rclark
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,271
- Location
- Central Texas
Adam Texan
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- Thread starter Rundquist
- Start date
rclark
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,271
- Location
- Central Texas
Royal Stetson DeLuxe Stratoliner
- Messages
- 19,128
- Location
- Funkytown, USA
Hello fellas, i bought a hat off my local facebook marketplace. The lady said it was her grandfather's and she didnt know anything about it. It felt good to the touch so I bought it. There are no holes but a few spots where the material is noticeably thinner. Was wondering if you guys could help me try to date it and if it would be worth it to have it professionally restored. It is marked Royal Stetson.
- Messages
- 18,941
- Location
- Central California
To me, it looks like a hat from the mid 1960s through the 1970s. It’s a style that can often be readily found on the vintage market at very reasonable prices. It’s probably not “worth” having it restored unless you like the style and you plan on wearing it for a long time. Even in mint condition such hats usually don’t sell for half the cost of a decent professional refurbishment.
It’s like spending $40,000 to put in a swimming pool: it might only add $20,000 to the value of the home, but what do you care if the reason you’re putting it in is to have a pool to use rather than to raise the value of your home. You could spend $130 on this hat and end up with a hat that would sell for $40, but if you’re not looking to sell it....? Then again, you could also spend some time on eBay and find one in good shape that doesn’t need to be refurbished for $40 too.
- Messages
- 18,941
- Location
- Central California
A complete refurbishment: re-blocked, flanged, cleaned, new sweatband, new liner, etc., usually costs $100 or more and for most of us there’s shipping involved too.
Randall Renshaw
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,782
- Location
- Nahunta, Ga.
I love finding hats from this time period that defy the usual narrow brim, low crown hats that dreadfully became the new normal.
My first green hat. Randy @Rmccamey says its color is called peacock green by Stetson. I say it’s money green.
It’s also my first Imperial Stetson that happens to be a Fifteen. I’ve got one other Stetson Fifteen, but it’s essentially an Open Road.
This one originally sold in a defunct store of San Angelo, Texas. Now lives in South Georgia for as long as I live. I like this’n.
Gave the size 7 a two size stretch without using a hat block. However, it actually arrived with sweatband measurements of a 7 1/8. The reedless thing magically stretched easily and didn’t cause the tell tell unattractive taper in the crown.
Long ago stopped stretching hats that the sweats wouldn’t take it or cause irreparable crown taper.
Its Imperial felt is so thin and floppy yet somehow holds a steamed shape very well! Enchanted I tell ya.
Wide brimmed and tall crowned, though only weighs 3.3 ounces!
I steamed in a diamond crease today. Fits this hat better.
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- Messages
- 10,952
Wonderful hat Randall. Looks great on you
- Messages
- 10,952
Wormser Western Straw
Wormser Western Straw
4 1/2 crown
3/4 grosgrain ribbon
3 1/2 brim
A new addition to the lawn maintenance stable. The stiff leather sweat was a bit snug out of the box. But wearing for a bit it softened up enough to shape to my head.
Wormser Western Straw
4 1/2 crown
3/4 grosgrain ribbon
3 1/2 brim
A new addition to the lawn maintenance stable. The stiff leather sweat was a bit snug out of the box. But wearing for a bit it softened up enough to shape to my head.
Randall Renshaw
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,782
- Location
- Nahunta, Ga.
Nice acquisition, Joe. Plenty of ventilation there so your head can breathe while maintaining the lawn.
- Messages
- 10,952
Thanks Steve. That was my line of thinking. And for $4 couldn’t go wrong taking a shot.
- Messages
- 15,015
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Nice new find... I think a little earlier than your estimate. The hat appears to have a fabric (rather than hard) reed, which is a construction detail that appears in 1940s hats. I think this one might perhaps be c.1950. The Imperial was a fifteen dollar hat that appears in tandem with other fifteen dollar designations - Stetson fifteen and XXX beaver quality among them. A mode edge appears in dress hats at this $$ level. Can't tell much about the color from the photos. If you haven't seen it this earlier Imperial Stetson is a color that might be referred to as peacock, though I don't know if it was:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-imperial-stetson-1940.56880/
Randall Renshaw
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,782
- Location
- Nahunta, Ga.
