The Resistol Roundup

[danofarlington]

Kitten finsh = awesome, Resistol made hats as fine as any other's offerings. I don't think they were competing on the same scale as many of the other brands in 'vintage' times, becoming more of a nationwide force in the 1970s and 80s as their cowboy hats won over the 'Stetson' nation as that brand struggled through bankruptcy, licensing to different manufacturers, etc. Speculating, of course, maybe someone that was a buyer of cowboy hats through the 1970s up through the new millenium will step in and give a better perspective.

I would like to hear someone give a thumbnail history of cowboy hats and hear commentary about their evolving quality. Last year here we heard from some who talked about how cowboy hats are used, in horse shows and so forth. That was interesting. But there's probably a fair bit of standard information yet to learn about cowboy hats for most of us.

 

[jlee562]

Kitten finsh = awesome, Resistol made hats as fine as any other's offerings. I don't think they were competing on the same scale as many of the other brands in 'vintage' times, becoming more of a nationwide force in the 1970s and 80s as their cowboy hats won over the 'Stetson' nation as that brand struggled through bankruptcy, licensing to different manufacturers, etc. Speculating, of course, maybe someone that was a buyer of cowboy hats through the 1970s up through the new millenium will step in and give a better perspective.

Agreed completely.

I've gotten three ca. 1960's Resistols off of eBay, including a very nice kitten Finish "Gotham I" model with a Cav edge and it's one of my most frequently worn lids.

 

[Lefty]

I didn't plan on buying it, but how often do you see a 7 7/8? This thing could keep my ears warm in the winter.

The felt is very lush and pliable and it's got a great Cav edge.

I flipped these images in photobucket, and they're properly rotated there, so I don't know why they display like this.

 

[randooch]

Wow, Lefty! That looks most excellent. I bet you could find a new home for it with one of the larger-meloned Loungers.

 

[Lefty]

Wow, Lefty! That looks most excellent. I bet you could find a new home for it with one of the larger-meloned Loungers.

Today is a lucky day for one of them. It's for sale in the Classifieds.

 

[Levallois]

Older Resistol Fedora?

Won this on ebay. Probably paid too much but haven't seen a Resistol fedora that I thought was this old. Can't tell if there is a reed on sweatband or not? But there are patent numbers and the weirdly shaped O in Resistol both on liner and on band. I'm guessing early 40s. I guess it could be late 40s too and that's ok. How does that sound to the experts? Sorry I havent received it yet but can't wait to share so will just post auction photos for now. Thanks for looking.

John

 

[randooch]

That's a beauty, John. The patina on the sweatband is luscious!

 

[rlk]

Very nice Resistol. They still used the same liner and sweatband into the early 50's. Hard to date a hat from the 42-53+ approx range as little change to pin it down.

 

[Levallois]

randooch and rlk - I appreciate the replies.

randooch -the whole hat has a nice patina.

rlk- I'm wondering what was different before 1942 and after 1953 with Resistols? I have gone through a third of the Resistol Roundup but didn't see anything about dating? Is there another thread that explains this? Thanks!

 

[rlk]

rlk- I'm wondering what was different before 1942 and after 1953 with Resistols? I have gone through a third of the Resistol Roundup but didn't see anything about dating? Is there another thread that explains this? Thanks!

Dates are approximate. Somewhere in the mid-50's they changed the crown logo and sweat script to variants such as the following hat.

and this:

 

[Levallois]

Wow! What a beauty. Thank you for the education!

 

[bowlerman]

My one and only Resistol to date. It is only a stingy 3X homburg, but to my surprise, one of the softest and smoothest felts I've experienced. At first I gave it a good front dip, but decided the short brim looked much better flatter, as I received it. The sweatband, though in near perfect condition and very supple, is coming unstitched, as the thread appears to be breaking like perforated paper. What to do? Will Optimo, Parker Melvin, etc., re-sew an original sweatband or should I expect to replace it?

 

[Jedwbpm]

That's a beut Bowlerman. As you know I am fond of Resistol's

Jeff

 

[Chepstow]

This is my new Ebay Won a Resistol 7 x Beaver.
The History of the Hat.
Lyndon B. Johnson
made this hat for the gift of Felix von Eckardt, a German politician.
In 1952 began his political career when he took over in February, the Head of Press and Information Office of the Federal Government in Bonn.
He was in fact government spokesman. From May 1955 to 1956 he acted as an observer at the United Nations in New York. Von Eckardt, who was considered a confidant of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Thats the story from Ebay. Is it true

The liner is stitched

 

[hatophile]

Wow, cool hat and great history, Chepstow. Congrats on that find!

 

[alanfgag]

Wow, cool hat and great history, Chepstow. Congrats on that find!

+1 :eusa_clap

 

[Chepstow]

Thanks hatophile, Thanks Alan

 

[Levallois]

Finally got the Resistol Fifteen Fedora - very heavy felt - probably the heaviest fedora that I own, sewn in liner, 1 7/8-inch sweat, 1 3/4-inch ribbon, 5 1/4-inch crown and Cavanagh edge.

 

[barrowjh]

Nice hat!

 

[Levallois]

Thanks John - Resitols are such great hats I don't know why they aren't as sought after? Good for those of us that like them but still hard to explain? Is it really the name like was suggested in an earlier post?