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[The Shoe]

I'm wondering if that extends to other countries. I seem to recall Gary @The Shoe , or someone, mentioning the felt content/percentage of some Stetson hats in Japan.

Yeah, it wasn’t me, so I guess it was Jared’s screenshots that you saw.

This peeked my interest, so I’ve just been looking at the Stetson Japan website. I won’t bother with screenshots since it’s all in Japanese, but the percentages are, are for the most part, only given for 100% felts, be they beaver, rabbit, buffalo, or wool. There is also 90% beaver, 10% mink. All the other blends just say 100% 毛 (beaver and camel) etc. The character 毛 can mean both wool and fur.

 

[Woodtroll]

This little house I’m renting does not have central heating and I am reliant on a gas radiator and portable space heaters.

My concern is that these heat sources will dry out the sweatbands on my hats.

How realistic is that concern and should I move my hats to a separate room away from these appliances? (That would be an inconvenience, but losing sweatbands more so).

We heat with a woodstove and in cold weather, the relative humidity in the house can easily get down in the 20-something % range or sometimes lower, even with two pots of water steaming on the woodstove. I've never had any undue problems with my sweatbands shrinking or drying out, but maybe a couple of times a year I apply a light application of Pecard's leather protector on them (on the smooth, finished inside surface only for fear of wicking into the felt if I greased the back side), later wiping off what doesn't soak in.

I doubt the heaters would hurt your hats as long as they aren't right next to them, but you can always try a little lether dressing on them if you're concerned. I'm honestly not sure how low the RH drops in Alabama in the winter months, but heating cold air will always drop the RH, all other things being equal.

Good luck!

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

We heat with a woodstove and in cold weather, the relative humidity in the house can easily get down in the 20-something % range or sometimes lower, even with two pots of water steaming on the woodstove. I've never had any undue problems with my sweatbands shrinking or drying out, but maybe a couple of times a year I apply a light application of Pecard's leather protector on them (on the smooth, finished inside surface only for fear of wicking into the felt if I greased the back side), later wiping off what doesn't soak in.

I doubt the heaters would hurt your hats as long as they aren't right next to them, but you can always try a little lether dressing on them if you're concerned. I'm honestly not sure how low the RH drops in Alabama in the winter months, but heating cold air will always drop the RH, all other things being equal.

Good luck!

Thank you sir!

 

[StoryPNW]

I don't know where else to put this. It's just an observation, I find it funny that one color, even such a staple as silverbelly, can be so inconsistent. I have four silverbelly hats now, two Stetson and two Resistol, and none of them really match, and some are surprisingly different. These are from the 50s to maybe late 60s or early 70s hats.

 

[MikeinRome]

I'm having a 1930's Western hat worked on, which has a 4 1/2 inch bound brim. I was thinking about having a pencil curl put on the brim. Do people put pencil curls on hats with bound brims? I haven't noticed whether I've seen any or not. Is there any general rule or custom about such a thing?

 

[Zombie_61]

I don't know where else to put this. It's just an observation, I find it funny that one color, even such a staple as silverbelly, can be so inconsistent. I have four silverbelly hats now, two Stetson and two Resistol, and none of them really match, and some are surprisingly different. These are from the 50s to maybe late 60s or early 70s hats.
View attachment 567516

Assuming these weren't "still in the box" finds pulled out of a dark warehouse somewhere, exposure to UV rays could account for some of the differences in color/hue. The rest can be explained by differing color batches, differing color requirements (i.e., "Our Silverbelly is lighter than the other guys'!"), or other variables caused by manufacturing and/or use. Nice hats, by the way!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I don't know where else to put this. It's just an observation, I find it funny that one color, even such a staple as silverbelly, can be so inconsistent. I have four silverbelly hats now, two Stetson and two Resistol, and none of them really match, and some are surprisingly different. These are from the 50s to maybe late 60s or early 70s hats.
View attachment 567516

Just curious, did they all come to you with factory labeling with silverbelly as the color? The darker one looks more like Belgian beaver.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I'm having a 1930's Western hat worked on, which has a 4 1/2 inch bound brim. I was thinking about having a pencil curl put on the brim. Do people put pencil curls on hats with bound brims? I haven't noticed whether I've seen any or not. Is there any general rule or custom about such a thing?

Sure. I know there are a couple Boss Raw Edge hats here with found brims and curled edges. Don’t ask why a “raw edge” is bound.

 

[M Hatman]

Sure. I know there are a couple Boss Raw Edge hats here with found brims and curled edges. Don’t ask why a “raw edge” is bound.

Added as a custom or by one of the many after market hatters such as I have listed here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hatters-cleaners-and-dyers.99090/post-2613210
Perhaps even done many years after the hat was made.....

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Added as a custom or by one of the many after market hatters such as I have listed here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hatters-cleaners-and-dyers.99090/post-2613210
Perhaps even done many years after the hat was made.....

