Re: Another Goodwear to critique, Dubow in dark horsehide
The leather is obviously important, but it's the combination of that and the cloning of the originals that I like about Johns repros. I told him I didn't want any modifications that weren't found on the originals at some point in time. Here's the offset pockets that were found on the Dubows. The one pic is from Johns website showing an original with an obvious Dubow pocket spacing. Mine is very close to matching it.
While not being an A-2 expert, I have collected antiques for over 30 years and vintage fedora's for around 10 and after a while you develop an eye for things that are original and things that aren't. You start to see what makes a great reproduction and what doesn't and it's always the same, whether it's furniture, clocks, Art deco slip shade light fixtures, fedora's or anything else---it's the details that makes one stand out over another. John does the details and that's what makes his look like they came out of a time warp from the past to the present.
Here's a Lost Worlds Dubow to show the difference. I don't doubt LWs quality construction, but again the details in reproducing the Dubow is sadly lacking. The pics say it all.
fedoralover