Please help date this vintage Stetson straw cowboy hat

[Mr. 'H']

Hi folks,

I just bought this hat for my son on the bay. It's a man's size 6 5/8 and even though my boy is just shy of 3 years old he's got a big head.

I reckon why not get him a nice hat rather than a new baseball cap. This baby looks like it will offer great sun protection. But I'll have to keep a close eye on him when he's wearing it as he might trash it when I'm not looking.

Anyway, because this hat seems to have a brown sweatband like the older models I am holding out hope that this may date from the golden era. Or maybe it's an 80s lid

Regarding a western hat on a boy, I've always loved that look. It's so 50s to me, I think I saw boys in L.A. Confidential and Hollywoodland wearing these hats.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Pictures

 

[gtdean48]

Got a photo of the size tag? Any markings behind or on back of the sweatband? [huh]

 

[John in Covina]

Detective time. The brown sweat I think points to before the 1960's. Here is the deal if you can post a picture of any sweat band imprints if they are readable or write out here that info. Also the style of size tag, and any other tags or markings can help.

Sometimes the store that sold it has an imprint and you can find some history on the store. Did it come with a box, if so any realted info on that?

Time to get out the magnifying glass!

 

[jamespowers]

I am with John. I need a bit more info and pictures of the logo etc.
However, I want to encourage you to keep on giving your son real hats so that he gets used to quality not those blasted baseball thingys.
I have done the same thing with my son. Hats in 6 5/8 are easy to find and easy on the pocketbook. The 6 3/4 and 6 7/8 are as well. He now has a collection that is catching up to mine.

 

[RBH]

Cant help.. but it looks to be a fine hat!!!!
I can remember my great uncle wearing one just like that back in the early '70s. His was an old[er] straw at that time.

 

[rlk]

Detective time. The brown sweat I think points to before the 1960's. Here is the deal if you can post a picture of any sweat band imprints if they are readable or write out here that info. Also the style of size tag, and any other tags or markings can help.

Sometimes the store that sold it has an imprint and you can find some history on the store. Did it come with a box, if so any realted info on that?

Time to get out the magnifying glass!

We definitely need some more data. Brown sweats have been continuously used in Western Straw Stetson and provide no dating assistance. The vague logo also had a long period of off and on use.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Guys - theses are auction pics not mine. There is no size tag aparently. Regarding the brown sweatband, I know the picture is blurry, but I am very optimistic. Normally on the newer brown sweats (which are more brown brown than roan brown) you will see the ubiquitous gold line going all the way around and quite often "made in USA".

 

[jamespowers]

Guys - theses are auction pics not mine. There is no size tag aparently. Regarding the brown sweatband, I know the picture is blurry, but I am very optimistic. Normally on the newer brown sweats (which are more brown brown than roan brown) you will see the ubiquitous gold line going all the way around and quite often "made in USA".

You have a point about the gold line. When you get it, let us know how it looks.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Got a photo of the size tag? Any markings behind or on back of the sweatband? [huh]

No size tag.... here are the inside photos:

Genuine Handwoven
FORMOSAN

Close up on the weave:

Note the Stetson gold logo stamped over in gold.

 

[Mr. 'H']

This is how she arrived:

 

[Mr. 'H']

Did it come with a box, if so any realted info on that?

Time to get out the magnifying glass!

No, no box. Just the cardboard one that had crushed en route.

 

[Mr. 'H']

She's covered in shellec - thank God - that's why it was easy to steam it back to its original state....

Maybe this could be a primer for the newbies on the v alue of steam - even on vintage straw?!

From this:

To this:

 

[Mr. 'H']

It's actually not too far off my Dobbs:

That's what convinces me it's old.

 

[billyspew]

She's covered in shellec - thank God - that's why it was easy to steam it back to its original state....

Maybe this could be a primer for the newbies on the v alue of steam - even on vintage straw?!



To this:

This is one of my favourite photos I've seen on the lounge.

 

[rlk]

Very Nice hat and photo. It looks like Buntal type straw. I'm not sure how recently Stetson used that material but I suspect it and the sweatband type put it pre-mid 1960's and possibly a good bit older. I haven't seen enough like it to provide any expertise however.

 

[Mr. 'H']

This is one of my favourite photos I've seen on the lounge.

awww! What a nice comment! Thank you.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Very Nice hat and photo. It looks like Buntal type straw. I'm not sure how recently Stetson used that material but I suspect it and the sweatband type put it pre-mid 1960's and possibly a good bit older. I haven't seen enough like it to provide any expertise however.

Yay! Getting warmer. I'm hoping it's at least 50s!

 

[rlk]

Yay! Getting warmer. I'm hoping it's at least 50s!

My apologies for the error regarding the Straw. Formosan is one of the Paper Yarn type straws which is very resilient and probably allowed your hat to survive its ordeal without splitting. Its also popular for inexpensive hats to this day. Doesn't alter my age guestimation.

 

[gtdean48]

This is one of my favourite photos I've seen on the lounge.

Absolutely!!!!!