Tumwater Hat Co.

03/13/2026

The gent asked for a modest, sedate, nothing too flashy hat. So no fancy, elaborate bows.
All beaver felt body from Ukraine (Slava Ukraini!); roan leather sweatband; true vintage American Character brand 16-ligne ribbon in a color they called “Burbon” (and yes, that’s how they spelled it).

01/12/2026

Just about out of these 90/10 beaver/mink blends, and it’s doubtful I’ll ever get more.
This one is trimmed in true vintage 9-linge American Character brand ribbon on a color they called “Charcoal Brown.” The “campaign” style bow can be challenging, especially when one endeavors (as I do) to conceal the stitches. The concho is a genuine vintage Buffalo nickel, so it’s no newer than 1938 and no older than 1913. (The years are on the “heads” side, which on the conchos showing the buffalo, the “tails,” side, are covered in solder. I have conchos with the Indian head side showing, but he faces to the right, so if on the left side of the hat, as the bows are men’s hats usually are, he would be looking towards the rear, which seems awkward to be. I have a woman’s hat in the works, on which I will likely put the bow on the right, with a “heads” concho.)

12/23/2025

A couple I banged out over the past couple-three days. The blue one is a dress weight beaver/mink blend with a ribbon of fairly recent manufacture, but it’s good stuff as modern ribbon goes. The gray is a Western weight rabbit/beaver blend with true vintage ribbon. Both have a roan leather sweatband.

11/06/2025

Western weight rabbit fur felt, from Husst, a felting plant in Ukraine, whose product, in my estimation, is a very good value. It takes a nice finish. Ribbon is true vintage American Character brand in a color called Fenway. Roan leather sweatband. It’s a nice hat, if I do say so myself, and I trust it will serve its owner well. He assures me he will wear it throughout the winter months, when it will be subjected to precipitation. This gladdens me. It’s a hat. It’s there to protect one’s noggin from the elements. And to elevate his image.

10/27/2025

The gent likes to do his own crown creasing. This one sports a triple bow, which had been something of a signature element in my work. It takes a little more work and a little more material, but I’m happy to do it.

10/27/2025

The fellow wanted a Billy Jack-esque hat, to which he plans to affix a beaded hatband of his own creation, hence the relatively narrow 9-ligne ribbon with a minimalist bow in a color close to that of the body.

03/25/2025

03/10/2025

I’m calling this style No. 60-17, because it’s blocked on an antique No. 60 crown block and an equally ancient No. 17 brim fl**ge.
This one is a rabbit fur felt in a velour finish. The concho is made from a 1930s-vintage U.S. five-cent piece. The band and bow is vintage U.S. Character brand hatband ribbon.

02/25/2025

The man asked for a replica of the hat Val Kilmer wore in his portrayal of Doc Holliday in the 1993 film “Tombstone.” I think I got close to it.
I looked at a bunch of clips and stills and eventually the film itself.
My, but that Dana Delaney certainly was an eyeful, eh?

08/15/2024

Another Whippet-esque lid. Rabbit felt body, vintage American Character brand band and binding ribbon.