Comments on: Behold, the Conformateur! A 19th century hat-fitting device http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 13:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: sonk http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1385086 sonk Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1385086 We made this mini documentary on Paul's Hatworks for the International Documentary Challenge. It screened at Hot Docs 2011 and won Best Cinematography. http://vimeo.com/20799569 We made this mini documentary on Paul’s Hatworks for the International Documentary Challenge. It screened at Hot Docs 2011 and won Best Cinematography. http://vimeo.com/20799569

]]> By: Diego Fernetti http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382590 Diego Fernetti Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382590 I also had a custom hat made for me (cheap!) in an old shop here in Rosario, Argentina. The elderly gentleman on the shop must have been aware of my surprise when he told me that the procedure wouldn't hurt me. He used a scrap of thick manila paper to keep the tracing of the head and from it, choose the wooden forms for the hat. The device is somewhat heavy and feels like putting an old typewriter over your head. I should ask for my copy of my headbumps for future reference (wonder if one's skull shapes changes thru time, like our feet's shape) I also had a custom hat made for me (cheap!) in an old shop here in Rosario, Argentina. The elderly gentleman on the shop must have been aware of my surprise when he told me that the procedure wouldn’t hurt me. He used a scrap of thick manila paper to keep the tracing of the head and from it, choose the wooden forms for the hat. The device is somewhat heavy and feels like putting an old typewriter over your head. I should ask for my copy of my headbumps for future reference (wonder if one’s skull shapes changes thru time, like our feet’s shape)

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382317 dculberson Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382317  Fellow monster melon head here.  You should try finding a motorcycle helmet that fits!  I ended up spending over $400.  Ouch.  Fellow monster melon head here.  You should try finding a motorcycle helmet that fits!  I ended up spending over $400.  Ouch.

]]> By: Gordon Meyer http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382269 Gordon Meyer Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382269 I also had the fine ladies at Paul's Hat Works make me a hat, last Fall. And going through the conformateur was just one part of the memorable, and very satisfying, process. I even have a photo of my head tracing to remind myself what I look like from above. :) I also had the fine ladies at Paul’s Hat Works make me a hat, last Fall. And going through the conformateur was just one part of the memorable, and very satisfying, process. I even have a photo of my head tracing to remind myself what I look like from above. :)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382202 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382202 <blockquote>I have a rather flat, long head and it's tough to find a properly sized hat. </blockquote>I have a Frankenstein head, too. Hats are impossible, but I can balance stuff up there really well.

I have a rather flat, long head and it’s tough to find a properly sized hat.

I have a Frankenstein head, too. Hats are impossible, but I can balance stuff up there really well.

]]> By: jlargentaye http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382189 jlargentaye Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382189 Last year, I finally got a fitted top hat from <a href="http://www.hatworksbypaul.com/" rel="nofollow">Paul's Hat Works</a> in San Francisco. I have a rather flat, long head and it's tough to find a properly sized hat. The girls at Paul's put that torture device on my head, which traced out the odd and somewhat pear-shaped silhouette of my cranium which they then used as a template to form my hat. I now have a perfectly fitting top hat! Once I have the spare change, I'll get a fedora from them. In fact, the <a href="http://www.hatworksbypaul.com/origins/" rel="nofollow">story</a> behind Paul's Hat Works is a cute one, as it was rescued from the brink of disappearance and obsolescence by the fair ladies currently handling it. Mainstream fashion has forgotten about proper men's hats (baseball caps? <i>please</i>), but some of us diehards won't let go! Last year, I finally got a fitted top hat from Paul’s Hat Works in San Francisco. I have a rather flat, long head and it’s tough to find a properly sized hat. The girls at Paul’s put that torture device on my head, which traced out the odd and somewhat pear-shaped silhouette of my cranium which they then used as a template to form my hat.

I now have a perfectly fitting top hat! Once I have the spare change, I’ll get a fedora from them.

In fact, the story behind Paul’s Hat Works is a cute one, as it was rescued from the brink of disappearance and obsolescence by the fair ladies currently handling it.

Mainstream fashion has forgotten about proper men’s hats (baseball caps? please), but some of us diehards won’t let go!

]]> By: allybeag http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382168 allybeag Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382168 I'd be rather worried if my head turned out to be any of those shapes with the dotted lines ... I’d be rather worried if my head turned out to be any of those shapes with the dotted lines …

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382136 Noctilucent Studios Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382136 Skip the glue and go straight to the soldering. Skip the glue and go straight to the soldering.

]]> By: Ito Kagehisa http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382128 Ito Kagehisa Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382128 Johann Spurzheim told me this device can also map your personality, mental development and moral faculties. Johann Spurzheim told me this device can also map your personality, mental development and moral faculties.

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382117 Beanolini Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382117 What could be better Boing Boing bait than this? How about a conformateur repaired using a 3d printer? http://labricoleuse.livejournal.com/168679.html What could be better Boing Boing bait than this? How about a conformateur repaired using a 3d printer? http://labricoleuse.livejournal.com/168679.html

]]> By: goldenearth http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382114 goldenearth Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382114 Are you sure this isn't a combination cheese slicer and chocolate fountain? It would make a great centerpiece at a garden party Are you sure this isn’t a combination cheese slicer and chocolate fountain? It would make a great centerpiece at a garden party

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2012/03/28/behold-the-conformateur-a-19.html#comment-1382084 Stefan Jones Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=151746#comment-1382084  Glue a brass gear and a bit of glass tubing on that and you've got a STEAMPUNK hat fitter!  Glue a brass gear and a bit of glass tubing on that and you’ve got a STEAMPUNK hat fitter!

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