American Hat Makers truly has some of the greatest supporters in the world. We’re always hearing awesome stories about the places our hats go. Today, I wanted to share the story of Bobby Boucher, and I’m not talking about the waterboy! Bobby and his wife Paula are members of Golden Gate H.O.G. That’s Harley Owners Group for those wondering. On 4th of July in 2011, Bobby got himself one of our now limited edition top hat designs. To say that this hat became his best friend and travel companion would be an understatement. He logged over 300,000 miles wearing this top hat to all corners of the globe. I’m talking Sturgis Bike Rally, the majority of the U.S states, and a bike tour of Australia. He even got married in it!
If he was on foot, he always had his top hat on, but as for riding, Bobby always hung his hat from the cup holder on his bike for easy travel. Not too long ago, Bobby was out for a ride on the Bay Bridge in California taking his new bike for its inaugural ride. This bike had a different cup holder attached to it, but never-the-less Bobby tried to hang his hat from it while they were on the road. Unbeknownst to Bobby, this new cup holder couldn’t grip the hat tight enough to keep it secure. As the group was crossing the massive bridge, Bobby’s iconic top hat flew off into oncoming traffic. Other members of the group tried to convince Bobby to chock it up as a loss and move on, but Bobby wasn’t having it. Determined to get his hat back, Bobby and the group turned around at the other end of the bridge, and went back across. Luckily, they were able to find Bobby’s beloved hat, but unfortunately the Bay Area’s trucks and cars found it first.
Now we’ve seen some well worn hats, but let me tell you, this hat was BEAT UP. It hardly even looked like a hat! Bobby knew he needed to make a pit stop by our factory to show us the damage and to share this awesome story. We’re lucky enough to have a team of the world’s finest leather artisans here at American Hat Makers, and we were able to resurrect Bobby’s precious hat and make it look like new. Here’s to another 300,000 miles!
Located in the historic black hills of South Dakota, in the aptly named town of Deadwood, lies the gallery of a family dedicated to their craft. World renowned artist Scott Jacobs and his family have opened an art gallery here, to let the world know their passion for creating and displaying beautiful pieces of artwork along with many of our hat styles. His daughter, Olivia, does a fantastic job managing the gallery and is an absolute joy to work with.
Deadwood, South Dakota
The interior of Jacob’s Gallery
Scott Jacobs grew up in Cranford, New Jersey, and graduated from Westfield High School where he drew pen-and-ink illustrations for the school’s newspaper. Jacobs worked for an art gallery as a teen and then went on to sell art out of a van. At 19, he purchased an art gallery at below market value and was an art dealer for 25 years. In 1989, his wife, Sharon, gave him an easel, canvases and paints as a Christmas gift. Jacobs began painting and displaying his work in his own galleries under the assumed name Escotete. Based on client feedback, he concentrated on creating work in a photorealistic style. In 1993, a short time after painting two pieces “Fat Boy” and “Live to Ride,” which featured Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Jacobs’ work was seen by the motorcycle manufacturer. Harley-Davidson signed Jacobs as its first officially licensed artist in its fine art program, a position he continues to hold.
“Fat Boy” one of Scott’s original Harley-Davidson paintings
Jacobs’ work has also been licensed by Chevrolet, Ford, Mattel, Marilyn Monroe Estates and Elvis Presley Enterprises and others. His work has appeared on Franklin Mint Collector Plates, apparel and other home décor items. As of 2013, Jacobs had been the official artist for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 17 times. Other subjects of Jacobs’ work include game room still life paintings, wine and spirits, women in masks, cars and florals. Jacobs’ original works sell for $40,000-$150,000.
“In Your Dreams” a painting featuring Scott’s daughter, Olivia.
Some well known collectors of Jacobs’ work include Willie G. Davidson, Bill Davidson, Jeff Bleustein, Senator Ben Campbell, John Elway, Carl Malone, Don King, Dan Aykroyd, Robert Patrick, Steve Hendrickson, Arlen Ness, Joan Lunden, Kathy Ireland, Kim Alexis, Malcolm Forbes, Clarence Clemons, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, ZZ Top, Survivor and Loverboy.
