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Tom
Hirt is an old-fashioned guy who does things the old-fashioned way.
You might call him a throw--back to a bygone era--that time when wranglers
and cowboys took care of business with their bare hands.
Hirt continues that tradition to this day as a hat maker who makes superior-quality
beaver felt hats one at a time by hand. Known as the Hat Maker for the
Movies, he has designed hats for many famous clients including Val Kilmer,
Sam Elliot, Sharon Stone.
His
credits include Tombstone, The Quick and the Dead, Conagher and
many others.
After almost 20 years, he is considered one of the West's most notable
and most established hatters.
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Best
of the West magazine named him Best Hatmaker of 2002. |
Touch the photo to see me roping.
Each
hat is handmade from start to finish. All crowns are hand-formed over
old-fashioned wooden blocks-some original style blocks date back over
100 years-brims are flanged, sanded, pounced and finished by hand. "It
is a long process from the raw felt body to the finished hat that can
be worn and worn hard, but then quality is not a commodity that can
be produced quickly," Hirt said.
His custom hats range in price from $300-$2800.
Hirt works out of a small shop on his Penrose ranch, and calls Colorado
home, but has cowboyed on several ranches throughout Colorado and the
Southwest. (He's quick to note the difference between wranglers and
cowboys: Wranglers work with horses and cowboys work with cows.)
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As
a hat maker, Hirt considers himself part of a dying breed. In an
effort to pass on some of his skills, he plans to teach a hat making
course early next. Right now, he estimates there are less than 50
hat makers left in the United States that know the skills of hat
making by hand.
Soon,
you'll be able to see his Chuckwagon
and Horses.
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Listen to Tom interviewed on Voices Of The West Podcast here
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