Playboys on Parade!

Frunobulax · Mar 18, 2019

Time to revive this thread. I just picked up this olive green Playboy. It has an unusually wide ribbon for a Playboy (1 1/2"). No liner, and I'm not sure if that's original either. No remnants of a stamp or liner tip sticker can be found.

2 1/2" raw edge brim, no decorative stitching. Crown 6" when open, as opposed to my two other Playboys at 5 1/2". Other than a little staining in spots, it's in great shape.

The ribbon appears to me to be original. Here"s a look at the bow stitching from the inside.

Re-order tags, etc.

The store marking is "Chas. Levinsohn, Asbury Park."

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

moontheloon · Mar 18, 2019

Frunobulax said:
Time to revive this thread. I just picked up this olive green Playboy. It has an unusually wide ribbon for a Playboy (1 1/2"). No liner, and I'm not sure if that's original either. No remnants of a stamp or liner tip sticker can be found.

2 1/2" raw edge brim, no decorative stitching. Crown 6" when open, as opposed to my two other Playboys at 5 1/2". Other than a little staining in spots, it's in great shape.

The ribbon appears to me to be original. Here"s a look at the bow stitching from the inside.

Re-order tags, etc.

The store marking is "Chas. Levinsohn, Asbury Park."

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

interesting Jim

no decorative edge stitch which re-appeared in the mid 40s at some point ... it disappeared after it had been there in the 30s

Justin had one like this with a wide ribbon not long ago ... his also had no stitch and had the same block as well I believe

sometimes there is just no way to figure out what went on in situations like this all those years ago

nice score

M Hatman · Mar 18, 2019

Quite frankly, on situations like this, as with any assembly line type of work, I always wonder if it just a matter of the wrong sweat accidentally mixed in with others when they switch over hat production to another model.....wrong liners, wrong sweats, mixed....it is seen, and like Moon said..so hard to say this many years later.
I will say that this type of thing is seen still at the outlets....where a wrong sweat, or a hat that is supposed to have a bound brim either gets missed or gets a bound edge when it should not.....
In any event a really cool had and GREAT score!!!!
M
PS It would be interesting to perhaps compare the blocking tag with other hats of that era with the wider ribbon and see the models that would match by way of comparison.

Tukwila · Mar 18, 2019

@alanfgag also has a Playboy without stitching, although I do believe it has the usual mid ribbon.

Frunobulax · Mar 18, 2019

Thanks, Ant. I had figured mid-40s based on posts earlier in the thread, but who knows? I need to do a little research into the retailer, as well.

Great felt, like my other Playboys. Very easy to get it back to OC.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Frunobulax · Mar 18, 2019

Thanks, M! The 123 block is the Playboy block, so it's consistent. If anything is "wrong" it's the ribbon. And that ribbon stitching just looks factory to me.

Either way, I'm a happy camper!

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Frunobulax · Mar 18, 2019

Tukwila said:
@alanfgag also has a Playboy without stitching, although I do believe it has the usual mid ribbon.

I read back through the thread yesterday for reference. There was at least one wider ribbon, but the photo links are broken.

Maybe @alanfgag or @carouselvic will weigh in. But regardless of the date, I'm happy to have a third one in my stable.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

alanfgag · Mar 18, 2019

Frunobulax said:
I read back through the thread yesterday for reference. There was at least one wider ribbon, but the photo links are broken.

Maybe @alanfgag or @carouselvic will weigh in. But regardless of the date, I'm happy to have a third one in my stable.

The Playboy mark had a long run. The trademark was filed in late 1935 showing a first use in trade date in early 1934. The two I own are from a similar vintage, c.1940 but show differences in block, ribbon width and branding imprints. The LOTXXXX numbers are 160 numbers apart (7794 and 7636). Both are without the decorative brim stitch.

Frunobulax · Mar 18, 2019

alanfgag said:
The Playboy mark had a long run. The trademark was filed in late 1935 showing a first use in trade date in early 1934. The two I own are from a similar vintage, c.1940 but show differences in block, ribbon width and branding imprints. The LOTXXXX numbers are 160 numbers apart (7794 and 7636). Both are without the decorative brim stitch.

