBay, being attracted by the high and fairly straight crown, and it turned out to have a surprisingly soft high crown, which was nice.

- Bill

 

[Daoud]

That IS a good 'un. Looks nice and soft. Mine, you could throw it and kill someone like Oddjob.

 

[Akubra Man]

it's navy blue on a black hat

:eusa_clap
That tricks my eye into seeing the hat as very dark navy ... could be my monitor but it still looks fantastic. I have a black fedora which is a re-blocked and cut down Akubra Kiandra that is going to get a new navy 5/8' ribbon inspired by yours.

 

[tonyb]

Umm, that would be moi. I've gotten good enough at trimming brims by hand that I can't see that it's been altered at all (scissors, then tiny plane, then files, then flame to burn off stray bits of felt). Crown mods as per innumerable steamy threads on this fine forum. Ribbon...I really need to get something decent, but used rayon here, having figured out a way to differentially stretch it and make it curve to match taper. But rayon/cotton would be better, youbetcha.

I got this hat for rather little on eBay, being attracted by the high and fairly straight crown, and it turned out to have a surprisingly soft high crown, which was nice.

- Bill

As I suspected. The ribbon work looks to be more carefully executed than what you'll see on the large majority of factory-made hats these days.

The bow style has a simple elegance, Bill, and the dimensions balance nicely.

 

[Woodfluter]

As I suspected. The ribbon work looks to be more carefully executed than what you'll see on the large majority of factory-made hats these days.

The bow style has a simple elegance, Bill, and the dimensions balance nicely.

Wow, I am truly honored, as this comes from a person of your accomplishments. Wish I could find a blushing smiley. Thanks Tony!

I did put some thought into the dimensions, angles and pucker etc, so it's very nice to see that appreciated.

- Bill

 

[Duck]

Nice job Bill!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
The ribbon work is very nice.

 

[RBH]

Daoud and Bill fantastic work!!!

Hey Duck, you may need to wear your SHADOW fedora to Monteagle.... there are sure to be some evil doers there!!! lol