"Uncontested - The Champ"

[Frunobulax]

Thanks for the compliments and info! I am unfamiliar too. Post #107 back in this thread has some 40's advertisements of lightweight La Salle hats, the same logo mine has printed on the sweatband. I might well be wrong though.

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I was too lazy to go look at the rest of the thread. I think the unreeded sweat, along with the style, say you're pretty close in age. It's a great pick up.

 

[DaveProc]

Champ Stratoliner Clone today.

 

[Blare]

Check Mate!

I thought of playing the Queens Gambit... I ultimately passed on this Champ. However I never before came across this model and its neat Chess themed liner.... figured it deserved a spot here.

 

[Frunobulax]

I've been looking for one of these for a while.

This was purchased a month or so ago, but needed some rehab work before it was ready for the FL.

Champ Featherweight in tan, unlined with a plastic liner tip. The sweatband and felt are in good shape, but hoo boy, it was filthy. The previous owner must have used copious amounts of pomade, or bear grease, or maybe axle grease, on their hair. The crown was gunked up so much it bled through the felt, and there were even marks on the inside showing how it ran down the crown.

Grody to the max!

So, a dunk in the gas, a Woolite crown soak, and a second gas dunk didn't make it perfect, but it's presentable.

5 1/2" OC, pretty tapered.
2 1/2" brim.

I don't know anyone who smokes, so I haven't weighed against two packs of cigarettes.

 

[steur]

I've been looking for one of these for a while.

This was purchased a month or so ago, but needed some rehab work before it was ready for the FL.

Champ Featherweight in tan, unlined with a plastic liner tip. The sweatband and felt are in good shape, but hoo boy, it was filthy. The previous owner must have used copious amounts of pomade, or bear grease, or maybe axle grease, on their hair. The crown was gunked up so much it bled through the felt, and there were even marks on the inside showing how it ran down the crown.

Grody to the max!

So, a dunk in the gas, a Woolite crown soak, and a second gas dunk didn't make it perfect, but it's presentable.

5 1/2" OC, pretty tapered.
2 1/2" brim.

I don't know anyone who smokes, so I haven't weighed against two packs of cigarettes.

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Nice catch, Jim and impressive save. They are very lightweight. Mine weighs only 81 grams.

 

[Frunobulax]

Nice catch, Jim and impressive save. They are very lightweight. Mine weighs only 81 grams.

Thanks, Stefan, I've neglected to weigh mine. I'll have to do othat later today when I get the chance.

 

[Blare]

I've been looking for one of these for a while.

This was purchased a month or so ago, but needed some rehab work before it was ready for the FL.

Champ Featherweight in tan, unlined with a plastic liner tip. The sweatband and felt are in good shape, but hoo boy, it was filthy. The previous owner must have used copious amounts of pomade, or bear grease, or maybe axle grease, on their hair. The crown was gunked up so much it bled through the felt, and there were even marks on the inside showing how it ran down the crown.

Grody to the max!

So, a dunk in the gas, a Woolite crown soak, and a second gas dunk didn't make it perfect, but it's presentable.

5 1/2" OC, pretty tapered.
2 1/2" brim.

I don't know anyone who smokes, so I haven't weighed against two packs of cigarettes.

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Very nice Jim. Looks like you did a wonderful job. If I remember correctly mine weighs slightly more than two packs even if the scale on the logo showed differently. I was thinking about it recently and I’d bet a pack of “real” cigarettes from 70 or so years ago might have weighed more than what they have today.

 

[Frunobulax]

Very nice Jim. Looks like you did a wonderful job. If I remember correctly mine weighs slightly more than two packs even if the scale on the logo showed differently. I was thinking about it recently and I’d bet a pack of “real” cigarettes from 70 or so years ago might have weighed more than what they have today.

Mine probably weighed three packs before I got all crap out of it, LOL.

 

[Blare]

Mine probably weighed three packs before I got all crap out of it, LOL.

 

[Blare]

My Champ Featherweight needed to step into the ring.

Champ Feather Weight - Kasmir Finish

Toast - Medium Tan Felt
4 3/4 crown to peak as shaped
3/4 Champagne Grosgrain Ribbon
2 3/4 brim with 1/8 grosgrain binding
92 grams

Got this one some months back and decided it needed its entry here. Champ FeatherWeight Kasmir Finish in a semi western/casual style. I was happy to find this one as it is my first Champ other than a small 60s Stingy that was even a bit small for me. This unlined lightweight hat checks in at a fit trim 92 grams... fairly light considering it’s 2 3/4 brim. The black and gold Champ Featherweight scale logo on the sweat is fantastic. The felt color is “Toast” a medium tan. Hardly a blemish on this nearly pristine hat.

