|
Timothy J.
"Hemingway" Steiner Location: Metro-Boston "Steve Delk crafts a fedora in the same tradition and to the exact measurements of the original This is a hat meant for sailing down the Nile on the way to Luxor and The Valley of the Kings, or following an ancient map to a lost city... |
 There is a profile of me in a white shirt in my condo in Boston. |
|
 |
 |
|
|
You can wear yours sipping cappucino at a cafe in the Piazza Navona or strolling along the banks of the Seine. Either way, the spirit of adventure is the same..." |
 There is a photo of me with a blue shirt in Puerto Rico at the Arecibo Observatory, which was in The James Bond Movie: "Golden Eye". |
|
|
|
||
| Richard A Wolles - "Fedoralover" Location: The Great Northwest |
||
| First let me say that since I'm mainly a vintage fedora collector, my standards for a good fedora are the ones set by the quality Cavanaghs, Stetsons, Borsalino's etc. So to be honest I was a little nervous about getting a new fedora as most of the ones I've had or seen I've been disappointed in. Also, since I have known Steve for around 4 or 5 years, I thought, "what am I going to say if I don't like it?" I didn't want to hurt his feelings if it didn't meet my expectations. | ||
 |
But when I got my black fedora yesterday and gave it my critical examination, I have to say I didn't have to worry about that, as I really was impressed. First the 100% beaver felt is finely pounced and is indeed probably the closest thing one can get today to a vintage quality felt. It is soft to an unimaginable degree. It is a heavier weight felt, probably twice that of a vintage borsalino, that's just a guess but that's what it feels like. Again for the price Steve charges for one of these felt hats is a deal you can't get anywhere else to my knowledge. | |
| Steve met my specs for the dimensions. In the pic he sent, he said it had a 5 1 /2 inch open crown, well that concerned me a little since I had requested it to be 5 3/4. So I think when Steve wrote that he had been up late making hats, because when I measured it, it was EXACTLY 5 3/4 inches, just as I requested. I had also asked for a 2 3/4 inch brim and that is EXACTLY what it was. | ||
|
|
The sweatband I really liked because it resembles the brown vintage ones I'm used to, the liner was sewn in and not glued. Steve had some black vintage ribbon he used and it really looked great. I also asked for a double bow on the back which was expertly done. Nothing tacky about it at all. I could only see one stitch holding it on, all the others are hidden. |
|
| The crown block is the same one he uses for his Indy Raiders fedora. If anyone wants a crown shape that matches the straight sided ones of yesteryear, this is the one to ask for because he does have a different one he uses for the Last Crusade style. When shaped it really looks like a vintage fedora. the brim is raw edged as Steve doesn't put the edge binding on them, but it is flanged just right to get the snap brim in front and the curl in back. | ||
|
|
Steve specializes in Indy fedora's but if he starts to get more calls for vintage reproductions, he may want to think about coming up with and stocking another liner that has more of a vintage fedora look to it. The one he has now is geared to the Indy fedora and while it is very nice and suits that purpose, in my opinion if he could come up with a different Art Deco design that would fit the 30s to 40s look it would just add to this already great hat. | |
| I really like this hat and if anyone is thinking of having a vintage reproduction fedora made, I can highly recommend the Adventurebilt in 100% beaver made by Steve Delk. It is the best deal you can get for that high of a quality fedora. | ||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
Jeff, "IJ 1936" |
This is a silhoutte
which gives a great view of that familiar shape...
 |
| "I have been looking for a hat that is the closest to the HJ that I had bought from Lee Keppler back in 1990. After seeing many different pictures of the Adventurebilt lids I decided to order one from Steve. I asked for and received the Cairo bash. This hat is the most accurate hat on the market today." | |
|
Here are two of me lounging in the backyard. |
|
 |
 |
|
"Here are a few of me and my DW drum kit. I donned the hat for the pictures." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Luis Muñoz, "Luisiana" |
 |
| [Luis Muņoz is an International Law Student and has written an article for The Fedora Chronicles in the past... he is preparing more pictures and hs review of the Advendurebuilt Fedora which will be posted in July... ] | |
|
|
|
|
Jonathan – (“J_Weaver”) |
||
|
The Adventurebilt is without a doubt one of the finest hats made today. Whether you want an Indiana Jones style hat or just a stylish outdoor or dress hat the Adventurebilt is the hat for you. |
 |
|
| My Adventurebilt is pure rabbit felt, smooth and soft. I ordered mine open crown so I could bash it myself. However, Steve will style the hat for you if you want. There is just one problem with the Adventurebilt, it's addicting. After you have one you will quickly begin to want another. |  |
|
 |
Errico Location: Italy |
||
|
Since i was a child i have always dreamed about an indy hat. Few months ago i met Steve Delk (and his production). Steve helped me a lot, his prices are the best ever seen and the support service is really the best you can get ever. He still keeps on helping me with any question i have by email replying as soon as he can. I paid him very easily, and shipment was very fast. An incredible deal!
|
|||
 |
About the style i ordered a Ravenbar-like Adventurebilt, i had to shape it a bit more, customizing it, after it arrived but i can say it's the best hat ever saw and so close to the original hat. I like the Adventurebilt a lot more than my old 1984 Stetson because it's more screen accurate, actually it's exactly like the Indiana Jones screen used hat, and i'm so proud of this. The rabbit felt is a wonderful material much better than wool and more shapable. It can take a bit of water with no worryings (far from the wool Stetson hat).
|
||
| I think the Stetson is a good cheap indy hat and maybe the perfect gate
to the indygear world. The adventurebilt is the perfect indy hat and
Steve's support is great. Fedora made a dream of my childhood come true! Thanks Steve |
|||
|
Keith Padgett |
 |
|
| The first thing that I
noticed when taking my Adventurebilt out of the box was the quality
of the beaver felt. This hat must be touched and handled to be
truly appreciated. It is extremely smooth and light to the
touch. The color is a very rich, deep, true brown. You
can see the quality from across the room. I have shaped all of my hats myself. This felt is by far superior to work with. It is very pliable and responds well to a little coaxing with the fingers. The brim also responds to whatever bending and shaping is applied. The crown is straight sided making it easy to achieve that one of a kind Raiders look. |
||
|
Having wanted a Raiders of the Lost Ark fedora for many years, I now know that I have found the hat. To me, the block is dead on, the felt is easy to work with, and the finished product is screen accurate. If you have been searching for the perfect Raiders, as I have, or just want a nice, high quality dress hat, Adventurebilt is the way to go. |
 |
|
