Stetson Surplus

Frunobulax · Jul 25, 2015

moontheloon said:
seriously there isn't

it is the only way to do business in my opinion

there is a vintage clothes store near me in Somerville NJ called "Incogneeto" ... they almost always have really nice vintage hats coming in at very affordable prices... not always minty and not always my size... but every now and then a gem pops up.
I became friendly with the owner and he introduced me to the woman who owns a costume shop where he gets some of his stuff.
so after getting to know her she shows me to the upstairs room where she keeps the higher priced stuff ... and there on the shelf was a 30's Penneys Marathon and a 40's Stetson Stratoliner ... both in boxes.

of course I left with them and was given a great price after hooking her up with another vintage shop in the area looking to do business

my mom always told me two things

one hand washes the other then both hands wash the face ... and the squeaky wheel gets the grease

thanks mom

Just like anything else in life. Your mom was smart (they seem to be, more often than not). The lady at one of the local vintage shops - she's been in business since the late 70s - has come to recognize me, as well. Pretty sure that's why she was so willing to give me a good price on that Milan a few weeks ago. She even mentioned she was happy I got it before it was destroyed by a customer. I'll have to hook up with the estate sale folks my wife patronizes, perhaps there is fertile ground to till there.

clintfisher · Jul 26, 2015

Words of wisdom. I do many of the same, it really goes a long way.

moontheloon said:
being a working musician for most of my life networking is just in my veins... I've always found that is it much easier to conduct business when on a personal level with someone.
a little kindness and effort sometimes makes pieces come to me instead of waiting on an auction to end and battling snipe bots... which I still do as well sometimes

but aside from that ... at vintage clothes shops I'll become friendly with owners and leave them my card in case something comes in and even call them periodically to check in.
I get to know the people from the company that runs many estate sales in my area and they will put things aside for me .
I get to know the guys at the local hat shops.
I email and text semi regularly with guys from ebay, etsy, and even some from this message board.
... and then through some of those guys I may meet some other people.
once I ventured down the rabbit hole many of these avenues just sort of presented themselves.

you know... always planting the seed and making sure they know my size and my interests and seeing how the family is

after a sale or two they know you are serious and go out of their way to help you out

clintfisher · Jul 30, 2015

Hey gang, just acquired this (what looks to be an open road clone)
Crown: 5 1/2"
Brim: 2 3/4"
I really dig the ribbon, and wondered if you guys had seen this style before? It's nicely tack stitched in, also wondering if we're talking late 50's or early 60's?

moontheloon · Jul 30, 2015

I could be wrong but I doubt that ribbon is stock ... looks like sort of a custom attempt at a puggaree style that was added later

I would guess 50s based on the size tag, the crest and sweat

that inventory tag was used 50s into and through the 60s I believe ... but all other things on the hat point to 50s

Bob Roberts · Jul 30, 2015

+1 on the ribbon. How u gonna crease it?

clintfisher · Jul 30, 2015

I bet you're right Moon, the color scheme seemed pretty solid, I'd just never seen this style on a felt and wondered if it was ever done that way. In any case it's a nice change to all the narrow ribboned open roads I have.

moontheloon said:
I could be wrong but I doubt that ribbon is stock ... looks like sort of a custom attempt at a puggaree style that was added later

I would guess 50s based on the size tag, the crest and sweat

that inventory tag was used 50s into and through the 60s I believe ... but all other things on the hat point to 50s

clintfisher · Jul 30, 2015

I haven't decided yet, maybe just a simple center crease?

Bob Roberts said:
+1 on the ribbon. How u gonna crease it?

Bob Roberts · Jul 30, 2015

clintfisher said:
I haven't decided yet, maybe just a simple center crease?

I'm so INTO plain simple center crease now. You can always go back n change it...

jlee562 · Jul 30, 2015

I know I've seen that style of treatment, though honestly I can't remember if it was on a vintage hat or not. 50/50 on it being a custom job.

But it's a sweet lid, none the less.

tommyK · Jul 30, 2015

moontheloon said:
I could be wrong but I doubt that ribbon is stock ... looks like sort of a custom attempt at a puggaree style that was added later

I would guess 50s based on the size tag, the crest and sweat

that inventory tag was used 50s into and through the 60s I believe ... but all other things on the hat point to 50s

+1 never seen an add for a ribbon treatment like that for Stetson (adds turn up all the time, who knows?), most likely someone replaced an original ribbon

If you've got other Open Roads I wouldn't change a thing, it's well done

clintfisher · Jul 31, 2015

Word, thanks guys!

clintfisher · Dec 11, 2015

Hey guys! Hope you're all doin well, I haven't posted in a while but I got a new band for my vintage Stetson Nevadan and thought I'd share it with you guys

jlee562 · Dec 11, 2015

Buffalo nickels? Sweet!

clintfisher · Dec 11, 2015

Yeah so, buffalo nickels, turquoise on buffalo hide band

jlee562 said:
Buffalo nickels? Sweet!

yeezus_christ · Dec 11, 2015

clintfisher said:
Hey guys! Hope you're all doin well, I haven't posted in a while but I got a new band for my vintage Stetson Nevadan and thought I'd share it with you guys

Bruhhhh.. finna cop one of these. Hook me up with a link

hatophile · Dec 11, 2015

Clint that is spectacular. Reminds me of this:
Charlie Russell hat http://www.randhats.com/hat_detail.cfm?CID=1000,2000&id=ig11l1034blnkm

yeezus_christ · Dec 11, 2015

hatophile said:
Clint that is spectacular. Reminds me of this:
Charlie Russell hat http://www.randhats.com/hat_detail.cfm?CID=1000,2000&id=ig11l1034blnkm

That collection is so fire fam

Lotsahats · Dec 11, 2015

Looks like this video was last posted in 2009, so I think it's safe to bring it back. Here's a link to an Antiques Roadshow episode with a Boss of the Plains, purportedly from the 1870s. You can read more and view the clip here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/199803A06.html

Maybe I've been hanging out on the lounge for too long, but I wanted more provenance for this hat, and I certainly wanted a better look at the guts of the lid.

A

Frunobulax · Dec 11, 2015

Thanks for posting that, Aaron. I don't know that I'd seen it. I agree, I would have liked to see more than just the sweat debossment. And that price was given in 1998. From what we've seen transpire on the Bay lately, I wonder what it would be appraised at now.

Hurricane Jack · Dec 12, 2015

hatophile said:
Clint that is spectacular. Reminds me of this:
Charlie Russell hat http://www.randhats.com/hat_detail.cfm?CID=1000,2000&id=ig11l1034blnkm

I like the Charlie Russell also. I see a few being worn at pow wows by Native American Indian reenactors of the Indian reservation era. It's a great base from which to make such a hat.

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