Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

ScottF

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,755
Cool. I like that sweatband, for sure. Didn't know a 4X was higher quality than a 25, though.

Thanks. I'm again too lazy to dig up my Stetson spreadsheet, but I think when Stetson introduced the twenty-fives in the '50s, they were 3X quality - true of all their $25 hats around that period if I remember correctly. I liked the early '50s 3X quality (have a great 3X Open Road), but not so much the late '50s and newer. I have no idea what a 4X from this period will feel like, but I'm guessing it will be okay. At some point in the '60s, '4X' began to mean nothing.
 

ScottF

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,755
That 4X should clean up nicely; I sure love those ribboned sweats. The seller's other offerings are pretty mothy. you got the good'n.

He assured me that there are no moth nibbles on the top of the brim, or anywhere on the crown. I need a camping hat, so hoping this one's soft and fits me.

... a very nice one at a great price. Congratulations.

Lovely wristwatch too.

Thanks. Might now make an exception to my no-watch policy. Can't go wrong with cheap Stetson stuff.
 

Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
I've handled one 3x (I owned it) and one 4x with the rectangle mark, and didn't like either one. Both were 60s hats. I know that you have (had?) one of the old X hats with a rectangle, but those seem to be extremely rare.
rectangle mark for reference, though mine had brown sweats
sa9999749512-na.jpg
 

rlk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
Thanks. I'm again too lazy to dig up my Stetson spreadsheet, but I think when Stetson introduced the twenty-fives in the '50s, they were 3X quality - true of all their $25 hats around that period if I remember correctly. I liked the early '50s 3X quality (have a great 3X Open Road), but not so much the late '50s and newer. I have no idea what a 4X from this period will feel like, but I'm guessing it will be okay. At some point in the '60s, '4X' began to mean nothing.
3X was a $15.00 hat.
 

Alex

Practically Family
Messages
643
Location
Iowa, US
Here's a gripe: it annoys me when people say, "There is a string attached to the hat for some reason. It could be easily snipped off. I'll leave that to the buyer."
 
Last edited:

ScottF

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,755
I've handled one 3x (I owned it) and one 4x with the rectangle mark, and didn't like either one. Both were 60s hats. I know that you have (had?) one of the old X hats with a rectangle, but those seem to be extremely rare.
rectangle mark for reference, though mine had brown sweats

The '60s rectangle logo ones were terrible (in my experience). The original rectangle logo ones were superb - I still have a couple. I've had a few of the round-label mid-late '50s westerns (3X and Nutria), and they were so-so compared to earlier hats, or to dress hats from the same period. Early '50s were fine, either western or dress. Never had a 4X from this period, so looking forward to it.

Just checking my research spreadsheet, I've got $35 verified for the 1955 4X, which matches Robert's price quote. It was $30 from 1948-50. The 3X was $20 from 1948-1955 ($15 in 1947). The Sovereign was $25 during about the same period. There was also a 'Beaver 25' during the 1948-50 period (perhaps before and after also). I don't know how that compared to the Sovereign as far as quality, but the price was the same.
 

rlk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
The '60s rectangle logo ones were terrible (in my experience). The original rectangle logo ones were superb - I still have a couple. I've had a few of the round-label mid-late '50s westerns (3X and Nutria), and they were so-so compared to earlier hats, or to dress hats from the same period. Early '50s were fine, either western or dress. Never had a 4X from this period, so looking forward to it.

Just checking my research spreadsheet, I've got $35 verified for the 1955 4X, which matches Robert's price quote. It was $30 from 1948-50. The 3X was $20 from 1948-1955 ($15 in 1947). The Sovereign was $25 during about the same period. There was also a 'Beaver 25' during the 1948-50 period (perhaps before and after also). I don't know how that compared to the Sovereign as far as quality, but the price was the same.

I have 3 different dress hats(offhand without looking) with 3X and Fifteen(sweat and or price tag) on them all from the period you quote as $20.00 in addition to seeing other people's examples. Sovereigns were $20.00 during that period as far as I have seen. 1956 still shows 3X at 15( incl OR) and 20 and 22.50(1) for Westerns. Has a 20 Quality too. Sovereign uncommon for Western.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,256
Messages
3,077,448
Members
54,183
Latest member
UrbanGraveDave
Top