The Official Stetson Nutria Quality Thread

[Joao Encarnado]

Here is one I own with similar chops...

Why... oh why...

 

[Tonio]

My first Stetson Nutria. Any guesses on dating it? Sweatband is too fragile to turn back where needed.

 

[ScottF]

Just received this 1910 Clear Nutria campaign hat this morning. It doesn't have any pre-punched Stetson holes, so it's basically a 2.5" brim Fray with pre-WWI military accoutrements: 1901-10 artillery pin with 'CIB', red artillery cord and a chin strap that was jury-rigged to fit the hat. Under the sweat has a $5 price tag from Colman's, San Francisco.

I bought it because to me it looked like a Boss of the Plains Clear Nutria that had been purchased by someone who wanted a high-end campaign hat, and I planned to remove the military stuff which I assumed post-dated the actual hat; however, it has a stamp under the sweat of 'May 14, 1910', a 1901 to pre-WWI pin and correct artillery cord so now I hate to mess with it. I have photographed everything in detail and will probably still take it apart as I think it will display better without the military items, and it can be put back together with little effort. I have had these before (Clear Nutria pre-wwi campaign hats), so they are not incredibly rare. I have no idea what 'CIB' stand for (it is not 'Combat Infantry Badge' ), as this is a Coastal artillery hat.

 

[jlee562]

Well, I think Alan and I might have the same hat? Same block number anyway, perhaps a different felt grade, given that the sweatband imprints are different.

thumbnails link to full size:












I just brushed and steamed it. Seems like it had two Tom Mix creases at some point, one deeper than the other. Definitely the clay like felt that shapes super easy. I was trying to prop it up on a roll of paper towels, but the crease kept popping out! The moth nibbles aren't horrible, and already look less so after a brushing. Hat sponge is next.

I did a little googling of the store imprint, it turns out The Golden Rule stores were founded by J.C. Penney, and were the predecessor to his namesake company. JCPenney was incorporated in 1913, so that would seem to suggest this hat is very old!

Credit to carouselvic for this 1935 Miller Stockman page which depicts a hat with the same specs, which describes the 7" crown and 4" brim as "conservative proportions."

 

[jlee562]

Just received this 1910 Clear Nutria campaign hat this morning. It doesn't have any pre-punched Stetson holes, so it's basically a 2.5" brim Fray with pre-WWI military accoutrements: 1901-10 artillery pin with 'CIB', red artillery cord and a chin strap that was jury-rigged to fit the hat. Under the sweat has a $5 price tag from Colman's, San Francisco.

I bought it because to me it looked like a Boss of the Plains Clear Nutria that had been purchased by someone who wanted a high-end campaign hat, and I planned to remove the military stuff which I assumed post-dated the actual hat; however, it has a stamp under the sweat of 'May 14, 1910', a 1901 to pre-WWI pin and correct artillery cord so now I hate to mess with it. I have photographed everything in detail and will probably still take it apart as I think it will display better without the military items, and it can be put back together with little effort. I have had these before (Clear Nutria pre-wwi campaign hats), so they are not incredibly rare. I have no idea what 'CIB' stand for (it is not 'Combat Infantry Badge' ), as this is a Coastal artillery hat.

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Googled the store because, well, SF, and an interesting profile from a 1922 edition of the American Hatter profiling Mr. Colman.
https://books.google.com/books?id=U_xYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA10-PA75&lpg=RA10-PA75&dq=colman's+store+san+francisco&source=bl&ots=ErgY8Y9vXc&sig=0HBq95x7SQE2_S0-dNzwVJKIMbI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR3aCo9_zaAhUGAXwKHUuCB2M4ChDoATADegQIAhAB#v=onepage&q=colman's store san francisco&f=false

1909 listing shows the two stores at 780 Market st (now a Starbucks) and 343 Montgomery which seems to have been absorbed by a Bank of America building.
https://books.google.com/books?id=CU8zAQAAMAAJ&pg=PT373&lpg=PT373&dq=colman's+store+san+francisco&source=bl&ots=mMh6vlRQwj&sig=AV7oB4f6igUtg61SIajs3osHLFw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR3aCo9_zaAhUGAXwKHUuCB2M4ChDoATAGegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=colman's store san francisco&f=false

 

[Bamaboots]

Great hat and history, Jared. A grail sort of hat for me.

 

[RJR]

Great hat and history, Jared. A grail sort of hat for me.

