One Drop
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 235
- Location
- Swiss Alps
Thought I'd finally stop by and chime in about a lovely Dunlap OR clone I bought a little while back, but will unfortunately end up selling because it's a size too large for me (7 ⅛, a 7 LO fits me best).
It's a very light tan '50s Westlite Superior, originally purchased from Jim Conlin, with the typical light brown sweatband and white liner from the era, liner label in gold as is the embossing on the sweatband. I did some research before buying it but could only fid references the it's sister the Knox Westlite.
The felt is superb, very finely finished with an extremely soft hand, and the brim is fairly stiff while the crown is soft and very easily shaped - it holds any dry crease easily but is quite lightweight so it's rather easy to inadvertently change the crease just by handling it. I would have steamed a crease in but like it as is, I enjoyed gradually tweaking it until I ended up with a tugboat shaped diamond bash, with a loose pinch, and the brim sides slightly upturned. The OR shape suits my face but I don't like the way a flat brim looks, and snapping down the brim on this style doesn't work as well for me either, and seems to go against the general style of the hat, with it's moderate brim size.
I really liked wearing this hat until I found a Borsalino Alessandria that fits me better, due to it being more flexible and conforming to my head shape rather than just fitting tight to the front and back of it.
I'll eventually post some pictures, and will end up putting it in the classifieds soon, as I was also recently tempted by a '50s Stetson 7X Clear Beaver OR in Silverbelly that also fits perfectly and that I'm more comfortable exposing to inclement weather. I really don't need three such similar hats, if the Dunlap had fit better I would have definitely have not looked for another light coloured OR or clone in the first place, the quality and overall look of the hat is superb.
It's a very light tan '50s Westlite Superior, originally purchased from Jim Conlin, with the typical light brown sweatband and white liner from the era, liner label in gold as is the embossing on the sweatband. I did some research before buying it but could only fid references the it's sister the Knox Westlite.
The felt is superb, very finely finished with an extremely soft hand, and the brim is fairly stiff while the crown is soft and very easily shaped - it holds any dry crease easily but is quite lightweight so it's rather easy to inadvertently change the crease just by handling it. I would have steamed a crease in but like it as is, I enjoyed gradually tweaking it until I ended up with a tugboat shaped diamond bash, with a loose pinch, and the brim sides slightly upturned. The OR shape suits my face but I don't like the way a flat brim looks, and snapping down the brim on this style doesn't work as well for me either, and seems to go against the general style of the hat, with it's moderate brim size.
I really liked wearing this hat until I found a Borsalino Alessandria that fits me better, due to it being more flexible and conforming to my head shape rather than just fitting tight to the front and back of it.
I'll eventually post some pictures, and will end up putting it in the classifieds soon, as I was also recently tempted by a '50s Stetson 7X Clear Beaver OR in Silverbelly that also fits perfectly and that I'm more comfortable exposing to inclement weather. I really don't need three such similar hats, if the Dunlap had fit better I would have definitely have not looked for another light coloured OR or clone in the first place, the quality and overall look of the hat is superb.
