Stafford Club Help!

[Undertow]

I've recently won this hat on eBay. Link to Auction

The description states, "Father's hat, worn very little. Been stored in plastic cover.Stafford Club hat made expressly for S&L Stores. Made by the Trimble Hat Company, Minneapolis. Duplicating Number: Nicollet Sail"

I cannot find any information on here or on Google regarding Stafford Club hats but I imagine if this "brand" were created exclusively for S&L Stores then there will be little info. The only info I could find on Trimble was the following: "Located in Orange, New Jersey, the Trimble Hat Company was a popular hat manufacturing company until the first half of the 20th century." I know Dinerman had a little blurb about it but he didn't really mention the organization, just his experience with a hat from said company.

So does anyone have some familiarity with these hats (Stafford Club or Trimble)? Is this fur felt (as it looks in the pic)? Any clues on the history of these hats?

p.s. Look at the going price! Haha, what a steal! Granted, the hat doesn't fit me, it's a gift for some lucky soul with a smaller head, but man, I may as well have clubbed this guy over the head to get the thing!

 

[Undertow]

BUMP - Hopin' someone knows something about this.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Sorry, no... all I know is that I've heard of the company, but that was probably here somewhere.

Oh, and I know it looks like you got a great hat for pennies! :eusa_clap The sweat in the photograph looks like there's some padding behind it. At least, what I've found behind other sweatbands that looked wavy like that.

Enjoy it!

Tom

 

[Undertow]

I don't have pics YET :eusa_doh: but I've had the hat for a little while and I'd like to give you an idea of the quality just in case any of you run into one similar.

The hat is a light weight fur felt, soft and more pliable than a modern Stetson. The liner was sewn in with a few stitches, easily removable, nice quality satin. The ribbon was terrific! The sweat was a little thin, but still good leather. I received the hat open-crown and I'd say it was about 5" tall. With a little steam, not much needed, I was able to get a teardrop with no problem. Thus far, the felt has held its shape very well and with a little brushing, this 1930's vintage hat looks fantastic.

Compared to my late 40's Knox, the felt seems thinner and holds shape better (although I prefer the Knox!) Compared to my 60's Stetson, again, the felt seems thinner and holds shape better, although side by side, the hats look similar.

Overall, Trimble as a manufacturer, and Stafford as a brand, seem to me a reasonable investment. In my limited experience with vintage hats (maybe in contact with five dozen hats thus far), I would say Trimble is a good buy at a low to moderate price.

 

[rclark]

I recently acquired a Stafford Club hat. Will post photos of it as soon as I clean it up. Nice hat!