The Resistol Roundup

[Jerry Probst]

Does anyone know the address of the Byers-Rolnick (aka Resistol) Hat Factory in Downtown Dallas back in the 1930s before they moved production to Garland, Texas? I'm pretty sure it was between Jackson and Commerce Streets between Austin and Field ... but I haven't been able to find the precise address. There may have been more than one building. Does anyone have any photos or engravings of the building?

Love me my Resistol Kitten Finish!

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Does anyone know the address of the Byers-Rolnick (aka Resistol) Hat Factory in Downtown Dallas back in the 1930s before they moved production to Garland, Texas? I'm pretty sure it was between Jackson and Commerce Streets between Austin and Field ... but I haven't been able to find the precise address. There may have been more than one building. Does anyone have any photos or engravings of the building?

Love me my Resistol Kitten Finish!

OK, it's not exactly what you're looking for, but I think it might be close:

Poydras is between Austin and Field Sts:


Here's a Dallas City Directory entry from 1936:


And the green rectangle is my best guess based on a 1938 aerial photo of the business district of downtown Dallas:


Note the Willard/Davis building at the bottom which was located at 715. Also the building with the red 51 dot is the Higginbotham-Bailey-Logan building located at 900 Jackson St. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a clear definitive indicator which was the Byer-Rolnick factory, so I've had to extrapolate based on putting the pieces together.

 

[Frunobulax]

OK, it's not exactly what you're looking for, but I think it might be close:

Poydras is between Austin and Field Sts:
View attachment 157645

Here's a Dallas City Directory entry from 1936:
View attachment 157646

And the green rectangle is my best guess based on a 1938 aerial photo of the business district of downtown Dallas:
View attachment 157647

Note the Willard/Davis building at the bottom which was located at 715. Also the building with the red 51 dot is the Higginbotham-Bailey-Logan building located at 900 Jackson St. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a clear definitive indicator which was the Byer-Rolnick factory, so I've had to extrapolate based on putting the pieces together.

Good sleuthin'.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Jerry Probst]

Thanks for your research and sorry it took so long to reply. I didn't get a notification and only now saw your response.

Your photo zeroed in on the building, but I agree it's unclear which building was the plant.

I enhanced the photo you posted from SMU.edu. Based on the address 915 Jackson Street and the location description at Jackson and Poydras, we see this group of buildings.

Jackson Street runs diagonally to the right. Commerce runs diagonally to the left. Poydras street crosses between the blue and green buildings and is marked with an orange dot.

The address 915 Jackson seems to best match the yellow building, but the location description of Jackson and Poydras matches the pink and blue buildings.

The Pink building is rather small for a production facility and it does not have a water tank on the roof ... a necessity for producing quantities of steam for making hats.

The Green building, which does have a water tank, fronts on Commerce street and would not have a Jackson Street address.

That's a lot of conflicting evidence to pinpoint exactly which building was the Byer-Rolnick plant.

I think it's entirely possible that B-R occupied more than one of the structures ... possibly all three.

I agree, we need a more definitive view, but you have definitely zeroed in on the spot.

It would be nice to see a nice wide angle shot showing a sign with the Byer-Rolnick name or Resistol advertisement.

Thanks!!

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Please forgive me, I'm slightly confused. Is that response from Unfortunately in regards to the info I provided above, because it seems to be based off of it but there is no reference to my post? I also can't find someone with that username on TFL, so how can a non-member have "said" something? What is the motivation for this project? Just curious.

Edit: perhaps your response got spliced/truncated and somehow "Unfortunately" replaced my username. Sorry, just put the pieces together. I blame lack of sleep.

I searched and searched but couldn't find any type of signage to definitively verify a specific building. After getting what I think is pretty darn close I wanted to finish the race.

 

[Jerry Probst]

Please forgive me, I'm slightly confused. Is that response from Unfortunately in regards to the info I provided above, because it seems to be based off of it but there is no reference to my post? I also can't find someone with that username on TFL, so how can a non-member have "said" something? What is the motivation for this project? Just curious.

Edit: perhaps your response got spliced/truncated and somehow "Unfortunately" replaced my username. Sorry, just put the pieces together. I blame lack of sleep.

I searched and searched but couldn't find any type of signage to definitively verify a specific building. After getting what I think is pretty darn close I wanted to finish the race.

Yeah, sorry bout that. My bad.

Yes, we are close. I have confidence we'll finish the race. Sunday, I am taking an architectural walking tour of downtown Dallas. I don't know much about the guide, except that he gives these tours periodically. So, I assume he has both the background and the passion to join the hunt. I plan to put the evidence to him and see if he is aware of other resources to bag the prey.

I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Yeah, sorry bout that. My bad.

Yes, we are close. I have confidence we'll finish the race. Sunday, I am taking an architectural walking tour of downtown Dallas. I don't know much about the guide, except that he gives these tours periodically. So, I assume he has both the background and the passion to join the hunt. I plan to put the evidence to him and see if he is aware of other resources to bag the prey.

I'll let you know what I find out.

Hey, whatever came of your walking tour? Any closer to getting a definitive answer?

 

[Yamahana]

Resistol Texan

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[Yamahana]

Resistol Dakota

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[Yamahana]

Resistol Tulsa

It came with one of those “Urban Cowboy” feather bands which I promptly removed


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[Yamahana]

Resistol Plains 2 1/2” brim

I think Desert Dog has posted a Plains with a 3” brim


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[Yamahana]

Resistol Fort Worth made expressly for Charlie McNew 2 5/8” brim

One of my favorites

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[Yamahana]

Resistol Las Vegas

It’s really not as dirty as the pics show
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[Yamahana]

No paper tags on this one but nice felt, red liner and 4” brim

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[Hurricane Jack]

Master

Resistol County Sheriff 3-1/2"
Resistol Dakota 3"
Resistol Dalworth 2-3/4"
Resistol Fort Worth 3X Charlie McNew 2-5/8"
Resistol Fort Worth 3"
Resistol Herdsman 2-1/2"
Resistol Laredo 3"
Resistol Las Vegas 4"
Resistol Montana 3-1/4 & 4"
Resistol Nebraskan 1967 Centennial
Resistol Plains 2-1/2"
Resistol Pecos
Resistol Ridgetop 3-1/2"
Resistol Saddler 2-3/4"
Resistol San Antonio 2-3/4"
Resistol Texan 3-1/4"
Resistol Topeka 3-1/4 & 3-1/2"
Resistol Tulsa 3-1/4"
Resistol Waco 2-5/8"
Resistol Wichita
Resistol Wide Country 2-1/4

 

[Hurricane Jack]

No paper tags on this one but nice felt, red liner and 4” brim

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I'm thinking the Double X might be like the Stagecoach, many models in the same series.

 

[Yamahana]

Resistol Laredo..
This ones still pretty rough.needs a new sweat, cleaning up and shaping this fall

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[Hurricane Jack]

Resistol Laredo..
This ones still pretty rough.needs a new sweat, cleaning up and shaping this fall

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I like that Laredo! Thanks for all the additional info! You're keeping me busy.

 

[Yamahana]

I like that Laredo! Thanks for all the additional info! You're keeping me busy.

I’m glad to be able to contribute a little. I do tend to favor the Resistols and keep an eye out for them. Thanks for the “shop keeping” in keeping a master list running.

 

[Desert dog]

Resistol Laredo..
This ones still pretty rough.needs a new sweat, cleaning up and shaping this fall

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That Laredo is nice!

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