+1

 

[ScottF]

Googled the store because, well, SF, and an interesting profile from a 1922 edition of the American Hatter profiling Mr. Colman.
https://books.google.com/books?id=U_xYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA10-PA75&lpg=RA10-PA75&dq=colman's+store+san+francisco&source=bl&ots=ErgY8Y9vXc&sig=0HBq95x7SQE2_S0-dNzwVJKIMbI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR3aCo9_zaAhUGAXwKHUuCB2M4ChDoATADegQIAhAB#v=onepage&q=colman's store san francisco&f=false

1909 listing shows the two stores at 780 Market st (now a Starbucks) and 343 Montgomery which seems to have been absorbed by a Bank of America building.
https://books.google.com/books?id=CU8zAQAAMAAJ&pg=PT373&lpg=PT373&dq=colman's+store+san+francisco&source=bl&ots=mMh6vlRQwj&sig=AV7oB4f6igUtg61SIajs3osHLFw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR3aCo9_zaAhUGAXwKHUuCB2M4ChDoATAGegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=colman's store san francisco&f=false

Thanks for those resources. I also can't resist googling the stores from the sweatbands, but I stopped after finding the American Hatter article. I hoped the fact that it originated in SF might shed some light on what 'CIB' meant, but no luck. I photographed the pieces and can put it together if needed, but I bought it because it was a pre-1920 Clear Beaver Fray western, so here's what it looks like now. Steaming had no effect so I soaked it and it got back most of its shape. I might steam it again at some point, but I like the way it currently looks. Just a bit small (small 7 1/8).

 

[Joao Encarnado]

My first Stetson Nutria. Any guesses on dating it? Sweatband is too fragile to turn back where needed.

Well, I think Alan and I might have the same hat? Same block number anyway, perhaps a different felt grade, given that the sweatband imprints are different.

Nice finds.

 

[ScottF]

My Apologies - put this 'Clear Nutria' post in a thread that Lefty clearly indicated was for 'Nutria Quality'.

Sorry about that!

 

[Lefty W.]

So my local Public Broadcasting System station aired an episode of the "Independent Lens" series last night entitled "Rodents of Unusual Size." The episode focused on how the nutria was responsible for ruining the coastal barrier islands of southern Louisiana, and on how various folks were trapping them for the bounties.

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/rodents-of-unusual-size/

Perhaps someone should look into using their fur again for hat bodies.

 

[Bamaboots]

Perhaps someone should look into using their fur again for hat bodies.[/QUOTE]

Think it's been tried and there was just no viable market. I'd buy one. I love my Nutria Quality.

I should have gone to work in NOLA. Then again, after spending some quality time there it's probably good that I didn't. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

https://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2018/05/nutria_swat_shooting_jefferson.html

 

[jlee562]

I heard about that documentary too, but didn't get a chance to see it. California is also experiencing a resurgence in nutria that aren't supposed to be here.

https://www.sfgate.com/g00/bayarea/...6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8=&i10c.ua=2&i10c.dv=6

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I heard about that documentary too, but didn't get a chance to see it. California is also experiencing a resurgence in nutria that aren't supposed to be here.

https://www.sfgate.com/g00/bayarea/...6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8=&i10c.ua=2&i10c.dv=6

I’m aware of a farmer in the San Joaquin Valley who trapped a few and built an elaborate enclosed habit for them. California Fish and Wildlife was not impressed and euthanized the animals and warned the farmer that any additional keeping of nutria as “pets” would result in big fines.

I’d love to see nutria readily available for hats.


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[Cornshucker77]

I wanted to add my 1950's Stetson Nutria to the thread. New to me from JLee. The inventory tag is actually orange, not as it appears in the photo.

 

[Cornshucker77]

My other Nutria. The brim is stiffer on this hat than the black nutria, but still a nice hand.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

My other Nutria. The brim is stiffer on this hat than the black nutria, but still a nice hand.

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Scott....two fine specimens indeed.
I am very fond of any Nutria hat. Such an interesting felt. They can be as durable as a tank and yet soft and delicate as the finest beaver felt.
Thanks for sharing yours.
Bowen

 

[jlee562]

Fantastic! I'm glad that one got saved.

 

[Cornshucker77]

Scott....two fine specimens indeed.
I am very fond of any Nutria hat. Such an interesting felt. They can be as durable as a tank and yet soft and delicate as the finest beaver felt.
Thanks for sharing yours.
Bowen

Thanks Bowen.

 

[Cornshucker77]

Fantastic! I'm glad that one got saved.

It's a great hat Jared. Thanks again.