The Stetsonian Institution

[MikeinRome]

1930's Stetson Stetsonian Clear Nutria. See Stetson Nutria thread for complete photos. I accidentally posted this hat in the Waiting For thread thinking it was this thread.

 

[Rmccamey]

You have my permission to post that hat in any thread you want, Mike.

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Stetsonian, Extra Quality. Has 2 3/8 inch brim and 5 3/4 inch open crown. I think this is a 1920's hat if I can read the Lot Number correctly, which I think is something like 5X781. There's no tags in hat. Serial number on sweatband begins with the letter D. An Extra Quality hat was a pretty good hat, per attached 1922 price list.

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Stetsonian, Extra Quality. Has 2 3/8 inch brim and 5 3/4 inch open crown. I think this is a 1920's hat if I can read the Lot Number correctly, which I think is something like 5X781. There's no tags in hat. Serial number on sweatband begins with the letter D.

Photos of the hat box for the above -shown Stetsonian, which I think is the original box for it.

 

[DocCasualty]

I haven’t posted on the forum in ages but thought I’d share this.

Thought I’d share a recently restored/reclaimed vintage Fedora that came to me. I have all kinds of hats and yes I do wear wide-brimmed Fedoras and own a few others.

We recently were closing up my MIL’s condo after an estate sale and my wife brought up this old dirty hat with an ugly white ribbon tracked over the hatband. The sellers had put a $1 price sticker on it. I pretty much knew what it was and flipped it over and confirmed it was a Royal Deluxe Stetson “Stetsonian” from Rathman’s, a hatter on the corner of Chene and Forest in old Poletown in Detroit in the 1940s. Monica thinks it either belonged to her “uncle” or grandfather. While the sweatband was deteriorating and the silk liner was gone, nobody makes hats like this anymore and the felt was in excellent but dusty, dirty condition. Out of the gate it’s worth a few hundred dollars. My wife thinks they used it for Halloween costumes as kids.

Though a 7 5/8 size (unusual to find a large old hat) was a bit big for me I decided to get it cleaned and blocked while downstate. Went to Henry the Hatter, oldest hatter in the US (Southfield store as it was closer to me) and after talking with Art McDaniel decided to put this old bad boy back to its former glory and resize it. Got it back a couple days ago and its like a brand new hat. He sent along the original sweatband and hatband for history’s sake. Art had reaffirmed that nobody makes a hat of this quality anymore and what a nice Fedora it is. I called him today to thank him for his craft and he expressed it was a joy to do the work. I only wish I had taken a before picture!

Probably lost some collectors value with those maneuvers but it’s a proud wear.