five-dollar stetson stiff-rim?

[Blackthorn]

I'm reading Jack London's The Road (written about his exploits in the 1890s), and he mentions that this hat, a "five-dollar stetson stiff-rim" was the hobo's uniform. I've googled the phrase to try and find pictures, to no avail. Have any of you ever heard of this before? I'd love to see what they looked like.

 

[Dinerman]

Stiff rim? Probably referring to a flat brim Boss of the Plains, which gets its rigidity more from stiffener than from the structure provided by a flanged brim.

 

[fedoracentric]

Could it mean a derby?

 

[hatophile]

Maybe similar to Mountie hats?

http://www.insidevancouver.ca/wp-co...Dawson-City-during-the-Klondike-gold-rush.jpg

 

[HeyMoe]

here is Jack London in Alaska:
http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/history/history/history-features/6576-jack-londons-alaska

and a bit older

so it may well be a Mountie style hat.

 

[fedoracentric]

Somehow I don't see American hobos running around in 4-inch wide Montana Peak hats, folks. Nor do I see hobos in western Boss of the Plaines hats. I maintain the story was talking about derbies.

But maybe it would help to see the full Jack London quote in context.Is there more to the quote that might help figure it out?

 

[Blackthorn]

Somehow I don't see American hobos running around in 4-inch wide Montana Peak hats, folks. Nor do I see hobos in western Boss of the Plaines hats. I maintain the story was talking about derbies.

But maybe it would help to see the full Jack London quote in context.Is there more to the quote that might help figure it out?

'I used to wonder how the road-kids all managed to wear "five-dollar Stetson stiff-rims," and now I knew.'


From this chapter of The Road: http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/TheRoad/road-kids.html

 

[Blackthorn]

I can't see the hobos wearing a Boss of the Plains, nor derbies either. I thought maybe his phrase was common knowledge, but maybe not.

 

[HeyMoe]

More from the quote for more context:

"We took our position on K Street, on the corner, I think, of Fifth. It was early in the evening and the street was crowded. Bob studied the head-gear of every Chinaman that passed. I used to wonder how the road-kids all managed to wear "five-dollar Stetson stiff-rims," and now I knew. They got them, the way I was going to get mine, from the Chinese. I was nervous — there were so many people about; but Bob was cool as an iceberg. Several times, when I started forward toward a Chinaman, all nerved and keyed up, Bob dragged me back. He wanted me to get a good hat, and one that fitted. Now a hat came by that was the right size but not new; and, after a dozen impossible hats, along would come one that was new but not the right size. And when one did come by that was new and the right size, the rim was too large or not large enough. My, Bob was finicky. 1 was so wrought up that I'd have snatched any kind of a head- covering.

At last came the hat, the one hat in Sacramento for me. I knew it was a winner as soon as I looked at it. I glanced at Bob. He sent a sweeping look-about for police, then nodded his head. I lifted the hat from the Chinaman's head and pulled it down on my own. It was a perfect fit. Then I started. I heard Bob crying out, and I caught a glimpse of him blocking the irate Mongolian and tripping him up. I ran on. I turned up the next corner, and around the next. This street was not so crowded as K, and I walked along in quietude, catching my breath and congratulating myself upon my hat and my get-away."

 

[mayserwegener]

If it was a 1890s city setting. Most would be wearing stiff felts (Derby) or Euro soft felts with curled brims (Homburg, Fedora). Some had stiffer brims.

 

[fedoracentric]

I say derbies. I've seen several photos of Chinese immigrants wearing derbies in old photos when they westernized themselves to live in the US.

 

[Blackthorn]

You guys are convincing me...maybe it was a derby. That might explain where Charley Chaplain got the idea for his Tramp character.

 

[g.durand]

Now a hat came by that was the right size but not new; and, after a dozen impossible hats, along would come one that was new but not the right size. And when one did come by that was new and the right size, the rim was too large or not large enough. .......I was so wrought up that I'd have snatched any kind of a head- covering.

At last came the hat, the one hat in Sacramento for me. I knew it was a winner as soon as I looked at it. .......I walked along in quietude, catching my breath and congratulating myself upon my hat and my get-away.

Sounds like a typical Ebay hat-buying experience.

 

[HeyMoe]

Sounds like a typical Ebay hat-buying experience.

You have hit the nail on the head sir!

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Just to confuse things



Maybe that's why he continued to wear a similar hat after he made it big to remind him of his hobo days.

 

[mayserwegener]

That style wouldn't match the situation. Sounds like a city setting.

 

[Blackthorn]

Just to confuse things



Maybe that's why he continued to wear a similar hat after he made it big to remind him of his hobo days.

Very interesting! Now I'm more confused than ever! I guess I'll never make a good hobo.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

That might explain where Charley Chaplain got the idea for his Tramp character.

Wasn't charley's hat a bowler ? after all Charley was English & maybe he liked the contast between the bowler hat & suit which were worn by prosperous folk at the time & his 'hobo ' predicament, or maybe I'm reading too much into it..

 

[mayserwegener]

What does that photo have to do with the written passage?

 

[Lean'n'mean]

That style wouldn't match the situation. Sounds like a city setting.

Hobos weren't static but moved around from town to town (usually by foot) looking for work.