Vintage Stetson hat sizes.

[Jeff M]

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but I can't find any references to it.
How do "vintage" Stetson hat sizes run?
Is a 7 3/8 truly a 7 3/8....or should I be looking at something like a 7 1/2 for my 7 3/8 sized head?

Oh...same question for Borsalino.

 

[rlk]

Vintage sizes were originally the same as todays sizes. The conditions that they have been worn or stored in can effect the actual size that they are at the moment. It would not be possible to make a blanket statement . However there are a few generally true observations possible.
Borsalino tend to run on the small end of their stated size and I've yet to encounter one that was generous or larger than the tag would suggest. Stetsons are never larger than one would expect(in my experience) and I've had a few that came up more than a size short and couldn't stretch back without a re-block and sweatband replacement. I've even had one 2 sizes under and the same for a Cavanagh.
On the other hand, every Flechet I've seen has been about a size larger than I would expect. All Habigs were at size or larger too.
The H.C.A. brands(Dobbs/Knox Cavanagh etc.) have mostly been as per tag. Portis also up to size or a bit larger.
If the previous owner re-sized, stretched or wet and dried the hat it will obviously be altered.

 

[Jeff M]

Thanks much. Great information.

 

[BanjoMerlin]

Almost all of my vintage Stetsons were smaller than the size marked when I got them. In most cases that was due to shrinkage and it was possible to stretch the hats back to their original size. Felt shrinks more than leather so a wavy sweatband often indicates shrunken felt.

I try to buy vintage Stetsons that are my size or one size bigger.

BTW, the heavily stiffened Stetson "cowboy" hats with thick felt don't seem to shrink as much as the fedoras. The fedoras are easier to stretch.

 

[StetsonHomburg]

Same here all of my Stetson were a tad smaller than the size they are marked! Except my old ratty one thats perfect sized! lol

 

[danofarlington]

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but I can't find any references to it.
How do "vintage" Stetson hat sizes run?
Is a 7 3/8 truly a 7 3/8....or should I be looking at something like a 7 1/2 for my 7 3/8 sized head?

Oh...same question for Borsalino.

My data: I have two Stetsons, one vintage and one newer and stiff from EBay. On the vintage flexible hat, the 7 1/8 size fit me correctly. The new stiff one, apparently unused, with cattleman's crease, came in tight at 7 1/8. My conclusion is that Stetson shrank the size in the latter stiff-hat years.