T Jones
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 6,786
- Location
- Central Ohio
Just for confirmation, when did Stetson first change their sweats from the wide caramel colored ones to the narrow black sweats?
After reading some posts regarding the "newer" Stratoliner hats (premier) that seems a few people have some issues regarding the felt body of the hat...due to wet/damp conditions.
My question is, for those that purchased a batch of hats a while back, Biltmores that had open crowns looking similar to Open Road hats....how would you compare the Biltmore hats to the new Stetson hats? Any issues or even which hat seems to have a better felt body?
I found a vintage one once that was very good quality. It seems to me that like any hat company that has been around (Bailey is another example) they have and can produce quality hats if they put their mind to it.
I've been searching for biltmores western but it seems they are not very common...
How do you distinguish wool felt from fur felt? Is there a reliable way to test?
I think the Biltmores were from the last "in stock" from Hats Plus....Daniel wanted one, they had already sold out of 7 1/2 sizes...but Mike (Landman) had one in Black and he never wore it, so...we have that hat here now. It is not getting any head time...sadly. Seems to be a really nice hat!
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As far as the Premiere Stratoliners from Stetson goes the Caribou (grey) run was awful. From what Matt told me they used the wrong bodies to make the hats. We gladly took back any that wanted to be returned and Stetson also did.
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Jeff
Biltmore is being made at the Milano Hat factory now. We are very impressed with the quality of the felt that is coming out of Biltmore. At first after the move they did have some problems but have since then had some of the old Canadian people come down to give dress hat classes to the Western people at Milano. Mr. DelMonico looked at some of there new wool and said you would be hard pressed to tell it was not fur. Biltmore will also make one off hats with custom colors, ribbon and brim sizes still.
As far as the Premiere Stratoliners from Stetson goes the Caribou (grey) run was awful. From what Matt told me they used the wrong bodies to make the hats. We gladly took back any that wanted to be returned and Stetson also did.
What is great is that both Biltmore and Stetson have new innovative young men doing there design.
Jeff
Jeff