The Stratoliner Society {VINTAGE}

[Aureliano]

I just bought my first vintage Stratoliner, an early 40's Stratoliner Meddlist. It's an unlined light weight with a Stratoliner airplane picture on the sweatband. It also has the sticker in the crown. Does anyone know anything about these (years made)? Any info would be appreciated.

I was watching the auction, the hat looks great, perfect color and great sweatband. Congrats!

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Thanks Guys. I went all out and paid a pretty penny for it but I decided I was not gonna miss this one. I checked with Tom Dean and he thought it was a pretty early Strat and I don't think he had ever seen one with a sweatband like this one. I've never seen one that was called a "Medalist" either and I could find no mention of it here on the lounge.

 

[zetwal]

I just bought my first vintage Stratoliner, an early 40's Stratoliner Medalist. It's an unlined light weight with a Stratoliner airplane picture on the sweatband. It also has the sticker in the crown. Does anyone know anything about these (years made)? Any info would be appreciated.

I believe this one probably dates to around 1941 or so. Enjoy ... :yo:

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

I believe this one probably dates to around 1941 or so. Enjoy ... :yo:

Thanks zetwal, that's what I wanted to hear!

 

[zetwal]

Thanks zetwal, that's what I wanted to hear!

I know you've been looking for a long time now. And I'm happy for you. I do hope that it fits just right. Enjoy ... :yo:

 

[RBH]

Brad has some info in this post from this thread...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...dalist-History&p=645372&viewfull=1#post645372

And here are a few of the newspaper ads I have posted.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?10899-Old-newspaper-ads&p=160956&viewfull=1#post160956

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?10899-Old-newspaper-ads&p=161208&viewfull=1#post161208

 

[zetwal]

Thanks zetwal, that's what I wanted to hear!

RBH just posted links to some old Medalist and Stratoliner ads. That reminds me to add that we sometimes find original price stickers behind the sweatband. These stickers can help in narrowing down the date. Just be careful not to damage anything.

 

[Aureliano]

I don't think he had ever seen one with a sweatband like this one.

If I'm not mistaken, Zetwal has one with similar sweat. Is that right, Zet?
I wonder if the tip sticker is original to the hat. Either way, it's a killer one!

A bit off topic but a bit relevant, I don't even remember how I got a hold of this tip sticker. It is not original to my strat, but I surely love how it looked in it once I removed the liner and did the vents.
Your's, Terry, is much nicer though!

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Thanks guys for all the help and information. I will check the hat over for any other markings when I receive it (by the end of the week I hope) and try to get a picture of me wearing it. For now and until proven different I'm just gonna call it an early 40's model!

Thanks Again,
Terry "The Hat"

 

[hatophile]

Thanks guys for all the help and information. I will check the hat over for any other markings when I receive it (by the end of the week I hope) and try to get a picture of me wearing it. For now and until proven different I'm just gonna call it an early 40's model!

Thanks Again,
Terry "The Hat"

Nice one, Terry. Can't wait to see the pics.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

OK, it's here and I am now an "Official Member" (if you guys allow it) of the "Stratoliner Society-Vintage." It's in virtually perfect condition for a 70 year old hat. I added a vintage Strat Pin to it as soon as I got it home so now it's official. At 7 1/2-60-23 1/2" it fits me perfect. A nice loose fit that won't cause me to get a headache after wearing it all day! I'd sleep in it but I might flatten out the brim-LOL! It's a beautiful shade of med gray and very close to the Caribou of my newer model Strat. The felt is buttery soft and being a lightweight with no liner it forms to my long oval head automatically with no stretching or adjustments.

P.S As you can tell by the picture...........this hat is "NOT" from a non smoking home! Nothing better than a great cigar with a great fedora!

 

[zetwal]

OK, it's here and I am now an "Official Member" (if you guys allow it) of the "Stratoliner Society-Vintage."

Good! Happy trails -

:whoo:

 

[Short Balding Guy]

OK, it's here and I am now an "Official Member" (if you guys allow it) of the "Stratoliner Society-Vintage." It's in virtually perfect condition for a 70 year old hat. I added a vintage Strat Pin to it as soon as I got it home so now it's official. At 7 1/2-60-23 1/2" it fits me perfect. A nice loose fit that won't cause me to get a headache after wearing it all day! I'd sleep in it but I might flatten out the brim-LOL! It's a beautiful shade of med gray and very close to the Caribou of my newer model Strat. The felt is buttery soft and being a lightweight with no liner it forms to my long oval head automatically with no stretching or adjustments.

P.S As you can tell by the picture...........this hat is "NOT" from a non smoking home! Nothing better than a great cigar with a great fedora!

Terry; Grand hat. Congrats sir. You have been searching for a Stratoliner for some time. You have been rewarded for your patient efforts with a hat and best a hat that fits well! The hat dimensions are stunning for you. Complimentary look to this hat.

Congrats again, Eric -

 

[Short Balding Guy]

I would like to take a moment and introduce you to my Cadet Blue Stratoliner (1950's). I have been out in the garden this evening picking the first of our tomates. The fedora offers me small protection from the annoying bugs that would land on my bald head or neck.

The pic is only tad bit brighter blue than real life. It really is blue. The blue is truly lovely with a depth of color provided by a small bit of gray or black to the blue shade. I really had hoped the hat was really blue, not just blue gray, when I heard about it's being offered for sale. My hopes came true when I opened the shipping carton - cheers!

It is an unlined Stetson Stratoliner. The felt is evenly pounced (inside and out), is very soft, but yet holds a crease. Not quite the clay like features of my silverbelly, but very luxurious to the hand. The ribbon work on this hat is pristine for a 60+ year old hat. No discoloring of binding or hat ribbon.

The cadet blue has the flanging of the brim that I see in the Saturday Evening Post ads. A curled rear brim and a flatter front brim that breaks and offers a larger flap to shade the front of the face. This particular hat has a 2.5" inch brim. I like this look and find it to be a perfect fit for the marketing of this hat that was to be the in-between the businessman's fedora and the cattleman's fedora. A hat that worked for the man on the go! I may not always be a man on the go, but I love the in-between styling.

Thanks folks for allowing me to share this special blue Strat. with you. You will see the hat worn often during the cooler months on the What Hat Are You wearing Thread.

Best wishes for your tomatoe season, Eric -

 

[Chepstow]

Eric, looks outstanding, a real beauty. I love the color of that Hat!

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Beautiful Strat Eric. Reminds me of my unlined Strat except for the color. So light on the old bald noggin!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Perfection!

Love this same model in the sage green too.

 

[Landman]

Eric,

That is a beautiful Stratoliner. I have never seen that color in person but it looks great in your photos.

 

[alanfgag]

Very nice Eric. It looks to be the same Premier model that I rescued from the costume shop earlier this year. Mine had had a wacky theatrical ribbon replacement, so I made a leopard fur band for it. My sense of dating was post war 1940s, mostly from the character of the soft unreeded sweatband. This hat is somewhat heavier than the earlier unlined model shown in Terry's pictures. 2 5/8" brim, I think. A great catch. I hope you can post some close-ups of the markings when you have time.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Thanks Terry, Manfred, Mike, Alan.

The cadet blue is not a usual color. I really enjoy this hat for both it's uniqueness as well as it's model characteristics. The unlined hat was actually comfortable in the high 70's of yesterday's tomatoe picking adventure.

As per Alan's suggestion, I will post up some more detailed shots. I presumed that it was a 50's model, by the cursury look at the band and logo details. The sage wisdom of fellow Lounger's will assist on the more accurate date placement.