I learned about Bollman at the Cooper Hewitt Museum. As the oldest-running hatmaker in the country,…read moreBollman was part of the museum's "Made in America" exhibit. The kicker is, I was oblivious to having passed their factory outlet plenty of times while antiquing in Adamstown. On Saturday we took a drive to check out the store. The outlet is small, easy to miss, and shares a parking lot with Mad Hatter Antiques. The factory itself is located a mile or so away. (I wonder if they offer tours .....) As with any outlet, selections are limited. My first-choice hats were either too small or too big. Mediums were in short supply, but I didn't leave empty-handed. The woman running the shop is helpful and friendly. I asked why there were so many Kangol hats. (Kangol is a British company.) In 2002 Bollman bought global rights to Kangol incorporating British methods in manufacturing their products here in Pennsylvania. If you visit Adamstown, you might want to stop by the factory outlet, if nothing more than to see hats made by a company that's over 150 years old!

This is my second review of Bollman Hat Manufacturing Compsny Factory Store in Adamstown, PA and…read morethey continue to impress! As the oldest hat manufacturer in the US, their quality is unmatched. While the factory store is a bit of a trip for me, staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming,. maintaining a consiatantly high standaed of service, A special thank you to Judy, who went above and beyond with personalized service. She measured my head to ensure the perfect fit and provided feedback on the size, style and color of the hats I was considering. The store has a genuinely wide selection of quality headgear. Thanks to Judy's help, I walked out with four hats, including three fantastic Kangol styles without exceeding my budget! And what value. MAJOR TIP: Judy mentioned they are having a huge sale! Starting Black Friday and running through the following Monday, all hats will be 50% off. If you love hats, this is the time to make a trip. Highly recommended

helpful staff and a great selection, including sizes for my xl melon. I got just the lightweight…read morehat I needed for travel.

Was strolling around South St and saw this place and thought would pop in. It's not every day you…read morefind a hat store! Popped in and there was 1 employee and 1 other potential customer. I never heard the employee speak to the other person and my friend and I walked past the employee multiple times talking about and trying on various hats. He never said a single word to us. Had he actually made an effort to ask me if I was looking for anything specific and maybe offer suggestions about proper fit he likely would have gotten a sale. There is a great selection of all different types of hats, hopefully of stopping again or for other potential guests there is a better employee there.

Just off the main square in Gettysburg is Dirty Billy's, a small, dark, curio shop selling old…read morestyle hats. The walkways are dark, the shelves pile to the ceiling with wares and cabinets display custom made specialty hats, and the whole place has a somewhat magical feel to it. Yes, you have to like hates but if you do there's a vague sense of a wonderland with different surprises found in the corners and if you're only interested in hats, which are no longer as fashionable as they once were, this is a place to further explore your interest. They not only sell hats but also make them so if you see something you like but they don't have your size, they can probably make it for you. His main market seems to be historical re-enactors, but he also makes fashionable hate like fedoras and Derbys and is more than willing to talk to you about design, look materials and the price for this customer made hat is on a par with well known brands like Mcgill and Stetson (I like hats) So why only 4 stars? Two things. 1 is convenience. the store is only open on Fridays and weekends, great for tourist trade on the weekends but otherwise difficult. I'd been visiting Gettysburg for years before I happened to be there on a day they were open. the other is a little more twitchy but it was reliability. I did have a hat made and when I got it, it was perfect. :) BUT it was weeks later than I was told at the time. I wasn't informed there would be a delay, I just let a few weeks pass over the estimate i was given and then reached. Then they told me they were a little backed up. It would have helped me had they reached out to me, rather than me having to sit and wonder.

The more I wear this Roughrider hat the more I love it. There is a character to it that you can't…read morefind from other hat makers. It is one of the best looking hats I ever owned and is extremely comfortable. It is the fourth hat that I've ordered from Billy. I ordered two Civil War era hats several years ago that my sister in law commandeered. She loves them!! If you want real period headwear that you don't have to mortgage the house to get go to Billy's.

I love visiting this store! Beautiful hats - a bit over my price point at $200+, but fun to dream…read moreabout and browse.

The selections were decent, but the experience was disappointing. It seems like running a business…read morein a tourist area has taken a toll on the Manager. Honestly, I'm not sure who has worst customer service skills--a mid-2000s MVA employee or her.

I would not recommend this to anyone looking to buy a hat...but rather those who want to buy two or…read moremore! While it has been a long time since hats were wildly popular, there is a renaissance afoot among men and women who long for the timeless elegance of a proper hat. For those who wish to be a part of that - this store is for you! The owner/proprietor Jai (Jay?) personally attended to my tastes, something in a Trilby or Pork pie with a stingy brim, and ended up buying two for myself, and a spring/summer Fedora for my wife. Highly recommended.

I LOVE Hats In the Belfry. They always have unique hats of amazing quality! Here's one of my recent…read morepurchases.