Dobbs fifteen, twenty?

[Feraud]

What is the difference?

Thanks!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Dobbs Fifteen cost $15, while Dobbs Twenty cost -- you guessed it -- 20 clams.

Common sense says that the more expensive of the two hats was the better-made, or at least had better felt. Exactly how it was better is a case for hat vivisectionists.

.

 

[Feraud]

Dobbs Fifteen cost $15, while Dobbs Twenty cost -- you guessed it -- 20 clams.

haha, I thought that might be the case and was going to say it but thought I would look foolish if the truth were otherwise!
Thank you for the info.

 

[Dinerman]

so- that's it?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That's what?

.

 

[Dinerman]

that's all there is to it with the numbers? I always have wondered exactly what they meant.

 

[feltfan]

Of course a Dobbs 15 from the 1940s is probably
a nicer hat than a Dobbs 20 from the 1960s...

 

[Marc Chevalier]

that's all there is to it with the numbers?

Yup. The numbers refer to the price (and, by implication, the quality).

.

 

[jamespowers]

Pretty simple on the surface but not really. There is a huge difference between a Stetson 100 and say a Stetson 15 of the same age. You can easily tell too.
The higher the price the better the accoutrements. Better liner, better sweatband, ribbon and even the person who made the hat. A Stetson 15 was a line hat. It was likely produced on the regular line by regular hatters and apprentices. A Stetson 100 never saw these people. It started in the hands of a Master Hatter and stayed there. Therefore the fit and finish was also better. Would you rather have you hat finished by a person who has only been a hatter for 5 years or a gentleman who has been doing it for twenty or thirty years. Get the subtle difference?
I can bet you know which can put a sweatband in better or make a superior bow.

Regards,

J

 

[Mr. Lucky]

So 15 WON'T get you 20! Good to know. Good to know.