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[DudeInBlack]

What is considered a "tall crown"?

 

[gtdean48]

What is considered a "tall crown"?

For me, it needs to be over 5 1/2" open crown. Anything less than 5 1/2" is a short crown. JMHO

 

[monbla256]

What is considered a "tall crown"?

It varies according to ones personal idea of "tall". I'd say anything over 5 1/4" .

 

[zetwal]

What is considered a "tall crown"?

Tall for a porkpie may not be tall for a western.

 

[DudeInBlack]

Where might one get a Dark Red replacement liner? I've asked Optimo and they only do white and black. Does the Lounge know of any hatters that use this color?

 

[DavidJ]

Small question on terminology. What is an open crown? I believe I have an idea, but I just want to be sure. And that western is insane!

 

[jlee562]

Small question on terminology. What is an open crown? I believe I have an idea, but I just want to be sure. And that western is insane!

An open crown hat is a hat that has been blocked but not creased/bashed. The Akubra Fed IV and (now discontinued) Stetson Nostalgia are two examples of open crown hats, although back in the old days, it was de rigueur for hats to be sold open crown and shaped to the customers preferences.

 

[Neophyte]

Well, it's been a while now, but I finally have another question.

We're well aware now of the Stetson Clear Beaver felts (and if not, a quick search yields several excellent and informative threads). Most of these were 7X Clear Beavers.

I just received from Ebay a high-quality brown western. It is made by American Hat Co (the one established in 1915, not the newer one that sells mostly rodeo style and cattleman hats). It was made by them for a store of some sort called Ryon's, and on the sweatband it reads:

3XXX Clear Beaver
American Hat Co.
"Custom"

I'll post a picture later, but the pliability and smoothness of the felt make me think I have something a little bit above average here. However, I don't know enough about American Hat Co. and Stetson to assume that they mean the same thing when they stamp a hat "Clear Beaver".

Does anybody have any information that could set me on the right track? Maybe a thread I should check out?

 

[zetwal]

[...] I don't know enough about American Hat Co. and Stetson to assume that they mean the same thing when they stamp a hat "Clear Beaver".

Does anybody have any information that could set me on the right track? Maybe a thread I should check out?

To learn more about what clear beaver appears to have meant to Stetson, read this thread.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?21471

 

[Neophyte]

Thanks, Zetwal!

 

[zetwal]

Thanks, Zetwal!

My pleasure ...

 

[monbla256]

Well, it's been a while now, but I finally have another question.

We're well aware now of the Stetson Clear Beaver felts (and if not, a quick search yields several excellent and informative threads). Most of these were 7X Clear Beavers.

I just received from Ebay a high-quality brown western. It is made by American Hat Co (the one established in 1915, not the newer one that sells mostly rodeo style and cattleman hats). It was made by them for a store of some sort called Ryon's, and on the sweatband it reads:

3XXX Clear Beaver
American Hat Co.
"Custom"

I'll post a picture later, but the pliability and smoothness of the felt make me think I have something a little bit above average here. However, I don't know enough about American Hat Co. and Stetson to assume that they mean the same thing when they stamp a hat "Clear Beaver".

Does anybody have any information that could set me on the right track? Maybe a thread I should check out?

Neo,
Not sure about the hat, but Ryon's is an old Ft. Worth Saddle and western wear store here in Ft. Worth, Texas. They have been in bussiness since 1919. They are now part of Luskey's in Ft. Worth. Here's a link to their site :
http://www.luskeys.com/ You might want contact them and maybe they can help you with dating it. I bought my first used saddle at Ryons back in 1965 Your'e getting closer to Texas in your hats all the time

 

[Neophyte]

I went back and looked at the sweatband and by gum you're right Monbla . Thanks for that tidbit of history. It makes the hat all that much more interesting in my eyes lol.

In the thread Zetwal linked me to, there was a lot of information coming in about what exactly Clear Beaver meant (to Stetson, at least). Seems that these hats were bleached as part of their processing, sometimes dyed, but more often left in their natural "belly fur" undyed color. I don't know what exactly the bleaching does, but apparently it makes for a somewhat nicer felt.

If American Hat Co.'s concept of Clear Beaver is the same, I'd be thrilled. If not, that's fine. The hat may still prove to be high up there on AHCo's felt hierarchy. Either way, it's a nice hat and won't be leaving my possession anytime soon .

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll be posting a lot of pics of the hat in the Western thread once I get some sunlight tomorrow.

 

[DavidJ]

jlee, thanks for the clarification. I was right, but wasn't completely sure in myself. Thanks again!

 

[zetwal]

I went back and looked at the sweatband and by gum you're right Monbla . Thanks for that tidbit of history. It makes the hat all that much more interesting in my eyes.

Many stores do have a rich and interesting history. I have a vintage Stetson from the saddlery store of Newton Porter in Arizona. The sweatband logo resembles those found on his famous saddles!

 

[mattface]

Really not sure if this is the appropriate place to ask for inforamtion on my latest yardsale find, but here it is. Royal Stetson, it came a little stained and mashed. I did a quick cleanup with talc and a brush, and a damp cloth on the deeper stains. I straitened the block a little, but I need to steam and block it.

I'd love some info on the age and model if some knowledgeable folks could chime in, and pointers to cleaning tips. Especially about that stain on theright side of the brim which looks bleached. Does anyone know how I might minimize the appearance of that?


Royal Stetson by mattface, on Flickr

Royal Stetson by mattface, on Flickr

Royal Stetson by mattface, on Flickr

 

[zetwal]

I'd love some info on the age and model if some knowledgeable folks could chime in, and pointers to cleaning tips. Especially about that stain on theright side of the brim which looks bleached. Does anyone know how I might minimize the appearance of that?

It's more or less a Whippet style Stetson. But an actual Whippet model will say as much on the liner and/or on the leather sweatband. I can't see the logo on the sweatband clearly. But based on the liner (and what I can see of the sweatband) it appears to be from the 40s.

 

[mattface]

It's more or less a Whippet style Stetson. But an actual Whippet model will say as much on the liner and/or on the leather sweatband. I can't see the logo on the sweatband clearly. But based on the liner (and what I can see of the sweatband) it appears to be from the 40s.

Thanks, for the feedback. true it doesn't say whippet, but it DOES look pretty close to that style, and I've actually been coveting a whippet (or similar)for some time now. based upon the liner thread I was thinking 1940s too. I REALLY want a brown one, but I like this color, and for $6.50 I can't really complain.

 

[zetwal]

Thanks, for the feedback. true it doesn't say whippet, but it DOES look pretty close to that style, and I've actually been coveting a whippet (or similar)for some time now. based upon the liner thread I was thinking 1940s too. I REALLY want a brown one, but I like this color, and for $6.50 I can't really complain.

(Stains aside) it looks like a nice hat. And the price was good. If you like the proportions, who cares if it says Whippet? These days, Whippets are generally overpriced anyway.

Depending on your size, a good vintage brown fedora in this style shouldn't be hard to find. But you may have to pay more than $6.50 for it!

 

[mattface]

(Stains aside) it looks like a nice hat. And the price was good. If you like the proportions, who cares if it says Whippet? These days, Whippets are generally overpriced anyway.

Depending on your size, a good vintage brown fedora in this style shouldn't be hard to find. But you may have to pay more than $6.50 for it!

I don't care about the name, I look for a hat that looks good on my head, and a LOT of them don't, so when I picked this up off the table it actually fit (happy surprise because it's labelled 7 and I wear between 7 1/8 and 7 1/4) and it actually looked good on I was pleased as pie! Mostly I just want to know what to call it. The saleability of the name would only matter if it didn't look good on me

Another cool bit is that It's labeled John Areioli Inc. Barre VT. I can't find any info about John Arioli Inc. but I gather they must have been a Men's clothiers in Barre VT. Back then Barre was a granite quarry town with a large Italian population.