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Western, anyone?

Neophyte

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,445
Location
Chattanooga, TN
All of the American Hat Co hats that I've owned, most won off Ebay, have leaked powder like nobody's business. They were all 5X, so that may not be the case with their higher quality models.
 

frussell

One Too Many
Messages
1,409
Location
California Desert
Old American Hat Co. hats are great, I've got one from the 60s that is still in excellent shape, after countless soakings and re-shapings. The more recent ones (different ownership, possibly?) are not at the same level, from what I've experienced. If you can find an older one in anything above a 4X, I recommend them highly. Look for the ones without "American Hat Company" stamped repeatedly around the sweat, as they seem to be more recent. Gary at The Hat Store in Houston used to have a family connection to American Hat Co. I seem to remember him saying he worked on the line there when he was young. He might be able to fill you in more on the quality, plus, he's a great guy and made me many a hat in the 1980s. Back in the day, American Hat Co. cowboy hats were almost as common in Houston as Stetson or Resistol, because the main western store, Stelzig's sold them. Good luck. Frank
 

barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred - w/ Denice Langley leather/Sterling Hat Band

Here are a couple of pics of what I did at Fedorafest IV - switched out a ribbon for a really nice hat band by artist Denice Langley that Mike Moore had two of. Leather and sterling silver and a little blue stone, really dresses up the Shady Oak well.

Picture126.jpg

Picture127.jpg


mo' pics, better camera:
IMG_3322.jpg

IMG_3326.jpg

IMG_3327.jpg
 
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H Weinstein

One of the Regulars
Messages
224
Location
Maryland
Here are a couple of pics of what I did at Fedorafest IV - switched out a ribbon for a really nice hat band by artist Denice Langley that Mike Moore had two of. Leather and sterling silver and a little blue stone, really dresses up the Shady Oak well.

Picture126.jpg

Picture127.jpg


mo' pics, better camera:
IMG_3322.jpg

IMG_3326.jpg

IMG_3327.jpg

Nice band! Really does dress up the hat in a whole different way. And I like the double-teardrop, too.
 

H Weinstein

One of the Regulars
Messages
224
Location
Maryland
Here are a couple of pics of what I did at Fedorafest IV - switched out a ribbon for a really nice hat band by artist Denice Langley that Mike Moore had two of. Leather and sterling silver and a little blue stone, really dresses up the Shady Oak well.

IMG_3327.jpg

Nice band! Really does dress up the hat in a whole different way. And I like the double-teardrop, too.
 

TipTop

Practically Family
Messages
540
Location
Albany, NY
Cheap Hats, Even Cheaper

Serious discounting: ($15 minus 10%) I wear one of these for dog walking in the winter, and it has survived all kinds of NE upstate NY weather very well. For made in China, I haven't any complaints, and the fit is accurate. I just ordered a couple more (in straw as well as another felt)
http://www.outbackoutlet.com/shop/

 
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barrowjh

One Too Many
Messages
1,398
Location
Maryville Tennessee
Generally, if its cheap, its wool. I think the hat is required to have some description in it, especially if it is wool. However, sometimes old dead-stock will be sold out at really cheap prices, so it could be fur felt (likely very stiff). I don't believe that $15 fur felt wide-brim western hats is economically sustainable, do not see how that could be sustainable.
 
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H Weinstein

One of the Regulars
Messages
224
Location
Maryland
Outback Outlet/Outback Trading has a bunch of hats which are wool felt, but they have a few which are described as "fur felt" without being more specific. I think the $15 hat is one of the fur felt ones. Just wondered if the hat might have a label with more specific info. I've seen some less-expensive "fur felt" hats which say they're buffalo (of buffalo blend) felt.
 

TipTop

Practically Family
Messages
540
Location
Albany, NY
100% Fur Felt, made in China, Outback Gold is what my inner tag and liner says; it has a leather sweat and white silkish liner. The retail price is $54, which seems to follow the usual 300% retail markup on clothing. It is NOT wool. It is stiff, but has a nice felted hand to it and has held up well after a winter of dog walking along the Hudson River. Indeed, I like the soft hand of this better than a less cheapo (~$85) Orvis (USA) rabbit fur I snagged on ePrey recently; that is truly crude.

I will offer one caveat: Though it came in its own cleverly designed box (with support/slots cut for the brim), the hat had obviously shifted during shipment and I had to steam one lop-eared brim back to symmetry with its partner. Also, though this description doesn't mention "gold", I'm guessing that it is the same grade as my "Bathurst" 1387.

This is one of two cheapo hats that I own, and I wouldn't recommend it here if I thought it was not worth at least twice as much as it is now being offered for--and that is said after a winter of rain and snow wear. And I'm about to wear it in the rain right now.

15838593-lg.jpg
 
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Grizzly Adams

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
New Mexico
Can anyone tell me........?

This is one of my recent finds.
Question" This hat has Beaver Hats on both the lining and the sweat. Is it the same as a Beaver Brand, or is it a different maker?[huh] Any information on this the Beaver Hats brand would be appreciated. Thanks!


P1010022.jpg

P1010025.jpg

P1010023.jpg
 

TipTop

Practically Family
Messages
540
Location
Albany, NY
That's the Beaver Hats brand logo etc. I am impressed with their higher quality hats. Just got a Royal Beaver, and a 10X like yours (except in brown). Felt is very nice.
 

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