The BANTAM Bar

[Marc Chevalier]

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Bar's open! For those who have Stetson Bantams and want to show 'em off at the counter. Dinerman, jamespowers's wife, besdor, and other Bantam owners ... place yer orders!


Here's my Stetson Bantam:

 

[GoneSolo]

:eusa_clap Very nice Mark. I am still on the hunt for one of these. That ribbon reminds me of a Stetson Playboy.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Did you see Dinerman's?

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[Dinerman]

yeah, here's the out of focus, bad color rendition, very dark ebay shot of the one I got. supposedly it's green.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Are these appropriate (i.e.- lighweight enough) for summer ? And is that how they were marketed ?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

They really are "bantam weight": hence the name. Very light. I wear mine on warm days.

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[Dinerman]

The ads I've seen say they're lightweight.
From what I can find, they were introduced in 1934, along with the Open Road, Playboy, etc. Big year for stetson hats I guess.
The next ad I could find was from '66, but it looks a lot different; stiiiingy

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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'34 was a huge year for Stetson, which was taking advantage of the slight upswing in the economy after the dismal '30-'33 years.




Incidentally, the Whippet (see ad below) was introduced in 1939 -- another good year for the economy.

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[AlanC]

What are the specs of the Bantam as compared to the Stratoliner? The ribbon is a bit wider, looks like a narrower brim.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Brim width: 2 1/2"

Ribbon width: 3/4"

Crown height (with center dent): approx. 5 1/3"


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[Dinerman]

Hey, Marc, you got any shots of the interior of yours? I looked, and couldn't find any.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Sorry, no.

The interior is unlined. The Stetson crest and the gothic lettered words "Royal Stetson" are stenciled in greyish white directly onto the felt at the top of the inner crown. The saddle brown leather sweatband has the Stetson logo with the words "John B. Stetson Company" underneath. To the right of that, it says "Royal Stetson Bantam."


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[Dinerman]

I'll see if the seller has already packed it up. If not, I'll see if they'd be kind enough to send along a picture.

 

[DanielJones]

Wow! That is one sharp looking hat there Marc. Would the photo of you wearing it be a closer color to the real deal? I like the blueish hue to the grey in that shot.:eusa_clap

Dinerman: I can't wait to see what you got, the e-bay photo doesn't seem to do it any justice. Congratulations!:eusa_clap

Cheers!

Dan

 

[DOUGLAS]

Great looking hats gents. Alas, the Bantam is one type that I do not have....

 

[Razzman]

Sweet looking lids gentlemen! Thanks for showing them. :eusa_clap

 

[Dinerman]

Great looking hats gents. Alas, the Bantam is one type that I do not have....

I thought the hat with the chicken pin was a bantam. That seems to match their ads.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Would the photo of you wearing it be a closer color to the real deal?

Actually, the photo with the mannequin head is closer in color to the real deal.

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[Marc Chevalier]

Alas, the Bantam is one type that I do not have....

... yet! lol

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[DanielJones]

Actually, the photo with the mannequin head is closer in color to the real deal.

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Ah, I see. So more of a slate grey instead of a light dove grey?

Cheers!

Dan