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Vintage slogans for hat companies

skyvue

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,221
Location
New York City
I bought a book from 1949 called American Slogans, and in this case, you can tell a book by its cover, because that's just what it contains: a collection of thousands of slogans from companies in every area of commercial endeavor. No commentary, no analysis (other than a brief foreword) -- just 318 pages of commercial slogans of the day (with up to 55 slogans per page).

I thought my fellow denizens of the Lounge might enjoy seeing the entries from the Hats and Caps chapter:

All over town (Young Hat Co.).
All the new ones all the time (Rothchild Bros. Hat Co.).
Are you true to your type (Stetson).

Coolest hat under the sun (Cardine Hat Co.). St. Louis

Don't take less than the best, don't take less than a Lee.

Every man should wear at least three straw hats (Nat. Assn. of Straw Hats Mfrs.).

Hat corner of the world, The (Knox the Hatter).
Hat for every face, A (Sam Bonnart, Inc.).
Hat of silent smartness, The (Lamson & Hubbard Co.).
Hats made so fine that all others must be compared to them (Knox hats).
Hatter to gentlemen for over half a century (Wolthausen).
Hat that goes with good clothes, The (Mallory Hat Co., Inc.).

I look my best in a Hardeman (Hardeman Hat Co.). Seattle.

Mark of the world's most famous hat, The (John B. Stetson Co.).
Most comfortable hat made, The (Resistol self-conforming hats). Byer-Rolnick.

National headquarters for uniform caps (Superior Uniform Cap Co.). Chicago.

On the well-dressed head (Stetson).
Overhead economy (Stetson).

Right for cool comfort (Stetson Straws).
Right for Sunday morning (Stetson).
Right hat for real men, The (Langenberg Hat Co.).

Seen in the best of company (Vanity Hats). Noname Hat Mfg. Co.
Self-conforming hats (Resistol).
Shade better than the rest, A (straw hats). Superior Hat Co., St. Louis.
Step out with a Stetson (John B. Stetson Co.). Philadelphia.
Stiff brim straw with the soft brim fit, The (M.S. Levy & Sons). Baltimore.
Styled for young men (Stetson).

There's a Merton cap or hat for every sport (C.S. Merton & Co.).
Tomorrow's body today (Tuxedo Hat Body Corp.).

Ventilated straw hats (Caradine Hat Co.). St. Louis.

World's largest retailer of hats (Kaufman Hats, Inc.). New York.

You look your best in a Stetson.​
 

zetwal

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Texas
Amusing - thanks for sharing. Anyone have a similar list for other periods and/or languages?
 

"Skeet" McD

Practically Family
Messages
755
Location
Essex Co., Mass'tts
"The Hat of Silent Smartness"

Well, there you have a wonderful window into a whole constellation of ideas about the world and man's relationship to it in five words.

What a wonderful find! And interesting (if, for people like those who hang out here) a bit sad to consider the changes in corporate culture. I suppose slogans still exist, after a fashion, but our age is one of reductionism--and has been for some time. Like so much else, the '60s did it: Companies that once had lengthy (and descriptive) names--Sun Oil Company; American Oil Company; International Business Machines--morphed into collections of letters: Sunoco; Amoco; IBM. Budweiser becomes Bud; Pabst Blue Label becomes PBL, etc, etc.

We have chosen, in our texting universe, to waste no words, letters, nor punctuation--nor the time to read them; and have lost a good deal of civility thereby, I think. [huh]

The straws are in the wind, and your recent purchase is a good one. Congratulations!

"Skeet"
 

Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
Thanks for this. :eusa_clap

"Every man should wear at least three straw hats" - at once? :p
 

skyvue

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,221
Location
New York City
There are several pages of clothing slogans, too, if anyone's interested.

Though I suppose I should post those elsewhere -- where should they go?
 

Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
I would guess General Attire, but it if they're more suit or outerwear heavy, maybe one of those would be better.
 

carter

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,921
Location
Corsicana, TX
More Slogans From Vintage Ads

"Worn By Millions of Men" - Adam Hats

"The Right Hat for Real Men" - Lion Hats

"All There is to Say About a Hat" - Cavanagh Hats

"The Preference of Well Dressed Men" - Knapp-Felt Hats

"Style Follows the Man Who Wears Disney Hats" - Disney Hats
"Discover Disney and Experience the Satisfaction of Wearing America's Finest Hat." - Disney Hats

"It's the Man...It's the Manner...It's the Dobbs." - Dobbs Hats

"The Utmost in Fine Hatcraft" - Knox Hats
"Make His Christmas Merry With Knox Tom & Jerry" - Knox Hats
"If the label is Knox, the hat is right." - Knox Hats
"You know it's a Knox!" - Knox Hats
"Exclusive Interpretation of the Ruling Fashion" - Knox Hats