Scott is a man of great character. He spent time on the show “Secret Millionaire” where in each episode, a millionaire leaves their luxurious life behind, takes on a secret identity and lives undercover in a much much poorer area of the country for a week. Living on a limited budget (Usually less than $150) with no modern conveniences they must forge their own way in the community – working and volunteering alongside the locals and finding individuals or projects whom they think deserve a cut of their fortune. On their final day, the millionaires come clean and reveal their true identity to the people they have chosen, surprising them with gifts of thousands of dollars to improve their lives. They must donate at least $100,000 in total. “I gave $180,000, which is like a painting and a half for me,” Scott says. “I have seven motorcycles, four homes and eight cars. I can afford to give more. And I will give more. I will continue to be philanthropic the more successful I am.”
“I think one of the reasons I became the most successful person in my family financially is that my dad always told me growing up that I was a failure,” he says. “So I was out to basically prove my parents wrong.
“I worked for every single thing I have,” he says. “Nothing was ever given to me. Every dollar I made was a separate brush stroke on a piece of canvas.
“Now to be able to go back to New Jersey and be immersed in what we were immersed in is a real reality check. Anybody can have a reversal of fortune at any time.”
Scott is not the only artist in the family. Alexa Jacobs is also a very talented artist, and is very passionate about her work. At age 15, she started working part time for her dad, Scott as his under-painter. The first time she painted lasted a brief 15 minutes before she was uninterested and ready to move onto her next teen adventure. Although, Scott thought he lost his apprentice forever, Alexa worked on and off for him for the next several years, amongst many other odd jobs, including modeling for Harley-Davidson. It wasn’t until she had eight years of painting experience with her father that she gained enough courage to create some of her own master pieces. Her first several years painting her own canvases were spent experimenting with many different mediums, subjects and styles. Although she believes in the world of art you never stop discovering, she is confident she has found her niche.
Alexa and Olivia inside Jacob’s Gallery
“Smoking Gun” by Alexa Jacobs
Alexa with Christiev Carothers and Big Kenny.
Alexa with her painting, Smoking Gun.
Alexa with Scott and his wife.
Alexa with Dolly Parton.
Deadwood is only a stone’s throw away from Sturgis, home of the world famous motorcycle rally! This year’s rally is right around the corner, and if you’re a motorcycle enthusiast or simply like to have a good time, you shouldn’t miss out!
Scott Jacob’s contributions to the world of art and his philanthropic nature have truly solidified his position as an American hero. There’s no better place than Jacob’s Gallery to pick up a hat on your way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year! You won’t regret checking out all of the gorgeous artwork they have to offer!
Looking for a hat that will set you apart from the crowd? You’ve come to the right place. 19th Century style infused with fierce sensibility and a touch of dark energy make Voodoo Hatter essential to your subversive lifestyle. From hard-kicking rocker to brazen biker or neo-noir grifter, you will make a definitive statement wherever you go.
We designed these bad boys to be the kinds of hats you become known for wearing. Formed out of black or brown full-grain smooth leather, our toppers are built to last, and are guaranteed to draw eyes.
Featuring laser engraved and airbrushed designs from Adam Rose of Fallen Owl Tattoo, finding more artful hats would be a chore. Adam’s creative vision truly sets these hats apart from the rest.
Handmade with unsurpassed attention to quality and a discerning eye on the details, each piece is as much an individual statement as it is a cover for your head. Elegantly don a Voodoo topper at an exclusive event, or boldly show off your attitude at a motorcycle rally, it’s truly up to you.
They’ve even been said to stay on at 60+ MPH!
When it comes to accessories, hats are the most powerful of all. Nothing sets you apart from the crowd more than a hat from Voodoo Hatter. Utilizing exotic materials hardly found elsewhere, each hat is truly a handmade work of art.
The Caliber, available in black, cigar, rattlesnake, and red.
Accents of rattlesnake and ostrich leg elevate the Caliber to a new level of artisan craft. A dual appliqué accentuates the bold crown to make this one fierce topper!
The Rio Topper is like no other hat in this collection.This hat is made in all black leather, and accented with an intricate appliqué that highlights Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake skin on the front of the crown. The unique hatband is made from double rattles that cross in the front and are tied together with a reproduction 1944 Mercury dime. Just the hat for the elegant Voodoo punk.
