What Hat Are You Wearing Today ?

[deadlyhandsome]

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Dobbs Gay Prince
Ultra thin velvet/velour like grey felt
5 inch crown as shaped - 5 1/2 to 5 3/4 open
2 3/4 brim with saddle stitched edge
7/8 self felted band with saddle accents

This super cool hat was enabled by Jonathan @TheOldFashioned. I was actually keen to let it pass on as I have a tan Gay Prince that doesn’t get enough wear... however the seller sent an offer which opened the door to some haggling and hooked me in. I really like the grey color on this one. My Tan GP appears to be a 1940s hat based on its manufacturing tag. This one has no such tag a few cues point to this being a slightly later hat. There is a very crinkly oil skin like liner protector... not the silky one from the later 50s though. The Dobbs Gay prince logo has the gold embossed carriage which also points 50s. I’ll probably do a side by side on the soon... but a quick impression is the felt is very similar to the 40s if possible slightly thinner and softer... however it seemed less obedient in holding a pinch. That was rectified somewhat when I opened up the crown and removed the rather deep center dent it was preferring. With a more shallow dent the side dents held very nicely and gave the crown a much fuller look. The grey felt shifts slightly to green hues in the late afternoon light... showed some more neutral to blue tones in other light. The hat over all is in extremely nice Shape... the saddle stitching is fully in tact and it has its original Gay Prince signature feather in all its glory! Or close anyway Only thing I found was a small hole in the liner tip. Will do up a side by side on my two GP soon.

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The sellers photos were so lovely... decided to keep them for posterity

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thanks again Jonathan View attachment 322037

This is a style that has really grown on me. Great hat and great assist from Jonathan. Nice addition to your collection, Joe.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Wonderful job on that garage Randall. Fantastic work. Hat looks great! I am sure he will appreciate the extra shelves. Good begets good.

Thanks, Blare!
I tried, but they just out niced me!

I didn’t mention that they also gave me 3 new, thick bath towels!

 

[Randall Renshaw]

That would be me! So great that you went ahead and did it. The shed looks fantastic. As does the hat.

Thanks, Shoe! And thanks for the shelf idea. That Dobbs? He still got ripped off if ya ask me!

 

[Randall Renshaw]

#1 Quality Stetson today. Helping my son negotiate a new car deal.

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Dang. That’s a killer.
I haven’t seen a number one fedora.
Gots to be a favorite. Looks awesome!
Where does a No. 1 stack up in the Stetson hierarchy?

 

[Blare]

Suweeeet! A twice crowned prince!

Haha. Thanks Randall

 

[Blare]

This is a style that has really grown on me. Great hat and great assist from Jonathan. Nice addition to your collection, Joe.

Thank you Brent. I have to say that was kind of my experience as well. Wasn’t sure if I would like the style or not. After having one in hand though... I realized this felt was like no other I’ve seen. Maybe a similar texture to a MGL but even thinner. Really amazing what they did with this felt. And the styling just grows on ya.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thank you Brent. I have to say that was kind of my experience as well. Wasn’t sure if I would like the style or not. After having one in hand though... I realized this felt was like no other I’ve seen. Maybe a similar texture to a MGL but even thinner. Really amazing what they did with this felt. And the styling just grows on ya.

That’s my problem, Joe: the styling grows on me but the hat sizes don’t grow at all.

 

[Bill Hughes]

Dang. That’s a killer.
I haven’t seen a number one fedora.
Gots to be a favorite. Looks awesome!
Where does a No. 1 stack up in the Stetson hierarchy?

I believe it was the lowest quality felt hat Stetson made at the time.

 

[ETBass]

View attachment 321989 View attachment 321986 View attachment 321988 Here’s the unpainted garage/shed I built for the couple who gave me this sweet wide brim 50s Dobbs about a month ago. View attachment 321992
The nicest man and wife you’ll ever meet! View attachment 321993 View attachment 321991 And here’s the 3 free shelves I built for them. I’ve forgotten which FLer gave me the idea on how to repay him for the awesome hat gift.
He wouldn't accept money for the gift of his “Gramps” hat.
He also gave me an 8 foot fiberglass ladder and a pair of face nippers.
They don’t know it, but I left off some material prices and labor from the final bill.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

That is a good looking building. I wish I had one just like it!! And a trustworthy fellow like you to build it.

 

[The Shoe]

My Akubra Cattleman was perfect for shopping in inclement weather.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

I wore an unlined Stetson Stratoliner for my morning dog soirée. I am thinking this is a steel blue felt hue. I am still working on identifying the felt hue.

FYI: Here is the hat shown with the Cadet Blue Stratoliner. Bottom pic with a couple of gray Stratoliners.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[RBH]

View attachment 320327 View attachment 320328 View attachment 320329 View attachment 320330 My Daily Driver Sorta,
This was either a Stetson Playboy Air-Lite or A Bantam late 30s
Mike Miller at North West Hats brought it back to life about 7 years ago and he made his past version of it which he called the Seabass a very simple hat with feather weight felt
Ribbon is original
I can’t make out the inner crown stamp any input is appreciated maybe Alan might have knowledge
Che

Great to see you again Che!!!!
I have missed your post, I bet your grandson has really grown.
Hope to see more of you and your hats.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

That is a good looking building. I wish I had one just like it!! And a trustworthy fellow like you to build it.

Thanks, ET.
For enough vintage Dobbs hats, maybe I’d consider coming up there!

 

[Randall Renshaw]

I believe it was the lowest quality felt hat Stetson made at the time.

Thanks, for the answer, Bill.
Is the quality something you can easily feel in the felt?
I recently acquired a western No. 1, but it’s an early 60s model in mint condition. Feels as good as any 3X from that era, but imagine the quality was way better in the 40s and 50’s.

 

[Frunobulax]

Stetson 3X.

 

[BobHufford]

Penney’s Marathon.

 

[Bamaboots]

 

[jonesy86]

That last pic is classic. Clear Beaver?

 

[jonesy86]

Well, this hemp OR is due for some shellac. Another hat, same beach.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Well, this hemp OR is due for some shellac. Another hat, same beach.
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Does the label say Stratoliner?

never mind. It looks as though the last photo is from a different hat.