Need information for vintage Stetson

[buss]

I would like to know how old my hat is.
Various tags and markings state the following:
Imperial Stetson
The Higbee Company, Cleveland
John B. Stetson Co Philadelphia
Re-order #G869533
Stetson 1/8
L2221 - stamped in band
7 1/8 - hat size I assume
Sueade finish
500
4/143
16
56035
The hat looks to have never been worn and has original box. I picked it up in Philadelphia at an estate sale about 20 years ago.
Thanks in advance for any information on this hat - Corey

 

[feltfan]

Free hat dating service

Your hat was built at 9:45am on December 19th, 1946
by a 31 year old Battle of Dunkirk veteran.

Any further detail would require a photograph.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I can offer one clue.

The Higbee Co. department stores of Cleveland Ohio, were taken over by Dillard's about 20 years ago.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Hi Buss, Welcome to the Lounge.
This is a question that we get alot of but unfortunately there isn't a ready way to date the hat without seeing it, feeling it, etc. Some hat makers helped the process by recording the date in the numbering code, but Stetson wasn't one of them In fact, most records for Stetson have vanished over the years.
Try spending time on the Lounge and going through threads to get an idea of the different styles from different eras. Hats are often pictured so try to find something that comes closest to what you have.

 

[tonyb]

The Higbee Co. department stores of Cleveland Ohio, were taken over by Dillard's about 20 years ago.

Hey Danger, ever heard of a Cleveland store called Sterling Lindner Davis? I have a Knox Homburg with that store's label on the sweatband, and under the sweat is what has to be the original price tag. It bears the store's name and a $13.95 price.
Welcome, buss. Post some pics of that hat and maybe jamespowers can come up with an old ad to give a clue as to the hat's vintage.

 

[tonyb]

And every now and then you find evidence that's hard to dispute.

This date is stamped on the underside of the sweatband on my sky blue Stetson Sovereign Mode Edge Twenty Ambassador, which was apparently purchased originally on Chestnut Street in Philly (that's what's embossed on the sweat, anyway), which another Lounger indicated was the site of the old Stetson factory store.
It's little hard to make out in the photo, but it says "Dec. 23 1957." A Christmas gift, maybe?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Hmmm,.....Sterling, Lindner, Davis,........

........that does sound awfully familiar, I'll look into it for ya.

 

[tonyb]

Thanks, Nick.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Okay,....

.....not much definate info about Sterling Lindner Davis, except that it was a conglomeration of 3 stores in Cleveland's downtown shopping district. Closed in 1962 due to a development project known as Erieview.

http://clevelandmemory.org/SpecColl/porter/Chapt09.html

 

[tonyb]

Man, talk about fast service. Thanks, Danger. That $13.95 price tag has me thinking it's probably from the early '50s, seeing how Knox was a somewhat upmarket brand. I'm speculating it was about then that a person could expect to get that sort of hat for 14 bucks.

 

[jamespowers]

Pictures help a lot. A picture of the overall hat, liner and sweatband are the minimum that is needed to start. Measurements of the crown height and brim width help as well.
Imperial Stetsons were nice hats. I have a few and they work well for me. The felt is of nice quality and the accoutrements are top notch as well. Whenever your hat was made, it was well made and better than any of the off the rack hats of today. The Suede Finish is one of my favorites. Super soft with a hint of fuzziness characterize it. I have a brown one in Suede Finish that was sold to me as a suede hat!

Regards to all,

J