Hatbox Homage

[fedoracentric]

I was wondering if anyone could date this hat box? I am curious if the box is from the same time period as the hat

I think these are 50s boxes. They came in red and a darkish orange, too.

 

[alanfgag]

Nice!

+1

 

[splintercellsz]

 

[Lotsahats]

Saw a vintage Stratoliner box at an antique mall, but it was smaller than the other hat boxes in the shop--it was long and oval, and a good 2 inches shorter on either side than a typical hat box. Per paths it would have held a really, really small hat, perhaps a child's size. Anyone know what I was looking at?

A

 

[John Galt]

The Roxford I picked up yesterday for 1Mach1:

 

[John Galt]

The Churchill 100 Vicuña box that will be going to Garret soon:

 

[John Galt]

A giant I picked up a while back, and the Stetson No. One Quality western that lives in it - little dusty...

 

[Landman]

J. C. Penney's Marathon Beaver 100 Hatbox

Here is a J. C. Penney's Marathon Beaver 100 hatbox.

 

[John Galt]

Quite similar - I've been following the discussion in another thread. I am convinced the boxes at least were made by the same maker.


"Faint hat never won fair lady."

 

[fedoracentric]

Saw a vintage Stratoliner box at an antique mall, but it was smaller than the other hat boxes in the shop--it was long and oval, and a good 2 inches shorter on either side than a typical hat box. Per paths it would have held a really, really small hat, perhaps a child's size. Anyone know what I was looking at?

A

No, it wasn't for a "child's size" hat. It was for the normal, regular, adult's Stratoliner.

There was a piece of paper included in the original Strat boxes that explained that the narrow box forced the hat to be stored with the brim curled inward on the sides and this was supposed to keep the snap to the brim in perfect shape. That was Stetson's claim, anyway. It was the same box every strat came in during the 40s and 50s.

 

[Lotsahats]

Thanks, Fed! That really helps.

 

[fedoracentric]

You are very welcome. It is a very weird box, for sure. And, from what I can tell, getting hold of an original of one of those little instruction papers is really hard to do. They are rarer than the hats or the boxes by far.

 

[Lotsahats]

Yup, this one was empty. Went back for it anyway.

 

[John Galt]

Another rollable. This is a Tesiro parabuntal from the Philippines. Very fine weave. Someday I'll block it.

"Faint hat never won fair lady."

 

[TheDane]

Saw a vintage Stratoliner box at an antique mall, but it was smaller than the other hat boxes in the shop--it was long and oval, and a good 2 inches shorter on either side than a typical hat box. Per paths it would have held a really, really small hat, perhaps a child's size. Anyone know what I was looking at?

On top of Fedoralover's fine explanation I would like to add, that the main difference between The Open Road and The Stratoliner was the brim and the marketing.

The OR was advertised as a classic, stylish fedora in a Western/Southern look - but also wearable for the classic city-gent. The Stratoliner was advertised as the hat for the modern, smart, young and self-conscious man - "of course" flying from destination to destination.

The OR's brim was a little wider than the Strat's 2-1/2", and was flanged with a pretty flat curl, that worked great both snapped and of-the-face. The Strat had a more rolled flange, which at the time seems to have been perceived as more "casual". The small box helped maintaining the high/deep roll of the brim.

 

[Historyteach24]

On top of Fedoralover's fine explanation I would like to add, that the main difference between The Open Road and The Stratoliner was the brim and the marketing.

The OR was advertised as a classic, stylish fedora in a Western/Southern look - but also wearable for the classic city-gent. The Stratoliner was advertised as the hat for the modern, smart, young and self-conscious man - "of course" flying from destination to destination.

The OR's brim was a little wider than the Strat's 2-1/2", and was flanged with a pretty flat curl, that worked great both snapped and of-the-face. The Strat had a more rolled flange, which at the time seems to have been perceived as more "casual". The small box helped maintaining the high/deep roll of the brim.

Here is an example of the strat box with original instructions

 

[Lotsahats]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the info. I have the box now; wonder what my odds are for ever finding an insert--or a reasonably-priced strat in 7 3/8. I should probably just wish for a unicorn, too.

A

 

[TheDane]

I should probably just wish for a unicorn, too.

A unicorn ...?!??!! Aaron, you silly you! Unicorns are not something you wish for! You constantly have to smash those stinging critters on your quest for a Stratoliner! lol

I know, that the price curve is steep at this point, and you use one size larger than I, but I have found a couple on eBay at a reasonable price. The latest was a "project-hat", I got at $65. I expected it to be really nasty, but it turned out not so bad after all. It needed a rather light cleaning and a blocking/flanging plus the sweatband replacement, I knew from the listing was a must. Great hat!

From time to time I see a wearable in my size go at $120-$200. In your size, it'll probably be even more. If your limit is higher, they are not that rare.

 

[Lotsahats]

Right?! How many times have I had to push a unicorn out of the way while looking through hats in second-hand shops? Unicorns are just PESTS!

I'll have to save and watch, I think. Patience; all things in their time.

A

 

[fedoracentric]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the info. I have the box now; wonder what my odds are for ever finding an insert--or a reasonably-priced strat in 7 3/8. I should probably just wish for a unicorn, too.

A

Been looking for hats on ebay for 10 years, now, and I've seen exactly three of those little slips of Stratoliner instructions paper during that whole time.