The Stratoliner Society {VINTAGE}

[Frunobulax]

How cool Jim. That liner is tops!

Thanks, Perry.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[rclark]

Well, vintage Stratoliners have been a challenge for me and finding one has eluded me. That ended when the mail came yesterday.

Pardon the water splotches. I had just finished ironing and steaming it to open crown and was in a hurry to get to work, so I popped the pics anyway.

A Stetson from Deadwood is way cool. The eBay seller mailed it from Keystone, SD (Mt. Rushmore).

Check out the liner

Normally, based on the liner tip, I'd put this hat late 50s/early 60s. However, the sweat and felt quality, and a sewn in liner, make me want to push this back to mid 50s. No re-order tag, and the size tag, which was tucked in behind the sweat, is the keyhole tag with just "1/4" on it.

Pleased to have finally gotten one of these in my collection. The color is a dark gray, maybe steel gray, or perhaps even a vintage version of Caribou.

Head shot.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Looks awesome and really love that liner!

Let me know if you need a tan vintage Strat to go along with this beauty. I had no idea you were in need. I ended up with 2 of the same color and need to move one.

 

[M Hatman]

Interesting supposition. I hadn't considered that. Do you think the cleaner would have removed the re-order tag? Of course, finding one without a tag isn't that unusual.

Thanks, Mark.

I think I'll call it my Indy 500 liner.Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Not directly....part of the process back in the day was to remove the liner and then clean the felt. This was/is a total submersion proccess done in stoddard solvent ( petroleum distilates). During this process things like size labels, re-order tags, anything glued to the felt will come off. When you are cleaning many hats at a time you do not try to match up the re-order tags with the hats (impossible to do really). Size tags would sometimes (not always) be glued back on as notations of the hats size are made on the order.
M
Sweatband would be left on as the leather does fine in Stoddard solvent. In fact Stoddard solvent was used to clean leather garments (still is).

 

[Frunobulax]

Not directly....part of the process back in the day was to remove the liner and then clean the felt. This was/is a total submersion proccess done in stoddard solvent ( petroleum distilates). During this process things like size labels, re-order tags, anything glued to the felt will come off. When you are cleaning many hats at a time you do not try to match up the re-order tags with the hats (impossible to do really). Size tags would sometimes (not always) be glued back on as notations of the hats size are made on the order.
M
Sweatband would be left on as the leather does fine in Stoddard solvent. In fact Stoddard solvent was used to clean leather garments (still is).

In my experience, cleaning a hat with solvent has no effect on the labels. This hat seems to have no other indications that it's been refurbished. I guess it will remain a mystery.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[RJR]

In my experience, cleaning a hat with solvent has no effect on the labels. This hat seems to have no other indications that it's been refurbished. I guess it will remain a mystery.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

=1

 

[Frunobulax]

Found this poking around the other day.

They apparently opened in 1902 - not certain when they closed up shop.

 

[Redfokker]

Not directly....part of the process back in the day was to remove the liner and then clean the felt. This was/is a total submersion proccess done in stoddard solvent ( petroleum distilates). During this process things like size labels, re-order tags, anything glued to the felt will come off. When you are cleaning many hats at a time you do not try to match up the re-order tags with the hats (impossible to do really). Size tags would sometimes (not always) be glued back on as notations of the hats size are made on the order.
M
Sweatband would be left on as the leather does fine in Stoddard solvent. In fact Stoddard solvent was used to clean leather garments (still is).

+1 Very interesting Mark. You are a noted authority on these chemicals around here.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Found this poking around the other day.

View attachment 133676

They apparently opened in 1902 - not certain when they closed up shop.

Maybe The Hub was located inside the Bullock Hotel owned by Seth Bullock & Sol Star, built beginning in 1894 after their hardware store burned down in a fire? The timing wouldn't be too far off.

 

[LuvMyMan]

Well, vintage Stratoliners have been a challenge for me and finding one has eluded me. That ended when the mail came yesterday.

Pardon the water splotches. I had just finished ironing and steaming it to open crown and was in a hurry to get to work, so I popped the pics anyway.

A Stetson from Deadwood is way cool. The eBay seller mailed it from Keystone, SD (Mt. Rushmore).

Check out the liner

Normally, based on the liner tip, I'd put this hat late 50s/early 60s. However, the sweat and felt quality, and a sewn in liner, make me want to push this back to mid 50s. No re-order tag, and the size tag, which was tucked in behind the sweat, is the keyhole tag with just "1/4" on it.