 

[Blare]

The Champ is Here

Feather Weight Champ - Kasmir Finish
Light to Medium Tan Felt with. Warm tones
4 3/4 crown as shaped
3/4 matching grosgrain mid ribbon
2 3/4 brim with 1/8 matching grosgrain binding
Black and Gold Feather Weight Scale logo with feather

A second Feather Weight Champ arrived. This hat suffered from a phenomenon I refer to as “Puckering” where the base of the crown is actually puckered in in spots around the hat band. I’m not sure what the cause… though I suspect it may be caused when hats were stacked tightly for long periods of time or it may be the hats may have shrunken somewhat… or some combination there of. Whatever the cause.. I’ve had decent results in the past steaming the puckers out. So far I haven’t gotten rid of them entirely but reduced the effect dramatically. I would bet if they were placed on a block and steamed and left to dry it might smooth them out entirely. I’m happy with the results for now though. My other Feather weight Champ is a bit more minty condition. Other than condition though the only differences between the two a slight difference in color.. this one a hair lighter with warmer tones compared to the slightly reddish tones of the Toast color indicated on the fresher hat. The other difference is in the sweat logo. They both have the black and gold Feather Weight Champ scale logo. This one has a feather on the left side of the scale the other has two packs of cigarettes. I wonder which was first. There is one small dark spot on the crown I was able to scrub out some but not remove it’s camouflaged slightly in the pinch. I cleaned off some dried sweat salt from the sweatband and smoothed over a damp fingers worth of coconut oil to moisten it up a bit. Had to be pretty careful looking underneath the sweat as even though it wasn’t entirely brittle it was stiff enough to leave some concern. I did not find any manufacturers tag other than a square 7 1/8 size sticker. Interesting enough this 7 1/8 seems to fit closer to a size 7 than even my size 7 Champ. Maybe some evidence toward the “puckering” being a shrinkage issue

 

[Blare]

Here are the two Feather Weight scale logos one with the feather on the left the other with the two packs of cigarettes. I’m not sure which one came first

the other featherweight logo I believe is the four seasons shield version like Jim’s above I THINK came after these.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Here are the two Feather Weight scale logos one with the feather on the left the other with the two packs of cigarettes. I’m not sure which one came first

View attachment 355182

the other featherweight logo I believe is the four seasons shield version like Jim’s above I THINK came after these.

Two cool
B

 

[Frunobulax]

Here are the two Feather Weight scale logos one with the feather on the left the other with the two packs of cigarettes. I’m not sure which one came first

View attachment 355182

the other featherweight logo I believe is the four seasons shield version like Jim’s above I THINK came after these.

I'm guessing the cigarette thing came after the feather. Mine is definitely not as old as your two.

 

[Blare]

I'm guessing the cigarette thing came after the feather. Mine is definitely not as old as your two.

I have seen advertisements with the cigarette thing… I think dated around 1950… but I’m not sure I’ve seen the feather one except on hats. It is interesting the cigarette one has that fancy script font and one word featherweight. The feather version is a more block font two words feather weight. I see yours is also one word but an italicized font.

I had thought a possibility was that the two packs of cigarettes was a quantifiable claim that they would (maybe) have to back up. Where as the feather might be more hyperbolic. OR conversely by putting a feather on a scale with the hat could be seen as making an actual false claim that it was indeed light as a feather…. moving beyond the hyperbole of just saying featherweight.

but probably more likely they had the feather scale logo…. And then someone in marketing said.. HEY.. I have an idea!

 

[Frunobulax]

I have seen advertisements with the cigarette thing… I think dated around 1950… but I’m not sure I’ve seen the feather one except on hats. It is interesting the cigarette one has that fancy script font and one word featherweight. The feather version is a more block font two words feather weight. I see yours is also one word but an italicized font.

I had thought a possibility was that the two packs of cigarettes was a quantifiable claim that they would (maybe) have to back up. Where as the feather might be more hyperbolic. OR conversely by putting a feather on a scale with the hat could be seen as making an actual false claim that it was indeed light as a feather…. moving beyond the hyperbole of just saying featherweight.

but probably more likely they had the feather scale logo…. And then someone in marketing said.. HEY.. I have an idea!

I'm with your last thought. Advertising claims were seen as hyperbole at one time, believe it or not, and not everyone litigated over such stupid stuff. I mean, Red Ball Jets (shoes) fervently told me during Saturday morning ads that they would make me run faster and jump higher. Even as a five-year old, I didn't really believe that.

But I always kept an eye out for that Cream of Wheat bowl following me around when I left the house.

 

[Blare]

One thing about dating Champ hats… I feel like it’s a fairly finite period broken into chunks. If I have this correct… You have when Champ was a model from La Salle. Champ by La Salle Then they change the whole name to just Champ which seems to be mid to late 40s. 1956 they become part of HCA… hats looking fairly similar to early 50s but liner tips are plastic some differences in sweat and reeding. and by mid 60s everything looks fully integrated into HCA so most hats Champ/Dunlap/HCA all pretty much the same.

 

[Blare]

I'm with your last thought. Advertising claims were seen as hyperbole at one time, believe it or not, and not everyone litigated over such stupid stuff. I mean, Red Ball Jets (shoes) fervently told me during Saturday morning ads that they would make me run faster and jump higher. Even as a five-year old, I didn't really believe that.

But I always kept an eye out for that Cream of Wheat bowl following me around when I left the house.

Creepy floating ghost bowl of cream of wheat aside… That kid looks like he had a great childhood. A boy and his dog.

 

[Frunobulax]

Creepy floating ghost bowl of cream of wheat aside… That kid looks like he had a great childhood. A boy and his dog.

Thank God my childhood wasn't far off that mark. Get the hell out of the house in the morning, come home for a baloney sandwich at noon, then don't show up again until the streetlights come on.

...and Whiffleballs feared me!

 

[Snowman]

Does anyone know how long HatCo used the Champ brand after 1956?