Beaver Fur Cowboy hat

[Brandon LaHaie]

Hello All,

As this is my first post, let me thank everyone in advance for the help you may provide.

I picked up this hat in an estate sale the other day... It seems like a nice, quality made hat and is in great condition. The woman running the sale said it was her grandfather's, and that it comes from a shop, High Hat Shop, in Corpus Christi, Texas. She told me that company went out of business around 1950.

Based on that, I'm assuming this hat is from the 40s... ??? Has anyone ever heard of High Hat Shop? The address listed is 806 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, Texas. This hat is silk lined and says it is "One Hundred Percent Pure Beaver Fur," and from what I've read, I assume that means it is a high quality hat... correct thinking? Does anyone have any idea of the cost when new and/or the value today.

Again I appreciate all your help, and look forward to using the forum more in the future as I am a bit of a hat aficionado myself.

Brandon

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[hatophile]

That is indeed a very nice hat, being 100% beaver. My guess is it would have been pretty high priced in it's day because of that.
As to what it's worth now, would be hard to say, most hatmakers are charging over $500 for pure beaver fur hats. Vintage blends (hare/beaver) are sometimes going for 100's of dollars depending on the make, both new and vintage.
If I were you, I'd keep and wear it if it fits.

 

[Dinerman]

That's the same stamp that was used by Beaver Brand. It was probably made by them as a house label for the High Hat Shop. In the 1950s, a pure beaver hat like that probably cost in the range of $50. The market isn't very strong for that style of vintage hat, but like hatophile says, trying to find a modern replacement would be very costly. If it fits, I'd say keep it.

 

[fedoracentric]

I'd say it isn't the 40s but the 50s. Also I agree that it would not sell too well since it is juts a western and not a fedora.

But it fully depends on the size. If it is a tiny size (size 7 or under) it won't sell well at all. If it is 7-1/4 or larger you could get a couple of hundred for it if you are lucky.

I'd shorten the brim to 2-7/8, get rid of the string ribbon, and put on a nice dark brown 1-3/4 ribbon on it and have it reblocked to a fedora style and then try to sell it (if it is a good large size).

But I agree with the others that if you want to have a 100% beaver hat, it will be hard to replace it cheaply and you should keep it if it fits you.

 

[frussell]

That's a hell of a hat. I wouldn't change a thing. If it fits, you scored a good one that will last a long time. My pure beaver cowboy hats have been tougher, softer, more resilient, and more comfortable than any blend of beaver/rabbit I've ever owned. Wear it in good health. Frank

 

[ManofKent]

Size will have a significant impact on value if you did want to sell it. 7 3/8 - 7 58 will generally fetch a decent price, the market for smaller hats decreases as the size decreases. It looks a good quality hat - if it fits I'd enjoy it.

 

[RJR]

Absolutely wear it if it fits,nice hat.

 

[alanfgag]

There are a number of ads for the High Hat Shop that turn up in a Google search - mostly on sites that charge for a look see - but it seems that the shop was established in a different location in 1926 and was still at that location in the mid 1940s. There are ads as late as 1953 showing the 800 Leopard St. location.

 

[suitedcboy]

The picture is gone. At least for me.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Wouldn't change a thing. If it fits, wear it.

 

[outsidebear]

yes, wear it as is

 

[jhe888]

That is a great hat. I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[barrowjh]

I agree with Dinerman, looks like a Beaver Brand hat, and a very nice one. As so many have said already, if it fits, wear it - what a steal. Depending on how dirty it is, I might clean it if it were mine and then re-shape it to a C-crown (pinch front if you are not familiar with C-crown terminology). If it were my size I would most definitely wear it, and wear it proudly. I wore my Peter's Bro's Banker's Special 100 to work today; this was a beaver day.