Stetson 100 versus Cavanagh 100

[fedoralover]

I got my Stetson 100 today and comparing it to my Cavanagh 100 I have to say the Cavanagh is better, though not by much. The felt is very similar on both of them very very VERY dense. I cannot even see a fur thread on either one on them because they are pounced so fine. The Stetson feels heavier overall.

I say the Cavanagh beats it because the bow on the Cavanagh has the hidden stitches whereas the Stetson's is top stitched. Now it's hard to know if this is the same on all Stetson 100s or not, maybe some of you here that have a Stetson 100 could check just for the heck of it. Either way it's interesting to see the top of the line hats side by side. The Stetson does need a professional cleaning and reblocking though, so I will probably wait until Art is back in business again and send it to him. The felt has no major moth nibbles so at $34.00 for it and a hat box in very good condition it was a good buy.

fedoralover

 

[dopey]

. . . The felt has no major moth nibbles so at $34.00 for it and a hat box in very good condition it was a good buy.

fedoralover

That is ridiculous. It was a VERY good buy.

 

[jamespowers]

A very goo dbuy indeed for a hat that sold for $100 in the 40s and 50s.
We need comparison pictures. I can't feel it through the screen but I sure can look.

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

I was just told by the Seller that the Stetson 100 had been a gift to her grandfather from the Govenor of Texas, Price Daniel, in the late 50s to early 60s. My Cavanagh 100 had also been a gift to a Senator of Maryland from a Texan in the 50s as well. Those Texans liked to give expensive hats as gifts.

regards fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

See if she can give that to you in writing. That would be great provenance---not that you are ever going to sell it but just for future generations. People tend to forget if it isn't written down.
Do either of them have personalized sweatbands?

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

The Cavanagh does. It says in gold embossing "To the honorable Glenn Beall from a Texan". However the Stetson just has the owners intials imprinted on the sweat band.

regards fedoralover

 

[feltfan]

This guy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Glenn_Beall

 

[fedoralover]

Well, that must be him. The hat supposedly came from his estate and it does have his name and the story line matches. Thanks for the research feltfan. It's amazing what you can pick up on ebay.

regards and thanks fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

Congratulations. Those were both good finds. :cheers1:

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

Here's an inside look at the Cavanagh just to show I'm not B.S.ing

fedoralover

 

[jamespowers]

That is great. Looks like it is in good shape too. The sweat appears to be a nice Roan with the nice pattern along the top of it. Unfortunately, I can only compare it to my Fifty. I need to find a few 100s when you aren't looking.

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

The Dobbs 55 I had was very nice, but honestly the 100s are indeed a nicer felt. I traded the Dobbs 55 to fedora along with a few others I wasn't wearing for my custom black 100% beaver fedora.

regards fedoralover