There’s been some discussion on this in the past. I find it odd that we find it more often in the Boss Raw Edge than its contemparies. I also recall some of their owners believed that despite the model name the binding was original. I don’t have a dog in that fight.

Could Stetson have also offered it as an option? I know the name indicates not, but the companies were more receptive at making custom modifications back in the day. Just a thought with nothing to support it.

 

[StoryPNW]

Just curious, did they all come to you with factory labeling with silverbelly as the color? The darker one looks more like Belgian beaver.

The darker shade is my San Antonio. Maybe it's just dirtier, lol.

 

[M Hatman]

There’s been some discussion on this in the past. I find it odd that we find it more often in the Boss Raw Edge than its contemparies. I also recall some of their owners believed that despite the model name the binding was original. I don’t have a dog in that fight.

Could Stetson have also offered it as an option? I know the name indicates not, but the companies were more receptive at making custom modifications back in the day. Just a thought with nothing to support it.

As I said, Custom (from Stetson) or anybody aftermarket really. Boss Raw Edge was a popular hat and a GREAT many were made, and for a long time. However, I must say that I have NO Stetson literature (and as you know I have a lot) that even suggests the hat was offered with a bound edge as a retail option. However, individuals/ organizations may have done so (custom ordered) as for a very long time Stetson did in fact offer such services.

I have no dog either....I just do not automatically assume (you know what that means) an attribution to whom did the work.

It must always be remembered MANY, MANY hatters/cleaners/renovators (all professionals) offered such services as well..... so without a receipt showing up it is hard to say. Does not in any way take away from such cool hats.....awesome in any form found.

In fact I would simply LOVE one to show up at my door in my size (with or without brim binding)!

 

[MikeinRome]

Thanks for your feedback, guys!

 

[M Hatman]

Thanks for your feedback, guys!

What ever you end up doing....I am sure when it comes on the market again...people will argue whether the pencil curl and binding are original to the hat....so be sure to keep the work receipt with it!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

As I said, Custom (from Stetson) or anybody aftermarket really. Boss Raw Edge was a popular hat and a GREAT many were made, and for a long time. However, I must say that I have NO Stetson literature (and as you know I have a lot) that even suggests the hat was offered with a bound edge as a retail option. However, individuals/ organizations may have done so (custom ordered) as for a very long time Stetson did in fact offer such services.

I have no dog either....I just do not automatically assume (you know what that means) an attribution to whom did the work.

It must always be remembered MANY, MANY hatters/cleaners/renovators (all professionals) offered such services as well..... so without a receipt showing up it is hard to say. Does not in any way take away from such cool hats.....awesome in any form found.

In fact I would simply LOVE one to show up at my door in my size (with or without brim binding)!

I’d love one too!

I’ll also say that lack of proof isn’t proof. While I agree that it could have been done at an aftermarket establishment, it could have been a factory option. I’m not saying that it was, but all we can deal with is supposition and theory all supported by the preponderance of evidence…it just doesn’t rise to the level of fact from what I’ve seen. I’m with you in the belief that it was most likely done aftermarket.

 

[MikeinRome]

What ever you end up doing....I am sure when it comes on the market again...people will argue whether the pencil curl and binding are original to the hat....so be sure to keep the work receipt with it!

The binding is already there and original to the hat, so far as I know. I mainly sent it for a new sweatband and to be downsized a bit. While at it, figured I'd have the crown creased and add the pencil curl, if it made sense. To go from what's in pic 1 and 2 to how pic 3 is.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

What ever you end up doing....I am sure when it comes on the market again...people will argue whether the pencil curl and binding are original to the hat....so be sure to keep the work receipt with it!

I’ll take 1970s hats and put 1930s newspaper clipping behind the sweatbands. I’ll also occasionally drop in an old train ticket and sign the reverse side of the sweatband with the name of a famous person who died in the mid 1940s or earlier. I’m doing my part to keep hat collections exciting and full of contradictions.

 

[MikeinRome]

The binding is already there and original to the hat, so far as I know. I mainly sent it for a new sweatband and to be downsized a bit. While at it, figured I'd have the crown creased and add the pencil curl, if it made sense. To go from what's in pic 1 and 2 to how pic 3 is.

Both hats have the same Block Number. I had the pencil curl put on that light colored hat when I put it in the shop earlier this year for work.

 

[jlee562]

Hmm, this one is curled on the sides

 

[ILB Frank]

The binding is already there and original to the hat, so far as I know. I mainly sent it for a new sweatband and to be downsized a bit. While at it, figured I'd have the crown creased and add the pencil curl, if it made sense. To go from what's in pic 1 and 2 to how pic 3 is.

What is the hat in the 3rd picture? Very nice. Looks exactly like my Gannon modified Big Four.