"Everywhere - a Mark of Distinction" - Mallory Hats
"Feel the Difference in a Mallory" - Mallory Hats
"A 'Mallory Match' Makes Time!" - Mallory Hats
"Delivering the Goods in Style" - Mallory Hats
"The Hats of Youthful Smartness" - Mallory Hats
"A fellow doesn't have to go to college for young ideas." - Mallory Hats
"Style and Service - In Fair Weather or Foul"- Mallory Cravenette Hats
"In a Field by Itself" - Mallory Cravenette Hats
"Easy on the Eyes - Yet They'll Take a Ducking" - Mallory Cravenette Hats
"Feel the difference in a Mallory" - Mallory Hats
"For Young Ideas" - Mallory Hats

"Quality Deluxe for Men" - Chapeau Mossant (France)

"Look Better in all Kinds of Weather" - Portis Hats

"Pace-Setters Wear Hats" - Resistol Hats

"The Mark of Distinction in Fine Headwear" - Schoble Hats

"The Stetson is Part of the Man" - Stetson Hats
"Keep it Under Your Stetson" - Stetson Hats
 

The Elizans

Familiar Face
Messages
85
Location
Southcoast, UK
The most famous (English) slogan?

"If you want to get ahead, get a hat!"

attributed to G. A. Dunn & Co.

N.B. the saying "Full Monty" refering to something being complete or without compromise is a slogan originally attributed to a three-piece suit made by tailors Montague Burton.
 

billyspew

One Too Many
Messages
1,746
Location
London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
The Elizans said:
"If you want to get ahead, get a hat!"

attributed to G. A. Dunn & Co.

N.B. the saying "Full Monty" refering to something being complete or without compromise is a slogan originally attributed to a three-piece suit made by tailors Montague Burton.

I mentioned this above - it was first used by Attaboy in the 30's - I don't think Dunn & Co used it until much later.
 

The Elizans

Familiar Face
Messages
85
Location
Southcoast, UK
Attaboy- now there's a question...

Well, what do you know about Attaboy? I am trying to research them a little. The Denton factory in Manchester made them and they used to be relatively common and easy to get hold of for a few £££'s. Notoriously poor quality sweatbands, unlined and of course (coming from Denton famous for its wool) a high wool content in the felt if not all wool. I have several 40's 50's vintage, but no 30's- have you ever seen one? are they all the same heavily blocked, shallow crown type? I have to say, I do not agree with you about Attaboy coining "If you want to get ahead..." I will try to find something 'Dunn' with it written on!
 

billyspew

One Too Many
Messages
1,746
Location
London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Warning! :eek:fftopic:

I have dug up a little on them - I have seen quite a few in various stores and not yet found one that fits me, or in good enough condition. Of those most of them looked very 60's, and mostly plaid/wool ones and some bad quality felt ones. I have however spotted a few that seemed a higher grade of felt, that looked like they had good quality leather sweatbands in them. I hadn't really put much thought into the crown, but I do remember them looking nicer, they certainly had slightly wider brims (more fedora shaped).
I have been trying to go through old magazines and newspapers to dig out a copy of the advert (to frame), but have yet been unable to find any.

On the slogan, I found a mention in an article from the New Statesman in Sept 2005 mentioning it and there are numerous others stating it, but I'd need to look at my notes which are on my laptop at home. Looking at the LexisNexis news archive The Express mentions it in an article about some Denton Hatters retiring in May 2005, another from The Independent at about the same time on the same subject and another from Manchester Evening News a couple of days beofre (probably their source).
I have a few mentions of people recalling the slogan being used by Dunn in 60's, but only three and it's less specific.

Unfortunately their db only goes back no more than about 20-25 years.

Hope that helps - if you want copies of the articles PM me.

Edit: Have an '89 mention attributing it to Austin Reed
 

Joshbru3

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,409
Location
Chicago, IL
Metro-Felts

"Styled In The Metropolis"

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Long Hats (Adam)

"Wear Like The Name"

&

"Fits Easy On The Head"

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Stevens

"STYLED in NEW YORK"

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CHAMP (Lasalle Hat Co.)

"Americans Undefeated Lightweight Hat"

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(Wadsworth) & (Royalist)

"styled In The English Manner"

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Livorno Hat Co

"Makers Of Fine Hats"

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Portis

"Hand-Craft ; Typically American"

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skyvue

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,221
Location
New York City
If anyone's interested in the other non-hat slogans, visit cladriteradio.com and search on "pitch perfect." I posted the entire contents of that 1949 book of slogans, chapter by chapter. There are dozens of them.
 

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