Who reblocks hats around here?

[GoneSolo]

I recently purchased a hat on ebay and it really needs a good cleaning, blocking and a new sweatband. Who around here does this?

 

[DOUGLAS]

Duane, at The Fedora Store. He does cleaning and reblocking and is very reasonable.

www.thefedorastore.com

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Optimo....

I use Optimo Hat Company.

http://www.optimohats.com/thecompany.htm

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Art Fawcett has been good to me. And quite the gentleman, as well.
NB

 

[feltfan]

Art Fawcett has been good to me.

NB, maybe you missed the announcement?

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=12573

Unfortunately, we can no longer send hats to Art for cleaning,
blocking, or renovation. I have been asking for recommendations
here for other sources. I do recall some recommendations, but
now I can't find them! I have sent three hats to Optimo, and they
came out okay. I suggest being very specific about what you want.
For example, 'do not use glue to secure the liner- sew it in'.

I have tried asking Duane at Fedora Store for specifics on recent
cleaning and blocking work he has done, here on this site. I haven't
had a lot of luck getting specific responses. I'd really like to know
what services he offers and what blocks and equipment he uses
before sending any hats his way. This is because he's not a hatter,
hasn't answered my question, and hasn't been in the business long,
that I know of. He might do great work, I just don't know yet.

I know other hatters, such as JW in Utah, have been suggested.
Someone else here recommended American Hatters in Bethesda
(http://members.aol.com/VCorvelli/hatter.html). Dinerman or other
MD area members- are you familiar with this outfit?
Anyone know of others? Have any experience with JW or American
Hatters for renovation? Thanks.

 

[thefedorastore]

...

I have tried asking Duane at Fedora Store for specifics on recent
cleaning and blocking work he has done, here on this site. I haven't
had a lot of luck getting specific responses. I'd really like to know
what services he offers and what blocks and equipment he uses
before sending any hats his way. This is because he's not a hatter,
hasn't answered my question, and hasn't been in the business long,
that I know of. He might do great work, I just don't know yet.....

Although I appreciate the consideration, I would prefer that you not send any hats my way. Things have gotten very busy with the new retail location, and I already have a few loungers that are sending hats to be cared for. I want to continue to take care of them. Thanks anyway.

While I am at it, I should say thanks those that have supported our presence on the lounge in the past. Please contact me through our website or by phone for further communication. Happy Holidays to all.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

NB, maybe you missed the announcement?
Unfortunately, we can no longer send hats to Art for cleaning,
blocking, or renovation.

Yeah, I missed that one. I think I missed a lot during my relocation (which took a long time). It kind of bums me out, but I totally understand his decision. Keep us posted on other renovators.
NB

 

[feltfan]

Although I appreciate the consideration, I would prefer that you not send any hats my way.

I'm assuming that by "you" he means us, and not just me,
so I guess that's one more option off the list. Man, if
anyone wants to go into the business of hat cleaning
and renovation, now might be the time.

BTW, I think I forgot to mention Peter Bros, which clearly
does renovation, per Atomic Glee's posts. And I seem to
recall that our MThatter does them, too. So I guess we
still have some options.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Unless something has changed recently

Last time I spoke to John (MThatter), he wasn't inclined to do resto work on any hats other than the ones he has made. The quality resto millners are getting slim. We all are going to have to become more self sufficient.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

My apologies John, no disrespect intended.

 

[Barry]

NB, maybe you missed the announcement?

Anyone know of others? Have any experience with JW or American
Hatters for renovation? Thanks.

American Hatters of Maryland used glue to affix a sweatband into my old Knox Cervo beater.

I took the pictures down but they were not pretty:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=9716&highlight=glued

I sent the same lid to Worth and Worth in NYC and they cleaned it and installed a new liner and sweatband. I'm happy with it.

Barry

 

[Rick Blaine]

I'll second that!

I have sent three hats to Optimo, and they
came out okay. I suggest being very specific about what you want.
For example, 'do not use glue to secure the liner- sew it in'.

As regards being ridiculously specific. I recently got 3 refurbs back from the good folks @ Optimo & I am very satisfied overall...however, DO be exhaustively specific...for example: I sent my oldest, a brown Stetson 15 3x w/mode edge for a refurb, including a band & sweat replacement, I had the old liner intact & would have liked to return it to the hat, but it came back w/ a new (sewn-in, thank goodness) liner. So, ok, mea culpa...that I should've thought of, right? But it was also returned to me with a lovely 2" grosgrain ribbon in place of the original 1.5" ribbon that it came with...I guess I ought to have been more specific and in the future I will be, believe me. But it took some getting used to; to my eye it sort of upsets the designer’s original intent, IMHO.

 

[Panamabob]

American Hatters of Maryland used glue to affix a sweatband into my old Knox Cervo beater.

Was this work done by Vince in Maryland or Vince/Anthony in DC?

 

[GoneSolo]

Thanks for the help guys. Keep it coming though. Looks like not many people want to do these refurbs and some places are just hit or miss in terms of quality. I know that Steve Delk from Adventurebilt stopped taking hats because it set him back as far as making his own hats. Reblocking a hat is like making a new hat, or so I've heard.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

.

I'm willing to reblock your best hats, but only if they're a size 7 1/4...and only if I don't have to send them back to you.


.

 

[besdor]

Honestly , reblocking hats is time consuming work that most hatters have given up. Thetime it takes to fix a hat can be spent on making a new one or selling a hat to a customer .
We will reblock any hat bought from us at no charge . The problem is we are so backed up now before Christmas that we just shut down the machinery .
If you live in New York , there is a small place that I found in Brooklyn called Palace Hats . They will replace hat bands and leather sweats as well as reblock a hat . Their address is 53-12 16 ave Brooklyn , NY 11219 . Try them out . They do a decent job.

Steven

 

[GoneSolo]

Besdor, I am in Miami. You told me about a friend of yours named Bruno in North Miami Beach that owns a hat place. I will give him a call to see if he does them. Thanks anyway.

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

I sent my rescued Resistol San Antonio for a new swaetband (as the original had been removed) to Mike the Hatter in Cleveland. Turn-a-round was quick and they do full rehab work.

www.mikethehatter.com

Good luck.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I remember a time when that question would be asked and the search began for local hatters.

At the moment I like the job Optimo does on hats.

and Art has the right blocks for any situation.

 

[jamespowers]

.

I'm willing to reblock your best hats, but only if they're a size 7 1/4...and only if I don't have to send them back to you.


.

Always the gentleman. :eusa_doh: I am glad none of my hats will ever fit you. lol

Regards,

J