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Royal De Luxe Stetson

rlk

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Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
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2-3/4" brim. 16 ligne ribbon. I haven't put a firm crease in yet. 2 rounds of Pecards and the sweatband is still a bit stiff and dry. About 1/2 size up left to get back to tagged size.
 

Lefty

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8,639
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O-HI-O
That one quickly took a high place in the list of my favorite hats on this site. :eusa_clap
 

jimmy the lid

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5,647
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USA
I'm a big vintage Stetson fan -- and that is one of the very nicest and most unique vintage Stetsons that I have ever laid eyes on. And in amazing condition, to boot. Wow, rlk -- congrats on snagging an absolute gem! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL
 

rlk

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6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
Thank you to all for the enthusiastic comments. The silver edge and the navy ribbon make a stylish combination. One of the best looking hats I have and indeed the light color and its pristine state do cause some handling cleanliness paranoia.:eek: I think its going to make it back to original size.
 
Messages
10,950
Location
My mother's basement
Yowza. As to the hat itself, I got nothing to add to what's already been said. Bee yew tee full.

Man, rlk, that's one to study. I gotta wonder just how many like it they made, and how many survive.

Where'd you get it? And what have you ascertained as to its vintage, etc?
 

rlk

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6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
tonyb said:
Yowza. As to the hat itself, I got nothing to add to what's already been said. Bee yew tee full.

Man, rlk, that's one to study. I gotta wonder just how many like it they made, and how many survive.

Where'd you get it? And what have you ascertained as to its vintage, etc?
Its fresh from ebay and I don't really have specific info to date more precisely than say 1945-57 with any certainty. I would be pleased if anyone has an ad or another dated hat that could close in a bit better.
 

Chinaski

One Too Many
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1,045
Location
Orange County, CA
You have a couple different creases in your photos, and it looks like it will take a new crease so easily - it looks like great felt. How's it feel? I have one Royal Deluxe that is very soft and malleable.
 

rlk

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6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
Chinaski said:
You have a couple different creases in your photos, and it looks like it will take a new crease so easily - it looks like great felt. How's it feel? I have one Royal Deluxe that is very soft and malleable.
Its very soft and moderately light weight with a smooth finish. It arrived with only the shallow center crease and no sign of any creases or brim distortion. The front pinch of the crown works its way out and would require some steam to set in its current state. Could be it is a bit on the dry side like the sweatband and this makes it a little reluctant to hold its form. The brim has a good bit of curve in its flanging all around and the front of the brim is very cooperative.
 

rlk

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Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
RBH said:
Does it have a name on the sweat?
My search has turned up Stetsons such as 'The Turf' ,'The El Camino' and 'The Sterling' all Royal Dr Luxe.
All from the time frame you suggest.
No name on the hat. Was sold by Myers Brothers of Clinton, Illinois. They seem to have had multiple locations in the northern half of the state, with the only reference to the Clinton location in 1947 ad. Other locations mentioned from 30's-50's.
 

Andykev

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Bartender
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4,119
Location
The Beautiful Diablo Valley
Beautiful

The light colored felts are very prone to finger prints, esp. if you are a smoker. Also, when you set your hat down on a table, etc., it really picks up the dust.

From your pictures, this hat looks to be NOS, or one that was purchased, boxed and hardly worn. The bead (welt) around the inner crown (between sweat and felt) shows absolutely no wear at all.

Very nice. One of my favorite combination of hat body and ribbon is dove gray and black ribbon. This looks like silverbelly, hence the Dark Blue ribbon is the better choice.

Steam the felt to set your crease of choice. You can see ZERO handling marks on the pinch of the crown.

Very nice hat!

PS. I had one of these Stetsons, but in a very light tan. It had the same thread stitching on the top brim edge. I sold the hat because it was about a 2 3/4 inch brim, too wide for me. I did not want to cut the brim to fit me, since it has such nice detailing on the stitching.

Wash your hands before you steam the crown :)
 

Mario

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Messages
4,664
Location
Little Istanbul, Berlin, Germany
I'm wowed, I'm stunned, I...want one like this! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

There have been a couple of lids lately with similar stitchings on the brim. It's a nice touch. I have only one stingy Mayser from the 60's with brim stitching and I don't wear those stingies anymore.
 

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