Western, anyone?

[T Jones]

I'm not a big fan of Steve McQueen in any of his roles. But his Wanted Dead or Alive series is good stuff. Since becoming a hat aficionado, I've noticed that the hat worn by his character, bounty hunter Josh Randall, changed considerably between the first year of the series and the second. The original hat looked like this:

View attachment 64135

And in Season 2, it became this, which I like much better:

View attachment 64134 View attachment 64136

A taller crown, for sure. Any idea what this bash might be called? The front-and-back dishes, with shallow long dents along the side? The crown as seen from above is almost rectangular, with a bit of a long dome down the center.

Might make an interesting project for one of our custom hatters, say in mid-gray . . .?

I've seen that crease in quite a few Western movies and TV shows from the '50s and early '60s.

 

[T Jones]

Here's a Resistol Stagecoach I just finished working on. It's still drying at the moment. After watching a few Westerns like Quigley Down Under, Lonesome Dove, and Open Range, I got to where I'm starting to favor a Gus creased crown along with a noticeable brim curl. All that's left is trying to figure out a suitable hat band for this one...

 

[RJR]

Here's a Resistol Stagecoach I just finished working on. It's still drying at the moment. After watching a few Westerns like Quigley Down Under, Lonesome Dove, and Open Range, I got to where I'm starting to favor a Gus creased crown along with a noticeable brim curl. All that's left is trying to figure out a suitable hat band for this one...

Nice job.

 

[Mm25]

This O'Farrell arrived a few days ago. The felt seemed to have shrunk, but not the leather sweatband, which was something new to me. Anyway, some steam and a few days on a hat stretcher have it back to its original size at 22 5/8 which is written under the sweat along with the date of 4/6/95 and J2A.

 

[T Jones]

This O'Farrell arrived a few days ago. The felt seemed to have shrunk, but not the leather sweatband, which was something new to me. Anyway, some steam and a few days on a hat stretcher have it back to its original size at 22 5/8 which is written under the sweat along with the date of 4/6/95 and J2A.

Nice! I like that brim!

 

[Michael R.]

This O'Farrell arrived a few days ago. The felt seemed to have shrunk, but not the leather sweatband, which was something new to me. Anyway, some steam and a few days on a hat stretcher have it back to its original size at 22 5/8 which is written under the sweat along with the date of 4/6/95 and J2A.

Boy That O'Farrell is Beautiful Joe !!! Congratulations Buddy !!!
I saw a Video Watson made about shrinking felt , he said Beaver wouldn't shrink much , if any , only wool , bunny , or blends .

 

[Bamaboots]

This O'Farrell arrived a few days ago. The felt seemed to have shrunk, but not the leather sweatband, which was something new to me. Anyway, some steam and a few days on a hat stretcher have it back to its original size at 22 5/8 which is written under the sweat along with the date of 4/6/95 and J2A.

Joe, that is a good looking hat. You, HJ and the othe O'Farrell hat owners are making me jealous.

 

[Mm25]

Boy That O'Farrell is Beautiful Joe !!! Congratulations Buddy !!!
I saw a Video Watson made about shrinking felt , he said Beaver wouldn't shrink much , if any , only wool , bunny , or blends .

If I understand correctly, these were made in 100% beaver and in a 75% beaver 25% hare blend. The seller indicated it was a blend, and I have no reason to contradict them.
The hat came right back to size. It just seemed a little odd as all the other hats I have seen that appeared to have shrunk seemed to do so because the sweat pulled them in. On this hat the sweat was fuller than the felt until I steamed it. Now it's just right again.

 

[Michael R.]

If I understand correctly, these were made in 100% beaver and in a 75% beaver 25% hare blend. The seller indicated it was a blend, and I have no reason to contradict them.
The hat came right back to size. It just seemed a little odd as all the other hats I have seen that appeared to have shrunk seemed to do so because the sweat pulled them in. On this hat the sweat was fuller than the felt until I steamed it. Now it's just right again.

That's Great ! I have a Hat that is a little odd , too , can't figure out the whys and hows . The sweat is stretched apart at the stitching , fits perfectly , and its a size larger than I wear . Hmm strange , Resistol Beaver '30' , I love the Hat though .

Do you know the video I was talking about ? Watson's

Hat Shop , Cave Creek , AZ . O'Farrell are some Super Fine and Expensive Hats , they don't scrimp at all . That's a Winner !

 

[suitedcboy]

What you describe can be caused by stretching a shrunk hat with the typical simple stretcher. The stretcher is right at the same as sweat width and when you stretch it the crown expands and the sweat draws down a little after it sits or is worn. I have created that same stretch mark situation on some hats I have bought on Ebay and found they were small for the marked size.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

This O'Farrell arrived a few days ago. The felt seemed to have shrunk, but not the leather sweatband, which was something new to me. Anyway, some steam and a few days on a hat stretcher have it back to its original size at 22 5/8 which is written under the sweat along with the date of 4/6/95 and J2A.

