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Beater Brotherhood

Cornshucker77

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,691
Location
Northeast Nebraska, USA
My favorite beater. Stetson.
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Blackthorn

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,566
Location
Oroville
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Now here's a beater hat. It started life as a Banjo Paterson, but I put a leather hatband on it, from an old belt I have worn all over the world. As I cut the belt into a strap to use as a hatband, the knife slipped, but I kept it anyway. Parker put some vent holes in it for me. He messed it up, but I'm not going to give up on my favorite beater:
 
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Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
Hat City Hat Co. of Danbury Conn., that's it, just Hat City, no other bells or whistles. My other "work" hat will travel down to build some set pieces at the theater tonight. This hat is a perfect example of a low end, cheap hat for a few bucks in the 1950s. I have not found any references, yet, to this odd company, possibly a jobber. I did have the sweat replaced, now it fits like a custom, probably polishing a turd. Another one for the beater thread.
It won't bother this one to be covered in sawdust and theater dirt.

6Sep17 Hat City Hat Co front.jpg
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9Dec17 Hat City Hat co. crown.jpg
13Aug17 Hat City liner.jpg
 

Mustang Mike's Hats

A-List Customer
Messages
399
Location
Southern California
You guys that know me, know I spend a lot of my off time with the horses. My beater has been in my possession for nearly 21 years. A hundred dollar Rockmont that I nabbed at a Rodeo in Bakersfield, CA.

100s of riding miles, it's been worn on three continents (when it was much younger) and many 100s more hours in the arena and roundpen doing horse training. So, bear with it's condition. Even a deep cleaning naptha bath couldn't help it much. :( 0605181341a.jpg
 

quikrick

One Too Many
Messages
1,095
Location
Bay Area, California
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The crown is too short, has waaay too much taper, hat band is loose (steam didn't help), liner is dirty as hell, sweat band is falling apart, it fits a little snug so it rides too high on my head, felt is a bit fuzzy, I'm considering putting a little moth in there to do some munching! Probably mid 1980s so it's not vintage. I've decided many times to let it go... still here!
 
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Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
You guys that know me, know I spend a lot of my off time with the horses. My beater has been in my possession for nearly 21 years. A hundred dollar Rockmont that I nabbed at a Rodeo in Bakersfield, CA.

100s of riding miles, it's been worn on three continents (when it was much younger) and many 100s more hours in the arena and roundpen doing horse training. So, bear with it's condition. Even a deep cleaning naptha bath couldn't help it much. :( View attachment 121400


When you’re buying a used hat you want it in new condition. When it’s your used hat you want it to be full of memories, and seeing how it’s not a dress hat I like it just the way it is.
 
Messages
12,002
Location
Southern California
You guys that know me, know I spend a lot of my off time with the horses. My beater has been in my possession for nearly 21 years. A hundred dollar Rockmont that I nabbed at a Rodeo in Bakersfield, CA.

100s of riding miles, it's been worn on three continents (when it was much younger) and many 100s more hours in the arena and roundpen doing horse training. So, bear with it's condition. Even a deep cleaning naptha bath couldn't help it much. :(
Now you're talking! Sure it might be a little dirty, but 21 years of dutiful service and it still looks that good? I'd say that was $100 well spent.

like that favorite pair of sneakers or jeans, right?
Absolutely. I've worn the same pair of hiking boots almost every day for the last six years. They're stained, the nylon pieces are fraying a bit, and on the heels the hard rubber outer soles have worn through to the softer foam-rubberish inner cores in a couple of spots. Aside from still being the most comfortable shoes/boots I own, at this point I'm wearing them just to see how much longer they'll last. And when that day comes when I'm forced to retire them, I have two brand new pairs (one black, one brown) waiting to replace them. :D
 

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
Now you're talking! Sure it might be a little dirty, but 21 years of dutiful service and it still looks that good? I'd say that was $100 well spent.

Absolutely. I've worn the same pair of hiking boots almost every day for the last six years. They're stained, the nylon pieces are fraying a bit, and on the heels the hard rubber outer soles have worn through to the softer foam-rubberish inner cores in a couple of spots. Aside from still being the most comfortable shoes/boots I own, at this point I'm wearing them just to see how much longer they'll last. And when that day comes when I'm forced to retire them, I have two brand new pairs (one black, one brown) waiting to replace them. :D
I do about the same thing.I've been trying to wear a pair of Russell Moccasin boots out for over 10 years!
 

LarryF

New in Town
Messages
26
Location
Atlanta, GA
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Found this wool London Fog walking hat at Goodwill for $1.99. It's made in the US with the union label so probably 1960s or 70s? It was quite misshapen and crushed but I've managed to reshape it (mostly) and added the feather. It still has some dents in the wrong places when you put it on but it's a good walking hat for cool weather when you don't want to risk a nicer hat due to the weather, etc.
 

Blackthorn

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,566
Location
Oroville
I was in a fast food place this week and a guy came in wearing the all time best beater I have ever seen. First I took a pic from a distance, then closed in and asked permission to take some close-ups. He didn't have much to say, but his sister said that he (who is in his fifties, at a minimum) got it when he was 16 and his grandfather died, passing the hat on to him:
 

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Messages
12,002
Location
Southern California
I was in a fast food place this week and a guy came in wearing the all time best beater I have ever seen. First I took a pic from a distance, then closed in and asked permission to take some close-ups. He didn't have much to say, but his sister said that he (who is in his fifties, at a minimum) got it when he was 16 and his grandfather died, passing the hat on to him...
Boy, if that hat could talk! Wonderful!
 

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