the Stetson Chatham

[Fletch]

The crown is a bit odd, though, as it tapers quite a bit and it's sort of short.

That's no longer "odd" among dress hat makers. More like "standard."
Saves material, you know, and that's important in a niche product.

 

[carter]

I have the Sovereign as my everyday hat but would really love to find something a little heavier as well as a higher crown. Any suggestions?

The Stetson Chatham is only made in Sovereign-quality fur felt. If you want a better felt from Stetson, buy a Pinnacle, it's 100% Beaver fur felt. It feels more like fur and less like cardboard.

The Stetson Nostalgia has a higher crown and a 2 1/2" brim with a wider ribbon and it comes with an open crown. It also comes in Sovereign-quality fur felt. The felt is not as nice as the Pinnacle's but you'll like the body a lot more than that of the Chatham.
http://www.getahaton.com/Stetson_Nostalgia_Fedora_p/tf320c0324.nostc.htm

Do some research online. There's plenty of information out there if you take the time to look.

Finally, you can't beat Akubra for the money right now. The Camp Draft or the Federation may be just the hat you're looking for. Take a look at some of the Akubra threads in the Hats forum.

 

[avedwards]

Stetson Downs Fedora

I heard a mention about the Stetson Downs Fedora before. I am thinking of getting one, as I think the crown is high enough for me and I like the style, as it is like the Jaxon Bogart in improved quality.
I was wondering if anybody has one and could tell me how good the quality of it is (I won't need it for outdoor activities but I need to know if it's suitable to wear in town when it's raining)?
Also is £124 (about $180) a reasonable price, considering the postage it takes for an English shop to get it from America?

I know this sounds like digressing from the original topic of the chatham but I am new and haven't yet found out to start a new thread.

 

[carldelo]

I heard a mention about the Stetson Downs Fedora before. I am thinking of getting one, as I think the crown is high enough for me and I like the style, as it is like the Jaxon Bogart in improved quality.
I was wondering if anybody has one and could tell me how good the quality of it is (I won't need it for outdoor activities but I need to know if it's suitable to wear in town when it's raining)?
Also is £124 (about $180) a reasonable price, considering the postage it takes for an English shop to get it from America?

I know this sounds like digressing from the original topic of the chatham but I am new and haven't yet found out to start a new thread.

The Downs and Chatham are exactly the same shape. The Downs is one level lower on the quality rung (Royal) than the Chatham (Sovereign). Sovereign felt is significantly softer and more malleable than Royal. $180 seems like way too much for a Royal hat. Try Noggintops - with the current coupon code 'THANK$3', a Chatham is $114.50 (good thru Dec 13), email them to see about shipping charges, but it should be less than $180 total if you order direct from them. This only works if you like their color selection, however, and be aware of the differences in English/American sizing.

 

[avedwards]

The Downs and Chatham are exactly the same shape. The Downs is one level lower on the quality rung (Royal) than the Chatham (Sovereign). Sovereign felt is significantly softer and more malleable than Royal. $180 seems like way too much for a Royal hat. Try Noggintops - with the current coupon code 'THANK$3', a Chatham is $114.50 (good thru Dec 13), email them to see about shipping charges, but it should be less than $180 total if you order direct from them. This only works if you like their color selection, however, and be aware of the differences in English/American sizing.

Thank you for your help. With your coupon code I have been able to get the price down to $134.45 including p&p to the UK. It's crazy that this is even cheaper than the English hat shop offered me for the Downs. I will now be able to properly impersonate Bogart, without worrying that the hat will fall apart!

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I heard a mention about the Stetson Downs Fedora before.
I was wondering if anybody has one and could tell me how good the quality of it is (I won't need it for outdoor activities but I need to know if it's suitable to wear in town when it's raining)?

I have one that has stood up pretty well, but it hasn't seen a great deal of rain. The few times it has gotten wet, the felt has become softer each time. The shape is starting to let go a little as a result. Still, it's a second hand hat that has been slightly abused for at least 5 years. By my reckoning, not bad for a modern Stetson.

I'd look into shipping costs from an American vendor if I were you. $180 is rather high for a Downs. Inquire at Noggintops and Qualityhats.com and do the math before buying locally.

 

[carldelo]

Thank you for your help. With your coupon code I have been able to get the price down to $134.45 including p&p to the UK. It's crazy that this is even cheaper than the English hat shop offered me for the Downs. I will now be able to properly impersonate Bogart, without worrying that the hat will fall apart!

My pleasure - my wife bought me a Royal quality hat last winter in NY and it cost that much plus tax, so I think you did well. Hope you enjoy the Chatham as much as I like mine. I keep thinking I'll buy one in gray (mine is sage), but I'm waiting to try a Nostalgia first. Cheers, Carl

 

[DerMann]

That's no longer "odd" among dress hat makers. More like "standard."
Saves material, you know, and that's important in a niche product.

