Stetson 5X Clear Beaver, 1942

[DanielJones]

Now,can we see you in a pic wearing the hat. It would look best if you were dressed like Tom Mix or Hopalong though. lol It's a fantastic specimen of the era and should be worn. Yes it is a piece of history, but what good is it if it just hides away in a box and can't be shared?

Cheers!

Dan

 

[feltfan]

Interesting. Incidentally, the Shady Oak Open Road is an example of a lid that gets worn...carefully...

I bet.

 

[feltfan]

Now,can we see you in a pic wearing the hat. It would look best if you were dressed like Tom Mix or Hopalong though. lol

Okay, next chance I get I'll dust off one of the Gross of Denver
western style jackets I have and take you guys a photo to laugh at.
I don't think I can pull off dressing like Tom Mix or Hopalong Cassidy
or Bill Pickett.

 

[alanfgag]

one of the all-time best hats on the lounge.

 

[fedoracentric]

one of the all-time best hats on the lounge.

You ain't kiddin'! Beeyouteefull.

Also, is this the only 5X we've ever had on the Lounge? And isn't it interesting that a 5 X is also "clear beaver" when we are used to thinking only a 7 X is clear beaver.

 

[DJH]

Yes it is - I'd wear it, if it were mine!

 

[alanfgag]

Also, is this the only 5X we've ever had on the Lounge? And isn't it interesting that a 5 X is also "clear beaver" when we are used to thinking only a 7 X is clear beaver.

One of very few. Here is another.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I would wear this hat. Not every day but from time to time.

 

[fedoracentric]

I still can't make sense of what "clear beaver quality" means. If a 5X, a 7X and a 100 are all "clear beaver quality," what exactly does that mean?

 

[TheDane]

I still can't make sense of what "clear beaver quality" means. If a 5X, a 7X and a 100 are all "clear beaver quality," what exactly does that mean?

I'm not dead-sure, but my interpretation is: "100% beaver"

 

[fedoracentric]

Hmmm. So, what, then, do the 5, 7 and 100 mean? Just the finishing methods making one more work intensive so more expensive? Ugh. it is just so ethereal in many cases.

 

[CRH]

From the looks of the hat in question, I'd say "clear beaver" = "can take some dents and then some."

[huh]

 

[alanfgag]

Stetson 100 = one hundred dollars - mid 1950s on.

Stetson 5X and 7X clear beaver go back further, they sold at the top price points in Stetson's production western line prior to the introduction of the Stetson 100. Felt composition we generally assume here to have been pure beaver on all.

 

[Michaelshane]

Clear beaver is un dyed belly fur.(silver belly)

 

[fedoracentric]

But both the 7X and the 100 were sold concurrently. So, that is confusing me a bit, I guess.

I would like to see how many agree that "clear beaver" means un-deyed belly fur. I hadn't seen that claim before the above posting. If this were true it would clear up quite a bit, perhaps.

 

[fedoracentric]

On that Stetson 100 thread that Alan posted a link to was this inventory/size tag in a 40s era hat...

View attachment 12547

Now, On other hats here I'd only seen that on 1920s (or so) era Stetsons. To see this tag on one made so late is interesting.

So, was that tag a tag from Stetson in Philly.... or a contractor? And why was this tag used once in a while? What do you guys think?

 

[TheDane]

Clear beaver is un dyed belly fur.(silver belly)

I don't think that is quite true. We at least know of this - and this ... absolutely not "Silverbelly".

As I understand it, the silverish part is only a small part of the belly-fur. True silverbelly is made from this part - while "undyed beaver belly fur" can have variety of light tan/taupe/faun colors

 

[fedoracentric]

Ha, thanks, Dane. I had a feeling that the "clear beaver is un-dyed belly fur" claim seemed a bit too pat to be true.

 

[Michaelshane]

I still believe I'm right.

 

[TheDane]

- on grounds, you like to share?