What year is my Whippet?

[J.E.]

Hi, I just picked a Royal Stetson Whippet and found some numbers on the inside of it.My question is, can you tell what year the hat was made by these numbers? Re-order no.H559619, block 839, price $10, size 7 1/4 and the hat is light grey with black band around it.Thanks.

 

[cooncatbob]

The number don't mean anything to me, but the price $10 would make me believe 1950s?
Bob.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Per information in Jimmy the Lid's Dating Vintatge Stetsons by Price thread, it was made anywhere between 1941 and 1956, though the window is actually narrower than that, maybe more like 1944 to 1954. We just don't have the information yet.

Brad

 

[ideaguy]

Not sure about pricing dictating the year on Whippets, but know that the brim width has a lot to do with the age of the hat-2 5/8 seems to be the desired width, and 2 1/2" the more common. Only know that through selling a couple of Whippets, one to a fellow Lounge member who knows his stuff.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Hi, I just picked a Royal Stetson Whippet and found some numbers on the inside of it.My question is, can you tell what year the hat was made by these numbers? Re-order no.H559619, block 839, price $10, size 7 1/4 and the hat is light grey with black band around it.Thanks.

J.E. -- First of all, welcome to the Lounge! The best way to get a better opinion on the dating of your Whippet is to post a couple of photos. You should be sure to include photos of the inside of the hat, as well. The original price tag definitely provides some valuable information, as that helps to place your hat in a particular timeframe. Also relevant is whether or not your liner is covered with a kind of translucent material, or a shinier, harder plastic (the harder plastic indicating a hat of a more recent vintage). To pick up on Ideaguy's comment, I'm not so sure that brim width is necessarily a factor -- I have a 1954 Stetson ad that proclaims that the Whippet is available in a number of brim widths (don't you love that!). In some ways, dating hats is more of an art than a science, so the overall combination of factors may lead to a better feel for dating any particular hat. Show us some photos!

Cheers,
JtL

 

[J.E.]

Thanks for all the replies and the welcome from Jimmy the lid. I will try to post pictures soon, at this point I dont know how to post pictures but I will try to get my wife to do it.The reason I'm looking into this is because I'm going to be selling the hat. It belonged to my great uncle who recently passed away. The hat has never been used and has been in the original box since new. So any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[surely]

That is a desired model in a desired size from a desired time. You should do well.

 

[J.E.]

Hi agian. I still cant figure out how to post pictures, so I am thinking about putting it on Ebay. Thanks agian for everyones help.

 

[bolthead]

Hi agian. I still cant figure out how to post pictures, so I am thinking about putting it on Ebay. Thanks agian for everyones help.

You need to get yourself an account with "Photobucket" or any other host like it 1st, then post your pics from there.

 

[J.E.]

I hope this works

 

[John in Covina]

Also if there are any imprints on the leather sweat band, sometimes it will have a store name and city. If you can find out a history of the store it may help dial in a date too. If you know the store closed in a certain year then it has to pre date that year.

I think that the fact it is a brown leather sweat helps with dating too.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

WOW!!! We used to have to exceed 20 posts to be able to post pictures.
Beautiful hat. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Wolfmanjack]

I'm eager to hear what the experts say about J.E.'s Whippet. I have one with an identical liner.

You have an absolutely pristine beauty there, J.E. As Indy would say, "That ought to be in a museum."

It is worth a great deal of money. You might consider offering it in Classifieds here on the FL, to allow the experts and collectors a first crack at it.