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Dating Your Hat (A Place to Discuss the Age of Your Vintage Hat)

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
When you get the hat, see what may be on any "tags" behind the leather sweatband, that information may help aide in the giving a date on that hat. Just a guess on my part, there does not appear to be a "plastic" covering inside the hat on the very top part of the liner. At times just that alone may point to a time period per manufacturing materials used. I could be totally wrong, but I am going to be bold and guess the hat is from the 1940's? Not sure if it would be older than that? The pictures (if accurate) seem to show a very clean and problem free hat, and for what you won the bidding on, you made out well on that purchase.
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,103
Location
San Francisco, CA
Perhaps a Dobbs expert might better know that box, but 50's is my educated guess by the lack of plastic on the liner, and the wide sweatbands. An educated guess only...
 

tridentine

Suspended
Messages
292
Location
USA
I tried, Randall.
No one wants it, my wife likes it so I think Ill keep it [as if I have a choice]

The hound is a nice touch.
I guess they couldn't resist.
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
One thing for sure, if the hat is as nice as the pictures, it is a very decent find. I am sure you will love it when it arrives! Pictures please when you do have it home....thanks!!!
 

Lotsahats

One Too Many
Messages
1,370
Got another great hat from Bond; it's a great looking hat, with a beautiful feel to it. I'll post some shots of me in it tomorrow when the light is better, but I'm curious to know if anyone has dating information based on these Borsalino labels:

image-M.jpg


image-M.jpg


I've read around enough to know that the number label is a "later" label, but what does that mean? I've also not been able to find any but one other example of this liner label, but i cant find anything about age.

Cheers,
Aaron
 

Connoisseur_BP

Familiar Face
Messages
68
Location
Wellington, FL
Just picked up these two Borsos at a local thrift store. I'm still kind of new to hats, but I do know that Borsalino is legendary around these parts. I do know that one is a Alessandria and the other one is "Como" which I've never heard of before. I do not know if they are missing liners, or if they originally came without them. I'd appreciate any information that anyone could provide. P.S. sorry if the pictures turned out huge. I made this post from a phone.

Edit: bump?
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Last edited:

Dinerman

Super Moderator
Bartender
Messages
10,562
Location
Bozeman, MT
Those look new enough that the serial number on the reorder tag under the sweatband should reveal the date.

Note: that trick doesn't work for older Borsalinos.
 

splintercellsz

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,142
Location
Somewhere in Time
Apologies ahead for the number of pics in this post...

I found these three hats today. I think the Brittany is 50's? The Mallory 30s/40s? And the Stetson very late 50s? I will also post these in the new hat thread, as well, they deserve to go there too :p Sorry for some really bad photos. Will take better pic's when I have access to my camera, and not replying on a silly phone to take the pics.

Brittany: The Sweat is in super bad shape (can be seen in the photos), and it has plastic in the liner, but for whatever reason, this hat just feels older than the 50's, even though that is when I believe this hat was made. The store tag seems to say $4.50 (but is so faded, it is VERY hard to read). The hat also has 'Ten' written on the sweat, under the mumbo with the u.s. patent number.

britta10.jpg


Mallory: This hat is VERY soft. Seems to be the 'Durafelt' model? Takes bashes like a hot knife through butter. Just that smooth. Has only one blemish, which I think was from a hungry moth. It has the remnants of that orange plastic stuff, and has the union label (like the Brittany). I figure 30's-40's, but wouldn't be shocked if it is from the 50's... allthough the looks of this make me think earlier...

kjhgjh10.jpg

numk210.jpg


Stetson: Yes, this is an Open Road! XXX Stetson to be exact. This one is VERY NICE! Few staint, which seem to have the ability to come out, but hey, it just adds some charater! I think later '50s, but the 60's would not shock me too much. Also, on the onion skin thing, there is the number '81' written there. Any ideas? And yes, I know one photo is blacked (I did not take enough, and the photo collage program I use puts black in unused photo slots.)

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b10.jpg


Also, why is this not a sticky? Or is my computer freaking out?
 

Seth Duzan

Familiar Face
Messages
61
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
Well, I'm new here and I must say this place rocks. I recently inherited this Disney Ranger from my grandpa, via my mom when they moved a couple months ago. I don't ever remember the old man wearing it, mainly because he died 20 years ago and they weren't really in fashion at the time. It's a little worn and beat in, but I think that adds character. I was wondering if I could get more info on the hat.

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danofarlington

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,122
Location
Arlington, Virginia
Welcome to the Lounge. I don't know the details, but you have a clone of the famous Stetson Open Road hat--thin ribbon, 2 3/4 brim, and somewhat tall crown--and these were popular between the mid to late 40s and say the mid 60s.
 
Messages
10,524
Location
DnD Ranch, Cherokee County, GA
Well, I'm new here and I must say this place rocks. I recently inherited this Disney Ranger from my grandpa, via my mom when they moved a couple months ago...
Welcome Seth. Lots of threads on Disney hats. Here is main one = http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?18071-The-Disney-Diner&highlight=disney

Yours is an Open Road Clone. Open Road came out in thin ribbon in about 1948 from Stetson & is still going today but with lower cattleman crown. The thin ribbon/bound edge goes back much further with Stratoliner...
 

Seth Duzan

Familiar Face
Messages
61
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana
Cool, I figured Grandpa got it somewhere in that time, he was an old man when he died, and I remember plenty of old pic with him wearing several different fedoras. The cool thing is this hat fits like a glove. I know I can get away with wearing it in a more casual look, but I have no idea about suit, or sport/trench coat compatibility. Must say though, inheriting a vintage hat is a good way to get started, I know I want to get one or two more eventually.
 

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