How to create "saddle" shape on visor caps?

[BowlofRice]

Hi all, I'm just wondering if any of you knew how to create that "saddle" shape seen on 3rd Reich era visor hats. Some DDR visor hats have them and I would like to apply it to my VoPo officer's hat.

I removed the wire stiffener and folded down the egdes, then put the stiffener back in. It did create a slight "saddle" shape, but not to the degree I wanted.

I have some pictures of DDR hats that have the "saddle shape"; these pictures are from Gowen Militaria.

[eastgermansks]

Coat hangers work great! I used one in a late 80's EM hat that I have displayed with a 60's era EM dark collar tunic. It would put those other two hats to shame!

Luke

[BowlofRice]

Ok, but how would I use a coat hanger???

[eastgermansks]

Unwind it so you have a straight piece of wire. Cut it so it's about 1/2-3/4 of the circumference of the hat when inserted back inside the hat. Basically bend it like a "U", reinsert, and bend as need by pushing on the body of the hat.

Luke

[BowlofRice]

Oh, wow. That makes so much sense! Thanks! I'll try that now.

[BowlofRice]

Well, what I did instead was I removed the stiffener and used a vice grip to hold down the edges for a short while, then I re-inserted the stiffener and the "saddle shape" has become more pronounced. Does that work too?

[Gene T]

The true "Sattelform" hats you see are not simply "Tellerform" ones with the sides pushed down; they are cut differently and formed over a hat block that has that shape. It takes quite a bit of millinary skills and effort to produce those "Erel"-like curves that TR headgear collectors drool over.

The padding and wire stiffener inside the crown are there to help maintain a shape, not to create one that wasn't there in the first place. A Tellerform hat forced to look like a Sattelform usually ends up looking more silly than elegant ... unless you go all out and reshape the crown by wetting/steaming it and stretching/working it over an appropriate hat block (if you can find or make one in the shape and size you need). I doubt that any of us would ever go that far with a hat that hadn't already been ruined.


Gene T

[Gordon Craig]

BowlofRice,

I agree with Gene T. Why try and create a hat shape that never existed. Saddle shaped hats did exist in the DDR but they are early hats and were designed to look like that. The later Teller formed hats were meant to have that shape. Not a saddle shape.

Regards,

Gordon

[Mike G.]

We collectors would call this "Crossing the Line".

I agree with Gene T and with Gordon Craig.

You are altering hats from their original specifications and in doing so, demeaning the authenticity and value of the article. If it didn't come that way, I would urge you to reconsider and leave it alone. Search the internet and buy one with the "Teller" shape about which you are trying to emulate. They can still be found with a little patience and effort.

Also, some NVA members did privately on their own alter hats; but again they did it. I have an Open-Collar era to which this was done by the original owner. I highly recommend if you didn't get it that way and the original wearer didn't modify it - leave it as is. You are altering historical memorabilia.

Only some of the very early color-piped era (50s) hats had a true TR saddle shape. They were custom tailored by former TR Officers subsequently serving in the NVA.

Additional Trivia: Incidentally, all former TR Officers, save a former TR Medical Doctor were eventually booted out of the NVA. Consequently, saddle shaped hats didn't exist after that era. Closest thing is the "Teller" version.

[eastgermansks]

...

[Viktor]

We collectors would call this "Crossing the Line".

I agree with Gene T and with Gordon Craig.

You are altering hats from their original specifications and in doing so, demeaning the authenticity and value of the article. If it didn't come that way, I would urge you to reconsider and leave it alone. Search the internet and buy one with the "Teller" shape about which you are trying to emulate. They can still be found with a little patience and effort.

Also, some NVA members did privately on their own alter hats; but again they did it. I have an Open-Collar era to which this was done by the original owner. I highly recommend if you didn't get it that way and the original wearer didn't modify it - leave it as is. You are altering historical memorabilia.

Only some of the very early color-piped era (50s) hats had a true TR saddle shape. They were custom tailored by former TR Officers subsequently serving in the NVA.

Additional Trivia: Incidentally, all former TR Officers, save a former TR Medical Doctor were eventually booted out of the NVA. Consequently, saddle shaped hats didn't exist after that era. Closest thing is the "Teller" version.

100% are our Honoured Genosse Moderators are correct, adjusting for period chic is permissible for Genosse Re-constructors of this Direction of Interest if it is for their own use as Protectors of the Workers and Farmers Power, but to alter State Property beyond State Norms is a KOMSTITCH matter.

No one wants a KOMSTITCH purge ( or ever) in these times .

[BowlofRice]

Search the internet and buy one with the "Teller" shape about which you are trying to emulate. They can still be found with a little patience and effort.

Hmm...I've never seen one in size 59 or 60 yet...

Anyways, I think you folks are right. My hat IS a piece of Cold War history. I stopped trying to give it that shape. It has a little bit of the "Teller" shape but not TOO much. It has not changed that much from when I bought it.

[Mike G.]

Hmm...I've never seen one in size 59 or 60 yet...

Anyways, I think you folks are right. My hat IS a piece of Cold War history. I stopped trying to give it that shape. It has a little bit of the "Teller" shape but not TOO much. It has not changed that much from when I bought it.

If you are patient and watch ebay, eventually a nice shaped hat will appear. I have several very nicely shaped "Open Collar" era hats from several different branches in my collection - all original and not messed with. They are out there and can be found. And because they were manufactured looking that way, they are much better than one altered to mimic the look.

Of course, you can always obtain what you are looking for from the very source you quoted - Gowen - albeit they will likely be a little on the costly side. But, you know what you are getting.

[olivyaya]

One way I have experienced once was after removing the narrow metallic band inside the cap. Take it out and then try to place it back... you will experience how difficult it is, and all the shapes your cap can suddenly take ! With some chance you can get close to the saddle form.

[olivyaya]

Only some of the very early color-piped era (50s) hats had a true TR saddle shape. They were custom tailored by former TR Officers subsequently serving in the NVA.

Additional Trivia: Incidentally, all former TR Officers, save a former TR Medical Doctor were eventually booted out of the NVA. Consequently, saddle shaped hats didn't exist after that era. Closest thing is the "Teller" version.

I remember someone noticing the caps manufactured in 1968 did have the saddle form... I have a few of this production year and all do have the saddle form.. any comment ?