Much to our surprise, we received an award from the The Hat Jack. For twenty-two years, The Hat Jack, of Calhan, Colorado has supplied us with their trusty hat stretcher.

Early on at David Morgan we decided to sell hats up to size 64 (that’s an 8 in US sizing). We asked The Hat Jack for the size large, and they immediately accommodated us. And if you happen to need a 65 (8 1/8), we carry the Snowy River in that size.

Hat stretchers are perfect for keeping your hat’s shape, especially if you happen to be a long oval. It also works if you store your hats for a long period of time. For example, if you store your fur felts over the summer, you may want to keep them in a stretcher.

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Hat Stretchers

We will often get requests for hat color descriptions. This is understandable because a picture does not always capture an item’s true color. While we can do our best to match a catalog photograph with an item, it is much more difficult on a computer screen. With monitors, each person has a slightly different setting.

Also, a hat color can look much different depending on the type of light. A hat under fluorescents will bring out different colors than sunlight.

With those caveats in mind, we’d like to show you the difference between the Bushman’s Nullarbor Tan.

This is the standard photograph that you’ll find on the David Morgan website:

And this is the color when outside on a clear, sunny day.

There are many variables with hat color. Just one more factor to look at when choosing a hat.

St. Dwynwen is the patron saint of lovers. Her feast day is January 25, “Dydd Santes Dwynwen”. If you are Welsh, or the one you love is Welsh, January 25 is an opportunity to express your affection and say “Dwy’n dy garu di”.

Dwynwen was a daughter of the 5th Century saint Brychan Brycheiniog. She fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill, but displeased him when she rejected his sexual advances prior to marriage. She prayed to God for deliverance from her situation, and was given a sweet drink which released her from her heartache. The same drink was given to Maelon, who was turned to ice. Again she prayed, and was given three wishes, the first that Maelon should be unfrozen, the second that she should never again desire marriage, and the third that God should answer all requests by her on the behalf of lovers.

She became a nun, and founded a convent at Llandwyn, on an island just off Anglesey. A freshwater spring there, Ffynnon Dwynwen, has become a place of pilgrimage, not only for lovers, but also for those seeking her help in healing sick and distressed animals.

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Celtic Jewelry

Celtic Art & Lore

Celtic Crosses  

Celtic Brooches  

Ruf Duck Rain Gear is made in the Northwest, where people know rain. Designed by a retired logger, these garments are durable, lightweight and functional, suitable for the toughest outdoor environments. Over the past 20 years, Ruf Duck has developed a following with dairymen, commercial fishermen and others who need practical rain gear.

The fabric is made on the East Coast to Ruf Duck’s specifications. Flame-resistant oxford nylon, 200 denier, was chosen because it is stronger than conventional weaves and lightweight. The nylon fabric is coated with a proprietary polyurethane waterproof film. The waterproofing is on the inside, protected from wear. The seams are double-stitched and reinforced in the back with extra vinyl to prevent leakage through the seams. The design of the garment acts like bellows, circulating out perspiration laden air as you walk and work. The Ruf Duck Rain Gear is 100% waterproof.

Ruf Duck Rain Gear should be sized to fit over the bulkiest garments you will wear under the rainwear. The garments are designed to allow easy movement of the body and natural ventilation as you work.

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Ruf Duck

Steve De Paulis, one of our Akubra retailers, sent us a link where he is featured at the Reno Rodeo.

The "Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West," the Reno Rodeo is a 10-day event held each year in June at the Reno Livestock Events Center. It is one of the largest rodeos in the West, and participants come from around the country to participate. If you ever wanted to see a real, western rodeo, this is the place to go.

Look for Steve starting at the 1:20 mark.

Leather is an organic material. Just like our own skin, we need to take care of it. Composed of fibers, it can be very strong and durable. However, for it to work properly, there needs to be a sheath of oil that surrounds each fiber. As long as the animal can produce oil, the fibers remain supple and strong.

Once the skin is removed, the natural oils cannot, of course, be replaced. The remaining oil will disappear over time, and the fibers start to rub against each other. This is where leather damage begins. To top it off, environmental factors will accelerate the evaporation of the oils. Sunshine, dryness and excessive wear and tear will all dry the leather.

Thus it is important to replace the oils over time. We are partial to Pecard’s leather dressing. It is a proprietary formula, but one known ingredient is beeswax. This is a great lubricant for leather because it does not break down. Products like Neetsfoot Oil contain fats that break down and allow the fibers to rub. But the fatty oils are also prone to bacteria and fungi, which will hurt the leather.

You don’t need to use much conditioner. For our whips, we recommend a coating every six months. Simply rub the conditioner over the leather and let it sit. The time will depend on the dryness of the leather. If you allow it to sit for several days, it will have time to seep deeply into the leather. When you are satisfied with the time, simply wipe the remainder away.

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Pecard Leather Dressing

Whip Maintenance

David Morgan is attending the January WESA (Western and English Sales Association) convention in Denver, CO.  The Denver WESA Market is the premier trade show for the western industry.  For over 90 years, WESA has brought together retailers and exhibitors in a friendly, down-home environment.

Join us if you happen to be at the show! Will and Mike will be happy to show you our hats. This year we are introducing our expanded line of Cavin Richie jewelry.

Last year we printed a poem by Tom Mosher. We’d like to print it again.   

THE TRUE MEASURE

“Of a cowboys treasure”

His boots were comfortably old

Why, they’d been twice resold.

They were special made from down Tucson way

He always went for quality, he would say

  

There were several fine hats, hung on his rack

His favorite came from Australia, an Akubra, Kiandra in black

That old hat showed years of use

Nothing he owned showed abuse

  

Now this cowboy had more to treasure

Two well worn saddles, that gave him pleasure

And there was a loaded Ford pick-em up

‘twas nice to have a ride that didn’t buck

  

but of all those worldly treasures

there’s only two that truly measures

his red-headed lady and a strawberry roan

for without them, he would truly be alone

David Morgan is attending the January WESA (Western and English Sales Association) convention in Denver, CO.  The Denver WESA Market is the premier trade show for the western industry.  For 90 years, WESA has brought together retailers and exhibitors in a friendly, down-home environment. 

Join us if you happen to be at the show!

One friend that we’ve made from our years at WESA is Tom Mosher. Tom is a writer of western poetry. His latest poem includes Akubra hats, so we thought we’d post it. Enjoy!

THE TRUE MEASURE

“Of a cowboys treasure”

HIS BOOTS WERE COMFORTABLY OLD

WHY THEY’D TWICE BEEN RESOLED

THEY WERE SPECIAL MADE FROM DOWN TUCSON WAY

HE ALWAYS WENT FOR QUALITY, HE WOULD SAY

THERE WERE SEVERAL FINE HATS, HUNG ON HIS RACK

HIS FAVORITE CAME FROM AUSTRALIA, A AKUBRA – KIANDRA IN BLACK

THAT OLD HAT SHOWED YEARS OF USE

NOTHING HE OWNED SHOWED ABUSE

NOW THIS COWBOY HAD MORE TO TREASURE

TWO WELL WORN SADDLES, THAT GAVE HIM PLEASURE

AND THERE WAS A LOADED FORD PICK-EM UP TRUCK

TWAS NICE TO HAVE A RIDE THAT DIDN’T BUCK

BUT OF ALL THOSE WORLDY TREASURES

THERES ONLY TWO THAT TRULY MEASURES

HIS RED-HEADED LADY AND A STRAWBERRY ROAN

FOR WITH OUT THEM, HE WOULD TRULY BE ALONE