Joe, that's a very nice O'Farrell hat & it looks great on you! I love the crease especially from the angle taken in the first pic. Have you measured the crown & brim? It looks to be in excellent condition also.

Just as an FYI Kevin O'Farrell sold/licensed the use of his name & sold his shop in Durango to some local residents in 1992. I'm not sure of all the legalities of the sale, whether there was a no-compete clause, etc, & I believe he may have already had a store in Santa Fe during the winters as many Durango merchants do. At any rate sometime later the shop in Santa Fe opened & may have legally been under his son's name but Kevin surfaced there. In 2006 Kevin passed away, still only in his 50's. His son continues with the Santa Fe shop today. Not sure what happened to the Durango shop other than the Glenn family may have had to change the name of the business & it is no longer in the same location. If anyone knows about the Glenn's business I would appreciate an update.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

This O'Farrell arrived a few days ago. The felt seemed to have shrunk, but not the leather sweatband, which was something new to me. Anyway, some steam and a few days on a hat stretcher have it back to its original size at 22 5/8 which is written under the sweat along with the date of 4/6/95 and J2A.

Nice one.
Maybe one day I'll get one.

 

[Mm25]

Nice one.
Maybe one day I'll get one.

You would like it.
This one came from a furniture shop/website, where it was a prop.
I don't know what market value is on these, but I'm sure I paid much, much less.

 

[Mm25]

Joe, that's a very nice O'Farrell hat & it looks great on you! I love the crease especially from the angle taken in the first pic. Have you measured the crown & brim? It looks to be in excellent condition also.

Just as an FYI Kevin O'Farrell sold/licensed the use of his name & sold his shop in Durango to some local residents in 1992. I'm not sure of all the legalities of the sale, whether there was a no-compete clause, etc, & I believe he may have already had a store in Santa Fe during the winters as many Durango merchants do. At any rate sometime later the shop in Santa Fe opened & may have legally been under his son's name but Kevin surfaced there. In 2006 Kevin passed away, still only in his 50's. His son continues with the Santa Fe shop today. Not sure what happened to the Durango shop other than the Glenn family may have had to change the name of the business & it is no longer in the same location. If anyone knows about the Glenn's business I would appreciate an update.

Jack,
The brim is just over 4 and the crown is 6 1/4, creased at the back, so maybe 6 1/2 open.
A little disappointing to hear the date makes it not made by Kevin, but it's a nice hat anyway.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

A little disappointing to hear the date makes it not made by Kevin, but it's a nice hat anyway.

Joe, it wasn't my intention to imply otherwise. I only gave the timeline because you previously posted that you were not familiar with O'Farrell. It's a very nice hat & the fact it was used as a prop by a furniture company even adds to that.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-hat-are-you-waiting-for-today.81825/page-102

 

[Mm25]

Jack,
I know you were not being negative in any way and I do appreciate the information, as I said it is a nice hat and I am glad to have it. Knowing it's history is good. Thanks.

 

[M Hatman]

To me it appears to come from a modified campaign hat common in the military cavalry of that era. It retains the front & back dents common to the cavalry slouch hat but the rectangular top with the long side dents is a version of the western brick crease.

I see a LOT of the brick creases around here......VERY popular in the 60's (even for straw....). These hats have been coming out of the woodwork lately, I find them in every "antique" store......
M

 

[Michael R.]

I see a LOT of the brick creases around here......VERY popular in the 60's (even for straw....). These hats have been coming out of the woodwork lately, I find them in every "antique" store......
M

I imagine you're talking about the ole RCA Crease , maybe the AQHA Crease . Back then the RCA Crease was about it .

The RCA is similar to the Brick , but the back is wider than the front . Here's some old and new Popular Creases , the Brick became really popular beginning with the Canadian Bull Riders , then others , but it's still a Popular Crease on the Bull Riding Circuit , though other Creases are becoming more common in the last few years .
The RCA ...

 

[M Hatman]

I imagine you're talking about the ole RCA Crease , maybe the AQHA Crease . Back then the RCA Crease was about it . View attachment 65349

The RCA is similar to the Brick , but the back is wider than the front . Here's some old and new Popular Creases , the Brick became really popular beginning with the Canadian Bull Riders , then others , but it's still a Popular Crease on the Bull Riding Circuit , though other Creases are becoming more common in the last few years .
The RCA ...

I am not sure of the history..........they are all low crowned (like so many of the westerns back then) straight sided....and look like they were actually formed around a brick. They often have the front and back creases with brims tend to be flatter with a curl out at the edges almost like a homburg. These hats I see are all dating back to the 60's and are found in felt and straw (found a dealer with 20 of these in straw!!!!).
M

 

[M Hatman]

Here are a couple of pictures that show what I have been seeing....the straw is spot on....I have seen many where the brick crease is perfectly rectangular, not wider in back as this straw is....................the felt give you a good idea but is later...
M