STETSON 7x CLEAR BEAVER QUALITY

[alanfgag]

intriguing hat

This was a pleasant surprise. What looked like an intriguing hat on ebay and was discussed a bit on this thread arrived in much better condition than shown in the photos. I love when that happens. Clearly clear beaver, with mode edge curled up like a homburg. -The felt is lightweight clay - no staining and just a little dust. Sweatband is soft, supple and shows the patina of wear... the stitching is in good shape. The only condition issue is the coating on the reed, which has worn away in spots. I wonder if it once had a liner? The ribbon stitching shows in a few spots above the sweat - can't imagine that would have been done at the factory. Perhaps the liner was removed and the ventilation holes added afterwards? The box is covered in a sueded paper. These are first photos before any brushing or steaming. Gave it a quick bash... how will it be worn? It is a 7 1/4, but I think a bit of felt padding will make it work on my 7 1/8 head, here's hoping...

there is a megillah written under the sweatband, numbers, crossouts, nothing useful that I could decipher... will photograph later on.

 

[DanielJones]

I'm liking it Alan! :eusa_clap My guess would be that the brim curl and liner removal along with the vent holes would have ben something done at the men's shop it was purchased from per the customer's request. It would seem odd to curl a factory Mode Edge brim like that at the factory, as they usually did that curl with a brim binding added at the factory, but stranger things have happened.
Nice catch!:eusa_clap

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Lefty]

I love it, and it reminds me quite a bit of the "last drop" CB buler posted above. While I can't see it that well, the brim and ventilation look like they were done by someone who really knew what he was doing (and Dan's theory makes sense to me). Great pickup on that one.

 

[alanfgag]

It does share elements of Buler's 7X fedora, thanks for that reminder. Opening the crown up shows the ventilation holes to be a touch off center... the modifications as hatshop adjustments makes sense to me too.

 

[Joshbru3]

Great find Alan!! The curl kind of reminds me of late teen's/early 20's Stetsons. RLK has a couple of Stetsons that have a brim curl with either a mode edge or over-welt. I really like this look because it makes the brim look so crisp when the hat is worn "Brim up" and not snapped. Not that you could snap that hat....
Heres a pic of one of RLK's hats that reminds me of that curl. I do agree that these modifications were done by a very experienced hatter and not the Stetson factory. If the hat ever did have a liner, Im sure it was pitched as soon as the ventalation holes were punched in. There would be no point to have liner once the holes were punched. The ribbon may be original because if the hat was meant to have a liner, the stiches above the sweatand line would not have been noticed. I have had hats that also had ribbon stiches above the sweatband line, but the liner was in.

 

[rlk]

It does share elements of Buler's 7X fedora, thanks for that reminder. Opening the crown up shows the ventilation holes to be a touch off center... the modifications as hatshop adjustments makes sense to me too.

I wouldn't be so sure about the brim, I have a Cavanagh edge Cavanagh with the Homburg brim that is about the same vintage.

 

[Lefty]

I believe that Brad has said that he's even seen a bound Cav edge.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Alan -- what an absolutely amazing find. Just fabulous. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[rlk]

[/IMG]

 

[fluteplayer07]

Outta this world, Alan... And launched into space!

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks for all the comments, theories and research. The brim edge treatment is very much like the Cavanagh posted by RLK. I will give it a good brushing, a bit of steam cleaning and get it up on top for a test drive. It's a thrill to have another hat in 7X clear beaver... the stuff that dreams are made of.

 

[Chinaski]

At first glance I think I would have tried snapping the brim down if it were mine, but rlk's ad showing the Ambassador gave me second thoughts. I bet it will look great worn smartly "off the face" as the ad copy stated. Nice hat Alan.

 

[alanfgag]

Sometimes when it rains, it pours... finding two 7x's in the space of a few weeks is really good fortune. This is a 7X clear beaver western hat. The felt is a little thicker than the OR style and the recently posted Intrigue, but a close match in color and in that luscious clay hand. Out of the box it had a western mohawk crease I've not seen before... center ridge with dents:

I recreased it quickly into a more familiar shape:

the size tag was turned under the sweat:

nice box, with a wrap around western panorama:

Really happy that this one is a good fit...

 

[Lefty]

Very nice. I love that you appear to be the man in the moon. :eusa_clap

 

[jimmy the lid]

Fantastic score, Alan. You look great in it, as well. That must be some pretty damn nice western felt...

 

[alanfgag]

Very nice. I love that you appear to be the man in the moon. :eusa_clap

I hadn't caught that... the man in the sun actually.

 

[alanfgag]

Fantastic score, Alan. You look great in it, as well. That must be some pretty damn nice western felt...

Thanks Jimmy... I was excited to find it clean and a good fit. The felt is everything you'd hope for in 7x clear beaver.

 

[buler]

Fantastic score, Alan. You look great in it, as well. That must be some pretty damn nice western felt...

Agreed! Your rollin' 7's Alan.

B

 

[gtdean48]

.... Out of the box it had a western mohawk crease I've not seen before... center ridge with dents:

...

According some crease charts, that is called a Centerfire crease.
From Hats with History thread =

 

[Jedwbpm]

I still want to know where he came up with 7 7/8 in size place in the listing. Here is my question for the group. I was thinking on biding but the size confusion kept me away. would it have been able and a sin to send it out to be rebocked to a 7 7/8. I know I would have lost brim but that is ok it would go from cowboy to open road. So for the future could a hat be resized that much and on a hat like that one would it be wrong to do. Al I think you look great in the hat and I am glad you got it.

Jeff