Hat Size Label Question

[Engr-Chas]

Greetings Gents,
I have a question with regards to the size tag on vintage hats. I have always thought that if the hat tag has a 3/4 or 7/8 that it means 7-3/4 or 7-7/8, not 6-3/4 or 6-7/8, am I wrong in my assumption? Some hats listed on ebaY with 7/8 are listed as 6-7/8, not 7-7/8 Buster size hats . Could someone please clarify this for me.

Thanks,
Chas

 

[jamespowers]

Sure, a Stetson hat that simply says 3/4 or 7/8 is indeed Buster size. The 6 in front of those numbers is understood. Hat sizes with 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 are understood to have a 7 in front of them. Just some information from someone who has a lot of Buster hats by accident. LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Canadave]

I haven't heard the term "Buster size" before. Where does it come from?

David

 

[Art Fawcett]

Dave, I believe it's a referrence to the "Buster Brown Hats" that were made for children & young adults back in the 40s-50s.
Chas, JP is correct but the reason is that those were the most common head sizes when speaking of the past. Since WWII we have grown as a species and now the most common size is actually 7 1/4. Funny, just 2 generations since adding vitamins to food stock.

 

[jamespowers]

Gee, its good to know that I am above average in something. LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Engr-Chas]

Buster

I always thought that the "Buster" term referred to Buster Keaton as in the classic picture that you see of him is where his head is too big for his hat. http://www.busterkeaton.com/

Chas

 

[jamespowers]

Oh, I thought you were referring to Buster Brown small kids hats. Now that I re-read your original post again, I realize that I got it wrong.
Well we have our own Buster here in Canadave. I have it by good authority that the resemblance is uncanny as well.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Engr-Chas]

Hmm...

Okay,
3/4, 7/8 are 6-3/4 and 6-7/8, correct?

Chas

 

[jamespowers]

I can see I am just muddying the waters with the last comment about Buster. Everything I wrote previously was right it was just my understanding of your term that was wrong.
So 3/4, 7/8 are 6-3/4 and 6-7/8. You got it perfect.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Engr-Chas]

Thank you sir!

Chas

 

[RossRYoung]

Sorry to bump this old thread but it seemed like a great place to clarify. I stumbled across a nice 7XCB that clearly shows a size tag of 5/8. It’s in great visible condition, but then the description says the ‘circumference is 22”’ putting the hat around a size 7 if accurate. Is it safe to assume this is a 7 5/8 based alone on a 5/8 tag alone?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Sorry to bump this old thread but it seemed like a great place to clarify. I stumbled across a nice 7XCB that clearly shows a size tag of 5/8. It’s in great visible condition, but then the description says the ‘circumference is 22”’ putting the hat around a size 7 if accurate. Is it safe to assume this is a 7 5/8 based alone on a 5/8 tag alone?
View attachment 186174

I would not buy it hoping for a 7-5/8. The sellers measurement at 22" may not be accurate but it's close to the 20-7/8" for a 6-5/8.

 

[RossRYoung]

I would not buy it hoping for a 7-5/8. The sellers measurement at 22" may not be accurate but it's close to the 20-7/8" for a 6-5/8.

View attachment 186175

True, I’d assume so too but had never seen the 5/8 tag alone like that.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

True, I’d assume so too but had never seen the 5/8 tag alone like that.

Maybe you can get the seller to give you inside width & length measurements? I just wouldn't trust his circumference measurement. Even if you take that as accurate it would have to mean the hat has shrunk almost 2" if it is a 7-5/8. I wouldn't believe that either.

 

[RossRYoung]

Maybe you can get the seller to give you inside width & length measurements? I just wouldn't trust his circumference measurement. Even if you take that as accurate it would have to mean the hat has shrunk almost 2" if it is a 7-5/8. I wouldn't believe that either.

Yeah I sent a message but don’t anticipate a response. But who knows, maybe they’ll come back with proper measures, I’ll keep ya posted.

 

[RossRYoung]

Well I took a shot at it since the seller did respond. Hopefully their inside measurements hold true over the circumference measurement (8.5 x 7). Early 7X on the way!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Well I took a shot at it since the seller did respond. Hopefully their inside measurements hold true over the circumference measurement (8.5 x 7). Early 7X on the way!

Did you win this hat? I was the next highest bidder...the first place loser.


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[RossRYoung]

Yessir, and at that price it was even less then half of what I paid for my bound edge later 7X. Excited to compare felts and such.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yessir, and at that price it was even less then half of what I paid for my bound edge later 7X. Excited to compare felts and such.

Good get! I’m telling myself that you bid $800 so please don’t tell me I lost it by $2.


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[Hurricane Jack]

Well I took a shot at it since the seller did respond. Hopefully their inside measurements hold true over the circumference measurement (8.5 x 7). Early 7X on the way!

That would calculate to a circumference of 24.46, between 7-3/4 & 7-7/8. That's a big difference from their measured circumference of 22". And if it is tagged a 7-5/8 it has expanded rather than shrunk.