The famous "X"

[Fortino37]

As I know the "X" on a hat was used to ensure the % of beaver fur that was included in a hat body (X=10% beaver fur) and was introduced in the early or mid 50's, before that, some makers used to state the quality on the price like "Mallory ten"=$10.00, "Dobbs Twenty"=$20.00, just want to be sure about this concepts, was the "X" used before the 50's??

Saludos form Mexicali

Fortino37

 

[feltfan]

I have a 5 X hat from 1942 (dated) and a catalog that uses the
system from 1936, so yeah, predates the 50s.

 

[mike_tulsa]

Vintage Royal Stetson

I am new to the Fedora Lounge and know very little about hats. I recently purchased a vintage royal stetson. Can anyone tell me it's made of? Regards, Mike

 

[scotrace]

Welcome Mike.

That will be difficult if not impossible, unless it says "Beaver" on the sweatband. It might be beaver, rabbit, hare or nutria.

Fortino, based on what we've discussed here, I'm not sure that X means squat. Every hatter had their own X rating system, so ten X's might not mean anything, but three might be great stuff. There's no way to generalize.

 

[deanglen]

"X" has traditionally indicated an unknown quantity so it is possble that the it means they really have no idea what the felt composition is. The greater the number of X's, the less sure they are. I'm kidding, of course.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I remember seeing Jimmy Dean interviewed on t.v. in the late 60's or early
70's. He was wearing a 10X Stetson (cowboy, of course). He said each X stood for ten dollars. (I think cokes and candy bars were a dime, about then.)

 

[feltfan]

I am new to the Fedora Lounge and know very little about hats. I recently purchased a vintage royal stetson. Can anyone tell me it's made of? Regards, Mike

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