Now there's a lid that can bring a guy back out of the woodwork!
Absolutely amazing find, Alan. Extraordinary lid. That has to be quite a thrill!
Good for you -- Congrats!
Cheers,
JtL
lol Not this time. Seriously, that's a lot of hat/box for a $100, era aside.Um, 100 dollars? After all, it's called a Churchill 100. (Or were you being cheeky with me again? )
This was one of those lucky finds, I just happened to be perusing ebay when the listing came up.
lol Not this time. Seriously, that's a lot of hat/box for a $100, era aside.
Seriously, that's a lot of hat/box for a $100, era aside.
Seriously, that's a lot of hat/box for a $100, era aside.
... and the hat's Neiman-Marcus logo is pre 1960s...
Great hat Alan! Thanks for sharing the pics and info. The case looks like a black version of the Stetson 100 case. How do they compare?
B
This Churchill western was sold through Neiman-Marcus in the 1950's. I came across this hat shortly after it was listed with a BIN option. It arrived last week and I had a chance to take some photos today.
The felt quality is quite extraordinary. I was reminded of JTL's post for his Dobbs 100 - opening the box and picking it up for the first time gave a rush that the hat lovers here can appreciate.
Thanks AL and Buler,
The two cases have the same LxW dimensions - the N-M case is an inch higher - perhaps an indication that the hat was sold open crown? The latching hardware is different and the black covering (vinyl, I assume) is leather grained rather than smooth as in the 100 case. The big difference is in the inside trimming... all surfaces are covered in peach satin as compared to the paper lining in the Stetson box. It's quite a nice hat suitcase - from the days when they didn't charge extra for baggage.
Which hat would you pick as the best one between the Churchill, the Stetson One Hundred, and the Stetson Clear Beaver?
I believe I've seen a slightly larger Stetson 100 case also. Seemed to me it was with a more "western" flanged 100. May be the same dimensions as this Churchill. I've also seen the same brown leather case with a Resistol 100.
What, if anything, does it say on the latches? (I believe the Stetson latch is marked on the back)
B