Hat Gift Certificates - Those Tiny Boxes of Delight

[buler]

Buler -- that's a nice collection you've got going. :eusa_clap

One of your photos has solved a mystery for me. I have a full-size version of the gift box that is second from the left in your photo:

I have never seen another full-size box like this one, and I have always suspected that it might be a larger version of one of the Christmas gift boxes. Your photo provides the missing link!

Cheers,
JtL

Jimmy, wish those were all mine. The text of my post was misleading. I meant that I found the pictures on the web, not the actual boxes/hats. Only have the Portis I posted above so far.

Glad that the pic helped you match up your box.

B

 

[Lefty]

I don't know if these worked the same way, or if they were just ads.

 

[Lefty]

 

[Neophyte]

This is one of the coolest things I've ever read about. It's almost like a quirky in-joke amongst the hat wearers of the time.

It kinda reminds me of the Harry Potter books, where the contestants in the fourth book are made to open satchels containing living miniature figurines of dragons, only to discover that these figurines represented a full-sized dragon the would have to face in the upcoming tournament.
This is similar, except I'd actually want the real thing.

...Sorry about that, I had a geek moment

 

[hatophile]

Gee honey,

Thanks for the hat, does this mean you think I'm a pinhead?

 

[Lefty]

They call me Master

1941

 

[scotrace]

I'm amazed these don't get more discussion.

 

[billyspew]

I have a couple of Adam (surprise!) ones.

 

[Lefty]

another thread on gift hats

 

[Jedwbpm]

I've started to collect them since they are cheaper then real hats. I have about 5 now. I remember my PaPa getting them at Christmas. Delmonico's has an old ad in there front window "every hat in this store can fit in this little box" I'll take a picture of it when I go to pickup my Stetson XXX 15 that is being rebuilt.


Jeff

 

[scotrace]

another thread on gift hats

Hey Man, that's MY gig.

 

[Jedwbpm]

How are any of you with a bunch of these displaying them?

Jeff

 

[buler]

How are any of you with a bunch of these displaying them?

Jeff

Along the fireplace mantel. Those of you with a "design approval committee" might not get away with that....

B

 

[Jedwbpm]

Along the fireplace mantel. Those of you with a "design approval committee" might not get away with that....

B

Ya I got me one of those. I am thinking some sort of shadow box. Has anyone else tried that?

Jeff

 

[thebroker]

I just did a search on that popular online auction site after seeing this thread, and I was amazed to see some Stetson miniatures with "Buy It Now" prices of as much as $295!

I learned of these neat little things from an old friend who actually worked at a department store in the fifties. She mentioned that they gave these to people who bought gift hats for other people, and I was intrigued. My first thought, and this might have been answered here, would be that unless you never cashed it in, only the store would have the hats/boxes in the end. Since they aren't numbered, as best I can tell, would one not have to turn it back into the store after picking up the real hat?

 

[Lefty]

1953

 

[Lefty]

not mine

said to be from the Civil War era

 

[Jedwbpm]

Here are the few that I have collected set out for Christmas

Jeff

 

[jimmy the lid]

1941

Great find, Lefty.

Here's the gift box depicted in the ad -- now I know it dates to 1941!

 

[billyspew]

Here are the few that I have collected set out for Christmas

Jeff

Great idea Jeff. Incidentally I have a real life version of this one!