What western did I just buy for $15 at the vintage store?

[boze]

This made my week. I own three fedoras but no westerns until Thursday when I found this for $15 at an antique furniture store. I have a really big head (the fedoras are all size 61) so when it fit I had to get it. There is no make listed though, it just says "Royal Quality 5 xxxxx Beaver Quality" and some sort of crest logo with a B in it. Oh and do you have any idea how old it is?

On to the pix..

 

[suitedcboy]

We need more sweatband markings to tell. It looks like a great deal for $15 as it looks from photos to be a fue felt and nothing cut from a sheep.

 

[boze]

The only sweatband marking is very faint on the side where the band is tied. It says "5 XXXXX Beaver Quality Water Repellent"

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Nice one and you wear it well.
I think my cheapest find was a hat I bought from lounger Randooch.

 

[Renault]

That hat looks good the way it is!!! Well done!!!

 

[barrowjh]

Clear plastic liner, so it was likely made after 1955, more likely 60's or later. Is that a capital 'B' in the middle of the liner crest? How many late-vintage manufacturers start with B? Biltmore? I don't think it is Beaver Brand, they would have put a beaver in the crest logo. Need those more familiar with the Biltmore branding to speak up, maybe someone will recognize that crest.

 

[boze]

Thanks, John. Yes, it's a capital B in the middle of the crest.

 

[suitedcboy]

It looks sort of like some of the Beaver Brand made private label hats but the sweatband marking is not one I've seen in any of their hats.

Curious.

Fold down the sweatband and see if there re labels there.

 

[boze]

No labels inside the sweatband. Thanks for the suggestion though; I wouldn't have thought to check.

 

[tonyb]

I wonder if it isn't a "generic" bench-built or refurbished hat. Back when there were hatters shops just about everywhere there were also oodles of hatters' supply businesses to keep those hatters in, well, supplies. And materials. Blocks, flanges, ribbon, hat bodies, sweatbands, liners, et cetera, et cetera.

Seeing how the "X" thing is pretty much meaningless (there are, for instance, "XXX beaver" hats that contain very little if any beaver fur), a hatter could put in liners and sweatbands saying pretty much anything without violating the industry "standard," such as it was, (and is, sadly).

Looks like a decent hat. How's the "hand"? That's how I usually gauge the quality of the fur and finish.

 

[DJH]

The main thing is that the hat looks great on you!

 

[boze]

I'm not experienced enough to even know what "hand" is much less judge it. I own a Stetson Saxon and two other fedoras. This silverbelly western is stiffer than them and the felt isn't soft to the touch like the Stetson. It's also not plush to look at or touch - like there wouldn't be much to brush if I owned a brush. Not sure if that helps but that's all I got.

 

[tommyK]

It would be a good hat at twice the price! Wear the heck out of it!

 

[tonyb]

Sounds like you figured out the definition from context, boze. There are stiff hats with a nice hand. You know, the surface has a smooth, even feel. And there are soft hats with a not so nice hand.

 

[boze]

Thanks, gentlemen. Don't worry, I'm wearing the heck out of it. I took it for a walk to the grocery store yesterday and only bought one thing. I'm wearing it around the house just to enjoy myself and I'll likely sport it to my gig tonight.

It feels plenty soft enough to me for being "water repellent". And of course I want it to be a bit stiff since it has a good inch more brim than any of my other hats.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Waiting for pictures of the gig

 

[boze]

Ha! It quickly ended up being a tip hat at the gig. Here's one other pic before I went to the store the other day.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Looks good on you!

 

[1mach1]

Sweet find, Boze, and it looks great on your head!

 

[Chamuco]

Looks good and for less than a 12 pack of beer can't beat the deal !!!