Stetson No. 1 Quality

[Rmccamey]

Mine has a red liner and (had) a mixed size tag but no union label.

 

[carouselvic]

I believe when they say a "mixed size tag" they are meaning a fractional and cm.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Personally, to keep them straight I call the keyhole size tags with the whole number and the fraction “mixed number” tags. The later tags with US sizing and the metric sizing I call “combination” size tags. Unfortunately, there isn’t much consensus on nomenclature.

 

[carouselvic]

....and what would you call a size 7

 

[steur]

....and what would you call a size 7

The right size!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

....and what would you call a size 7

For sure this is a problem when dealing with the era of the mixed number size tags with a whole number sized hat. How would you differentiate a size 7 from this era? As I’m looking for larger hats it’s not personally relevant to me as any hat that fits me will be a mixed number size, but I’m curious.

 

[alanfgag]

stetson became a union shop 1936

Interesting... UHCMW? I’ve never owned a Stetson hat with a Union label.

 

[Snowman]

I found this No.1 Quality Stetson in a box recently. I've had it for more than 5 years, maybe more than 10. The pictures are all the information that's in this hat. The felt's in great shape, but a little soft on top. Does anyone have any idea how old this thing may be?

I have one that looks a lot like yours, except the sweatband is brown and the Stetson crest is different. I am pretty sure mine is late 60s-early 70s. I’ve seen a lot of them on the bay lately, but not with that gorgeous red liner.

 

[carouselvic]

Interesting... UHCMW? I’ve never owned a Stetson hat with a Union label.

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks... some day I should sit down and read that book. Wonder why they declined to credit the union work with a label?

 

[RossRYoung]

7 1/2” crown and 5” bound brim on this, most likely, early 30’s No. 1 quality. White size tag with block #405 but no reorder tag. I’ve read the white tag may signal renovation, and I had noticed the frayed end bow had been altered, tucking in and leveling the frayed ends. Perhaps this was the alteration? It is a large 7 3/8 though, so maybe a resizing was also in play.

 

[RossRYoung]

Continued

The seller also included this photo which supposedly has the original owner and hat in the photo. Carroll L. Robertson played trumpet for the Simmons University ‘The Cowboy Band’. He can be seen almost dead center in the back row with a trumpet under his left arm.

Part of the scrawl on the back

I don’t know if this is indeed the same hat, but the brim check matches above. Great photo regardless, I found a couple more from 1929. I believe it to be the same trumpet player and possibly the same hat (far right).

Second 1929 photo wouldn’t let me upload, here’s the link.

Lot # is either 5353 or 6353. After a close haircut and some lbs shed lately, she fits perfectly.

 

[carouselvic]

where did you read that the black and white label means refurb? it's the first time i'm hearing this.

 

[RossRYoung]

Thanks Vic, I edited to indicate it possibly means renovation. I saw it theorized in a couple threads, primarily I believe the pre 1940’s Stetson Westerns thread.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Continued

The seller also included this photo which supposedly has the original owner and hat in the photo. Carroll L. Robertson played trumpet for the Simmons University ‘The Cowboy Band’. He can be seen almost dead center in the back row with a trumpet under his left arm. View attachment 287436

Part of the scrawl on the back
View attachment 287439

I don’t know if this is indeed the same hat, but the brim check matches above. Great photo regardless, I found a couple more from 1929. I believe it to be the same trumpet player and possibly the same hat (far right).
View attachment 287442

Second 1929 photo wouldn’t let me upload, here’s the link.

Lot # is either 5353 or 6353. After a close haircut and some lbs shed lately, she fits perfectly.
View attachment 287444 View attachment 287445

Great hat & history backing it up, Ross. Glad you own it!

 

[RossRYoung]

Thanks Jack, same here!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Continued

The seller also included this photo which supposedly has the original owner and hat in the photo. Carroll L. Robertson played trumpet for the Simmons University ‘The Cowboy Band’. He can be seen almost dead center in the back row with a trumpet under his left arm. View attachment 287436

Part of the scrawl on the back
View attachment 287439

I don’t know if this is indeed the same hat, but the brim check matches above. Great photo regardless, I found a couple more from 1929. I believe it to be the same trumpet player and possibly the same hat (far right).
View attachment 287442

Second 1929 photo wouldn’t let me upload, here’s the link.

Lot # is either 5353 or 6353. After a close haircut and some lbs shed lately, she fits perfectly.
View attachment 287444 View attachment 287445

What a hat, Ross! Congratulations on finding this in a non-vintage hat size! You’re the right caretaker for this wonderful piece of wearable history.

 

[RossRYoung]

Thank you, Brent. I appreciate that, it did take some persistence and reassurance on my part, convincing the seller this would not be a case queen and well respected.

 

[Rmccamey]

A beauty with history, what a hat. Very nice, Ross. I'll be in Abilene tomorrow, so I'll throw a wave out at HSU in honor of your find.

Continued
The seller also included this photo which supposedly has the original owner and hat in the photo. Carroll L. Robertson played trumpet for the Simmons University ‘The Cowboy Band’. He can be seen almost dead center in the back row with a trumpet under his left arm. View attachment 287436

Part of the scrawl on the back
View attachment 287439

I don’t know if this is indeed the same hat, but the brim check matches above. Great photo regardless, I found a couple more from 1929. I believe it to be the same trumpet player and possibly the same hat (far right).
View attachment 287442

Second 1929 photo wouldn’t let me upload, here’s the link.

Lot # is either 5353 or 6353. After a close haircut and some lbs shed lately, she fits perfectly.
View attachment 287444 View attachment 287445

 

[alanfgag]

where did you read that the black and white label means refurb? it's the first time i'm hearing this.

Thanks Vic, I edited to indicate it possibly means renovation. I saw it theorized in a couple threads, primarily I believe the pre 1940’s Stetson Westerns thread.

I might have been responsible for that theory in response to posts linking the white label with a 19th century manufacture date. I've had a few and they seem to appear in hats of different ages... sometimes in tandem with that small label with four digits imprinted - something that also looks like a marking from a hat returned for factory service. Just one of my cockamamie theories of course. Could also be from vampire moths that suck the red ink off of labels.

Great hat and look great on you Ross.