The Penney's Marathon

[Styleslover]

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.

Thanks man! The hat reminds me of the hats in 20-30s era with the 2 1/8 brim and high crown era before the long brim style hats.

 

[Jerry Probst]

Thanks man! The hat reminds me of the hats in 20-30s era with the 2 1/8 brim and high crown era before the long brim style hats.

That logo was in use in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. So that would be consistent with your hunch, but I can’t narrow it down more than that.

 

[Styleslover]

That logo was in use in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. So that would be consistent with your hunch, but I can’t narrow it down more than that.

What does double brim mean? I notice it says that on the sweatband. I tried researching it but I couldn’t get a solid answer

 

[Jerry Probst]

What does double brim mean? I notice it says that on the sweatband. I tried researching it but I couldn’t get a solid answer

I don’t know. Phrases on hat bands are often vague marketing slogans. It might refer to the quality or thickness of the felt. Penney’s, in those days was a main street store located in small towns and cities across America. They generally sold very good to excellent quality merchandise at a very good price. The typical customer was the average citizen trying to make their dollars stretch so quality was always a strong selling point. Thinking it refers to quality of the felt is just a guess. Perhaps one of the hatters aboard this chat has a better suggestion.

 

[Styleslover]

I don’t know. Phrases on hat bands are often vague marketing slogans. It might refer to the quality or thickness of the felt. Penney’s, in those days was a main street store located in small towns and cities across America. They generally sold very good to excellent quality merchandise at a very good price. The typical customer was the average citizen trying to make their dollars stretch so quality was always a strong selling point. Thinking it refers to quality of the felt is just a guess. Perhaps one of the hatters aboard this chat has a better suggestion.

Thanks man! For the information!

 

[carouselvic]

Hats have been made with two layers of felt in the brim.

 

[Jerry Probst]

Hats have been made with two layers of felt in the brim.

Thanks Vic,

That’s interesting. Do you have any more information you can share? How was the felt doubled - by adhesive or some felting process that fused the layers together? Because of the extra material and production steps involved were these hats sold at premium prices?

 

[carouselvic]

 

[Jerry Probst]

Thank you Vic!

Using the patent number I found this description of the process.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3054113A/en

Good stuff.

 

[Frunobulax]

That logo was in use in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. So that would be consistent with your hunch, but I can’t narrow it down more than that.

Can you please provide more information on this? I've been trying to tie Penney's logos to years for some time, and have never found a ready reference. You seem to be pretty sure, so I'd love to know more.

 

[Jerry Probst]

Can you please provide more information on this? I've been trying to tie Penney's logos to years for some time, and have never found a ready reference. You seem to be pretty sure, so I'd love to know more.

Here’s a photo showing a compilation of different J.C. Penney Logos. You will notice a shift from using variations of the name from J.C. Penney Company Incorporated to the shortened version “Penney’s”. That happened sometime in the early 1950s. When exactly I don’t know, I may be mistaken on the exact year, but 1952 seems to ring a bell.

 

[Frunobulax]

Here’s a photo showing a compilation of different J.C. Penney Logos. You will notice a shift from using variations of the name from J.C. Penney Company Incorporated to the shortened version “Penney’s”. That happened sometime in the early 1950s. When exactly I don’t know, I may be mistaken on the exact year, but 1952 seems to ring a bell.
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Thanks. Now we need one of those with the Marathon logos.

 

[M Hatman]

While looking about for information on my hat here:

Western, anyone?

3x6 7X CB on a Kimmel hat rack.

www.thefedoralounge.com

I found this article on their House Brands from 2014....

10 classic J.C. Penney house brands from 1914 to now

J.C. Penney has long gotten half of its sales from its own brands. Here is a look back at some classics from the last 100 years.

fortune.com

Of course that store display is not from 1914........

"Marathon Hats – 1914​

This is how it all started: a line of elegant fedoras that was the first of what would become many in-house brands for Penney, launched a century ago this year."

 

[Blare]

Penney’s Marathon
Medium Charcoal Grey
4 3/4 Crown as shaped
1 1/8 matching grosgrain ribbon
2 1/4 brim with 1/8 matching binding

Came across this cool Penney’s Marathon at a super low Buy It Now price that I could not pass up. The photos showed it would need some reshaping… and on top of that it arrived in a box about half the size of the hat. So a serious steaming and brushing was in order. I think it came out quite well. While brushing, I was able to minimize a few discoloration spots that actually hide themselves fairly well. There are a few moth nips here and there.. but nothing too bad.

I really like the color of the felt.. a medium charcoal grey. The tones somehow shift from blue to yellow depending light. I love the styling with the signature Marathon ribbon work.

It was sold as a size 7 though from the pictures the size tag appeared to also have a fraction after the 7 that I could not make out. Turns out the size is 7 1/4. Somehow however… due to I’m guessing a little bit of shrinkage it actually fits fairly well. Just seats a tad lower than I regularly wear my hats. Would not want to wear it on a windy day.. but still comfortable.

I have almost another probably early 1950s Marathon with this styling in tan that I really enjoy. This one… Considering the logo and sweat I’m gonna guess a bit later… maybe late 50s early 60s. I figured due to the size.. I might move this one along.. but being that it’s fitting fairly well.. I may keep it around for a little while anyway.

 

[Blare]

The arrival of the above Marathon in charcoal grey inspired me to pull out my tan Marathon in similar style

Early 1950s
4 3/4 crown as shaped
1 1/8 grosgrain ribbon with gills
2 1/2 brim with 1/8 binding

 

[M Hatman]

They must have sold that same hat for a while.....here is an ad from an earlier post by Jerry
It is cool you have the Grey AND the Tan!!
Must have been a signature style...

The Penney's Marathon

Hey Fellas, For a number of years back in the 1990s, before I became interested in Fedoras, I worked as the Company Historian for JCPenney. It really warms my heart to read some of the glowing comments y'all have written about Marathon hats. Mr. Penney (James Cash Penney) was a retail genius...

www.thefedoralounge.com

1963

 

[Blare]

They must have sold that same hat for a while.....here is an ad from an earlier post by Jerry
It is cool you have the Grey AND the Tan!!
Must have been a signature style...

http://[URL]https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-penneys-marathon.1679/post-2517546

[/URL]
1963
View attachment 442099

Thanks Mark. This ad most likely close in time frame to the grey one I think. For sure a ribbon style I associate with the Marathon hats. It is almost identical to one @Scooterz posted in this thread some time back. And the tan one very close to Stefan’s @steur

 

[Blare]

Penney’s Marathon - Stratoliner/OR Clone

Light Blue Grey Felt - 7 1/8
4 1/2 crown as shaped
3/8 thin ribbon
2 1/2 brim with 3/16 binding

I feel like I was just here with a grey 1960s Penney’s Marathon… but you just don’t turn these down when offered for $25. This one a TAR OR/Strat clone. The blue/grey felt feels on the lighter side and the 2 1/2 brim would lean more toward Strat-o-like. Of course… as seems to be the theme lately.. this one arrived in a box that was too small. No worries here as it shaped up nicely. A few moth nibbles for character on the right/front side of the brim. I imagine at some point this hat had a liner… but is certainly fine without. May try to buff out some of the minor yellow staining in the felt. A great candidate to add to the working/yard work stable… but certainly fine enough to wear out as well.

 

[RiteStuffBryan]

My Penney’s Marathon Open Road copy, I’m guessing ‘60s judging by the labeling:

 

[Mighty44]

My Penney’s Marathon Open Road copy, I’m guessing ‘60s judging by the labeling:

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Beautiful hat and looks great on. Those balloons remind me of The Prisoner. Any chance you are Number 6?

David