Looking for my first Stetson

[Vintage40s]

Looking for my first Stetson, Whippet (preferred) - something "vintage 40's" - no luck on e-bay. Where do you guys go for the hat?

[epic610]

ebay is a very inefficient vehicle. you have to wait for something to come up. and you have no accurate representations as to size and condition; no less do most sellers know how to even accurately identify and label what they do offer.

there ought to be another way.

[Not-Bogart13]

As with most vintage hats, the Whippet is found only by perseverence and luck. The Whippet seems to be a particularly difficult hat to find. I'm still searching. Ebay is, as Epic says, inefficient. But it is pretty much the best way, unless you have a good supply of vintage / antique shops to browse. Just keep looking, keep checking Ebay from time to time. Abnd a prayer to the Hat Gods wouldn't hurt!

[Vintage40s]

My search for my first Stetson has been so frustrating - I almost bought a Mallory ( though nothing wrong with them) - but not a Stetson. I'd take a Slant or Playboy, but no luck with those. Not really sure how you verify the vintage condition ( 1940's or so) if you get it off eBay. Some of those so-called "vintage" hats looking surprisingly good (unless they have a box or tin).

I wonder if areas like Chicago or NY might lead to better opportunities?????

[tonyb]

Not-Bogart has it right, Vintage40s. Patience and perseverance will get you there. Ever notice how, when you're on the lookout for just about anything, you start seeing signs of it that had eluded you before? Your hats are out there, and you'll find 'em at a price you can live with, if, as Not-Bogart says, you also appeal to the gods. And, as we all know, the gods are more inclined to help those who help themselves. You can still find bargains on eBay, if you spend a bit of time searching, and aren't discouraged by watching many of those hats get bid higher than you are willing (or need) to go. I don't consider any of it a waste of time. I crack open a beer, crank up some Coltrane, and surf the site. It's much more entertaining than television.
And don't forget the antique/secondhand/vintage stores.

[tonyb]

My search for my first Stetson has been so frustrating - I almost bought a Mallory ( though nothing wrong with them) - but not a Stetson. I'd take a Slant or Playboy, but no luck with those. Not really sure how you verify the vintage condition ( 1940's or so) if you get it off eBay. Some of those so-called "vintage" hats looking surprisingly good (unless they have a box or tin).

I wonder if areas like Chicago or NY might lead to better opportunities?????

The old hands here know more about hats than 99.99 percent of eBay sellers, and they are usually quite generous with their advice, so go right ahead and ask them what they think. I'm fond of the Stetson Open Road/Stratoliner and Borsalino Alessandria style (tall, straight-sided crown, wide brim, narrow ribbon), but as it turns out there are very similar hats once made by other manufacturers, including the Mallory Dallas, one of which I scored for a song quite recently. The experts here confirmed what the hat told me about itself--that it is superior to most of the Stetson Open Roads. So you want a Whippet, which is cool, but there are other hats of a similar style and equal if not superior quality that may be a better value. Like that Mallory you alluded to, for instance.

[jamespowers]

Ah yes, the Whippet. I came across one over the weekend but the darned thing was a 6 7/8. Here is an ad for the Whippet and the Flagship from 1946:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/jamespowers2005/stetsonflagandwhip.jpg
They are very distinctive hats that really scream the era they are from. I have been collecting them for quite some time now and finding them in larger sizes is tough for sure. They are out there though. You will find one with a bit of perseverance and patience. If you think that Whippet is hard to find, try finding a Flagship in a large size. Those are nearly non-existent. The Whippet was obviously more popular so you have opened the field quite a bit. You can probably find a Whippet in your area at estate sales and flea markets. The problem is if you are not a 6 7/8. ;)

Regards,

J

[Legal Concepts]

Hey Folks like Jamespower, where do you get all these classy oldtime Hat ads?

Is there just a picture gallery somwhere that has all thes photos of old time ads?

[jamespowers]

Hey Folks like Jamespower, where do you get all these classy oldtime Hat ads?

Is there just a picture gallery somwhere that has all thes photos of old time ads?

That's simple really. You collect tons of magazaines from the eras you are interested in and scan the ads. Then you have your own gallery of picture ads. ;)

Regards to all,

J

[Vintage40s]

Jamespowers - Aaaahhhhh! Now, you have caught on to me. A few years back I nurtured an interest in the 1940's - something about that era appeals to me. I have been so hooked on music from that era ( Swing, Big Band, lounge music). I stay near my XM radio most all day ( channel 4). Then I ran across some 1940's vintage LIFE magazines at a book sale. . .and in there is just photos, photos and stories of events and life in the 40's. That is where I saw all these beautiful hats ( Mallory, Champs, Stetson's, etc). Recently I bought a bulk load of 1940's LIFE magazines off E-Bay. Tons of those kinds of ads. I am now cutting out the most pictoral / colorful and hanging them here in my home-office. And thus, through all of that, I have a hunger for my first, vintage Stetson ( Whippet, Stratoliner, Playboy).

You usually can pick them up on E-bay for $9 each or buy the magazines, by the lots, and cut out yoru own. Good look.

[Damon Falzone]

It seems that Whippets come up for auction on ebay on a regular basis. I scored one several months age for $41 in great condition. And yesterday, I walked into my local vintage shop and found a 1948 Borsalino (XX stamped on the sweatband, I guess referring to the felt quality, with a pleated ribbon) in immaculate condition. I couldn't believe it. So, they're out there and your turn will come. Lots of luck.

[Baron Kurtz]

... if you can find a hat or not. Small ones are more common than big-uns.

If you (or anyone else) is a size 7, i might be able to help you out with a mint sage green Stratoliner ... Don't know if i need to sell it though. We'll see.

bk

[Baron Kurtz]

... the midwest seems to be brimming with 40s/50s stetsons.

bk