The Penney's Marathon

[Frunobulax]

I don't normally go for 2 1/4 inch brims but I have been wanting an Adams Pacesetter or a Marathon with shark gills. Finally landed one, now I have something for stingy mas later this year. The color is really a blue green but it looks gray or gray green some of the time.
View attachment 309255
View attachment 309256
View attachment 309257
View attachment 309258

If it's your first Marathon, you should enjoy it. I had my eye on that one, too, but pulled off. I don't consider a 2 1/4" brim to be stingy, tho.

Good luck with finding an Adams.

 

[Snowman]

I don't normally go for 2 1/4 inch brims but I have been wanting an Adams Pacesetter or a Marathon with shark gills. Finally landed one, now I have something for stingy mas later this year. The color is really a blue green but it looks gray or gray green some of the time.
View attachment 309255
View attachment 309256
View attachment 309257
View attachment 309258

Love it. I have an identical one, and it’s a favorite. 2 1/4, to me, is just outside of stingy.

 

[Frunobulax]

OK, this hat's weird. First, a before picture, as this guy arrived packed into a box that was maybe 4" high.

This is a very light, unlined J. C. Penney Marathon, likely from the 30s or 40s (guesstimate). I think it feels kind of weird, with a light spongy hand to it - it almost feels like a cloth fabric, although it is definitely felt. The ribbon is not grosgrain, but is a cloth-type fabric on both the crown and the brim binding.

The 3/8" binding is wider on the top and leaves a decorative stitch on the underside.

The hat has a very thin unreeded sweatband that is, unfortunately, about 45%-50% detached. I've shored it up with some double-sided tape, and will hold off on a new sweat for as long as I can, but there is likely a replacement in the future.

This is also weird. The name "Gabby," written in dark script, is imprinted on the sweatband. I have not seen another Marathon that had anything other than the Penney's markings anywhere on the hat. I'm not certain whether this is a personalization or the model of the hat. Weird.

Fortunately, some ghost creases that I thought would be difficult to eliminate ironed right out. The felt is very responsive. The 5 1/2" crown is fairly tapered as you can see from the open crown shot. I had assumed I would have to reflange this thing, as well, but when I fixed up the crown, the 2 1/2" brim popped right back into shape.

Some additional shots...

 

[Tukwila]

A Unicorn.

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

How do you support crown in order to iron out creases? Often I'm stuck with bashes I'd prefer to lose because of creases. Beautiful hat!

 

[Frunobulax]

How do you support crown in order to iron out creases? Often I'm stuck with bashes I'd prefer to lose because of creases. Beautiful hat!

Thank you. It wears well, too.

I have several blocks that are smaller than my size I use to round out the crowns on old hats. Mostly, I use one of those aluminum full crown stretchers as it is about a size 7 closed and has a nice square profile. I don't block it to the shape of the block, but try to open the crown and iron out creases by moving the hat around the block so I don't affect the profile.

 

[BobHufford]

This is also weird. The name "Gabby," written in dark script, is imprinted on the sweatband. I have not seen another Marathon that had anything other than the Penney's markings anywhere on the hat. I'm not certain whether this is a personalization or the model of the hat. Weird.

You're supposed to wear it with the front brim way up.

Very cool hat Jim. Congrats!

 

[Frunobulax]

You're supposed to wear it with the front brim way up.

View attachment 315271

Very cool hat Jim. Congrats!

Thanks, Bob. Were he and Jack Elam ever in a movie together? If not, they should have been.

 

[moehawk]

Hey all!
This one popped up on Etsy a little over a week ago. Listed as "Men's hat" for $19 plus tax, free shipping. I put it in my favorites and let everyone here have 24 hours to discover it before I grabbed it.
Mighty sporting of me, eh?
Anyhoo, early to mid 50's by my guess, and an incredible specimen to boot
As it came out of the box...will do a little reshaping later.


And a head shot



The brim is 2 3/4", the crown 4 3/4" as creased. 1"ribbon. The leather is in great condition, as is the rest of it. Not a lightweight at 125g, but not too heavy either. At a 7 1/8 LO, it needs just a little side-to-side nudge to fit nicely. A fine example of Lee quality!

