Baron Kurtz said:This one a hat i've been hunting for for a while. A non-stingy black fedora. Can anyone tell me anything about it? ie. What date do the various features suggest?
This is a select quality Stetson. No lining. It appears not to have ever had one. In wonderful condition, just needs a bit of a brush to remove some surface dust. The felt is certainly as soft and pliable as any Borsalino i've ever come across ... The edge is bound in thin grosgrain ribbon.
Using my gentle bashing technique, it came into this shape:
The ribbon is about 1" wide and the bow is frayed at the back side (was this ever done intentionally? or is it just wear and tear?
The "Select Quality" Stetson logo embossed on the sweatband. The bow at the back of the sweat is a rich red, instead of the standard cream, and the size label is a small round sticker ...
Some markings on the underside of the sweat. 2SOFT? what?
And the reorder labels are different from the labels on all my other Stetsons
Baron Kurtz said:A new one i picked up. I'm guessing it's an early-ish Royal Stetson because of the oilcloth-type (oiled silk/celluloid whatever) liner top. On the smaller side of 6 7/8 so i need to get it stretched up a bit to fit mein kopf. A couple small stains on the brim which should clean up nicely when i find some time to do so. You'll all see why this did not make it onto the wide brim thread ...
I love the colour of this hat. In daylight (and in the photos, i guess) it is a distinct shade of light blue - my only blue hat! I'm a great fan of the differently coloured brim binding and ribbon, and i like the very understated bow treatment on this hat. This one seems to be transitional between late 30s and early 40s styles. Note the increasing brim width, but still with the high crown.
I love this company logo. I can just imagine this guy in a bar at 3 AM. "Whaddaya mean you can't give me no more booze? Don't you know who i am? I'm Roy "Finer Things for Men" Greenlee!!!" And just because it was possibly sold in the town of Ogallala - great name.
the standard reorder tags found on most 40s-50s Stetsons
Here's the liner. I guess they used some nickel in the gold leaf for the gold lines. They have mostly smudged green onto the celluloid.
And my ugly mug. Amazingly, sans horrific shirt. Just a T-shirt this time. HOrrid red marks on side of nose from spectacles. I assure you that all pupil dilation is the result of camera flash. No booze involved (yeah, right).
And with that, i think my hat collection is complete. I now have one of every desired colour (at least desired by me), and more than one of each. I have the fortune to be a small head size, and so have found it relatively easy to pick up the desireable vintage hats. Sadly about half of them are currently languishing unloved in England. We shall be reunited soon!
I am now officially out of the online hat market (except, of course, for amazing deals and the odd upcoming trimming of my collection). eBay is off limits for hats for me from now on forward to the end of my days. I see a Chevalier/DOUGLAS-inspired "all of my vintage hats" thread in the making.
bk
Alden 403 Moc Toe Boot - Brown Chromexcel - $680 The classic "Indy" style Alden Boot in the classic Horween brown Chromexcel. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - #395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Himel Bros. - The Ross Mk. 1 Leather Jacket Classic D-pocket motorcycle/aviator style jacket.
That's the closest I could come to "Thinking"Baron Kurtz said:
Baron Kurtz said:
RedPop4 said:
