The Official Stetson Nutria Quality Thread

[Blare]

It looks like the 1/8 NQ that languished on the Bay for awhile. Listed as maroon.

Real nice, did you just pick that up on eBay ? If so, I had my eye on it but hesitated due to the colour, seeing the same on someone know caused a tinge of regret, it looks superb. Wear it well, if it's the one I saw, you stole it at that price !

Yeah I just got it off eBay last week. Ended up giving 145 for it so I think it was a great deal!

Suspected they were one and the same. Fantastic hat! Amazing color. Glad it made it to a lounge member.

 

[alanfgag]

Stetson Boss Raw Edge in Real Nutria quality... a middle grade working class felt finished with beautiful detail and craftsmanship. From the second half of the 1930s in my estimation. Interesting to note the 1922 dealer price card that @deadlyhandsome posted above... the difference between a lined and unlined nutria quality hat is significant but makes sense when you look at these pictures.

 

[buler]

Wow!! Alan, that is a gorgeous hat. I'd like one just like that in my size please.

Is the brim binding stitched with light and dark thread or is one of those in the binding ribbon itself?

 

[alanfgag]

Wow!! Alan, that is a gorgeous hat. I'd like one just like that in my size please.

Is the brim binding stitched with light and dark thread or is one of those in the binding ribbon itself?

This one might almost fit you... it's a pretty full 7 1/8.

;^)

The brim binding is seen on the underside only and attached with two rows of stitching towards the outside edge. It does appear dark in the photo but it's really a pretty good match when I look at it. The inner lines of thread are in the construction of the ribbon. You can see the stitching in the close-up photo of the crown ribbon.

 

[MikeinRome]

Late 40's Nutria Quality, 3 1/2 inch brim, about 5 1/2 inch crown. I think it dates about 1947-48 because it has the paper textile content tag said to date to this period. This hat has been posted on the Lounge before by Jesse John.

 

[Blare]

Late 40's Nutria Quality, 3 1/2 inch brim, about 5 1/2 inch crown. I think it dates about 1947-48 because it has the paper textile content tag said to date to this period.

Very nice Mike!

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Nutria Quality, 3 inch brim before pencil roll was made, 6 inch open crown. Liner isn't original. Hat probably dates late 40's to early 50's. I got hat from Randall, who got it from Jesse John, who posted this hat when he sold it about a month ago. On the mfg tag with the size number are initials "H W" and on back of sweatband is written the name H Worr.

 

[MikeinRome]

The late 40's- early 50's Stetson Nutria Quality I just bought. Has 3 inch brim. Looks a little browner on underside of brim, so the topside might have faded a bit from the Sun. Note that the split in the liner is on the side instead of at the rear. There's some suggestion on the Dating Stetson Hats thread that the side split or seam might be a 1940's trait, so if true, this may be a 40's hat. There's never been any kind of plastic or oilskin/onionskin liner cover on hat. There's some staining to the liner on both sides of the cowboy. The crown had a Center-fire crease til right before I bought it, so the stains in the liner are from having that crease and are where the hat wearer's head contacted the liner, I believe.

 

[MikeinRome]

The Nutria Quality I bought from another Lounger a month or so ago. Has 4 inch brim. Looks like an early 50's hat.

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Real Nutria, 3 inch brim, 6 inch open crown. About 1940 hat because it has the 3 small panel mfg tag but no Lot Number on sweatband. Sweatband joint isn't stitched. This hat and the following one came from the same seller and shown as received. Sending both to be cleaned.

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Real Nutria, 3 inch brim, 5 3/4 open crown. 1940's hat based on design of sweatband logo. This hat has mothing, but it's not nearly as serious as the seller's pics made it appear.

 

[RossRYoung]

Stetson Real Nutria, 3 inch brim, 6 inch open crown. About 1940 hat because it has 3 part mfg tag but no Lot Number on sweatband. Sweatband joint isn't stitched. This hat and the following one came from the same seller.

Nice one! Love the liner with piping detail

 

[MikeinRome]

Nice one! Love the liner with piping detail

Thanks. Another hat I never imagined I'd be fortunate enough to own. A perfect fit, too. If it's not a Holy Grail hat, it's pretty darn close. And for under $200.

 

[MikeinRome]

Late 1940's Stetson Nutria Quality. 3 1/4 inch brim, 6 inch open crown. It's a brown color, not gray.

