STETSON 7x CLEAR BEAVER QUALITY

[XPLSV]

Beauty Jesse! I've had a number of vintage Open Roads over the years, including a barely worn 7X that I had reblocked in a Long Oval...but it didn't want to be a Long Oval. Finally just had Art make a clone for my Extra Long Oval noggin. Finding a true long oval vintage 7X is Gold!

 

[Jesse John]

Beauty Jesse! I've had a number of vintage Open Roads over the years, including a barely worn 7X that I had reblocked in a Long Oval...but it didn't want to be a Long Oval. Finally just had Art make a clone for my Extra Long Oval noggin. Finding a true long oval vintage 7X is Gold!

Ah dang, I’m sorry to hear about that. I hope one comes your way soon. I just put a tear drop in the crown. I’ll probably mix it up over time. It sits so lightly on my head, I forget I’m wearing it. I can see why it would be high in demand. I’m happy that you all approve so much of this addition to my shelf, or, noggin!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I saw this on ebay (NOT my hat). I suspect it’s from the tail end of the 7X Clear Beaver hats in the 1960s. It’s interesting because the sweatband is also marked Beaver 50.

These might be common, but I don’t recall seeing one before.

 

[Just Daniel]

Yes, I believe it is a hybrid/tweeter there covering one decade/quality-era to another.

I saw this on ebay (NOT my hat). I suspect it’s from the tail end of the 7X Clear Beaver hats in the 1960s. It’s interesting because the sweatband is also marked Beaver 50.

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These might be common, but I don’t recall seeing one before.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yes, I believe it is a hybrid/tweeter there covering one decade/quality-era to another.

A missing link hat.

 

[Robieman]

A missing link hat.

Or just a missing link!!

 

[suitedcboy]

My first 7X Clear Beaver. I have handled several and was always impressed and this one lives up to the reputation. Great felt feel and malleable but holds what you shape into it well. It has little signs of wear but a front pinch diamond is what it wants if you leave the decision up to the hat. Apparently the way it was worn and left the most.

 

[Bamaboots]

My first 7X Clear Beaver. I have handled several and was always impressed and this one lives up to the reputation. Great felt feel and malleable but holds what you shape into it well. It has little signs of wear but a front pinch diamond is what it wants if you leave the decision up to the hat. Apparently the way it was worn and left the most.

My favorites are 7X CB’s and that’s a nice example. Looks great on you. Bonus points for finding a TX sold hat as well.

Don’t know if you’re looking for a box but the seller says this one came from the same store as your hat, though I saw no evidence of that.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stetson-Ha...490059?hash=item28adad084b:g:YDAAAOSwwOhgPp3w

 

[suitedcboy]

Thanks. It came with an interesting box in not so great condition. I don't think I have seen one like it on here.

 

[Bamaboots]

I’ve only seen a few of those boxes over the years.

 

[alanfgag]

I have one that came with a Shudde sold 7X. A lot more sensible and $50 less than a suitcase.

 

[suitedcboy]

It is a heavy box. I thought there was going to be a piece of metal or a kilo of illegal something under the cardboard insert once I handled it. Just the hat and dense cardboard.

 

[Louis Mountbatten]

Here is one of mine...

 

[Jesse John]

I was fortunate enough to come across another 7X and I could not resist... I decided to shape the new OR with a cattleman crease and I shaped the first one I bought with a teardrop. The latest one I purchased, with the black key tag, feels slightly lighter and softer than the yellow tagged one (but only by a hair) Again, very excited to have these two. I think Im enjoying them more than my S100 as far as weight and touch goes.

 

[RossRYoung]

Nice, two LD liner OR’s I’d say is very fortunate indeed. Good get!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I was fortunate enough to come across another 7X and I could not resist... I decided to shape the new OR with a cattleman crease and I shaped the first one I bought with a teardrop. The latest one I purchased, with the black key tag, feels slightly lighter and softer than the yellow tagged one (but only by a hair) Again, very excited to have these two. I think Im enjoying them more than my S100 as far as weight and touch goes. View attachment 335351

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Great job on shaping both!

 

[Jesse John]

Nice, two LD liner OR’s I’d say is very fortunate indeed. Good get!

Thank you! I feel a bit spoiled to have them to be honest!

Great job on shaping both!

Thanks Jack, I take great pride in shaping my crowns! Your compliment is appreciated

 

[Rmccamey]

Beauties all around!

I was fortunate enough to come across another 7X and I could not resist... I decided to shape the new OR with a cattleman crease and I shaped the first one I bought with a teardrop. The latest one I purchased, with the black key tag, feels slightly lighter and softer than the yellow tagged one (but only by a hair) Again, very excited to have these two. I think Im enjoying them more than my S100 as far as weight and touch goes. View attachment 335351

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[Hurricane Jack]

Thank you! I feel a bit spoiled to have them to be honest!

Thanks Jack, I take great pride in shaping my crowns! Your compliment is appreciated

And it shows, Jesse. Look forward to seeing what you find next.

 

[jlee562]

So here's the hat from post #429. I don't know if the earlier pictures really convey how dirty this hat was. Whoever owned this hat originally was a heavy sweater and wore this hat a lot. The sweatband had the extra vinyl (?) strip behind the sweatband and the liner had a plastic tip liner. There was still sweat stains on the ribbon and the top of the crown.

My first attempt at cleaning was with Dr. Bronner's castile soap. Not so effective (or maybe too diluted or I didn't soak it long enough) so I moved on to woolite which worked better, but the hat still has a bit of a patina. Blocked on my Randal Alan #52, the brim mostly kept its shape, as it is stiffer than the crown. I just evened out the wavyness a bit.

Now, I'm not usually grossed out by vintage hats but after cleaning the liner and hat body, I wasn't especially eager to use the original sweat....which as I mentioned in WHAYWT, is not really the original sweat, but a Shudde bros renovation sweat. I'm keeping that one for posterity or possibly trying that multi-step fat liquor process as it is starting to dry out and crack. But for now I put in a new sweat and sewed a new liner from some Japanese kimono silk. The ribbon tails are a bit uneven, as I think that also shrunk up a little bit during the woolite bath. I was trying to match the faded parts under the bow keep and it ended up a little longer on the back. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So not the most collector value on this one, and indeterminate age, but this felt still has a lot of life to wear about.