Stetson Suede Finish

[buler]

Just got this excellent example of a Stetson Suede Finish. These are "different" enough where I thought they deserved a thread. After searching I found Feltfan had one and possibly ScottF.

This one is a great dark green. Almost looked charcoal grey in the afternoon light. The felt has a suede feel and is thick and pliable. Mine has an underwelt with one stitch line thru the fold and one just after it. Clear plastic liner tip cover. Gold/black "keyhole" size tag. The leather sweat on this hat is one of the nicest I've come across. Has the |||| stitching.

Hopefully others will add their Suede Finish Stetsons here.

B

 

[buler]

More pics..

 

[rlk]

Sovereign Stetson Suede Finish with Felt Ribbon

 

[ScottF]

Here's one before being sent to Optimo:

After Optimo cleaning and new ribbon:

 

[jimmy the lid]

This Stetson has one of the nicest finishes that I have ever experienced on a vintage lid. buler and rlk, I'm interested in your own reactions to this finish. Just a beautiful feel.

There is always a moment of truth when a lid arrives from the 'bay and one tries it on for the first time -- fingers crossed. Amazingly, this lid fits like a custom. Sweat is in beautiful shape. Open crown is 5 1/2" and the brim width is 2 3/4". I don't know whether the feather is original to the hat, but I suspect that it is, and I may just keep it (for now, anyway). Inicidentally, I don't think I recall ever seeing a Stetson box quite like this one -- kind of a pinkish/tan color.

When a self-felt ribbon is done right, I think it's a very cool look -- and I really like the treatment on this one, with the notched edge trailing to the back of the hat.

I would love to hear from any of our hatters, or anyone with particular knowledge on the subject -- how is a finish like this achieved?

Anyway, I am really lovin' this one...

 

[M_Jones]

Very nice hats gentlemen! :eusa_clap

I have one that is currently at Optimo for some work. It is green and has the stingiest brim I wear (2 inches). What I like about it (other than the awesome finish) is the fact that it holds the Suede Finish designation as well as 3x and Fifteen. When it gets back from Optimo I'll try to post some pics but given how often I post pics here it might be safer for me to say that someone else will post pics when it shows up on eBay in a few years. lol

 

[Happy Jack]

Just got this excellent example of a Stetson Suede Finish. These are "different" enough where I thought they deserved a thread. After searching I found Feltfan had one and possibly ScottF.

This one is a great dark green. Almost looked charcoal grey in the afternoon light. The felt has a suede feel and is thick and pliable. Mine has an underwelt with one stitch line thru the fold and one just after it. Clear plastic liner tip cover. Gold/black "keyhole" size tag. The leather sweat on this hat is one of the nicest I've come across. Has the |||| stitching.

Hopefully others will add their Suede Finish Stetsons here.

B

I would LOVE to see more of these
:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[buler]

This Stetson has one of the nicest finishes that I have ever experienced on a vintage lid. buler and rlk, I'm interested in your own reactions to this finish. Just a beautiful feel.

There is always a moment of truth when a lid arrives from the 'bay and one tries it on for the first time -- fingers crossed. Amazingly, this lid fits like a custom. Sweat is in beautiful shape. Open crown is 5 1/2" and the brim width is 2 3/4". I don't know whether the feather is original to the hat, but I suspect that it is, and I may just keep it (for now, anyway). Inicidentally, I don't think I recall ever seeing a Stetson box quite like this one -- kind of a pinkish/tan color.

When a self-felt ribbon is done right, I think it's a very cool look -- and I really like the treatment on this one, with the notched edge trailing to the back of the hat.

I would love to hear from any of our hatters, or anyone with particular knowledge on the subject -- how is a finish like this achieved?

Anyway, I am really lovin' this one...

QUOTE]

Looks great JTL! I really love mine. Its heavier/thicker/warmer than my other felts. Definitely my go to hat in very cold weather.

B

 

[rlk]

This Stetson has one of the nicest finishes that I have ever experienced on a vintage lid. buler and rlk, I'm interested in your own reactions to this finish. Just a beautiful feel.[QUOTE}

Fantastic condition and color.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap
I have two of the Stetson Suede(Sovereign and 3X) and they are softer than the usual standard and the crown is barely able to support its own weight. Similar finishes on some Borsalino and German/Austrian hats, a velour that is cut a bit shorter.

 

[HatsEnough]

My first Stetson Suede finish, 1950s vintage.

Big 3 inch brim with a raw edge, size 7. I didn't take a pic but it is the manilla card stock, keyhole size tag with the 7 coming thru as the manilla color and surrounded by a circle of black ink.

Not keen on the felt ribbon, but, well, there you have it.

I have to say, this thing is soft as silk but retains its shape very well.

 

[JessieJames]

This is old not maybe someone will see it

What's the diff between a Suede finish and a regular Stetson hat? I have a 7x OR Stetson it's supper soft to the touch but is rigid enough to keep its shape. How does it compare to the Suede finish Stetson?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is old not maybe someone will see it

What's the diff between a Suede finish and a regular Stetson hat? I have a 7x OR Stetson it's supper soft to the touch but is rigid enough to keep its shape. How does it compare to the Suede finish Stetson?

Suede finish, sometimes called antelope finish, is the nap of the felt. The fur fibers are slightly longer than a standard finish. It can be firm, soft, or anywhere in between. You have the “hand” and the stiffness of the underlying felt which are separate issues. The order of the nap’s length (short to long): standard, suede/antelope, velour (several lengths), peluche, long hair/melusine. Some will group peluche with long hair, but my three peluche hats definitely have a shorter nap than my true long hair hats.

A nice vintage suede finish hat is something to treasure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[mayserwegener]

Real Velour is different than a Chamois like finish. You can read about Real Velour here.

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/216-hair-velour-real-echter-velour-prime-prima-velour-fabrikation-von-damen-und-herren-filzhüten-der-deustchen-hutmacher-zeitung-1933/

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/140-die-hutmacherkunst-ein-handbuch-für-den-klein-und-grossbetrieb-by-carl-bortfeldt-1902/?tab=comments#comment-825

I am not sure if anyone is still doing automatic wet brushing (up to WWII this was pretty much down by hand). There are only three Velour producers left Tonak, PolkaP and FEPSA.

Chamios like finishes also came from Europe. Here is an article on a Brüder Böhm machine they sold to the American market. The letters from the American hat companies are interesting too.

https://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/topic/7-brüder-böhm-hutfabrik/?do=findComment&comment=570