Approximate Age of Hat

[Airdog]

hoping someone out there can help me identify when this hat was made - the box has no info and the tag inside the hat only says" open road s belly 10XB"

 

[TheDane]

I believe Stetson added metric size to the tag somewhere during the 90s. I can't get closer than mid 90s or later.

 

[Mm25]

View attachment 47123 View attachment 47124 hoping someone out there can help me identify when this hat was made - the box has no info and the tag inside the hat only says" open road s belly 10XB"

I can't help date it, but a beautiful hat!

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks Dane. She convo-d me on eBay and I erroneously told her 80s.

 

[Airdog]

I believe Stetson added metric size to the tag somewhere during the 90s. I can't get closer than mid 90s or later.

Thanks Dane - there is no metric numbers anywhere - would you have any idea what this might be worth - I have to try and sell it for a widowed neighbor - want to help her as much as I can.

 

[Airdog]

Thanks Dane. She convo-d me on eBay and I erroneously told her 80s.

You were a BIG help with that other hat! Luv ya!

 

[Frunobulax]

You were a BIG help with that other hat! Luv ya!

No problem and thank you. The metric number is the "61" above the 7 5/8 on the size tag. This is the circumference in centimeters.

 

[Brad Bowers]

I believe Stetson added metric size to the tag somewhere during the 90s. I can't get closer than mid 90s or later.

Ole, the Stetson I bought new in the spring of 1984 has metric sizing on the tag. This hat could very well be '80s, as the tag and box match mine.

Brad

 

[Airdog]

Ole, the Stetson I bought new in the spring of 1984 has metric sizing on the tag.

Brad

Thank you!

 

[Airdog]

No problem and thank you. The metric number is the "61" above the 7 5/8 on the size tag. This is the circumference in centimeters.

Ok - more useful info !

 

[Airdog]

Ok - Since it has a metric number - it's from the 80's or later - thank you all!
Now can anyone give me an idea of what it might be worth???

 

[TheDane]

Ole, the Stetson I bought new in the spring of 1984 has metric sizing on the tag. This hat could very well be '80s, as the tag and box match mine.

Brad

I was obviously 10 years wrong. Sorry

 

[Brad Bowers]

I was obviously 10 years wrong. Sorry

No need to apologize, I was just passing along some information!

 

[moontheloon]

I have a theory on "worth"

and that is ... a hat is only "worth" what it is worth to the owner and/or someone trying to buy it

when dealing with something like this being that it comes from a widow and reading that I assume it belonged to her late husband the sentimental value may outweigh the monetary value

I personally can't see that hat fetching more than $50 or $60 dollars on an auction site ... and it is probably worth less in my eyes

it's a good looking hat ... but I don't see a whole lot of value in it ... that doesn't mean someone else will not... And it also doesn't mean that it's not a quality piece

I would put it up in the classifieds here ... one of these good men may just pay more than they would on an auction site simply to support the widow ... it can be like that here

 

[DJH]

I don't know, Moon. It's a nice Open Road that looks to be unworn and about 30 years old.

It must be better than the current 4x & 6x versions that sell for $150 or more.

If it were my size and I was on a OR hunt, it would be worth more than $60 to me.

I bet our eBay friend Timmy would list it for over $300 and sell it for $120 - $140 (eventually)

 

[Alexander Sommerset]

"I have a theory on 'worth' and that is ... a hat is only 'worth' what it is worth to the owner and/or someone trying to buy it."

I agree and disagree. I agree in a general sense, but disagree that the generality negates the fact that everything has a market value.

What I mean is that if you look at the final sales price of say 100 sales of hats like that one above you'd come up with an average market price. But you would surely find some sales going way over that price (especially on an auction site where people get their bidding blood boiling) and some sales way below it.

On average, pre-1970 era hats at size under size 7 are hard to sell. But once in a while one goes for what one might think is top dollar.
On average, pre-1970 hats in size 7-1/4 and larger go for big dollars. But once in a while one goes ultra cheap.

But the thing is, it is certainly possible to track a bunch of sales of similar items and come up with a market price that can be used to get an idea of what something is "worth" before it goes up for sale.

Of course, this is true with everything, not just hats.

So, the claim that nothing is worth anything unless you can find someone to buy it is only true to a degree. It is absolutely possible to grade an item and determine what it is worth due to past sales records. Naturally these sales fluctuate. And that is how one becomes a true collector of something, by paying attention and making note of the price fluctuations and market trends.

And this is all why those jerks who slap $500 on every piece of junk hat they have in their sweaty hands are bad for all of us. Because they screw up the marketplace and damage the market forces that makes pricing make sense.

 

[moontheloon]

"I have a theory on 'worth' and that is ... a hat is only 'worth' what it is worth to the owner and/or someone trying to buy it."

I agree and disagree. I agree in a general sense, but disagree that the generality negates the fact that everything has a market value.

What I mean is that if you look at the final sales price of say 100 sales of hats like that one above you'd come up with an average market price. But you would surely find some sales going way over that price (especially on an auction site where people get their bidding blood boiling) and some sales way below it.

On average, pre-1970 era hats at size under size 7 are hard to sell. But once in a while one goes for what one might think is top dollar.
On average, pre-1970 hats in size 7-1/4 and larger go for big dollars. But once in a while one goes ultra cheap.

But the thing is, it is certainly possible to track a bunch of sales of similar items and come up with a market price that can be used to get an idea of what something is "worth" before it goes up for sale.

Of course, this is true with everything, not just hats.

So, the claim that nothing is worth anything unless you can find someone to buy it is only true to a degree. It is absolutely possible to grade an item and determine what it is worth due to past sales records. Naturally these sales fluctuate. And that is how one becomes a true collector of something, by paying attention and making note of the price fluctuations and market trends.

And this is all why those jerks who slap $500 on every piece of junk hat they have in their sweaty hands are bad for all of us. Because they screw up the marketplace and damage the market forces that makes pricing make sense.

so what's it "worth" ?

 

[moontheloon]

I don't know, Moon. It's a nice Open Road that looks to be unworn and about 30 years old.

It must be better than the current 4x & 6x versions that sell for $150 or more.

But that's new... and we all know that any apparel loses pretty much half of its value the second it leaves the store .... that is until it by chance becomes collectible or vintage desirable

.. and yeah Tim would have this up for $499

 

[DOGMAN]

I get hats like this on Ebay.I don't pay more than $40.Have purchased about 30 hats for $40 or under.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Being a size 7-5/8, 61cm myself, I can tell you that you won't buy a hat like that for $40 or less on eBay. Here's a 7-5/8 OR dirty straw with a damaged crown that just cropped up for $40.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ste...666552?hash=item210c066578:g:2RgAAOSwMORW719P