30s Stetson Sport-Lite "The Ray Bell"

[rusticstuff]

Hello and thank you for accepting me into your group! I am a seasoned collector but relatively new to vintage clothing and vintage hats. Last weekend I happened upon this Stetson Sport-Lite sized 7 1/8" in a hoarder's basement. This hat has the moniker, "The Ray Bell". From what I can research, Ray Bell was a relatively well known bronc rider who toured the states in the 20s and 30s. His family breeds race horses to this day.

The sweat band was covered in mold and the hat had a musty smell. I sprayed the hat down with 50/50 distilled white vinegar and left in the sun, then saddle soaped and conditioned the leather. Next step is for my hatter to reshape the felt. What I would like to know is if this example is a rare one? Unfortunately my head is too humongous for the hat, so I would like to sell, but want to make sure it'll be worth taking to my hatter.

Thank you! (pictured is hat just after discovery, looks a lot cleaner now)

(Here it is next to my Filson x Stetson Wolf Canyon.)

 

[carouselvic]

I think there is a marriage between the liner and the hat. Nice hat.

 

[rusticstuff]

I think there is a marriage between the liner and the hat. Nice hat.

What makes you think that? Sorry, I'm a beginner. And thanks!

 

[carouselvic]

Your hat is a #1 Quality Western hat, Sport -Lite was a thin Dress weight felt…but I have been wrong before…

 

[rusticstuff]

Your hat is a #1 Quality Western hat, Sport -Lite was a thin Dress weight felt…but I have been wrong before…

Thank you for your knowledge. It's hard to tell. Compared to my Stetson Wolf Canyon, the felt is noticeably not as stiff.

Once the hat is reshaped and fully cleaned, do you have an idea on a fair value? Apologies if this question isn't allowed. -Thanks

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thank you for your knowledge. It's hard to tell. Compared to my Stetson Wolf Canyon, the felt is noticeably not as stiff.

Once the hat is reshaped and fully cleaned, do you have an idea on a fair value? Apologies if this question isn't allowed. -Thanks

The question is allowed, but we tend to not give valuations. It’s also a volatile market and as there are so few comparisons, and we don’t know the condition after it’s fully cleaned, it’s very hard to guess what it might sell for. It wouldn’t surprise me if the hat sold for twice what I think it should or if it didn’t get any serious interest at half of what I would think it should sell for. The vintage market is very hard to predict and the rarer the item the harder it is.

Be careful how you clean it. Many vintage items have been ruined or had their value greatly diminished by well-meaning folks trying to clean or “improve” them.

 

[rusticstuff]

The question is allowed, but we tend to not give valuations. It’s also a volatile market and as there are so few comparisons, and we don’t know the condition after it’s fully cleaned, it’s very hard to guess what it might sell for. It wouldn’t surprise me if the hat sold for twice what I think it should or if it didn’t get any serious interest at half of what I would think it should sell for. The vintage market is very hard to predict and the rarer the item the harder it is.

Be careful how you clean it. Many vintage items have been ruined or had their value greatly diminished by well-meaning folks trying to clean or “improve” them.

Thank you for your feedback. Just sent ya a PM!

For context, here is a photo of the hat as it currently stands. I totally get the sentiment of not cleaning the thing. I do a lot of restoration work and my only goal in any piece is to stop the deterioration. I sprayed the hat with a mix of 50/50 Distilled White Vinegar/Water, let sit exposed to the sun to kill the mold/bacteria, then carefully washed the sweatband with saddle soap, rinsed, then conditioned with Leather Creme. Only step I was considering taking to having a hatter reshape the felt before selling, but am trying to figure out of $50-$85 for the shaping is a worthwhile investment. I have no intentions on trying to remove stains or anything, as that is part of the hat's story. Thanks!

 

[rusticstuff]

Alright, I went ahead and after some youtube how-tos tried my hand at reshaping. I think it turned out pretty good!

By no means professional and definitely amateur, but has gone leaps and strides in giving this one a new lease on life. I've currently got it drying. Thank y'all for your help!