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The Penney's Marathon

Styleslover

New in Town
Messages
30
Location
New York
Nice hat. Judging by the company logo, I’m going to say prior to 1952. It was about that time that the company switched to the “Penney’s” logo posted by Moehawk a few comments above in this thread.
Thanks man! The hat reminds me of the hats in 20-30s era with the 2 1/8 brim and high crown era before the long brim style hats.
 

Jerry Probst

One of the Regulars
Messages
109
Thanks man! The hat reminds me of the hats in 20-30s era with the 2 1/8 brim and high crown era before the long brim style hats.

That logo was in use in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. So that would be consistent with your hunch, but I can’t narrow it down more than that.
 

Jerry Probst

One of the Regulars
Messages
109
What does double brim mean? I notice it says that on the sweatband. I tried researching it but I couldn’t get a solid answer

I don’t know. Phrases on hat bands are often vague marketing slogans. It might refer to the quality or thickness of the felt. Penney’s, in those days was a main street store located in small towns and cities across America. They generally sold very good to excellent quality merchandise at a very good price. The typical customer was the average citizen trying to make their dollars stretch so quality was always a strong selling point. Thinking it refers to quality of the felt is just a guess. Perhaps one of the hatters aboard this chat has a better suggestion.
 

Styleslover

New in Town
Messages
30
Location
New York
I don’t know. Phrases on hat bands are often vague marketing slogans. It might refer to the quality or thickness of the felt. Penney’s, in those days was a main street store located in small towns and cities across America. They generally sold very good to excellent quality merchandise at a very good price. The typical customer was the average citizen trying to make their dollars stretch so quality was always a strong selling point. Thinking it refers to quality of the felt is just a guess. Perhaps one of the hatters aboard this chat has a better suggestion.
Thanks man! For the information!
 

Jerry Probst

One of the Regulars
Messages
109
Hats have been made with two layers of felt in the brim.

Thanks Vic,

That’s interesting. Do you have any more information you can share? How was the felt doubled - by adhesive or some felting process that fused the layers together? Because of the extra material and production steps involved were these hats sold at premium prices?
 

Jerry Probst

One of the Regulars
Messages
109
Can you please provide more information on this? I've been trying to tie Penney's logos to years for some time, and have never found a ready reference. You seem to be pretty sure, so I'd love to know more.

Here’s a photo showing a compilation of different J.C. Penney Logos. You will notice a shift from using variations of the name from J.C. Penney Company Incorporated to the shortened version “Penney’s”. That happened sometime in the early 1950s. When exactly I don’t know, I may be mistaken on the exact year, but 1952 seems to ring a bell.
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Messages
19,096
Location
Funkytown, USA
Here’s a photo showing a compilation of different J.C. Penney Logos. You will notice a shift from using variations of the name from J.C. Penney Company Incorporated to the shortened version “Penney’s”. That happened sometime in the early 1950s. When exactly I don’t know, I may be mistaken on the exact year, but 1952 seems to ring a bell.
View attachment 379667

Thanks. Now we need one of those with the Marathon logos.
 
While looking about for information on my hat here:

I found this article on their House Brands from 2014....

Of course that store display is not from 1914........

"Marathon Hats – 1914​

marathon-hats-1914.jpg

This is how it all started: a line of elegant fedoras that was the first of what would become many in-house brands for Penney, launched a century ago this year."
 
Messages
10,806
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Penney’s Marathon
Medium Charcoal Grey
4 3/4 Crown as shaped
1 1/8 matching grosgrain ribbon
2 1/4 brim with 1/8 matching binding

Came across this cool Penney’s Marathon at a super low Buy It Now price that I could not pass up. The photos showed it would need some reshaping… and on top of that it arrived in a box about half the size of the hat. So a serious steaming and brushing was in order. I think it came out quite well. While brushing, I was able to minimize a few discoloration spots that actually hide themselves fairly well. There are a few moth nips here and there.. but nothing too bad.

I really like the color of the felt.. a medium charcoal grey. The tones somehow shift from blue to yellow depending light. I love the styling with the signature Marathon ribbon work.

It was sold as a size 7 though from the pictures the size tag appeared to also have a fraction after the 7 that I could not make out. Turns out the size is 7 1/4. Somehow however… due to I’m guessing a little bit of shrinkage it actually fits fairly well. Just seats a tad lower than I regularly wear my hats. Would not want to wear it on a windy day.. but still comfortable.

I have almost another probably early 1950s Marathon with this styling in tan that I really enjoy. This one… Considering the logo and sweat I’m gonna guess a bit later… maybe late 50s early 60s. I figured due to the size.. I might move this one along.. but being that it’s fitting fairly well.. I may keep it around for a little while anyway.

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They must have sold that same hat for a while.....here is an ad from an earlier post by Jerry
It is cool you have the Grey AND the Tan!!:)
Must have been a signature style...
1963
1963.jpg
 
Messages
10,806
They must have sold that same hat for a while.....here is an ad from an earlier post by Jerry
It is cool you have the Grey AND the Tan!!:)
Must have been a signature style...
[/URL]
1963
View attachment 442099
Thanks Mark. This ad most likely close in time frame to the grey one I think. For sure a ribbon style I associate with the Marathon hats. It is almost identical to one @Scooterz posted in this thread some time back. And the tan one very close to Stefan’s @steur
 
Messages
10,806
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Penney’s Marathon - Stratoliner/OR Clone

Light Blue Grey Felt - 7 1/8
4 1/2 crown as shaped
3/8 thin ribbon
2 1/2 brim with 3/16 binding

I feel like I was just here with a grey 1960s Penney’s Marathon… but you just don’t turn these down when offered for $25. This one a TAR OR/Strat clone. The blue/grey felt feels on the lighter side and the 2 1/2 brim would lean more toward Strat-o-like. Of course… as seems to be the theme lately.. this one arrived in a box that was too small. No worries here as it shaped up nicely. A few moth nibbles for character on the right/front side of the brim. I imagine at some point this hat had a liner… but is certainly fine without. May try to buff out some of the minor yellow staining in the felt. A great candidate to add to the working/yard work stable… but certainly fine enough to wear out as well.

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