It just looks odd because it seems like it needs more height to achieve the effect more successfully.

 

[JohnnyB53]

Finally, you can't beat Akubra for the money right now. The Camp Draft or the Federation may be just the hat you're looking for. Take a look at some of the Akubra threads in the Hats forum.

How about the ubiquitous and affordable Akubra Stylemaster? After all, we're talking about a domed C-crown bash. The Stylemaster has a slightly wider (2-1/2") brim vs. the Chatham (2-3/8"), and is bound. Its crown is a little fuller without being Federation size. And the Bogart would be an attractive alternative.

I have full confidence in either of these holding up to the weather, and they can currently be had for slightly less than $100 USD shipped internationally.

 

[Top Hat]

Stetson Chatham

I have two of them, one in brown and one in black. I resteamed them both with a center dent crown, and lowered the back flip a bit. The reason I like the Chatham, is for me, the crown is the perfect height - on my head hats like the Temple are just too high.

 

[avedwards]

The chatham I ordered three weeks ago from Noggintops finally arrived due to the slowness of international shipping around Christmas. The hat is good, even better without the tacky gold pin. Unfortunately the crown is a little low for me, although I can still wear it.

 

[HatMagnet]

I have the Sovereign as my everyday hat but would really love to find something a little heavier as well as a higher crown. Any suggestions?

How about an Akubra FedIV? I think it covers what You're looking for.

 

[jazzncocktails]

As I said in my post on the Welcome to New Members thread, I have just started wearing fedoras as an adult (wore one of my grandfather's back in high school). This decision was in part precipitated by my dermatologist who recommended more shade for my face, and by my discovery of the Village Hat Shop here in Long Beach, CA.

There, like a kid in a candy shop, I discovered their higher end hats, and settled on two Stetsons: the Saxon in walnut (a 50s fedora with center crease and 2" brim) and the Chatham in mink.

So far, I love the Chatham. I wasn't ready to commit yet to a higher crown, so this is a nice beginner fedora. My next will be an open crown so I can learn to bash it myself. I very nearly returned it for the grey (called caribou), which wasn't in stock at the time...and because of the similarity between the mink color and that of a certain archeologist's fedora. But I kept it anyway--I like the color and I'll deal with the "Indy" comments.

Here's a photo of me sitting at the computer with it on--not the best setting/fashion, but it'll do.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Fdfc3OdZKsMSu9SNCvQPKQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2_jKiJjh5No/SWJj494YvRI/AAAAAAAAArs/TGm_bYW4hMA/s400/Photo%2019.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/spclifford/Steve?feat=embedwebsite">Steve</a></td></tr></table>

My one complaint about the Village Hat Shop: the lid cost me $148, and when I checked online, their website offered it for $125. And the store doesn't allow refunds, only returns (and only for 20 days)--far more restrictive than the website. So, I will try on hats there, but I'll make my purchases online.

 

[HatFan]

My one complaint about the Village Hat Shop: the lid cost me $148, and when I checked online, their website offered it for $125. And the store doesn't allow refunds, only returns (and only for 20 days)--far more restrictive than the website. So, I will try on hats there, but I'll make my purchases online.

I have always found VHS willing to match their online pricing. Just last week as a matter of fact, I went into the Long beach store to buy a Chatham and asked for the 15% off discount that was offered on the website and they gladly gave it to me. I have always had good service at the Long Beach store. I feel confident that they would match anything offered on the web site if you ask for it.

 

[carldelo]

I have always found VHS willing to match their online pricing. Just last week as a matter of fact, I went into the Long beach store to buy a Chatham and asked for the 15% off discount that was offered on the website and they gladly gave it to me. I have always had good service at the Long Beach store. I feel confident that they would match anything offered on the web site if you ask for it.

I think you should definitely ask for the difference in price - they have a 'we will not be undersold' page - surely they will not be undersold by themselves?

http://www.villagehatshop.com/undersold.html

 

[jazzncocktails]

I have always found VHS willing to match their online pricing. Just last week as a matter of fact, I went into the Long beach store to buy a Chatham and asked for the 15% off discount that was offered on the website and they gladly gave it to me. I have always had good service at the Long Beach store. I feel confident that they would match anything offered on the web site if you ask for it.

Thanks, HatFan...I'll definitely stop in again and ask for the refund difference in pricing. Perhaps the young woman who helped me on that day wasn't aware of the pricing difference.

 

[gtdean48]

Thanks, HatFan...I'll definitely stop in again and ask for the refund difference in pricing. Perhaps the young woman who helped me on that day wasn't aware of the pricing difference.

I'd bet you would be very likely to get that difference applied to the purchase of another hat! gtd

 

[HatFan]

Thanks, HatFan...I'll definitely stop in again and ask for the refund difference in pricing. Perhaps the young woman who helped me on that day wasn't aware of the pricing difference.

Good luck..let us know what happens.