Pleased to have finally gotten one of these in my collection. The color is a dark gray, maybe steel gray, or perhaps even a vintage version of Caribou.

Head shot.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Dang! Now that is fantastic...hope you will hold onto everything concerning that hat,...the history always made hats we purchased have some personal appeal just knowing that information. Love the color.

 

[MondoFW]

Well, vintage Stratoliners have been a challenge for me and finding one has eluded me. That ended when the mail came yesterday.

Pardon the water splotches. I had just finished ironing and steaming it to open crown and was in a hurry to get to work, so I popped the pics anyway.

A Stetson from Deadwood is way cool. The eBay seller mailed it from Keystone, SD (Mt. Rushmore).

Check out the liner

Normally, based on the liner tip, I'd put this hat late 50s/early 60s. However, the sweat and felt quality, and a sewn in liner, make me want to push this back to mid 50s. No re-order tag, and the size tag, which was tucked in behind the sweat, is the keyhole tag with just "1/4" on it.

Pleased to have finally gotten one of these in my collection. The color is a dark gray, maybe steel gray, or perhaps even a vintage version of Caribou.

Head shot.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Houndstooth liner... Maybe some cool cat replaced it with this in the 50's!

Sick Stratoliner... Now seize a tan one!

 

[Frunobulax]

Maybe The Hub was located inside the Bullock Hotel owned by Seth Bullock & Sol Star, built beginning in 1894 after their hardware store burned down in a fire? The timing wouldn't be too far off.

I need to do some additional research. I have no idea of the address; I wish I could get access to city directories.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Frunobulax]

Dang! Now that is fantastic...hope you will hold onto everything concerning that hat,...the history always made hats we purchased have some personal appeal just knowing that information. Love the color.

Thank you, Cindy! Hope you are doing well.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Frunobulax]

Houndstooth liner... Maybe some cool cat replaced it with this in the 50's!

Sick Stratoliner... Now seize a tan one!

Definitely unusual. Although a check, not a houndstooth. Bob Hufford nailed it: it looks like the cover of Elvis Costello's "My Aim is True" LP.

I am not convinced this is a replacement liner, however.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I need to do some additional research. I have no idea of the address; I wish I could get access to city directories.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

The Bullock Hotel (& Casino) is at 6th & Main. I was in it just a month ago.

You might get lucky & find something by checking the old Sanborn Fire Maps. Some maps are more detailed than others. Here's a link for SD; Deadwood is in Lawrence county.

https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/?fa=location:south+dakota

 

[Frunobulax]

The Bullock Hotel (& Casino) is at 6th & Main. I was in it just a month ago.

You might get lucky & find something by checking the old Sanborn Fire Maps. Some maps are more detailed than others. Here's a link for SD; Deadwood is in Lawrence county.

https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/?fa=location:south+dakota

For several years when first out of college, I performed environmental site assessments. Part of the research included history, of course. Sanborns, city directories, and old aerial photos were fun to pick through.

I'll look at those when I'm off this phone.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Rockwater]

Forgive the repetition, but I had this out the other day when deciding which hats to bring to Denver. The decision was to post it rather than putting it in a fully packed truck. Hat lives matter. I already had 5 less coveted ones selected.

 

[RJR]

View attachment 133754 View attachment 133755 Forgive the repetition, but I had this out the other day when deciding which hats to bring to Denver. The decision was to post it rather than putting it in a fully packed truck. Hat lives matter. I already had 5 less coveted ones selected.

 

[Winston Carter]

View attachment 133754 View attachment 133755 Forgive the repetition, but I had this out the other day when deciding which hats to bring to Denver. The decision was to post it rather than putting it in a fully packed truck. Hat lives matter. I already had 5 less coveted ones selected.

If I have to board a plane to go on vacation I take one hat on my head. I don't even know what a packable crush hat is. I wouldn't put one of my babies through that.

 

[psklenar]

I'm headed to Seattle in November, trying to decide whether to take/wear my brand new VS Custom or my less expensive, vintage Playboy. I do know I won't bother taking my modern, hemp Strat. [emoji57]

pat----

 

[Rockwater]

If I have to board a plane to go on vacation I take one hat on my head. I don't even know what a packable crush hat is. I wouldn't put one of my babies through that.

That’s why I drive a hat box (full size SUV).