Stetson #1 Quality

[DOUGLAS]

I saw this hat and my first though was how similar it looked to my favorite Boss Raw Edge. It has the same shackle curl, and the same over all style. The crown looks to be the same even though my other has a lower bash,and the brim seems to be the same width. What a find. Even though it is stamped Stetson #1 Quality it has the same sweat detail where the top is curled behind itself.The sweat is also similar in feel. This one has an additional stamp that says APPROVED SWEAT / THE FRAY/ PATEND JAN??? unfortunately I can't read the rest of it which seems to be the patend date.
The hat is very soft and I suspect it may be nutria. The ribbon and bow are also similar.

Note the reeding. It is also the same as my other.

The hat is damn near perfect. I have been waiting a long time for one like this.
Want to see something scary

 

[feltfan]

So what's with the sweat? Did someone cut it that way to make it fit?
I hate to say it, but you could replace the sweat and have
it sized up pretty easy. Such a distinctive sweatband,though.

If it were nutria, my guess is Stetson would have made a
big deal of it on the sweatband. It's probably "merely" beaver!

In any event, it's a very nice hat. Rare color and nice
bow, too. A real piece of history.

 

[DOUGLAS]

Yeah, I bet some one wanted it to fit better. Since the cuts are clean I will see if the sweat can be patched from behind. At least they didn't destoy the body. If it were intact I probobly would not stretch it out but now I will and see if there is a way to save the sweat.
Great hat though.

 

[feltfan]

Outstanding hat. Glad you include pix of the reorder
number so I can contact Stetson.

So you don't think the cuts are part of the
patented sweat design? They're so even...

 

[deanglen]

Douglas, is that hat black or gunmetal or charcoal grey or what? It's so exactly the kind of hat I love. Great Find!

dean

 

[DOUGLAS]

Dean, it is black,very black. I was pretty excited when I saw it.

Feltfan, Maybe it was a experimental sweat. The "four way" expandable sweat for your comfort.:eusa_doh:

 

[ideaguy]

I'm with Deanglen- that's the hat...I think that the leather shouldn't be too hard to repair, given the epoxies available, and using a tissue-thin backing, you should be able to avoid any lines showing through, and strengthen the entire
band at the same time. Great find, D

 

[Dinerman]

that is SUCH a nice looking hat douglas. where'd you find it?

 

[Feraud]

Douglas hits another home run! Nice hat. I like the crown shape!

 

[DOUGLAS]

Dinerman, It was a lucky ebay find.Dispite the sliced sweat I am happy to have it.

 

[astaire]

I'm glad you have found a hat you've been looking for for a while. And it's such an old hat which is rare. Very happy for you Douglas!

 

[Dinerman]

http://www.kshs.org/cool3/stetson.htm
looks pretty similar.

 

[DOUGLAS]

Yeah, Dinerman it does a bit. That is a nice little story that accompanies the picture.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Could that be Patent Jan 1878 or 1918? I'm certain the last number is an "8", and the one before it might be a "7" or a "1"

Very nice hat. Say, just send it to me, if it's a size 7.

Another wonderful hat, DOUGLAS.

bk

 

[DOUGLAS]

Baron,this hat along with three others is on it's way to Duane at the Fedora Store for some R&R. I Have tried to read the numbers but I just can't make them out. At any rate I think the hat must be from the Twenties.