Wolfbrae Custom Hatters

[hambone71]

A while back, Robert took on a project to rebuild a hat for me that was in somewhat disrepair. This is an old Lee hat that was a copycat of an OR or Stratoliner. IIRC, it was called The Tulsan. It was dirty, crushed and wrinkled, no liner, rotted reedless sweat, wind cord button was rusted through the fabric. All issues were addressed and I got back a “like new” hat! Cleaned, reblocked to my exact size, new sweat, added liner, new grosgrain thin ribbon. I trusted Robert’s expertise and allowed him to take liberties as needed. The only thing I requested was that he leave the crown open, and only because I take great pleasure in creasing my own hats. Very proud of how this turned out! I love this hat!!! Thank you Robert!

P.S. Pardon the ratty sweatshirt. It’s Saturday Down South in the Fall. This is my Gameday watching shirt on cool fall Saturday mornings. Been wearing it for probably 20 years .

 

[belfastboy]

A while back, Robert took on a project to rebuild a hat for me that was in somewhat disrepair. This is an old Lee hat that was a copycat of an OR or Stratoliner. IIRC, it was called The Tulsan. It was dirty, crushed and wrinkled, no liner, rotted reedless sweat, wind cord button was rusted through the fabric. All issues were addressed and I got back a “like new” hat! Cleaned, reblocked to my exact size, new sweat, added liner, new grosgrain thin ribbon. I trusted Robert’s expertise and allowed him to take liberties as needed. The only thing I requested was that he leave the crown open, and only because I take great pleasure in creasing my own hats. Very proud of how this turned out! I love this hat!!! Thank you Robert!

P.S. Pardon the ratty sweatshirt. It’s Saturday Down South in the Fall. This is my Gameday watching shirt on cool fall Saturday mornings. Been wearing it for probably 20 years . View attachment 812649 View attachment 812650 View attachment 812651 View attachment 812652 View attachment 812653 View attachment 812654

I am well pleased you like it. I remember the work and it was a fun rebuild.

 

[hambone71]

I am well pleased you like it. I remember the work and it was a fun rebuild.

Man, I can’t thank you enough!!! This one earns a top spot of daily wears!

 

[Darrell2688]

Yes, I steal it from my wife who works with wool. It is great for cleaning the raw wool that is rich in lanolin. It cuts grease but is low pH and gentle. If the hat is really bad I will go to a second level and do the full naptha bath. But if I get a good result with the Orvus it is better all round.
But I still do tear the hat dowh to the bare felt even with the Orvus, clean it and build it back up. Most often the leather sweat is toast, the liner filthy and the crown ribbon dirty or rotted. This way it is easier to do the reblock as a bare felt and not have to work around the sweat band.

You might want to take a few photos as you rework/rebuild the two hats. I think that the photos and what you do for each step or repair would be a great how to instruction article. There is a lot of wear on both of the hats and all show trouble spots that you are experienced in fixing. Great before and after repairs. I haven't ever seen hats with this much dust and grim, my grandfather wore a old gray fedora that was actually a bone color, just gray from wearing it every day behind a mule pulling a plow or timbers out of the woods.

 

[belfastboy]

Here are 3 pictures to update the restoration of those 2 very dirty western hats from a week or so ago. The one on the left will come out looking like new. The one on the right is in very rough shape but then it was a cheap hat, poor felt to begin with. I did manage to repair the large hole at the pinch. And I reinforced the crease, ridge line as it was almost worn all the way through. A little shellac to restore some stability to the felt and final touches. Will post the finished pictures in the next few days.

 

[belfastboy]

Here is a fun challenge. In the 4 attached pictures the first two are hats I received for restoration a few weeks back. The third and fourth pictures are of 3 hats.....the 2 hats restored along with a brand new one about to be creased and shipped. Can you point out the new one? Can you spot the 2 restored ones?

 

[rstewart8706]

Here is a fun challenge. In the 4 attached pictures the first two are hats I received for restoration a few weeks back. The third and fourth pictures are of 3 hats.....the 2 hats restored along with a brand new one about to be creased and shipped. Can you point out the new one? Can you spot the 2 restored ones? View attachment 814846 View attachment 814847 View attachment 814848 View attachment 814849

Is the new hat on the right in front?

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

lol, I would guess the new is in the middle, with the torn one in back.

 

[belfastboy]

lol, I would guess the new is in the middle, with the torn one in back.

The new one is the one in the forefront. The hats are almost complete and will post pics tomorrow.

 

[belfastboy]

Here is a fun challenge. In the 4 attached pictures the first two are hats I received for restoration a few weeks back. The third and fourth pictures are of 3 hats.....the 2 hats restored along with a brand new one about to be creased and shipped. Can you point out the new one? Can you spot the 2 restored ones? View attachment 814846 View attachment 814847 View attachment 814848 View attachment 814849

Here are some pictures of the completed restorations. Overall I am pleased with the results. The larger of the two hats, a Seratelli felt turned out great. A few weak spots from wear but overall the felt is in great shape. The Outback hat is actually wool and was tough to work with. The final result was just OK, but I guess given the terrible condition it was in, then OK is an acceptable result. I did manage to repair the rotted leather crown band on the Outback by piecing in a length of match. I have decided to not put in my full logo for the Wolfbrae brand as tghe hats are not really my brand. So when the restorations need a new liner I place in just the wolf paw graphic so the liner top is not totallyi plain.

ing leather to fill in what was missing.

 

[hambone71]

Here are some pictures of the completed restorations. Overall I am pleased with the results. The larger of the two hats, a Seratelli felt turned out great. A few weak spots from wear but overall the felt is in great shape. The Outback hat is actually wool and was tough to work with. The final result was just OK, but I guess given the terrible condition it was in, then OK is an acceptable result. I did manage to repair the rotted leather crown band on the Outback by piecing in a length of match. I have decided to not put in my full logo for the Wolfbrae brand as tghe hats are not really my brand. So when the restorations need a new liner I place in just the wolf paw graphic so the liner top is not totallyi plain. View attachment 815714 View attachment 815715 View attachment 815716 View attachment 815717 ing leather to fill in what was missing.

Unbelievable! Outstanding work! And you confirmed my suspicion as to why my Wolfbrae refurbed Lee hat has the paw only liner! Still loving that one!

 

[belfastboy]

Here are some pictures of the completed restorations. Overall I am pleased with the results. The larger of the two hats, a Seratelli felt turned out great. A few weak spots from wear but overall the felt is in great shape. The Outback hat is actually wool and was tough to work with. The final result was just OK, but I guess given the terrible condition it was in, then OK is an acceptable result. I did manage to repair the rotted leather crown band on the Outback by piecing in a length of match. I have decided to not put in my full logo for the Wolfbrae brand as tghe hats are not really my brand. So when the restorations need a new liner I place in just the wolf paw graphic so the liner top is not totallyi plain. View attachment 815714 View attachment 815715 View attachment 815716 View attachment 815717 ing leather to fill in what was missing.

The client just picked up these two hats. She is thrilled with the result. Now instead of them being mere artifacts and memories of her father, her sons will wear them as part of a living memory. Most days this job of mine is awesome.....but on some days it is sublime.

 

[belfastboy]

Unbelievable! Outstanding work! And you confirmed my suspicion as to why my Wolfbrae refurbed Lee hat has the paw only liner! Still loving that one!

On two fronts I thought it was not right to put my logo on a refurbished hat. To protect my brand but also not to confuse the issue if the hat was a fine example of vintage felt...not right to put my logo on that. So the paw was a sort of compromise, instead of just a blank liner top.