Thanks, Alan, for the info and the color update. And that true peacock green Imperial you have is to die for!!!
Also enjoyed reading that thread.
Though, I have questions.
I’m no dating expert. For as much as you know about hats you’re likely correct, but isn’t it taught on this forum that the “manila” size tag will identify a Stetson as being made in the late 50s/early 60s?
And, I own a mint condition size 7 1/2 mid 50s 3X Beaver Quality 2 5/8” wide brimmed Mode Edge—so dated by the Appearance of the clear plastic liner tip cover and maple leaf shield—that has the same styled reed-less sweatband. (At least, I own it until it sells on eBay.
)This type sweatband used on both this hat and my Imperial threw me for a loop and I didn’t know how to factor it.
Please believe me, I’m trying to learn how to correctly identify the era of any given hat, so please feel free to answer.
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- Messages
- 15,015
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Thanks, Alan, for the info and the color update. And that true peacock green Imperial you have is to die for!!!
Also enjoyed reading that thread.
Though, I have questions.
I’m no dating expert. For as much as you know about hats you’re likely correct, but isn’t it taught on this forum that the “manila” size tag will identify a Stetson as being made in the late 50s/early 60s?
And, I own a mint condition size 7 1/2 mid 50s 3X Beaver Quality 2 5/8” wide brimmed Mode Edge so dated by the Appearance of the clear plastic liner tip cover and maple leaf shield—that has the same styled reed-less sweatband. (At least, I own it until it sells on eBay.
This type sweatband used on both of these hats threw me for a loop and I didn’t know how to factor it.
Now, please believe me, I’m trying to learn how to correctly identify the era of any given hat, so please feel free to answer.
I am not certain on the dating of your recent Imperial, but a few thoughts. First, the manila Long Oval size tag is a variant which does not conform cleanly to the dating theories for the regular oval keyhole tags. I do not see a plastic liner protector on this hat, correct? I've uploaded a detail photo of the fabric reed which I believe is the same as in your hat - here on a 1940s Royal DeLuxe Vita-Felt. I have not deconstructed one of these sweatbands so don't know if there is a "reed" material running through the fabric band, but it is not reedless. The leather is sewn to the fabric band which is in turn sewn to the hat body. My guess is it provided a conforming and comfortable sweatband for lighter weight hats.
I am not a student of the maple leaf/stars dating theories. Does the hat have its manufacturing tag present? The elements I see suggest a hat from the early 1950s or thereabouts.
Randall Renshaw
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,782
- Location
- Nahunta, Ga.
Great info!
Here are some photos.
The first is the Imperial tag that looks to have been ripped off and cloth taped back in by the factory? Curious.
The second is the mid 50s 3X.
Third, is a “reed-less” sweatband that I took out of a completely moth eaten 40s Stetson Gay Prince clone and very recently sewed, in differently than factory specs, into a 40s long hair. So, yes, I have deconstructed one and you’re assumption is correct.
There’s no hard reed of any kind and I agree that it seems to be used in light weight hats for comfort.
This Imperial and the 3x has the maple leaf in the crest.
And no, the Imperial does not have a plastic liner tip cover, but wasn’t there times they didn’t use them on some later hats?
I don’t know, but I know I like trying to learn and this is great!
Thanks Alan! I’m sure many of us here will enjoy more of your input on this subject.
Here are some photos.
The first is the Imperial tag that looks to have been ripped off and cloth taped back in by the factory? Curious.
The second is the mid 50s 3X.
Third, is a “reed-less” sweatband that I took out of a completely moth eaten 40s Stetson Gay Prince clone and very recently sewed, in differently than factory specs, into a 40s long hair. So, yes, I have deconstructed one and you’re assumption is correct.
There’s no hard reed of any kind and I agree that it seems to be used in light weight hats for comfort.
This Imperial and the 3x has the maple leaf in the crest.
And no, the Imperial does not have a plastic liner tip cover, but wasn’t there times they didn’t use them on some later hats?
I don’t know, but I know I like trying to learn and this is great!
Thanks Alan! I’m sure many of us here will enjoy more of your input on this subject.
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