Stetson Vita-felt

[Short Balding Guy]

This came today from Justin Seagraves aka @splintercellsz. This has got to be the nicest felt I have ever had in hand. It's a 1944 Stetson Vita Felt Gold Medal. I say 1944 because I found the date stamp Sep 27 1944 on the underside of the sweatband.

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Just plain wow! The pics do showcase the felt very well. It appears like a well felted and malleable hat. The brim treatment and ribbon work are great additions to the glorious felt. Love your hat Bill. Congrats! I am glad the hat found a home on your hat rack. Eric -

 

[Redfokker]

I have been wanting to post in this thread for a couple of years, and now I can play too! A trade with Bill Hughes, by way of Justin Seagraves, I now have a true Stetson Vita Felt. This one has seen better days but overall is in excellent shape. Interesting color that almost has a plum/purple tone in the light. "The Avenue" model in classic lines of the period. Super soft and pliable, great for the snap look. Loving this one more and more each day. Now, to see about the stain on the brim...

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I have been wanting to post in this thread for a couple of years, and now I can play too! A trade with Bill Hughes, by way of Justin Seagraves, I now have a true Stetson Vita Felt. This one has seen better days but overall is in excellent shape. Interesting color that almost has a plum/purple tone in the light. "The Avenue" model in classic lines of the period. Super soft and pliable, great for the snap look. Loving this one more and more each day. Now, to see about the stain on the brim...

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Hey Red: super great hat!!
I’ve loved that hat every time i’ve seen it just for the color. But “The Avenue” and one in Vita-Felt...well i think i would have waited for that one too!
Congratulations on such a unique wonderful hat. It found the right home!
B

 

[buler]

Stetson Premier Vita-felt. I have the liner somewhere. Misplaced during my move. This had it’s brim binding removed (not by me).

B

 

[alanfgag]

nice bump, B.

 

[Just Daniel]

I don’t think I’ve seen this tag here before. Just for reference on what I would guess is the second iteration of Vita Felt. A 100% fur felt.

 

[alanfgag]

Outliar?

 

[hatophile]

Outliar?

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What a cool hat. That one has definitely seen some service.

 

[Just Daniel]

I didn’t see where anyone had actually posted the trademark for Vita-Felt. Here it is with dates. First use in commerce July of 1940.

 

[Just Daniel]

Here is the Ignacio-cleaned Vita-Felt 7X Clear Beaver. He’s not a miracle worker, he flipped it inside out. The stains and moth track the outside were impossible to get out. I posted it a while back on the 7XCB thread but here you can see the before and after.

There is just one little dot left up front now, and I don’t quite know how to treat the leather sweat that is peeling apart in one section. I will consult a leather guy I know down here, but I have a better one up in Mexico City.

PS I’m guessing a Vita-Felt Clear Beaver did not mean clear beaver’s milk

Here are the pics, with one hand crease to illustrate a little about the felt.

 

[steur]

Stetson Medalist vita-felt in black (blue would have been better, but there it is). Size 7 3/8 with the brim at 6,5cm and the crown at about 11cm at the center dent. Only thing wrong with it is that the liner has gone AWOL. The liner seems to have been glued in. Fairly lightweight hat with just 115 grams on the scale. Shapes with no effort at all and a nice hand to the felt. Unreeded construction and stars on the Stetson logo point towards early to mid fifties I believe. I've brushed it an steamed it but left it open crowned and brim-up for now.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Arrived here to post another black Vita-Felt.
This was one interesting old thread!
Crazy that no one yet knows the mystery behind the process.
After working with the felt: brushed, wetted and flanged and steam shaped I can opine that this felt is great—whatever it is!
Mine is soft and floppy yet holds a shape in the way only high quality felt achieves. I’d guess merely some blend of fine furs.
Since this one doesn’t include the word, “Process” I’m guessing it’s make to be around 1945.
A sweet black hat in new condition.
$87 on eBay makes it a great victory, as well!

A close-up of the ribbon basting stitches.

 

[Rmccamey]

An excellent find, Randall.

