Not All Hats Are Created Equal! By Hat Doctor, www.hatdoctor.com
If you’re in the market for a new cowboy hat there are many things to consider before making a purchase.
F
irst and foremost you want to know what type of felt the hat is made of. The best quality felt is made of 100% beaver fur and the lowest quality is 100% wool. A middle of the road felt is made of rabbit fur and/or some blend of all of the above. The natural properties of beaver fur allow it to meld together easily achieving the best density to maintain the final desired shape of the hat; it’s also water repellent so this is still true when your hat gets wet. In order to get wool or rabbit to felt well and maintain a hat shape, lacquer is used making the end product heavy and hot because the fibres can’t breathe. It’s kind of like putting a plastic bag on your head and a toque on top. Plus if it gets wet, the lacquer runs out and the hat loses its shape. You may have heard of a beaver/mink blend hat. The only thing the mink does in this felt is add a bit of a sheen to it. That, and a good excuse for the hatter, to take more of your money! You’re probably wondering about “X”s. It’s common
WILD ROSE DRAFT
HORSE SALE 27th Annual Sale
Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6, 2023
HELD AT COW PALACE, AGRICULTURAL FAIRGROUNDS, OLDS, ALBERTA Friday, May 5 2:00 p.m. Preview of Driving Horses 3:30 p.m. Tack Auction to start 5:00 p.m. Social & Supper 6:30 p.m. Tack Auction to resume
Saturday, May 6 8:30 a.m. Tack Auction to start 12:30 p.m. Horses sell - followed by remainder of tack & equipment
LIVE STREAMING OF THE HORSE SALE WITH PHONE-IN BIDS ONLY GO TO WRDHA.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION Invites Consignments of Horse Drawn Equipment, Harness, Tack, Shoes, etc; Purebred, Crossbred & Grade Draft Horses; Draft Mules & Mammoth Jacks FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Barb Stephenson, Sale Secretary E-mail dbsteph@telusplanet.net 403-933-5765 (8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) or visit: wrdha.com ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: 18 • APRIL 2023
Bob Lewis 403-559-7725
SADDLEUP.CA
David Carson 519-291-2049
This photo shows the “perforation” line created by a machine sewn sweatband
Doctor’s Note: Way back when, hatters used mercury to felt fur to make hats. They needed a way to caution customers that a dangerous product was used in the making of hats. It was decided that a ribbon bow most closely resembled the skull and cross-bone danger symbol. Today, there is no mercury in the felting process nor is it done by hatters anymore. However, we still put the bow in every hat we make in honour of all the hatters who went mad performing their craft so long ago. That’s where the “mad hatter” expression comes from. P.S. the bow goes at the back.