The Lee Lounge

[buler]

¡Hey, I got one too! A Lee "Fifth Avenue"; bought it on the American bay most of a year ago, it's a rather heavy and thick long-hair hat, definitely winter seasonal, with what I believe to be "old fashioned Fedora" elements, in fact alleged to be from the very late forties (probably fifties, but who knows, I'm a bit puzzled by the more sixties marketing things like -if I'm not mistaken, the hat's at home- a "Dupont" label?).

Don't mess with me! (huff, huff..lol )
Pablo

Pablo, thats a great lid. I'd go with the mid-40s to early 50s. Don't worry about the "Dupont" label. I've seen Lee's water-bloc process mentioned as early as 1934 and the Dupont Aridex as early as 1941.

B

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks Buler.
I tend to agree to some logic that there's no need to make a basically 1940 or 1950's style hat during the sixties; it wouldn't have sold.
The hat certainly looks "serious". The sweatband is broad and excellent quality.
Other than the (encircled) "Lee Fifth Avenue Water Bloc", and "Du Pont - Water Repellent - Shape Retaining", the sweatband mentions "Gold Label", and "Beaver Nap Twenty" and, indeed, carries a "$20" original Lee price tag behind the sweat.
It was originally sold by "The Gately Shops", 241 Michigan Avenue, Detroit.

I wore it a few days ago going (by public bus) to a museum in Leuven, a wonderful Rogier Van Der Weyden (15th century painter) exhibition...in the driving rain. It got thoroughly wet, but that had not the slightest effect on the hat's shape. The water evaporated...

 

[Mario]

Lee Trinity

My newly arrived Lee Trinity from Johnnyphi.

At the Johnnyphi website the ribbon is described as slightly green, but it's definitely not. It looks more as if there is a hint of magenta, but this really depends on the lighting situation.

Measurements:

Brim 2 1/2"
Crown 4 1/2" (creased)
Ribbon 1 5/8"
Binding 3/8"

 

[gtdean48]

SWEET!

VERY nice one, Mario! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Mario]

Yeah...I'm really diggin' that swoop...

 

[mayserwegener]

Yeah...I'm really diggin' that swoop...

The Lee Trinity is a great / fun hat! I also have a olive? one of similar vintage that I need to post.

 

[Mario]

Yeah. I've seen photos of you Trinity, and that really is one beautiful hat.

 

[mayserwegener]

Lee Trinity

Here is my other Lee Trinity (size 7 3/8) from JohnnyPhi. This one looks similar to Mario's but is greenish (olive?).

 

[Dinerman]

 

[Zemke Fan]

Love the ribbon on this one...

Magnificent:

 

[Chinaski]

Lee Adventure

Here's a Lee Adventure, courtesy of Johnnyphi. It's a nice light felt and in NOS condition. A couple minor moth nibbles. Overall a very nice hat with a gray tone, and in the right light it looks light blue.

 

[Sam Craig]

Was this more of a regional brand?

I can't say that I've ever run into a Lee hat our here

 

[billyspew]

Was this more of a regional brand?

I can't say that I've ever run into a Lee hat our here

Don't think so. They were among the biggest hat makers of the day, although many of this would have been for other retailers (Sears & Adam among them).

 

[gtdean48]

Lee made the Marathon for JC Penney's right?

 

[Sam Craig]

I understand they made Marathons and I thought they made Pilgrims for Sears too, but if I had seen one of those nifty Lee liners you guys are coming up with, I don't think I would have forgotten it!

 

[buler]

Lee Double Brim

Its marked as a Lee Double Brim. But besides the fact that its a very thick felt, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of a doubling of the brim. But the brim edge finish is not so perfect, so maybe someone trimmed it. :eusa_doh:

B

 

[rlk]

Lee Palm Springs Blue Label

This thread has been abandoned for some time.

Brim has a short underwelt and just over 2-1/2" wide. A moderately light and soft felt-almost fluffy. Needs humidity to retain shaping.
The fragments remaining of the factory paper tag look like the above Double Brim.

 

[rlk]

Lee Adventure 1946>>

 

[Lefty]

1936

1937

1942

1947

1951

1951&2

1952

 

[Lefty]

1953

unknown