Thanks, Alan. This one has no Lot XXXX number, which I believe you posted earlier in this thread disappeared around 1940. This one also has the less stylized Playboy logo on the sweat. I think those clues put it at least in the mid-40s. Although I can't find a reference to the retailer beyond 1941.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

alanfgag · Mar 18, 2019

Frunobulax said:
Thanks, Alan. This one has no Lot XXXX number, which I believe you posted earlier in this thread disappeared around 1940. This one also has the less stylized Playboy logo on the sweat. I think those clues put it at least in the mid-40s. Although I can't find a reference to the retailer beyond 1941.

I would tend to agree... the heraldic Royal Stetson typeface would suggest mid 1940s on. Hard to see from the photo, but the hat seems to have the soft fabric encapsulation of the reed which was popular in the mid to later 1940s.

moontheloon · Mar 18, 2019

the first photo is a 1930s Playboy that belonged to Spencer ... he estimated it somewhere between '35-'37 or so ... you'll see the stitch is present.
the second is my early 40s Vita Felt Playboy and you can see that the stitch is not present.
I gather that it was present early then disappeared sometime in the late 30s through early 40s then returned at some point in the mid to late 40s sometime

moontheloon · Mar 18, 2019

Frunobulax said:
I read back through the thread yesterday for reference. There was at least one wider ribbon, but the photo links are broken.

Maybe @alanfgag or @carouselvic will weigh in. But regardless of the date, I'm happy to have a third one in my stable.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

see the one Justin owned here

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/1940s-stetson-playboy.94065/

alanfgag · Mar 18, 2019

moontheloon said:
the first photo is a 1930s Playboy that belonged to Spencer ... he estimated it somewhere between '35-'37 or so ... you'll see the stitch is present.
the second is my early 40s Vita Felt Playboy and you can see that the stitch is not present.
I gather that it was present early then disappeared sometime in the late 30s through early 40s then returned at some point in the mid to late 40s sometime

Thanks for sharing Anthony. I can never find anything around here when I am looking for it. Are there interior photos of the this hat somewhere?

We have to remember that hats were fashion influenced and modified to be different from season to season. We have a small sampling - especially of the older hats and modifications were certainly possible. I expect it was also common practice for a man to have his hat cleaned and blocked on a regular basis in a neighborhood hat shop and to have the ribbons changed and the brims adjusted to fit the whims of fashion.

Frunobulax · Mar 18, 2019

alanfgag said:
I would tend to agree... the heraldic Royal Stetson typeface would suggest mid 1940s on. Hard to see from the photo, but the hat seems to have the soft fabric encapsulation of the reed which was popular in the mid to later 1940s.

View attachment 161168

Exactly right on the reeded sweatband. I had took it to be unreeded, and didn't know about the fabric covered ones.

moontheloon said:
see the one Justin owned here

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/1940s-stetson-playboy.94065/

Justin's looks like a kissin' cousin to this one, including the color. I'll have to quiz him on the ribbon width if he remembers it.

Thanks for your input, gents. You've been very helpful.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

moontheloon · Mar 18, 2019

alanfgag said:
Thanks for sharing Anthony. I can never find anything around here when I am looking for it. Are there interior photos of the this hat somewhere?

We have to remember that hats were fashion influenced and modified to be different from season to season. We have a small sampling - especially of the older hats and modifications were certainly possible. I expect it was also common practice for a man to have his hat cleaned and blocked on a regular basis in a neighborhood hat shop and to have the ribbons changed and the brims adjusted to fit the whims of fashion.

I have the photos of Spencers hat saved on my computer somewhere ... I'll dig them up later

psklenar · Mar 22, 2019

Guidance please ... my (I believe) mid 1950's Playboy has a beautiful snap brim. But the crown ... doesn't seem to have any "body" left. I get it shaped into a nice teardrop or diamond, but any handling or wearing or placing on a hat stand ... and the crown loses its shape. It's just too soft and plyable.

