The Resistol Roundup

bowlerman · Jun 24, 2012

4X black Resistol western hat I received yesterday:

I was originally going to try to convert this from its high cattleman to the Johhny Depp MTV movie awards hat (the steel grey one with diamond crease and front and back pinches, with a sharply turned up brim roll, matching wide ribbon with native american style bone pipe band). I think I came close with the crown, but discovered very quickly that I'm no good at rolling a brim by hand, so for now it stays with the western curve.

Chepstow · Jun 25, 2012

Jeff, cool Hat, looks good. My congrats!

TPD166 · Jun 25, 2012

Diamond Horseshoe 110

I just picked up this hat, which is marked "Diamond Horseshoe 110" - Paris Hatters opined it may have been a forerunner of the 20X. It is a beautiful hat in any event. If anyone knows anything about these hats, please let me know.

KC Capellor · Jun 27, 2012

TPD, looks like a good one, I've seen listings for Diamond Horseshoe series Resistols marked 15X, 20X, and 25X felt, new ones retail for $250 - 400, top model has real silver/gold/diamond buckle on felt band. I'd guess yours is older series 15X - 20X equivalent - a very nice western hat favored by AQHA etc. and often given as prizes at horse riding events.
By the way, I noticed a while back that the Resistol factory lists restoration services for hats 20X grade and above... for a fee. Has anyone here had a Resi' restored by the factory?

KC Capellor · Jun 27, 2012

bowlerman, like the look of the diamond crown, are you trying for a "pencil roll" curl up all the way around? I've heard that's difficult without the special curling irons or ad libbing banana shaped wood or plastic forms with lots of steam. I'm curious because I'd like to try it on a similar western hat. (I noticed that grey one too - J. Depp really rocks his hats!)

bowlerman · Jun 27, 2012

KC-- heh, yeah I was trying for that pencil roll with what looks like a sharp upturn, almost a fold more than a roll (?), but gave it up when it became very clear my hands weren't going to be very effective! If I had the dough to buy one of those curling shackles, I'd probably spend it on a new hat with the roll already done by a pro (probably Mike Moore from Buckaroo Hats)!
Also, Depp's hat seems to have a lower open crown, since the telescoped part is rather shallow and tapers more. Yeah, that's one hell of a hat!

KC Capellor · Jul 1, 2012

Anybody else wearing a felt Resi' in this heat, or just straws? I know our Oklahoma and Texas neighbors are shading their heads under a lot of broad brims too. 110F is not uncommon! These are the dog days in K.C....drying out my Panama after disc golf in 102F heat (gotta love it when TWC tells you "but feels like 106"!) Then, Resistol after dark... Beaver 35.

TPD166 · Jul 4, 2012

If anyone is looking for a project hat or "beater," I just listed this vintage San Antonio (size 7 LO) in the classifieds. A nice hat, but was suffering some undisclosed moth damage (no holes) when it arrived.

redhawks2 · Jul 4, 2012

So here is a recent acquisition from the bay. It has nice, soft felt and is my go to hat often.

redhawks2 · Jul 4, 2012

Here is the hat that I meant to post in the previous thread.

randooch · Jul 4, 2012

Nice one, Redhawks. I like the strange "O"s (reminiscent of cuneiform!) and slanted sweatband stitching.

Jeff, I tried to muscle a pencil curl into the brim of my Resistol 15X. I had some success, but when I finished, carpal tunnel was just around the corner.

KC Capellor · Jul 6, 2012

TPD-
Looks great, I need a beater SA! I'll PM you.
thanks,
KC

Finally got my summer avatar loaded, I feel cooler already! (104F here today, with wind chill of 109 or so, once again ditched my sweat-soaked Panama at dusk for my SA Beaver 35.)

TPD166 · Jul 6, 2012

Here is my latest - a San Antonio in 7X (Byer-Rolnick era). I have decided to leave this one in the "Open Road" style (most of mine are fedoras).

Joao Encarnado · Jul 6, 2012

Resistol Buckskin Diamond Horseshoe... in Vendas Novas swimming pool.

KC Capellor · Jul 12, 2012

TPD166, thanks to you for the smokin' deal on the "beater" grade vintage San Antonio. Arrived quickly and as described: tons of character, well moth nibbled, original cattleman's crease with old fashioned front and rear dents. The felt has fine finish despite age and moth attacks, no grade marked, feels identical to my 3X vintage fedoras. The white silk Byer-Rolnick dress-hat liner and brown Melorol series sweatband are excellent and wind trolley is present and intact - definitely my oldest Resistol yet. Brim 2 3/4", crown 5 1/2" open, 4 1/4" as creased.
Late 1940's - early 1950's (?) Resistol San Antonio Silver Belly:
before: (note tan color compared to Silver Belly 3X and Palamino Beaver 35 in background)

after: Gave it my quick teardrop bash with a wet towel and wore it for yard work today to sweat it in:

thanks again to lounger TPD166 for hooking me up with a vintage classic for the cost of postage! Cheers! KC

TPD166 · Jul 13, 2012

KC Capellor said:
thanks again to lounger TPD166 for hooking me up with a vintage classic for the cost of postage! Cheers! KC

I'm glad it found a good home - wish it had fit me!

TPD166 · Jul 13, 2012

I got this last week - 1960s Resistol Cutting Horse straw.

TPD166 · Jul 30, 2012

Nice vintage Resistol straw offered in the Classifieds:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?65398-Vintage-Resistol-Straw-Western-Hat-7-3-8

Benzadmiral · Jul 31, 2012

This weekend I bid on this one, and to my surprise won it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=261071172477

My size, a color I don't have in my collection, a Resistol, and a Kitten, all in one. How could I resist?

Rabbit · Jul 31, 2012

Benzadmiral said:
This weekend I bid on this one, and to my surprise won it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=261071172477

My size, a color I don't have in my collection, a Resistol, and a Kitten, all in one. How could I resist?

You just might have gotten yourself a treasure there. Looks like a fifties model to me (liner without plastic, sweatband stitching, overall construction). The Kitten Finish hats of that decade were quite something. If the felt feels like clay when creasing the crown you'll know it's the real thing.

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