Hatblocks – Tools? Works of Art?
To make things is a part of human nature. Whether it’s a simple tool or a huge construction project, something that has been made speaks more than words and gives a satisfaction to the maker that cannot be gained elsewhere. It could be pushing a beautifully sharpened chisel through a perfect piece of wood, or perhaps trimming a hat with a rare vintage ribbon, whatever it is, there is immense pleasure in being part of something that has gone on ever since things needed making. And then, there is the finished object – for us, seeing a hat made on one of our blocks, or for you, seeing it on your customers head along with all their finery, it is a fundamental experience that changes your outlook on life, a discovery of what is true, original and genuine.
From the raw wood through to an exquisite hand made hat, the process has many different parts and processes. As block makers we are only one part of that journey but nonetheless it is a very important one. Hat blocks can vary from one that must be exactly the shape and design of the finished hat, through to more generic shapes from which can be made a huge variety of hats. However, the starting point must always be right; good timber, good tools, a thorough knowledge of design, proportion and style, a high degree of skill in carving wood, and very importantly an understanding and experience of the blocking techniques that will be used on the block. All of these are endless subjects of course, but here at Guy Morse-Brown we are dedicated to increasing our knowledge and skill on a daily basis. Our aim is to bring you the best hat blocks that you can buy, and we are confident that your hats will be so much the better for having been made on a Guy Morse-Brown Hat Block. You can be a highly skilled milliner but if your block, which is your starting point for the shape, is not right then you’ll be struggling from the beginning. After all, just like the tools we use to make the blocks, your hat block is more than a beautiful object, it is a tool itself. Experience has taught us that it is always worth investing in the best tools money can buy, and the difference in performance is tangible. In the same way, choosing our blocks will not only make your job easier and more pleasurable but the difference in your hats will be plain to see.
We take our inspiration from many sources but one of the greatest sources is you! Our conversations with you inspire new ideas and new shapes, collectively we come up with more possibilities and even ways and means to bring back old forgotton styles, methods and techniques. This is one of the reasons that we don’t have online ordering – we want to chat with you (email is fine) to help you get your choices right. We want to know the kind of styles you’re interested in, the materials you will work with, the techniques you use, but equally if you don’t know any of these, we want to offer you as much advice as you need.
We also love to look at history, whether it is in images of past fashions, or old blocks themselves whose very presence evokes a bygone age when hats were worn ubiquitously, where the pace of life was slower, and where pride was taken in a well done job, regardless of the time, cost and effort needed.
