Peters Brothers

Ken David · Jul 13, 2017

Bob Roberts said:
Right. They've had early July summer sales 2 years in a row. No reason to believe they won't again.

Just curious if anybody has heard of any July summer sales from Peter Brother's? When I talked to them last they said they would no longer be offering these specials that were offered in the past.

Bob Roberts · Jul 13, 2017

Ken David said:
Just curious if anybody has heard of any July summer sales from Peter Brother's? When I talked to them last they said they would no longer be offering these specials that were offered in the past.

Now is a good time to call Brad and ask about the Milan Hemp. Let him know yer a Fedora Lounger. Who's knows. Worth a try.

Bill Hughes · Oct 22, 2017

Last week I picked up an older (60s I think) Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred. Also have another what appears to be a Shady Oaks (this time there is an “s” on the liner). No idea about age of second hat.

I’m going to Peters Bros tomorrow to inquire about the hats. Anybody in particular I need to talk too?

Frunobulax · Oct 22, 2017

Bill Hughes said:
Last week I picked up an older (60s I think) Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred. Also have another what appears to be a Shady Oaks (this time there is an “s” on the liner). No idea about age of second hat.

I’m going to Peters Bros tomorrow to inquire about the hats. Anybody in particular I need to talk too?

There'll probably be only one person there. There is Shane, and I'm drawing a blank on the other fellow's name right now.

RJR · Oct 22, 2017

Frunobulax said:
There'll probably be only one person there. There is Shane, and I'm drawing a blank on the other fellow's name right now.

Shane is the hatter as I understand it;Brad Peters is the owner.Good people.

rclark · Oct 22, 2017

Bill Hughes said:
Last week I picked up an older (60s I think) Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred. Also have another what appears to be a Shady Oaks (this time there is an “s” on the liner). No idea about age of second hat.

I’m going to Peters Bros tomorrow to inquire about the hats. Anybody in particular I need to talk too?

Please post some photos of the hats!

Bill Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

Here are pictures of the first hat. It's the Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred. The brim is 3 1/4" (or 3 3/8" if measured from the inside of the sweatband - not sure which is correct). The felt is pretty stiff.

Bill Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

A few more pictures. I find it interesting that the tag under the sweatband shows 7 1/8 but he size tag is 7 1/4. Also the liner does not seem to be correct to me. Shouldn't it be a Shady Oak liner? I sent a picture of the liner to Peters Bros and got the following reply.

"I had forgot about this liner. This was put in hats i believe in the late 70s
The brim looks a little bigger than a shady oaks this very possibly could be what was called a shady pine pretty much same just about a 1/4 bigger brim.
I see the Brim was probably done "the texas Touch" by the looks of it. Tom would steam that hat and have the customer do what he called "the texas touch" then he would give them a silver dollar."

The person I was talking to on the phone referenced "my grandfather" so I am thinking I was talking to Shane but not sure. He seemed really happy to see the picture I sent him and was glad the see the hat box. I told him I would come by soon with the hat.

I like the paper card about not being your hat. Notice the phone number listed for Peters Bros was ED 5-1715.

Bill Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

This is the other hat. The liner reads Shady Oaks. I read online that the name changed to Shady Oak later so this would be an older liner. Don't know if the source I read is accurate but hope to find out tomorrow. The sweatband on this hat does not reference Peters Bros. I wonder if it has been replaced? No matter, it needs to be replaced now. I picked this one up locally. It had a 7 1/4 size tag but as I was watching someone else looking at the hat it fell off. He picked it up tore it into smaller pieces and threw into a trash can. Wanted to choke him.

The brim is 2 3/4" or 2 7/8" if measured from the inside of the sweatband.

Michael R. · Oct 23, 2017

@Bill Hughes Bill you are a WINNER WINNER WINNER !!! They are unbelievable ! Double Great Get !!!

Bill Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

So here is my dilemma. I have been wanting a vintage Peters Bros fedora for some time. Peters Bros being local I just thought it would be a cool thing to have. I don't wear cowboy hats. I tend to like wider ribbons.

Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred:
It is in really nice condition. Is it too nice to replace the ribbon and reshape like a fedora? I would not cut the brim. I don't want to lessen the value of the hat. Or should I move this hat along to someone who would want it as is or just want to replace the ribbon. I mean someone who likes cowboy hats and would really appreciate it for what it is.

Shady Oaks:
Do I clean it, replace the sweatband, replace the ribbon with something wider, and have it reshaped like a fedora? Again I would not cut the brim.

Living where I do I think I need to be careful. Especially in Fort Worth. Peters Bros is an institution and some would take offense and consider it defamation to alter a Shady Oak or Oaks into a non-cowboy hat.

Having said all that. The person I talked to at Peters Bros (I think it was Shane) suggested replacing the ribbon with something wider and reshaping into a fedora. He seemed to think that would not decrease the value.

Ideas and opinions wanted!
Don't be shy. I won't take offense.

