Mystery hat (to me, anyway)

[Flatch]

I have a hat along the lines of an Open Road, only it probably was a lower cost copy - no lining inside, unfinished edge. Still a darn fine hat.

Anyway, the only mfg ID visible is what's left of a mostly rubbed off stamp inside the unfinished crown. Ornate kind of script; pretty sure the first two letters are "IR," followed by a "V" or "W". After that, nothing except faint remains of what may be a five or six letter company name. I googled Irwin and Irving hats and came up with nothing.

Judging by the look of the size tag under the sweatband, my guess is it's out of the '50s at the latest. Any ideas who may have made it and when? Thanks in advance.

 

[RBH]

I love a thin ribbon, could you post a few photos?

 

[Flatch]

Needs cleaned...

Heard a suggestion that the stamp could have been the name of the owner. A mfg name seems more likely but I wouldn't know either way. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Doesn't the cloth sweat mean it's pretty modern?

 

[RBH]

I like it but can help . I do hope someone can shed some light on this one.

 

[carldelo]

Orvis?

Is there any way those letters could spell Orvis? Don't know if they made hats back when, but it has that outdoorsman look, especially with the cloth sweatband.

Oh yeah, it's a great hat - a friend had one similar when I was a kid.

 

[Dinerman]

I've seen cloth sweats like that on late '50s straw hats, and on a '60s Italian made furfelt fedora. I can't help you with the label name. Either a small maker, or a house label, though, I'd bet. I've never seen any that match what I can make out of the stamp.

 

[Flatch]

Thank you all for the input - if you guys can't I.D. it, I bet nobody can, so I'll just have to live with a bit of mystery on me head. [huh]

The Orvis idea is intriguing and would fit, style-wise, but try as I might I see an "I" rather than "O." Ah well.

The seller told the truth that it's a really lightweight hat (and if you're reading this, thanks again!). That's just what I wanted, so I'm looking forward to wearing it this summer. Just got to use some of the cleaning tips found hereabouts first.

Well, I got my winter and now my summer hat, so I guess I'm pretty much done here. Thank you all again for the help! Adios

 

[carldelo]

Really?

Well, I got my winter and now my summer hat, so I guess I'm pretty much done here. Thank you all again for the help! Adios

Surely you're not giving up with only two hats? Somehow that just makes no sense to me.... [huh] you'll need a straw, next, then.....

 

[Flatch]

I know you're half-serious, and I understand and respect that this is a board primarily for hat enthusiasts and hobbyists. I'm just neither of those. Vintage plastic model kits is my particular passion so there's no way I could possibly afford to start collecting even cheap fedoras, even if I wanted to. Thus, my personal "hat math:"

1 head​

1 rather limited style sense & wardrobe​

2 seasons, basically (fall/winter & spring/summer)​

1 limited source of funding, as far as hobbies go
​

=

need and justification for only 2 versatile hats (grey&tan); one heavier
(grey) for winter, one lighter weight for rest of the year;
one to go with my suits (greys, blues, black), the
other for whatever else I wear.​

Good luck and continued enjoyment of your hats! Thanks again for all the help.