A $21 Antique store find

[deanglen]

I've heard of this happening, but I never figured it would happen to me. Went to an antique store in Mason, Michigan, and found this: Royal Stetson Playboy, 7 3/8, excellent condition, and previous owner's name stamped on the sweatband. I think it's a late forties hat. $21!!! I won't go on and on, but I am FINALLY in the vintage fedora caste, three years after joining here. Hooray! Can't believe it! Pics are phonecam, best I could do. Last photo is best hat color semblance. Here goes!

dean

 

[jimmy the lid]

That's fantastic! Congrats! :eusa_clap

[P.S. Could you post a photo of the liner logo? ]

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Rick Blaine]

KISMET

Looks great!

 

[J.J. Gittes]

Welcome to the Club! Neat find, I am yet to find a thrift deal yet, Im not in that club yet.... I like light colors, by the way is the edge bound or raw, I cant tell.

 

[MattJH]

Firstly, I'm definitely happy for you!

Secondly, in that angle at least, that looks perfect. Dead serious. That's your hat, now.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Swell lid! Can't beat the price!

Nothin' like a good Royal Stetson!

 

[Tango Yankee]

Congratulations, Dean!

That hat looks like it was made for you! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Regarding J.J. Gittes's question, it looks like an overwelt edge to me.

I've not had much luck with antique shops, either. I did find one very nice hat, but it was a size 7. :eusa_doh: Someday, like yours, my luck will change!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[randooch]

Holy Moly! Kismet, indeed. What a find!:eusa_clap

 

[RobFedoraField]

hip hip horray!

now if only I could...

 

[MattJH]

Sometimes I wonder what untouched 7 5/8 - 7 3/4 gems are laying around out there in this nation's vast expanse of antique / vintage / thrift / garage / flea market / attic / storage unit / good will / consignment shops. There must be a Stetson Three-Way, a Cavanagh 100, a Borsalino AT ALL, a Champ Featherweight, and maybe even a MacLachlan Silver Beaver 50... somewhere. Maybe there's an app to find them for my Blackberry Storm.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Congratulations, Dean. Quite a thrill, Isn't it? The next one may come in a week, a month, or a decade, but you'll never stop looking, now. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[RBH]

You lucky dog!!!
Its about time one of us hit a great deal like that!!!
That it looks super on you is an added plus!!!!

 

[1OldGI]

Wow, and to think I was convinced the largest hats available in antique stores were 6 3/8. Good show, great find, way cool lid:eusa_clap

 

[kaosharper1]

Great find! Congrats.

 

[deanglen]

Thank you for the kind words. This hat has ZERO taper, the phonecam adds it. The felt is supple, a wonderful neutral shade, and the sweat soft and very comfortable. I can't photgraph it to do it justice, but here's a shot of the the inside:

I can say this; I owned an Open Road from Rusty, whch was very nice, yet this hat makes you realize how true it is that nothing compares to a true vintage fedora.You just feel different in it. No self-conciousness wearing it today, even some admiring glances, or so it seemed to me. The edge is plain with a single row of stitching about 1/8" from the plain edge. Ribbon is 5/8" and you can really tell the difference between haberdasher ribbon and that stuff I tried to use from the craft store on those Tonak hats from BCF. I'm glad it isn't a fat black ribbon like some Stetsons, and it's a nice variation from 3/8" thin, which I still like a lot.


dean

 

[Bull Moose]

Great find.

 

[jazzncocktails]

I've heard of this happening, but I never figured it would happen to me. Went to an antique store in Mason, Michigan, and found this: Royal Stetson Playboy, 7 3/8, excellent condition, and previous owner's name stamped on the sweatband. I think it's a late forties hat. $21!!! I won't go on and on, but I am FINALLY in the vintage fedora caste, three years after joining here. Hooray! Can't believe it! Pics are phonecam, best I could do. Last photo is best hat color semblance. Here goes!

Oh, man, and it's my size, too!! Great find, deanglen!

 

[carter]

deanglen, That is a terrific find and the hat looks swell on your noggin! Couldn't happen to a nicer gentleman. Congratulations! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Macheath]

Sometimes I wonder what untouched 7 5/8 - 7 3/4 gems are laying around out there in this nation's vast expanse of antique / vintage / thrift / garage / flea market / attic / storage unit / good will / consignment shops. There must be a Stetson Three-Way, a Cavanagh 100, a Borsalino AT ALL, a Champ Featherweight, and maybe even a MacLachlan Silver Beaver 50... somewhere. Maybe there's an app to find them for my Blackberry Storm.

I think you just spoke the mind of every bigheaded hat-lover out there.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Well it took you a while to score a vintage lid - - but I'd say it was worth the wait!! A Playboy. In that size, shape and color... FOR THAT PRICE!?! Fantastic!!

I'm smilin' for you 'cause I know how you feel.
:eusa_clap