 

[Snowman]

Hey all!
This one popped up on Etsy a little over a week ago. Listed as "Men's hat" for $19 plus tax, free shipping. I put it in my favorites and let everyone here have 24 hours to discover it before I grabbed it.
Mighty sporting of me, eh?
Anyhoo, early to mid 50's by my guess, and an incredible specimen to boot
As it came out of the box...will do a little reshaping later.
View attachment 354809 View attachment 354810 View attachment 354815 View attachment 354812 View attachment 354813 View attachment 354814

And a head shot

View attachment 354816 View attachment 354818

The brim is 2 3/4", the crown 4 3/4" as creased. 1"ribbon. The leather is in great condition, as is the rest of it. Not a lightweight at 125g, but not too heavy either. At a 7 1/8 LO, it needs just a little side-to-side nudge to fit nicely. A fine example of Lee quality!

Great find! Wish I’d seen it. Love those Marathons!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hey all!
This one popped up on Etsy a little over a week ago. Listed as "Men's hat" for $19 plus tax, free shipping. I put it in my favorites and let everyone here have 24 hours to discover it before I grabbed it.
Mighty sporting of me, eh?
Anyhoo, early to mid 50's by my guess, and an incredible specimen to boot
As it came out of the box...will do a little reshaping later.
View attachment 354809 View attachment 354810 View attachment 354815 View attachment 354812 View attachment 354813 View attachment 354814

And a head shot

View attachment 354816 View attachment 354818

The brim is 2 3/4", the crown 4 3/4" as creased. 1"ribbon. The leather is in great condition, as is the rest of it. Not a lightweight at 125g, but not too heavy either. At a 7 1/8 LO, it needs just a little side-to-side nudge to fit nicely. A fine example of Lee quality!

Gorgeous hat, John. It looks to be in fantastic condition too. Those out the types of deals that keep us looking.

 

[moehawk]

Great find! Wish I’d seen it. Love those Marathons!

Thanks!
I only have one other Marathon, an upbrim black Velour from the 20's. This one will get way more head time!

 

[moehawk]

Gorgeous hat, John. It looks to be in fantastic condition too. Those out the types of deals that keep us looking.

Thanks Brent!
I've been trying to resist the temptation of online hat buying, with some success even, but this was just too good to pass up.

 

[Tukwila]

Penneys Marathon was a great hat. Fantastic find, John!

 

[moehawk]

Penneys Marathon was a great hat. Fantastic find, John!

Thanks! I'm going to enjoy this one for sure!

 

[moehawk]

I forgot to post this pic of a very elegant "Long Oval" stamp.



Lee did have style.

 

[steur]

Hey all!
This one popped up on Etsy a little over a week ago. Listed as "Men's hat" for $19 plus tax, free shipping. I put it in my favorites and let everyone here have 24 hours to discover it before I grabbed it.
Mighty sporting of me, eh?
Anyhoo, early to mid 50's by my guess, and an incredible specimen to boot
As it came out of the box...will do a little reshaping later.
View attachment 354809 View attachment 354810 View attachment 354815 View attachment 354812 View attachment 354813 View attachment 354814

And a head shot

View attachment 354816 View attachment 354818

The brim is 2 3/4", the crown 4 3/4" as creased. 1"ribbon. The leather is in great condition, as is the rest of it. Not a lightweight at 125g, but not too heavy either. At a 7 1/8 LO, it needs just a little side-to-side nudge to fit nicely. A fine example of Lee quality!

That's a mighty score, John. Gorgeous hat. Must have taken some superhuman restraint to not buy it instantly!

 

[moehawk]

That's a mighty score, John. Gorgeous hat. Must have taken some superhuman restraint to not buy it instantly!

Thanks Stefan!
It wasn't easy, that's for sure! Even with such a vague listing as "Men's hat" I was a bit surprised to see it still there. Happy, though!

 

[Styleslover]

Good day

I have a JCPenney marathon hat. I was wondering if any would help me place a date of year or era when this hat was potential made? Thanks a lot
https://ibb.co/album/7xZDNz

 

[Jerry Probst]

Good day

I have a JCPenney marathon hat. I was wondering if any would help me place a date of year or era when this hat was potential made? Thanks a lot
https://ibb.co/album/7xZDNz

Nice hat. Judging by the company logo, I’m going to say prior to 1952. It was about that time that the company switched to the “Penney’s” logo posted by Moehawk a few comments above in this thread.