A client considering  her business opportunities by trying our informal hat blocking machine demonstration .........                                               Talking through the hat blocking procedures ......

A first timer at this ..................

A little assistance at placing the hood onto the hot hat block .....................

With confidence building ......................

And a watchfull eye there if help and advice is needed .......................

2 minutes after starting ..........................

And allowing to cool .........................

The finished blocked hat ...................

One very happy client ;)

A deal was done ...............................

The order was placed....................

and a few weeks later the crate arrives ...........

Carefully unpacking the crate .................

All the metal hat blocks ...................

And everything else you need for sucessfull blocking .............

The assembly continues .........................

Following the instructions ....................

And a little work .......................

The fully assembled hat blocking machine in its new location.....

All ready to start earning its living.............

And these are the finished hats......................

Ready for sale a couple of days after the order arrived at its location........

As the client says .......................

Should have purchased the machine years ago !!!

When asked to exhibit in our local museum .......................

We were proud to assist with a selection of beautiful wood and metal hat blocks

The wood hat blocks on display .............

The metal hat blocks on display ............

6am ......................................

A frantic international milliner Justin Smith Esq.  gets to work .................

Working on that very important client sample.....................

Making the patterns while Justin looks on ......................

Plenty of discussions take place ...................

As the deadline looms to get the hat shape 'through' the factory .....

We still manage a laugh and a joke to ease the pressure ...............

12 hrs later Justin 'bags' his hat blocks and its off to the catwalk............

As we always do for our clients 'in there hour of need' we got the job done

When approached by English Heritage to create a short film about the hat blockmakers and millinery trade ............

There was a lot of hi tech kit needed to get the best shots  ........................

Alan at work getting the best shots in the showroom   .................................

Going for altitude with aerial pictures across the factory ...................

Getting up close and personal in the foundry ...................

After 3 days of interviews and filming Alan and Katie hit the road ....................................

We cant wait to see the finished film , lets hope not too much ends up on the cutting room floor ....

Watch this space !

Mary Jane Baxter and millinery students take a factory tour ........................

Learning about whats involved in the hat block makers art......................

Taking in all the facets of the factory floor ........................

The patternshop .......................

The foundry .............................

The fettling dept  ......................

The woodworking dept................

And finally .................................................

Posing in the factory showroom ....................