Stetson Playboy (wartime?)...

[Snrbfshn]

I finally got my Stetson Playboy in shape, and it was pretty rough when I got it. I hit it real good with the dry cleaning granules ("kitty litter") and then the Scout dark hat cleaner.

It's a shade of olive unlike any other hat I have, with a 2.5" brim, 4.25" bashed crown and 13/16" ribbon.

I gave it a sorta modified C crown, with deep pinches. It's almost a diamond shape:

The hat is very fundamental in design. Raw edge, simple ribbon, no liner. Is this likely one of those made during WWII when materials were restricted? Here's the sweat and label:

And one more of this "Playboy" in action:

 

[MattC]

Nice lid

I've gotten quite fond of unlined, lightweight felt hats in the warmer months. They are not all that easy to find. What are the dimensions on that hat (brim and crown height)?

 

[feltfan]

Fascinating!

It's just like my Mallory "Nokabout"! I've always assumed
that hat was WWII era, too. You can see some so-so
shots of the hat in this thread:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=3787

Must have been basic wartime chic.

 

[havershaw]

I saw that Playboy on eBay, I think. Glad one of us got it. I like that hat (the color especially) a lot.

I have a similarly unlined Stetson Medalist, although mine came from the Canadian Stetson plant. Same label as the Philly hats, but it gives the location as being the Canadian plant (the name escapes me). By the way, the felt quality on every hat I've ever owned from their Canadian plant is fantastic. Super lightweight and floppy felt, but quite dense.

Is it crazy to think that during wartime, hats were made with no liners? The liners were generally silk, right? And I think that was seriously rationed during wartime.

Of course, it could just be that it was a lightweight summer felt, and they wanted to have no liner in there to begin with.

 

[riccardo]

Great hat...

...and I'm more envious!!

 

[Andykev]

It's a nice hat, but a tad light for me

I had a Stetson Playboy, but I sold it. It was unlined, and a rather light felt. The hat was certainly for the "sporty crowd". I prefer a lined hat. However, living in the Carolina's, your humidity would demand a "light weight' felt. And in keeping with that, you have a fine example.

 

[havershaw]

Yeah, I also had a pLayboy which I just sold - the brim was a little narrow, and I don't wear grey hats all that often. And I was trying to raise the dough to buy some other hats and a suit. But I like those hats a lot. Wish I could find one like you have!

 

[jamespowers]

An unlined Playboy is likely a 1940s vintage as they were lined later after the War and into the 1950s. The 1940s Playboys also had a cool topper label in them. I think the Stetsons were lined in satin not silk. The only brand I am sure were lined in silk is the Borsalino because it is mentioned in their literature of the age. Now they are probably lined with nylons.
There were, however, hats that were meant to be produced without a liner in the 1930s and 1950s. These were light weights and were specifically desinged for warm weather. How about that a warm weather felt?

Regards to all,

J

 

[havershaw]

OK, right, satin...that makes sense.

Yeah, the lightweight felt is awesome...especially in AZ.

 

[Zemke Fan]

In the photos...

Hey, Snrbfshn: What's the hat stand you have that baby resting on in the first photo? Be interested to know where you got it. -- ZF

PS: FABULOUS hat!

 

[Lincsong]

Ididn't know...

That Hugh Hefner and Stetson teamed up to make a hat.:cheers1:

 

[jamespowers]

That Hugh Hefner and Stetson teamed up to make a hat.:cheers1:

Actually the Playboy by Stetson came out way before the magazine and that hack. Stetson should have sued.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Snrbfshn]

My customized, high-dollar hat stand...

Here's what I've been using to display hats for pictures. It's one-of-a-kind -- priceless, in a way...
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jtban1/detail?.dir=/543b&.dnm=6bcfre2.jpg&.src=ph

I took an old plastic affinity card, rasped a hole in the middle with my pocket knife and screwed it onto the mount of my small camera tripod. The card was necessary because otherwise it put a bump in the crown.

 

[fedoralover]

I've got 2 Playboys and they are lined. But the hat in my Avatar is a Dobbs 2 Ouncer and is not lined and is also a light green color. I put it away in the winter and wear it in the summer. You have a great hat there, the unlined ones are rare. Enjoy.

fedoralover