 

[MikeinRome]

Since all of my known Nutria hats are listed on this page, I'll briefly mention 2 others that are on other threads. My ca 1907 Stetson Boss Raw Edge which is Nutria Quality/Grade and on the Join The Fray thread, and my ca 1934 Stetson Austral Clear Nutria on the Boss of the Plains? thread.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Since all of my known Nutria hats are listed on this page, I'll briefly mention 2 others that are on other threads. My ca 1907 Stetson Boss Raw Edge which is Nutria Quality/Grade and on the Join The Fray thread, and my ca 1934 Stetson Austral Clear Nutria on the Boss of the Plains? thread.

Your Boss Nutria stamp is quite different than this one. Interesting
B

 

[MikeinRome]

Your Boss Nutria stamp is quite different than this one. Interesting
B View attachment 535686 View attachment 535687

I think it's a different stamp because your hat is Clear Nutria and mine is just Nutria Quality, which they called Nutria Grade in earlier years, apparently. Hats with Clear Nutria or Real Nutria had those words added to the Boss Raw Edge stamp. Any Boss with a stamp like mine is automatically Nutria Grade, as explained in the 1901 Stetson catalog in the attached photo.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I think it's a different stamp because your hat is Clear Nutria and mine is just Nutria Quality, which they called Nutria Grade in earlier years, apparently. Hats with Clear Nutria or Real Nutria had those words added to the Boss Raw Edge stamp. Any Boss with a stamp like mine is automatically Nutria Grade, as explained in the 1901 Stetson catalog in the attached photo.

Thank you MiR.
It would be helpful if you could post that 1901 catalogue of that cover screenshot for future reference.
Or at least the pages in it that clarify those distinctions you state.
This would be of great value to us members who struggle with defining Stetson’s use of Clear Nutria, Real Nutria, Nutria Quality and now Nutria Grade.
We’ve all seen many Nutria Quality roundels and Boss Raw Edge stamps, with Clear Nutria gold leafed under it and without but i can’t recall ever seeing Nutria Grade being used with any Boss Raw Edge hats.
I’d love to see one.
It would be a great service of you to pin these down for us.
Thanks MiR.
B

 

[MikeinRome]

Thank you MiR.
It would be helpful if you could post that 1901 catalogue of that cover screenshot for future reference.
Or at least the pages in it that clarify those distinctions you state.
This would be of great value to us members who struggle with defining Stetson’s use of Clear Nutria, Real Nutria, Nutria Quality and now Nutria Grade.
We’ve all seen many Nutria Quality roundels and Boss Raw Edge stamps, with Clear Nutria gold leafed under it and without but i can’t recall ever seeing Nutria Grade being used with any Boss Raw Edge hats.
I’d love to see one.
It would be a great service of you to pin these down for us.
Thanks MiR.
B

I'm not saying that Nutria Grade is a different category from Nutria Quality. I'm guessing or assuming they're basically the same. I don't know if any hats were specifically labeled as Nutria Grade on the hats themselves, offhand, although some may be or I've seen some and forgotten. If you look at the note written under that Boss Raw Edge stamp I attached, it says that stamp was ONLY used on Boss Raw Edge hats of Nutria grade costing $36 per dozen and up. So while the hats don't have a Nutria Grade label, that stamp tells you the hat is Nutria Grade. Look up 1900's Stetson Catalog reprint on the Lounge. I don't think the pages are numbered. The Boss stamp I've copied is on the 18th photo of that catalog's pages. Early 20th century price lists also show prices for Nutria Grade hats .

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I'm not saying that Nutria Grade is a different category from Nutria Quality. I'm guessing or assuming they're basically the same. I don't know if any hats were specifically labeled as Nutria Grade on the hats themselves, offhand, although some may be or I've seen some and forgotten. If you look at the note written under that Boss Raw Edge stamp I attached, it says that stamp was ONLY used on Boss Raw Edge hats of Nutria grade costing $36 per dozen and up. So while the hats don't have a Nutria Grade label, that stamp tells you the hat is Nutria Grade. Look up 1900's Stetson Catalog reprint on the Lounge. I don't think the pages are numbered.

Thanks MiR.
I was hoping you would be kind enough to post your copy you obviously have privy to for the rest of the lounge as reference but ok.
So me not having the catalogue for reference what is Nutria Grade?

My understanding of what you are alluding to is that All Boss Raw Edge stamped hats are composed of Nutria fur in some form.
Not Clear, not Real but some composition of Nutria fur thus “Nutria hats” under the classification of Nutria Grade.
Do i have that right? Please correct me if wrong. I wouldn’t want others to be misinformed.
Thanks
B