Panama Hat Thread

[BellyTank]

Here's an oldie I just picked up for peanuts.
Optimo Montecristi from Marshal Field & Company, size 7 1/4.
"Genuine Montecristi".

It's a little salty, with a small amount of damage.
I've been looking out for a display hat, thinking I'd find an unwearable one
but this one can be worn just fine. Strong smell of sulphur...

Definitely "vintage" but just how vintage, is difficult for me to say, not knowing much more than a basic history of Marshal Field & Company.
It does have, what looks like a price, of $42.50 penciled inside the crown, which seems like a lot of money... way back when(?)

The sweatband doesn't look like a really, really old one and is in excellent condition. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to age, taking into account any known company history, the label style and a price of $42.50..?
Looking at the label, could be '50s, or even later, was hoping it was older, but I really don't know-

Now... how to clean it a little...?


B
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[AlanC]

^That one's a beauty, BT. I'm a sucker for the optimo crown.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

BT, I don't see a label [huh] . This would be most useful in dating such a hat. I have a very similar British one which is a very recent product. Even has a brown sweatband. It's a style which is very difficult to date.

Any tags/labels under the sweat?

The pebbled grain on the sweatband might be a mark of age. They get smoother as they get newer, in my experience.

bk

 

[BellyTank]

Label... I mean the MF&C on the sweat- nothing else on the sweat.
No other labeling, apart from the 7 1/4.
No tags.
Not a sausage.

Yes, I realize it's a hard one to date.
I guess that's why I'm putting it to the panel (of one).

Thanks for nothing, Kurtz.


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[Panamabob]

I'll take photos down to Montecristi, BT, to see if we can shed any light on the subject.

 

[AlanC]

I think the Marshall Field label would put it as several decades old, at least. I'd think 30-40, probably more.

 

[GWD]

Dunlap Supreme Milan

I just got this a few days ago, It's already my favorite straw.

 

[Art Fawcett]

BT, Robert may be helpful in running down the cartouche, but my gut tells me this is a '30s panama. There isn't anything concrete I'm going by, but the relationship between crown height and brim width is indicitive of that era, coupled with the fact that Marshall Fields was a very old store ( high end store). Today and the recent past, the normal starting crown height is 4", but this appears to be much taller. For what that's worth.
Start by just wiping it down with clean cold water & see how clean it will come. It may surprise you.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Very nice buy GWD!!

 

[GWD]

Thanks Art!

 

[indycop]

I just got this a few days ago, It's already my favorite straw.

That is a sweet hat GWD! the color and optimo ridge look great.:eusa_clap

 

[BellyTank]

BT, Robert may be helpful in running down the cartouche, but my gut tells me this is a '30s panama. There isn't anything concrete I'm going by, but the relationship between crown height and brim width is indicitive of that era, coupled with the fact that Marshall Fields was a very old store ( high end store). Today and the recent past, the normal starting crown height is 4", but this appears to be much taller. For what that's worth.
Start by just wiping it down with clean cold water & see how clean it will come. It may surprise you.

Thanks Art.

It looks like a '30s job to me too.
What I neglected to mention is the membrane between the crown and the sweat- it is a clear plastic-y, soft/flexible, rather than hard/stiff material, has yellowed and has a "stippled" texture(I assume a membrane is quite standard on a hat for tropical/warm weather use). The size label is heavy paper, black with white text- the black is the printed portion. The crown measures about 5 1/4" at its highest.
Brim width varies from 2 1/2-2 5/8". Crown is slightly tapered at the side aspect and pretty much parallel from the front.

The membrane and not knowing the history of MF&Co./their logo design, leaves me undecided.


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[anglophile]

Bailey Gibson with a black band

 

[Panamabob]

Behemoth!

 

[Tom-n-Perris]

Just arrived today in the mail my Montecristi Panama Hat from Panama Bob and Blocked by Art.

Hats are like potato chips you just can't have one.:eusa_doh:

 

[grey ghost]

Great lid..........

 

[rmrdaddy]

New PanamaBob lid arrived Thursday.
It's the Corazon Indy....

Wore it twice now...LOVE IT! (I added the feather )

 

[Tom-n-Perris]

That's a great lid you have there Panama Bob Hats are just superb. I have the same hat I just reworked it a little. I need more practice installing a ribbon on a lid.

Hats are like potato chips you just can't have one.:eusa_doh:

 

[AlanC]

^I've got one of the Indy's on the way. Got it for a steal after the ebay shipping coupon.

 

[Panamabob]

We've got 4 or 5 different crowns going on these brown hats on ebay. Two very similar center dents such as Rmrdaddy has, a pure center dent (AlanC), a center dent rise, and a teardrop/diamond. There are also 3 different weaves, a brisa super, a brisa normal, and a llano. I don't have any of the llano up as of yet.