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Astor Hats of Distinction

Messages
11,520
Astor Hats of Distinction

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I recently acquired a hat from Astor Hats. It is a brand I am unfamiliar with and did not see much of anything from the brand on the lounge other than @BobHufford also has an Astor Hats branded hat. Digging around further I could not find much else about the Astor hats brand.

I did find some interesting information about the Astor family which may or may not be related to Astor hats.

John Jacob Astor made his wealth in the fur trade in the early part of the 19th century. His financial success would make John Jacob Astor one of the wealthiest men in the United States and then the Astor family one of the most wealthy in the US for the next century. Cities and towns with the name or landmarks with the names Astor or Astoria have lineage to the Astor family name including the famous hotel Waldorf Astoria and earned the family nickname as the “landlords of New York”

John’s great grandson John Jacob Astor IV and his family were passengers on the ill fated maiden voyage of the Titanic as the ships most wealthy passengers. John Jacob IV would perish with the sinking of the ship. He was portrayed in every Titanic motion picture made and was known to wear boaters.

I do not know if there is a direct relationship of Astor Hats to the Astor family. However considering the integral connection of the fur trade to hat manufacturing and how prominent the Astor name was in the 19th and 20th century it is very possible there may have been or if not the name could have been in homage to the Astor family name. All conjecture on my part.

If anyone any further info on Astor Hats or have any Astor hats to post please add them here.

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Messages
11,520
Here is my Astor Hats - Stratoliner clone

A4A6F7B5-7677-423B-90AA-514BBE15472B.jpeg


Astor Hats of Distinction - Stratoliner Clone
Medium Tan light weight felt
Just over 5 1/2 crown open. (About 5 inch with shallow center dent)
3/8 matching grosgrain thin ribbon
2 3/4 brim 1/8 matching grosgrain binding

It is a Stratoliner style with 2 3/4 brim and about 5 1/2 crown in a medium tan color with a slight reddish hue. Originally sold at Stevens In Petersburg-Princeton, Indiana. There are some very shallow moth tracks here and there but they do not take away from this beauty. With the slightly wider brim, one might make the case this is more of an Open Road clone but I think the thin light weight felt pointed more towards Strat. Probably splitting hairs there as the style is so similar to both. But that’s my impression. All in all this Astor Hats is a prime example of lesser known brands producing damn fine hats.

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Messages
11,520
I did dig up a post by @Orgetorix of one that was sold in the classifieds here about nine years ago. I’ll repost it here for posterity

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/1920s-30s-brown-astor-fedora-7-1-4.67622/

This is a 1920s or '30s fedora made by Astor; I lean toward the older end of that range because of the proportions - 5.75" crown, 2" brim - and the style of the markings. It's a dark chocolate brown with a black ribbon with a fringed bow. It's in fantastic condition - not a moth nibble anywhere, and the sweatband is still soft and supple. The liner logo is a bit worn, but that's the only thing keeping me from saying it's in mint condition. It's tagged size 7 1/4, and that seems pretty close - inside circumference is 22 1/2".

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Messages
11,520
Here is my Astor Hats - Stratoliner clone

View attachment 355889

Astor Hats of Distinction - Stratoliner Clone
Medium Tan light weight felt
Just over 5 1/2 crown open. (About 5 inch with shallow center dent)
3/8 matching grosgrain thin ribbon
2 3/4 brim 1/8 matching grosgrain binding

It is a Stratoliner style with 2 3/4 brim and about 5 1/2 crown in a medium tan color with a slight reddish hue. Originally sold at Stevens In Petersburg-Princeton, Indiana. There are some very shallow moth tracks here and there but they do not take away from this beauty. With the slightly wider brim, one might make the case this is more of an Open Road clone but I think the thin light weight felt pointed more towards Strat. Probably splitting hairs there as the style is so similar to both. But that’s my impression. All in all this Astor Hats is a prime example of lesser known brands producing damn fine hats.

View attachment 355889 View attachment 355890 View attachment 355891 View attachment 355892 View attachment 355893 View attachment 355894 View attachment 355895 View attachment 355896 View attachment 355897 View attachment 355898
I happened upon my original post above and realized the photos I posted on the outside of my Astor… were in fact… photos of a Champ Feather Weight.

Here are photos of the Astor

IMG_20210816_183550805_Original.jpeg
IMG_20210816_183601820_Original.jpeg
IMG_20210816_183625564_Original.jpeg
IMG_20210816_183629717_Original.jpeg
IMG_20230504_180607385_PORTRAIT_Original.jpeg
IMG_20230504_180602392_PORTRAIT_Original.jpeg
IMG_20230504_180645826_Original.jpeg
 

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