View attachment 316116 Arrived here to post another black Vita-Felt.
This was one interesting old thread!
Crazy that no one yet knows the mystery behind the process.
After working with the felt: brushed, wetted and flanged and steam shaped I can opine that this felt is great—whatever it is!
Mine is soft and floppy yet holds a shape in the way only high quality felt achieves. I’d guess merely some blend of fine furs.
Since this one doesn’t include the word, “Process” I’m guessing it’s make to be around 1945.
A sweet black hat in new condition.
$87 on eBay makes it a great victory, as well!
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A close-up of the ribbon basting stitches. View attachment 316119 View attachment 316121 View attachment 316122

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

I saw that one Randall, glad you grabbed it!
The moment i saw (2nd) enclosed pic that Stefan initially posted, I was floored and wrote "Please?!"
I love mine and only wish i could get brim to not do that front/rear dip and simply remain flat!
Even though hat's a 3/8 and plenty roomy .. the slightest pressure from my head at front and back of oval causes dip. Tough to notice in pic but it's there.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

I saw that one Randall, glad you grabbed it!
The moment i saw (2nd) enclosed pic that Stefan initially posted, I was floored and wrote "Please?!"
I love mine and only wish i could get brim to not do that front/rear dip and simply remain flat!
Even though hat's a 3/8 and plenty roomy .. the slightest pressure from my head at front and back of oval causes dip. Tough to notice in pic but it's there.
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Since you saw this hat on eBay then you know why I had to reflange it.
It’s brim had way too much cupped flange and wouldn’t snap correctly, just as you’ve described above.

Guessing you have a long oval head, like me?
If so, that forces the brim of a round oval hat to go wonky.
The best way, that I know of, to fix this problem is expensive if you don’t already own a made to order flanger.
A composite one made by Randal Alan can be made exactly to your specs (around $165) with a long oval hole and brim set. Saturate the brim with water, stretch the hat into the hole of the flange using a hat stretcher, but not too tightly, or it’ll “imprint” the grosgrain hat band from the pressure of the inside flange sides.
With the cloth covering tightened over the flange, use a hot iron on the brim while wet. Let dry completely.
Wah-Lah! Your brim should snap with no distortion even while on your head.
almost a guarantee you’ll be wanting to reflange every hat you own!
While you’re at it, may as well get him to make you a hat block to your specs. Another great investment that will cause you a lot of work, but well worth the trouble...and costs. $135
Randal is great to talk to.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is only the third Vita-Felt Process hat that’s come through my hands. Getting it over with: it’s not a size 7 1/2 as the seller listed it, but it’s a 7 1/8…I seem to be finding a lot of those lately. This is The Madison which before now I’ve only seen as a homburg. The open crown is approximately 5 5/8” and the Mode Edge brim is 2 3/4” wide. I’m guessing early 1940s, but don’t mind be corrected if anyone knows better.

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

I feel your pain, Brent. Great looking hat.

 

[alanfgag]

This is only the third Vita-Felt Process hat that’s come through my hands. Getting it over with: it’s not a size 7 1/2 as the seller listed it, but it’s a 7 1/8…I seem to be finding a lot of those lately. This is The Madison which before now I’ve only seen as a homburg. The open crown is approximately 5 5/8” and the Mode Edge brim is 2 3/4” wide. I’m guessing early 1940s, but don’t mind be corrected if anyone knows better.


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Very nice... I think your dating is spot on.

 

[alanfgag]

Here is the Ignacio-cleaned Vita-Felt 7X Clear Beaver. He’s not a miracle worker, he flipped it inside out. The stains and moth track the outside were impossible to get out. I posted it a while back on the 7XCB thread but here you can see the before and after.

There is just one little dot left up front now, and I don’t quite know how to treat the leather sweat that is peeling apart in one section. I will consult a leather guy I know down here, but I have a better one up in Mexico City.

PS I’m guessing a Vita-Felt Clear Beaver did not mean clear beaver’s milk

Here are the pics, with one hand crease to illustrate a little about the felt.


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Happy to see that one found a good home. Sorry for the condition, but it's an unusual 7X and older than most.

 

[Mighty44]

My new Stetson Diplomat Vita-Felt Process with an overwelt brim. Classic dimensions -- 5.5" open crown, 2" ribbon, 2.5" brim. Missing the liner but everything else is in decent shape. Will benefit from a good steam and brush. So happy to have finally found a Vita-Felt!

David