The Lee Lounge

[GuitarGuy99]

This is a Lee Warren Black Label. 2 1/2 inch brim. Gray. The ribbon looks like a darker shade of gray. One cool thing is that the binding on the brim has yellowed giving the hat a third color. Judging by how easily the crown can be shaped, I think it was originally open-crown. The felt is really soft. and the sweat band is in good condition. Size is 7 1/8. Fits a bit snug. Not sure what year the hat was made, but it has that classic gangster look.

 

[BobHufford]

Lee Bronze Label "New Whirl". There is another one of these on the Lounge with the brim treatment removed (so I guess not everyone loved it).

 

[MikeinRome]

Some Lee fedoras. #1, left front. Blue Label, Has 2 5/8 inch brim, no tags seen.

 

[MikeinRome]

#2, left rear. White Label, 2 7/8 inch felted brim. I might have bought this from Brent, not sure.

 

[MikeinRome]

#3, right front. 2 1/2 inch brim. This hat doesn't have the color grading on it. Don't know if that means it's before or after that color system was used. No tags seen.

 

[MikeinRome]

#4, right rear. 2 1/2 inch brim, Blue Label Trinity. This is the only one of the 4 hats bought this year, other 3 bought last year.

 

[Mighty44]

#4, right rear. 2 1/2 inch brim, Blue Label Trinity. This is the only one of the 4 hats bought this year, other 3 bought last year.

Mike-your collection has become so impressive. These are all beautiful but Number One in your Lee series is absolutely gorgeous.

David

 

[MikeinRome]

Mike-your collection has become so impressive. These are all beautiful but Number One in your Lee series is absolutely gorgeous.

David

Thanks, David, glad you appreciate them.

 

[GuitarGuy99]

This is a Lee Trend. No color designation on the sweatband. 2 1/4 inch brim. Late 50s maybe? Thick felt though.

 

[GuitarGuy99]

This is a Lee Trend. No color designation on the sweatband. 2 1/4 inch brim. Late 50s maybe? Thick felt though.

Anyone have any information on the Trend model? I have a Lee Warren Black Label and the liner and sweat band look about the same. The felt is different though. The felt on the black label hat is quite light. This felt is much heavier.

 

[MikeinRome]

1950's Lee Forty or 40. Brim is about 2 9/16 inches, Cavanagh Edge. 5 1/2 inch open crown. The mfg tag isn't really a Lee type I'm familiar with, and it's been moved from the side of the sweatband seam where they usually are found to the other side of the seam where HCA hats have their mfg tags. The felt isn't stiff at all and easily dry-creased into any shape. The felt is thick and every bit as nice as my Dobbs Forty hats and the little bow at sweatband seam is knotted the same way, and the Cavanagh Edge is identical. While my Knox Fifty may have a slightly smoother finish to it's felt, overall I think the Lee seems like a better quality hat.

 

[MikeinRome]

Regarding Lee mfg tags, most hats on this thread don't show pics of the tags. I've never tried to sort them into chronological order, but had to take a look at the existing pics to understand the tag in my Forty. On page 15 of thread is a tag that seems to just precede mine. It's in a hat Brent listed, a black longhair (see pic below ). The tag has been moved from the traditional side of the sweatband seam to the other side of it and still has Lee Hat printed along the bottom of the tag. Seems later they dropped that bottom lettering altogether. I think I only see one other hat with a tag like mine. On page 13 of this thread, a Doe Sheen Fifteen owned by moehawk.

 

[MikeinRome]

An after-thought. Don't know if my type of mfg tag started life looking like Brent's tag and someone cut off the bottom part that said Lee Hat Co, Danbury, Conn on purpose because it was made after 1960 from existing Lee parts and assembled elsewhere. That's sheer theorizing. However, the numbers on the paper labels in the hat make me think this hat was made and processed just like other Lee hats.

 

[MikeinRome]

Lee Adventure Blue Label. Has 2 1/2 inch brim and 5 1/2 inch open crown.

