Skull & Slouch Hat Cutt-Off History

1978-1989 Front Pocket Shield. 1989-1992 Single Back Patch.

At the outset, membership was identified through the wearing of a black shirt with the wording 'Vietnam Veteran Motorcycle Club'. In the later part of the 1980's members in Sydney and Queensland in consolation drew plans for the Vietnam Vets Riders Association 'Skull and Slouch Hat'. The design was duplicated from the Grave Diggers MC 'Casper' with a 'shield' used to distinguish itself from other social club 'biscuit' patches.

Tim Storrier AM is an Australian artist who won the following awards: Sir John Sulman Prize 1968 and 1984, Archibald Prize 2012 and Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2017. This 'Casper' is the symbol of Stone and is the identical 'Skull and Slouch Hat' the Grave Diggers MC rode with and what Sandy licenced in 1997 to the Vietnam Veterans MC. This 'Casper' has one tooth missing (central incisor) and is a fabric version.

Note: for the filming of Stone, Sandy sought approval from the dominant MC to sanction the Grave Diggers MC 'three piece patch' to avoid any difficulty that may arise with other MC's while wearing the cut-offs. Approval was granted and the Grave Diggers were sanctioned as an MC (the Grave Diggers MC were an Outlaw Club with the close relationship of the dominant MC inscribed inside the 'Undertakers' cut-offs). The initial design was conceived on the idea that the patch was to resemble the dominant MC's style; however, to be uniquely Australian.

Allan Puckett was a born in North Carolina, U.S.A. He served as a soldier in the Pacific Campaign, including the Battle for Bougainville and the Liberation of the Philippines. Allan was a graduate of the Art Faculty at Yale University. He worked on industrial design before moving to Sydney to work as a freelance artist. After the 1997 licensing of 'Casper' to the VVMC, Sandy used the redesigned version of 'Casper' from Allan Puckett to distinguish it from the original patch; thus allowing Grave Diggers MC merchandise to be marketed at the 1998 Stone 25th Anniversary Ride.

Note: This version of 'Casper' has more teeth missing (central incisor, lateral incisor, cuspid, and first molar) and has been digitally illustrated. Sandy stated 'the Skull and Diggers Hat I have released to the general public is from later artwork by Allan Puckett and is designed to differentiate from any MC association'. This 'Casper' was initially developed for use on the release of the 'Directors Cut' VHS cassette... 'this version of Stone was specially prepared by me for the Australian video release'. This version can be seen on VHS and DVD sleeves and covers.

Tom Chantrell was born in Manchester, England. During WWII he was a conscientious objector and supported the war effort by designing propaganda posters. After WWII he established a career in cinema advertising and commenced building a reputation designing posters for films like The King and I (1956), One Million Years B.C (1966) and Star Wars (1977). As computer based illustration became popular in the 1980's, Tom Chantrell transitioned into designing cover art for VHS sleeves. Tom Chantrells depiction of 'Casper' gives the skull a full set of teeth, smile and a more menacing darker look. Tom Chantrell 'Casper' can be seen on movie posters and cinema lobby cards.

Note: The movie Stone and 'Casper' are copyrighted through Australian Copyright Council and the World Copyright Council.

1. Hoodlum Clothing - copyright approval to use the image of Stone on clothing.
2. Umbrella Entertainment - copyright to distribute the film Stone.
3. The Veterans Motorcycle Club - copyright of 'Casper' designed by Tim Storrier AM.
4. Sandy Harbutt retained copyright of the 'Casper' designed by Allan Puckett.

Copyright material may only be used for news, reviews or critiques.

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