Pre 1940s Stetson Westerns

[AbbaDatDeHat]

As of 1940:

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Lovely hat and great photos. Here is the Porter's imprint from a 5X clear beaver western, 5-10 years later than yours.

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And a couple more Porter’s.
One older and one newer, i believe.
Great hats guys!
B

 

[Garrett]

Clear Nutria BRE

 

[J Williams]

Clear Nutria BRE

And it's a real beauty, do you think the brim binding is original?

 

[Garrett]

And it's a real beauty, do you think the brim binding is original?

Yes, I think the bound brim is original.

Alan has one similar with a bound edge:

Justin had one as well:

 

[Garrett]

 

[Garrett]

 

[Just Daniel]

Ah yes, I remember this beauty. Very nice.

What about those air vents? I kept looking at them and in the end it held me back.

Clear Nutria BRE

 

[Rmccamey]

Wow, some history in that one!

 

[J Williams]

I believe I have at least one but possibly a few hats that I will be documenting in this most wonderful thread. I did have a few questions before I do.

I know I have seen it but I can't for the life of me find it now - what is the thought on the dating caveat for natural reeds in sweatbands if any? Also this blown sweatband seam from my No 1 Quality appears to me to be unsewn. There are no visible stitches or holes. Thoughts?

 

[Just Daniel]

Stetson Boss of the Plains, Fray sweatband.

Size sticker, very early red reorder sticker, three box inventory tag, unsewn back of the sweat, vv stitching. I would guess 1910s?

The Stetson sweat crest is one I have not seen before and hard to capture.

The pics I received from the seller did not really show the moth damage, but I probably did not look close enough. I bit pretty hard to get it.

 

[M Hatman]

Stetson Boss of the Plains, Fray sweatband.

Size sticker, very early red reorder sticker, three box inventory tag, unsewn back of the sweat, vv stitching. I would guess 1910s?

The Stetson sweat crest is one I have not seen before and hard to capture.

The pics I received from the seller did not really show the moth damage, but I probably did not look close enough. I bit pretty hard to get it.


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[jlee562]

Question: for those who have handled Boss of the Plains or Austral type hats, what's the crown height?

I can't quite tell what's going on with the tag above. 4" depth? 4 3/8"? Finish 318?

My ranger hat definitely looks like 4" on the tag but seems to measure out at 4 1/4" if I put a ruler on top of the crown and measure to the brim break. Though I guess if the block itself measured 4" the finished hat measurements include the thickness of the felt? Maybe I'm over thinking?



There's this supposed ad floating around the internet...


The "B.O.P" in Justin's catalog shows 4 1/2" and I've seen other Austral ads at 4 1/2". Knudsen claims Stetson changed blocks around 1900 and the original is 4", though they scale theirs up to 4 1/4", "because we are so much larger today than they were 150 years ago."

I'm about to put in my order for a BOP block with Randal Alan, but wanted to be sure it was going to be "correct," but it seems there was not a consistent crown height? Knudsen doesn't offer any reference or evidence for their claims, but they did have an arrangement with Stetson to make their version with Stetson felt and branding, so I assumed their version was in the ballpark of truth.

Appreciate any insight!

 

[Garrett]

The early 1900s austral I once owned (purchased from Josh) had a 3” brim with a 4.5” crown.

 

[carouselvic]

 

[Just Daniel]

Love those handwritten tags!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

What I would like to see more of, if and when you have the time is the ribbon and bow profile of that BRE. I haven’t had many opportunities to see something as rare as a WAR BRE and I try to take advantage of doing so at every opportunity. In the appropriate thread, of course.

Moving this to here, BB. I'm lighting up the ribbon & bow to the best of my ability so the black hat may be overexposed in some of these.

The ribbon is 1-1/2" wide

The bow turns up above the ribbon approximately 1/8 at the rear.

The keeper is 3/16 wide.

Hope these exposures help.

 

[Bamaboots]

Moving this to here, BB. I'm lighting up the ribbon & bow to the best of my ability so the black hat may be overexposed in some of these.

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The ribbon is 1-1/2" wide

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The bow turns up above the ribbon approximately 1/8 at the rear.

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The keeper is 3/16 wide.

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Hope these exposures help.

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Thanks, HJ. Don’t remember seeing another one quite like it. Most examples I’ve seen are like mine with the campaign bow. Pretty good shape for 120 years old.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

1930's Stetson NEVADAN No.1 Quality, 3x6 bound edge brim w 3-cord ribbon.

Continued below

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Continued

 

[Frunobulax]

That's a great hat, Jack. Now to find one marked "The Virginian" with Doug Mclure's name in it.