If I were to steam the crown, would that "reactivate" any stiffener or anything? Or am I better off sending it off to Art/Dave or someone for cleaning and service (would that be a reblocking or what)?

Thanks for any ideas,
pat----

Frunobulax · Mar 22, 2019

psklenar said:
Guidance please ... my (I believe) mid 1950's Playboy has a beautiful snap brim. But the crown ... doesn't seem to have any "body" left. I get it shaped into a nice teardrop or diamond, but any handling or wearing or placing on a hat stand ... and the crown loses its shape. It's just too soft and plyable.

If I were to steam the crown, would that "reactivate" any stiffener or anything? Or am I better off sending it off to Art/Dave or someone for cleaning and service (would that be a reblocking or what)?

Thanks for any ideas,
pat----

Try steaming first. The green PB I posted last week was pretty soft and it did stiffen it up a bit. PBs are naturally soft, so don't expect too much. Also, steam from the outside, and avoid letting steam contact the sweatband.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

moontheloon · Mar 22, 2019

psklenar said:
Guidance please ... my (I believe) mid 1950's Playboy has a beautiful snap brim. But the crown ... doesn't seem to have any "body" left. I get it shaped into a nice teardrop or diamond, but any handling or wearing or placing on a hat stand ... and the crown loses its shape. It's just too soft and plyable.

If I were to steam the crown, would that "reactivate" any stiffener or anything? Or am I better off sending it off to Art/Dave or someone for cleaning and service (would that be a reblocking or what)?

Thanks for any ideas,
pat----

steam should wake it up

block it out to open crown with a good amount of steam ... brush the crown well (counterclockwise) mid steam to open up the nap... let it dry open

that should bring some of the crispness back

after you recrease the dry crown steam the crease

throw up some pics when you get a sec

Short Balding Guy · Mar 23, 2019

I took a newly cleaned and "spruced up" vintage Stetson Playboy in pine green out for a dog walk. I have not seen many Playboys in this felt hue. The "pine" green hue is a fav of mine. I am very pleased to be able to have it on my hat rack.

This is one of the early Playboys, 30-early 40's, as identified by the soft reeded "wide" leather sweat and fonts.

The stitching on the brim edge is excellent. The liner, while showing fading and some patina from use is clean as can be and still shows the distinct printing from liners of that era. "Pine " was the felt hue as listed in the magazine advertisements in the day.

I took some comparision pics with a vtg. Stetson Stratoliner in pine green. The Stratoliner is a late 40's-50's hat. The reeding and the quality of leather sweat are different. The blocking is nearly the same when the hats are brought to open crown.

The most obvious differences of the ribbon and edge treatment are still fun to seem in comparison as they are both executed well and with quality.

Cheers for pine hued vintage Stetsons! Thanks for allowing me to share my Playboy.

Best, Eric -

rclark · Mar 23, 2019

Short Balding Guy said:
I took a newly cleaned and "spruced up" vintage Stetson Playboy in pine green out for a dog walk. I have not seen many Playboys in this felt hue. The "pine" green hue is a fav of mine. I am very pleased to be able to have it on my hat rack.

This is one of the early Playboys, 30-early 40's, as identified by the soft reeded "wide" leather sweat and fonts.

The stitching on the brim edge is excellent. The liner, while showing fading and some patina from use is clean as can be and still shows the distinct printing from liners of that era. "Pine " was the felt hue as listed in the magazine advertisements in the day.

I took some comparision pics with a vtg. Stetson Stratoliner in pine green. The Stratoliner is a late 40's-50's hat. The reeding and the quality of leather sweat are different. The blocking is nearly the same when the hats are brought to open crown.

The most obvious differences of the ribbon and edge treatment are still fun to seem in comparison as they are both executed well and with quality.

Cheers for pine hued vintage Stetsons! Thanks for allowing me to share my Playboy.

Best, Eric -

What a stunning pair of hats!

Playboys on Parade!

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