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Stetson No. 1 Quality

DaveProc

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,477
Location
Rhode Island
I bought this based on a fuzzy exterior photo and one of the store stamp. I was surprised to find out it was a Stetson No. 1 upon arrival. Maybe 1920s? I’m all lost in the lot number debates. Looks like 4567 to me.

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uiug.30112064263251-seq_100.jpg

1924
 

wsmontana

Practically Family
Messages
748
Location
Montana
I bought this based on a fuzzy exterior photo and one of the store stamp. I was surprised to find out it was a Stetson No. 1 upon arrival. Maybe 1920s? I’m all lost in the lot number debates. Looks like 4567 to me.

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Wow, nice find Bob!
 

MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
I bought this based on a fuzzy exterior photo and one of the store stamp. I was surprised to find out it was a Stetson No. 1 upon arrival. Maybe 1920s? I’m all lost in the lot number debates. Looks like 4567 to me.

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That's at least a 20's hat.
 

DaveProc

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,477
Location
Rhode Island
I bought this based on a fuzzy exterior photo and one of the store stamp. I was surprised to find out it was a Stetson No. 1 upon arrival. Maybe 1920s? I’m all lost in the lot number debates. Looks like 4567 to me.

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The texture of the sweat, the black size tag, the crisp lines of the logo say 1920s to me
 
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MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
Stetson Number 1 Quality. Has 4 inch bound brim and 6 inch open crown. It dates somewhere from mid 30's to about 1940 or so. There's no Lot Number in the sweatband.
 

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MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
I thought that the ‘40s era sticker was this (without the separate cells for Block, Depth, Finish).
You're absolutely right, Bob. I forgot what I knew about these tags and spoke without refreshing my memory. I'll have to go back and delete that post. Thanks for catching that. I don't mind a bit dating that hat a little earlier! So looks like it dates from mid 30's to early 40's. I'm not convinced that every single early Stetson had a Lot Number in it.
 
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RickP

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,806
You're absolutely right, Bob. I forgot what I knew about these tags and spoke without refreshing my memory. I'll have to go back and delete that post. Thanks for catching that. I don't mind a bit dating that hat a little earlier! So looks like it dates from mid 30's to early 40's. I'm not convinced that every single early Stetson had a Lot Number in it.
From my experience, Ive found more older stetsons in my limited experience WITHOUT lot number stamps, or stamps too weak to read. I pretty much gave up dating by lot stamps and just concentrate on what looks good to me. Someday when Ive got more money, maybe I can worry about that lol
 

MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
From my experience, Ive found more older stetsons in my limited experience WITHOUT lot number stamps, or stamps too weak to read. I pretty much gave up dating by lot stamps and just concentrate on what looks good to me. Someday when Ive got more money, maybe I can worry about that lol
Of course in the context of my conversation, "older" Stetsons means about 1941 and earlier.
 

MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
Stetson Number 1 Quality. Has 4 1/2 inch bound brim. The open crown measures 6 1/2 inches but the mfg tag says the Depth is 7 inches, so hat seems to have a lot of shrinkage. Looks like there's a Lot Number that's too faint to read. I guess this is a 1930's hat. I think the Block Number is 406 on mfg tag.
 

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MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
Stetson Number 1 Quality. Has 3 1/2 inch brim and open crown is 6 inches or a bit over. Lot Number 7686. This is a brand new, never worn hat given to the Mayor of Minneapolis, Marvin L Kline, as a birthday present from Gene Autry, who inscribed, signed, and dated it August 15, 1941. I bought it from a grandson of the Mayor. So this hat dates about 1940-41, assuming it hadn't sat around in the store too long. The hat crease appears to have come from the factory as shown here.
 

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MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
Two more photos of the hatbox containing the Gene Autry signed Stetson. Handwriting from Mayor Kline's wife giving the hat to her son Jerry. This is the original box for this Stetson.
 

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wsmontana

Practically Family
Messages
748
Location
Montana
Stetson Number 1 Quality. Has 3 1/2 inch brim and open crown is 6 inches or a bit over. Lot Number 7686. This is a brand new, never worn hat given to the Mayor of Minneapolis, Marvin L Kline, as a birthday present from Gene Autry, who inscribed, signed, and dated it August 15, 1941. I bought it from a grandson of the Mayor. So this hat dates about 1940-41, assuming it hadn't sat around in the store too long. The hat crease appears to have come from the factory as shown here.
That’s a beauty Mike — great find!

It’s also great to see an actual date associated with a lot #!
 

MikeinRome

One Too Many
Messages
1,285
Stetson Number 1 Quality with 3 1/4 inch brim and 6 inch open crown. The brim edge has 3/8 inch binding on the underside. "SOFT 8" is stamped twice around the Lot Number. I can't read the Lot Number but I suspect it's a mid to late 1930's hat. The hat cost $9.00 new.
 

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