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Dating Your Hat (A Place to Discuss the Age of Your Vintage Hat)

Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
’46 or ‘47? I think the switch from Royal Stetson DeLuxe to Royal DeLuxe Stetson was in about ‘46.

I was going to guess '48.


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Just Daniel

One Too Many
Messages
1,446
Nice.

All jokes aside, that serves to confirm how little we know on exact dates. I would not have placed it in the 50s, but I still always have to say, “We presume…” or “assume” because it’s impossible to know.

For me to date this as a ‘51 I would expect to see a liner protector and white/printed manufacturing tag. Those definitively indicate post-48. But their absence does not mean pre-48.

So back to “We presume…”






 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
Nice.

All jokes aside, that serves to confirm how little we know on exact dates. I would not have placed it in the 50s, but I still always have to say, “We presume…” or “assume” because it’s impossible to know.

For me to date this as a ‘51 I would expect to see a liner protector and white/printed manufacturing tag. Those definitively indicate post-48. But their absence does not mean pre-48.

So back to “We presume…”


I’ve seen O.P.A. Stetsons with the red label, but I too thought for sure this was a 1940s hat.

In actually, we are only 3-4 years off and that’s not bad at all. There are many clues to the age of a hat, but not many definitives. As a wearer rather than a collector, I use the dating to estimate the quality or attributes when buying over the internet, and those are the things I’m most interested in and not the actual date of manufacture. Wouldn’t it be nice though if every hat was date stamped.
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,305
Location
Denmark
I’ve seen O.P.A. Stetsons with the red label, but I too thought for sure this was a 1940s hat.

In actually, we are only 3-4 years off and that’s not bad at all. There are many clues to the age of a hat, but not many definitives. As a wearer rather than a collector, I use the dating to estimate the quality or attributes when buying over the internet, and those are the things I’m most interested in and not the actual date of manufacture. Wouldn’t it be nice though if every hat was date stamped.
I've often thought that too, Brent. Then again, I'd miss the "fun" of researching on the internet and FL :)
 

dekeshooter

New in Town
Messages
6
Location
Indiana
I’m interested in dating two hats I’ve picked up in the past year or so. This one I have had no luck in finding much if anything about on this forum. It’s a Stetson London Club. I’m not sure it’s old enough to be considered vintage, but I’d like to know more about it.
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I’m fairly certain from information I have gleaned here, the Stetson Whippet is from the late 1940’s/early 1950’s.
 

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I’m interested in dating two hats I’ve picked up in the past year or so. This one I have had no luck in finding much if anything about on this forum. It’s a Stetson London Club. I’m not sure it’s old enough to be considered vintage, but I’d like to know more about it.
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I’m fairly certain from information I have gleaned here, the Stetson Whippet is from the late 1940’s/early 1950’s.

I'd venture that the London Club was from the late '60s. Does the size tag have metric and US hat sizes marked? Being wool it may be hard to find advertising for it to narrow it down.

The Whippet is most likely mid-1950s. Do you have a pic of the factory sticker behind the sweat band and up under the edge of the liner?
 

dekeshooter

New in Town
Messages
6
Location
Indiana
I'd venture that the London Club was from the late '60s. Does the size tag have metric and US hat sizes marked? Being wool it may be hard to find advertising for it to narrow it down.

The Whippet is most likely mid-1950s. Do you have a pic of the factory sticker behind the sweat band and up under the edge of the liner?
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Here is a shot of the label. It’s still there but faded.
 

MikeinRome

Practically Family
Messages
775
Need help narrowing down age of this Stetson 10X I bought last year. The hat box is original to the hat. I was guessing 1970's but don't really know, since I don't usually fool with hats this recent. It originally had a Cattleman's crease.
 

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Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
Need help narrowing down age of this Stetson 10X I bought last year. The hat box is original to the hat. I was guessing 1970's but don't really know, since I don't usually fool with hats this recent. It originally had a Cattleman's crease.


The iridescent checkerboard liner, black rectangular size tag without metic sizing, and laced sweatband make me think you got it right: 1970…just a guess, but I’d say early ‘70s.
 

MikeinRome

Practically Family
Messages
775
The iridescent checkerboard liner, black rectangular size tag without metic sizing, and laced sweatband make me think you got it right: 1970…just a guess, but I’d say early ‘70s.
Thanks, Brent. You were looking at the same things I was. The felt on this hat is super soft and the seller thought it was beaver belly fur.The closest thing I've seen to it is on that Resistol Seventy Five of mine.
 

dca2

New in Town
Messages
3
Been lurking and this is my 1st post.
Please help to ballpark the age of these 2 hats (I think I didn't get screwed on price but pleases advise):
1st - Resistol I got on Goodwill for $18, no size indicated but I found once it arrived - way too small, gave it to a friend; 2nd Bates I got off of eBay for $95
Thanks,
Dave
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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,305
Location
Denmark
Been lurking and this is my 1st post.
Please help to ballpark the age of these 2 hats (I think I didn't get screwed on price but pleases advise):
1st - Resistol I got on Goodwill for $18, no size indicated but I found once it arrived - way too small, gave it to a friend; 2nd Bates I got off of eBay for $95
Thanks,
Dave
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Two nice buys. The Resistol was a steal at £18. Ca. 1950s, I'd say.

The Bates a few decades later, but still not a bad price.

The Bates
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
Been lurking and this is my 1st post.
Please help to ballpark the age of these 2 hats (I think I didn't get screwed on price but pleases advise):
1st - Resistol I got on Goodwill for $18, no size indicated but I found once it arrived - way too small, gave it to a friend; 2nd Bates I got off of eBay for $95
Thanks,
Dave
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The Resistol looks to be 1960s to me.
 

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