 

[M Hatman]

Here is a Blue Label LEE Open Road/Borsalino clone. Perhaps around 1950 (just basing this on the cheese cloth tip protector rather than plastic or cellophane)? It came with my recently acquired circa 1953 Stratoliner in the same Stetson box and both were sold at the same shop, only this appears very much unworn.....quite minty new in fact. SUPER clean..........

Beautiful very light dove blue grey. Ribbon is done up like the Borsalino's and has the worked tips, the button is sewn to the hat (as some company's did and I have a few like this in my collection. I think some of the Mallory's also did that.). It has a 5 1/2" crown, 2 7/8" brim. Note the sales tag in front is still present with the $10 price tag. I cannot explain just how nice this felt really is........VERY pleased with this catch.....

Sold at the same store as the Strat, but has a fancier stamping. I LOVE the eagle & Shield!

I guess they wanted everyone working on it to know it was a 7 1/2.....

I cannot describe just how nice this hat is , nor how light the color....if fact appears almost white in some light. This has to be one of the , if not THE nicest vintage hat in my collection. Happy Camper here!

(For reference here is the store stamp from my Strat that was with this hat. VERY plain indeed.)

 

[Blare]

Here is a Blue Label LEE Open Road/Borsalino clone. Perhaps around 1950 (just basing this on the cheese cloth tip protector rather than plastic or cellophane)? It came with my recently acquired circa 1953 Stratoliner in the same Stetson box and both were sold at the same shop, only this appears very much unworn.....quite minty new in fact. SUPER clean..........

Beautiful very light dove blue grey. Ribbon is done up like the Borsalino's and has the worked tips, the button is sewn to the hat (as some company's did and I have a few like this in my collection. I think some of the Mallory's also did that.). It has a 5 1/2" crown, 2 7/8" brim. Note the sales tag in front is still present with the $10 price tag. I cannot explain just how nice this felt really is........VERY pleased with this catch.....
View attachment 665400 View attachment 665401
View attachment 665405
View attachment 665402 View attachment 665403 View attachment 665404
Sold at the same store as the Strat, but has a fancier stamping. I LOVE the eagle & Shield!
View attachment 665406
View attachment 665407
I guess they wanted everyone working on it to know it was a 7 1/2.....
View attachment 665408
I cannot describe just how nice this hat is , nor how light the color....if fact appears almost white in some light. This has to be one of the , if not THE nicest vintage hat in my collection. Happy Camper here!

(For reference here is the store stamp from my Strat that was with this hat. VERY plain indeed.)
View attachment 665414

You are correct Mark. A sight to behold. A Ten Dollar Lee of this era is nothing to scoff at!

 

[Rmccamey]

Great hats, Mark. I'm jealous!

Here is a Blue Label LEE Open Road/Borsalino clone. Perhaps around 1950 (just basing this on the cheese cloth tip protector rather than plastic or cellophane)? It came with my recently acquired circa 1953 Stratoliner in the same Stetson box and both were sold at the same shop, only this appears very much unworn.....quite minty new in fact. SUPER clean..........

Beautiful very light dove blue grey. Ribbon is done up like the Borsalino's and has the worked tips, the button is sewn to the hat (as some company's did and I have a few like this in my collection. I think some of the Mallory's also did that.). It has a 5 1/2" crown, 2 7/8" brim. Note the sales tag in front is still present with the $10 price tag. I cannot explain just how nice this felt really is........VERY pleased with this catch.....
View attachment 665400 View attachment 665401
View attachment 665405
View attachment 665402 View attachment 665403 View attachment 665404
Sold at the same store as the Strat, but has a fancier stamping. I LOVE the eagle & Shield!
View attachment 665406
View attachment 665407
I guess they wanted everyone working on it to know it was a 7 1/2.....
View attachment 665408
I cannot describe just how nice this hat is , nor how light the color....if fact appears almost white in some light. This has to be one of the , if not THE nicest vintage hat in my collection. Happy Camper here!

(For reference here is the store stamp from my Strat that was with this hat. VERY plain indeed.)
View attachment 665414

 

[M Hatman]

Great hats, Mark. I'm jealous!

Thank you sir! I have found some good ones these past few months.......luck has been with me this year.