Michael R. · Oct 23, 2017

The SO Bankers Special One Hundred is worth some MONEY I would think , but personally , if I might wear it I'd get PB to fix it up . The reg SO is Nice too , but you could have it fixed up into an OR style and put a tear drop or diamond in it that you would wear , but they're yours . PB could advise you Bill .

rclark · Oct 23, 2017

Bill Hughes said:
So here is my dilemma. I have been wanting a vintage Peters Bros fedora for some time. Peters Bros being local I just thought it would be a cool thing to have. I don't wear cowboy hats. I tend to like wider ribbons.

Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred:
It is in really nice condition. Is it too nice to replace the ribbon and reshape like a fedora? I would not cut the brim. I don't want to lessen the value of the hat. Or should I move this hat along to someone who would want it as is or just want to replace the ribbon. I mean someone who likes cowboy hats and would really appreciate it for what it is.

Shady Oaks:
Do I clean it, replace the sweatband, replace the ribbon with something wider, and have it reshaped like a fedora? Again I would not cut the brim.

Living where I do I think I need to be careful. Especially in Fort Worth. Peters Bros is an institution and some would take offense and consider it defamation to alter a Shady Oak or Oaks into a non-cowboy hat.

Having said all that. The person I talked to at Peters Bros (I think it was Shane) suggested replacing the ribbon with something wider and reshaping into a fedora. He seemed to think that would not decrease the value.

Ideas and opinions wanted!
Don't be shy. I won't take offense.

They are both great hats, but not worth much sitting in a box never to be worn. Those are both terrific hats - make them your own where you will want to wear them!

RJR · Oct 23, 2017

Here's a Shady Oaks that has obviously been converted.I say make those hats your own as Rick advised.

Bill Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

Today was very interesting at Peters Bros. Found out I have been dealing with Brad over the phone last week. Dealt with Brad again today. This is what I found out about the Shady Oak Bankers Special One Hundred.

1) It is from the 60s. Most likely late 60s. After checking he realized he was off by a decade. It's not 70s - it is 60s.
2) The liner is correct.
3) It is a Shady Oak made in the Shady Pine style. Wider brim and shaped like a Shady Pine. Back in the 60s, and earlier, Shady Pines were a 50/50 blend. The Shady Oak was 100% beaver. So people would get a custom Shady Oak and style it like a Banker Special, Shady Pine, FBI, etc.
4) The hood was made in Switzerland as the felting process had changed in this country. Switzerland still used the old process at that time.

So the plan for this hat is to reshape into a fedora and replace the ribbon with this 1 1/2" blue. It will have a double bow. Crown is going to be a diamond. I'm keeping the brim at 3 1/4" raw. That way if someone wants to revert back they can. Also I can always have it cut back if I choose to later. I want to give a really wide brim a try.

***** Shane no longer is at Peters Bros. He moved back to Arkansas and is doing Web Design which is what he went to school for.

Bill Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

The Shady Oaks turned out to be the big surprise. At first Brad questioned if it was really a Peters Bros Shady Oaks at all. The sweatband was not a Peters Bros sweatband. We had to determine whether the sweatband had been replaced (which is what I thought) or the liner had been added (which is what Brad thought).

Brad said Tom always wrote the date and info on the hat under the liner. So he pulled the liner and we could see Tom's information. This hat was dated 11-24-32. So it is also a Peters Bros Shady Oaks hat which means it too is 100% beaver.

So the plan for this hat is a full cleaning, new sweatband, keep original liner, keep the brim at 2 3/4" raw, replace the ribbon with the one shown, double bow, and re-block as much as possible. Brad will keep the tight center pinch the same. He does not think he could completely get rid of bump of the current pinch. That's Ok with me as I like it.

So all in all. DOUBLE WIN!

Frunobulax · Oct 23, 2017

Fantastic stuff, Bill. Great information on PB and your hats. Those are two very nice hats. Congrats and props on the research.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

BobHufford · Oct 24, 2017

Great (and exciting) news on both hats Bill! Can't wait to see the end results.

FedOregon · Oct 24, 2017

Bill Hughes said:
The Shady Oaks turned out to be the big surprise. At first Brad questioned if it was really a Peters Bros Shady Oaks at all. The sweatband was not a Peters Bros sweatband. We had to determine whether the sweatband had been replaced (which is what I thought) or the liner had been added (which is what Brad thought).

Brad said Tom always wrote the date and info on the hat under the liner. So he pulled the liner and we could see Tom's information. This hat was dated 11-24-32. So it is also a Peters Bros Shady Oaks hat which means it too is 100% beaver.

View attachment 90415

So the plan for this hat is a full cleaning, new sweatband, keep original liner, keep the brim at 2 3/4" raw, replace the ribbon with the one shown, double bow, and re-block as much as possible. Brad will keep the tight center pinch the same. He does not think he could completely get rid of bump of the current pinch. That's Ok with me as I like it.

So all in all. DOUBLE WIN!

View attachment 90416

Awesome, Bill. Two awesome lids. Does that mean 1932? Wow, awesome beaver felts on those and I really like what you've got planned for them. Grand slam, baby!

Bill Hughes · Oct 24, 2017

FedOregon said:
Awesome, Bill. Two awesome lids. Does that mean 1932? Wow, awesome beaver felts on those and I really like what you've got planned for them. Grand slam, baby!

Yes. 1932. I thought that would actually be the newer hat although well used. It turned out be be thirty years the senior.

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