Featuring a deer-skin band embellished with a taxidermy eye, the Eye band brings all of the mystique and allure of the Kraken into a minimalist package. Stand out at any event with this elegant topper.
Reminiscent of a pork pie, but with a distinctively western brim. This hat is low, lean, and mean. Leave the brim flat for a gunslinger look or curl the brim to dial up the attitude.
With hats like these, it’s hard not to make an impact! Next time you’re looking for a powerful accessory that speaks on it’s own, go with those who know best!
Voodoo Hatter goes to lengths unseen to deliver the ultimate in handmade leather top hats. 19th Century style infused with fierce sensibility and a touch of dark energy make our Voodoo Top Hats essential to your subversive lifestyle.
The Caliber in red, black, cigar, and rattlesnake.
From hard-kicking rocker to brazen biker or neo-noir grifter, you will make a definitive statement wherever you go. We designed these bad asses to be the kinds of hats you can become known for wearing. Formed out of black or brown full-grain smooth leather, our toppers are built to last. The new additions feature remarkable airbrushed, laser engraved designs and eye catching rattlesnake skin overlay.
The Skull N Roses (design by Adam Rose)
Adam Rose of Fallen Owl Tattoo is an amazing tattoo artist who sends us his designs to be used in the production of our hats!
The Silver Skull (design by Adam Rose)
These styles utilize state-of-the-art laser engraving and airbrushing techniques to perfectly recreate Adam’s absolutely stunning works of art.
The Cocktailer (design by Adam Rose)
Shipwrecked (design by Adam Rose)
Balance (design by Adam Rose)
Voodoo Hatter lives for biker rallies! Whether it’s the Lone Star rally in Galveston, Texas or the world famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally we love absolutely tearing it up with our fans and having a great time.This year’s rallies were especially great. As we attend more and more rallies, Voodoo Hatter becomes more and more recognizable among the community and being able to experience that first hand is incredible!
Downtown Sturgis 2016
Enjoying Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Voodoo Hatter is even respected among celebrities! We’re absolutely delighted to see such a wide range of stars enjoying our hats!
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith looking absolutely characteristic in an El Dorado
Elvis Nolasco of American Crime rocking an El Dorado
Anastasia Baranova of Z Nation wearing an El Dorado.
It really isn’t hard to see why Voodoo Hatter is so well loved! When you put on a topper by Voodoo Hatter it invokes an adventurous spirit that’s sure to take you to new places! When it comes to Voodoo Hatter, the meek need not apply!
The 2016 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally was a huge success for American Hat Makers! We always have a blast bringing you the absolute highest quality handmade hats available! Here is what we saw and who we connected with.
This year, American Hat Makers sponsored the Perewitz Paint Show. Jody Perewitz is the first woman to break 200 miles per hour on an American – made motorcycle, so naturally we at American Hat Makers jumped at the opportunity to get involved with such a genuine badass! We were so happy to have the chance to partner up with Jody and her amazing team. They spent the entire rally promoting us and giving us shout outs on social media. They also put up banners at the Galvez Hotel! Jody was an absolute pleasure to work with, and we’re so glad she’s enjoying her hats and custom key-chains! It was a pleasure working with such great people. Thank you to the Perewitz team!
Jody fell in love with this style, the Skull N’ Roses! Designed by Adam Rose of Fallen Owl Tattoo, its laser engraved and airbrushed crown were right up her alley, and definitely set her apart from the crowd!
Jody & Hannah the Marketing Duo promoting each other throughout the whole Rally!
Dave & Dave hanging up sponsorship banners at the Galvez Hotel.
Chad, the winner of the Best Graphics Award and proud owner of a badass top hat from Voodoo Hatter! The trophy was designed by Fast Life Garage!
Dave Silva & Garth Watrous
Dave wearing the Skull N Roses top hat, which is a rare occasion he doesn’t normally wear hats.
Chopper Master and King of Flames, custom bike genius Dave Perewitz describes the long years, hard work, and unflagging passion that transformed him from a kid with his first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson Sportster, into a star riding his creations across the television screens of America on Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off. Being able to work with a man who has been a major influence in the custom motorcycle industry for over 30 years offered us a rare look at how a self-taught designer, mechanic, painter, and fabricator managed to build the American dream his own way!
We met and connected with Karl and Jacquie from Progressive Motorcycle had a blast seeing them enjoy the rally with their new hats from American Hat Makers.
Where we sold a ton of hats and connected with our customers. One of our biggest highlights was being well-known in the Motorcycle Industry. Everyone knew who Voodoo Hatter was. “We had so much traction from Social Media to our booth it was a rewarding feeling” says Hannah Watrous Director of Marketing and Branding. We threw out T- shirts giveaways at shows, Voodoo Hatter was everywhere!
The streets were absolutely lined with top hats! Everybody was lookin’ so stylish!
Everyone that walked into our booth was amazed by all the different hats and the handmade craftsmanship. We are a luxury brand, our hats are a true investment that comes with a lifetime guarantee.
If you want a look that sets you apart from the average person and is handmade in America, We’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for the 2017 new hat styles we are working on.
That’s a wrap for the 2016 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally! See you guys next year!
With bike, truck, jeep & classic car shows and free concerts on two stages, this year’s Lone Star Rally will be jam packed with entertainment for all ages, day and night, all weekend long, November 3-6, 2016. Known as the largest weekend rally in the country, this Texas size party is truly for those who live life wide open and ride hard. Bands will perform throughout the weekend at Saengerfest Park and at Beach Central Park. Rally goers can also shop ’til they drop at hundreds of vendors offering everything from motorcycle accessories and state-of-the-art after market parts to custom crafted jewelry and hand-tooled leather hats and other accessories throughout downtown Galveston and along the Seawall. Plus, they can check out the coolest new rides on two wheels and four, with legendary bike builders from across the nation showcasing their best in custom paint and design.
“We come down here every year, I don’t think I’ve missed a year yet,” biker Larry Fuller says. This year he is showing off his favorite Harley Davidson. “It’s my second wife,” he laughs.
Hundreds of thousands of riders will cross the causeway to Galveston Island for four days of non-stop entertainment. A large part of what makes the Lone Star Rally so unique is its setting. Rally goers take in some of them most spectacular waterfront riding available along the Gulf, coupled with the picturesque architecture and bike-only accessibility of Historic Downtown Galveston. The Island’s many delicious restaurants and unique boutiques also help to place the Lone Star Rally among the best-loved destination rallies in the country.
This year won’t be American Hat Maker’s first time visiting Lone Star Rally. Last year we had a blast bringing you the absolute best quality, handmade hats and this year we aim to stun our customers with some interesting and unique new styles! This year our booth is going to be located on the corner of 21st & Strand St! We’re super excited to announce that this year we are sponsoring the amazing Jody Perewitz and are even more excited to get her some of our hats!
Jody Perewitz has been around motorcycles all her life and has become very well-known throughout the motorcycle community for her knowledge of bikes and record-setting driving skills. Manager of Marketing for the nationally renowned Perewitz Cycle Fabrication of Halifax, MA, makers of award-winning customs, she’s also the fastest woman on an American V-Twin: She currently holds 8 Land Speed Records, one of which is a World Record.
Jody shocked the land speed record community with her record smashing performance in her rookie season at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2011 where she set a new land speed record. She literally propelled herself into the record books by being the fastest woman to ever ride an American V-Twin powered motorcyle over 200 mph!
Her machine, 264, is powered by a 100ci V-Twin boasting a super strong Jim’s bottom end, helping the supercharged power plant produce over 230 hp’s!
Don’t miss out on the Perewitz Paint show while you’re visiting the rally! This is an amazing display of custom paint from around the world where bikes will be judged in 3 classes including airbrush, artwork and best use of color with Best of Show receiving a one-of-a-kind Perewitz custom painted trophy.
Don’t miss out on any of these awesome events or any of our new hat styles at this year’s Lone Star Rally! Galveston is the place to party, November 3-6, 2016. Visit LoneStarRally.com for the latest news and event happenings, and check out American Hat Maker’s social media accounts for updates regarding the rally! Don’t forget that we’re going to be located on the corner of 21st and Strand street!
American Hat Makers 