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[Judgmentalist]

@blewnote maybe you can tell me how good I am getting at dating Stetsons....

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this one was offered for sale by Clark the Hatter of Kansas City, MO on April 20, 1952. My dad would have been -3 years old at the time. This kind of boggles my mind sometimes.

Clark the Hatter was a longtime Kansas City shop, in business from at least the turn of the century and still operating when this hat was apparently tagged in 1952. I haven't found a storefront photo yet, but I did buy a matchbook cover to go with this hat.

This may be my first restoration attempt. Unless someone talks me out of it. The felt on this hat is very nice, with no mothing at all. Dirty though. The liner is in good shape, unless you count the yellowing of the onion skin.

I’m pretty sure the sticker lying on the table is dated 4/20/1952, but unfortunately I couldn’t unfold it far enough to get a good photograph without risking destroying what was left of it. I may look into some kind of document restoration or something. I'd like to be able to put that sticker back together so that the date is readable.

The felt is quality, and both the liner and sweatband are clean and worth saving. So I’m torn between:

a.) jump in the deep end
b.) don’t mess this hat up, dummy

What do you guys think?

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Got a matchbook cover in today to go with my Clark the Hatter 3XB.

 

[hambone71]

Beautiful hat, Phil. I do love that color combination. Is that a Gorsagu?

Sorry for the late response, Joe! Shamefully, I’m not exactly sure what a Gorsagu is. That word is not printed anywhere on the hat that I’ve seen. Enlighten me on this. Is that a model name, felt quality, or a particular shape with certain proportions?

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Wearing my new Wolfbrae hat that arrived yesterday. The fit is spot on!

 

[Blare]

Sorry for the late response, Joe! Shamefully, I’m not exactly sure what a Gorsagu is. That word is not printed anywhere on the hat that I’ve seen. Enlighten me on this. Is that a model name, felt quality, or a particular shape with certain proportions?

I believe it is a model name, made for the US market. If so It would likely be on the manufacturing tag along with the color. Generally from the ones Ive seen, they have very nice fedora proportions and if I’m not mistaken a hand felted (cavanagh) edge

 

[hambone71]

I believe it is a model name, made for the US market. If so It would likely be on the manufacturing tag along with the color. Generally from the ones Ive seen, they have very nice fedora proportions and if I’m not mistaken a hand felted (cavanagh) edge

I checked behind the sweat and I found some stickers. I couldn’t find a model name or color but it had American sizing of 7 1/8. One of the stickers has the Borsalino brand printed in their typical branding font but the other words were not legible due to fading. It does have the self edge felted brim and it’s very nicely done. That’s one of the characteristics that drew me to this one. I think this one is a nice little entry into the Borsalino world. It won’t be my last.

 

[Pellie]

This Barbisio i bought after a tip from Stefan @steur . Thanks Stefan. It's a very nice black homburg (is it a homburg??). Very glorious brim of 7cm in front and 6,5cm at the sides. Size 58 is a bit snug for me, so i will give it a stretch. I don't know the age but it's a very nice hat!!

 

[jeffgarf]

This Barbisio i bought after a tip from Stefan @steur . Thanks Stefan. It's a very nice black homburg (is it a homburg??). Very glorious brim of 7cm in front and 6,5cm at the sides. Size 58 is a bit snug for me, so i will give it a stretch. I don't know the age but it's a very nice hat!!
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Bene Brak is a city here in Israel. The hat is certainly post-1948, but likely mid to late 50's. A fantastic find.

 

[Pellie]

Bene Brak is a city here in Israel. The hat is certainly post-1948, but likely miss to late 50's. A fantastic find.

Thanks Jeff. Israël? Really? That's cool.

 

[jeffgarf]

Thanks Jeff. Israël? Really? That's cool.

It is the single most religious city (even more than Jerusalem, perhaps) and the homburg would have been sold in many locations there back then. They are still sold, but much less frequently worn today. Now that the weather has cooled here, I may break one of mine out sooner or later.

 

[Pellie]

It is the single most religious city (even more than Jerusalem, perhaps) and the homburg would have been should in many locations there back then. They are still sold, but much less frequently worn today. Now that the weather has cooled here, I may break one of mine out sooner or later.

Nice info, tx!

 

[steur]

I recently picked up this lightweight Borsalino from an inactive Lounger friend of mine. My first ever Borsa. Never even touched one before this. The felt is in wonderful condition. A slight repair had been made in the sweatband stitching but has a strong hold. I love the color combo here, as it’s suits my preferences and environment perfectly. This one will be in my regular rotation this Fall/Winter.

Pardon my traditional, 20 yr old, worn out, ratty old gameday sweatshirt for brisk Fall Saturday mornings. View attachment 812660 View attachment 812661 View attachment 812662 View attachment 812663 View attachment 812664 View attachment 812665 View attachment 812666

Cool find, Phil. Can you post it in the Borsalino thread as well? Along with a picture of the label, even if it's faded. Sometimes we can squeeze out some information out of it anyway.

 

[hambone71]

Cool find, Phil. Can you post it in the Borsalino thread as well? Along with a picture of the label, even if it's faded. Sometimes we can squeeze out some information out of it anyway.

Will do, Stefan! I’m out of town for a couple days, but I’ll get it posted on the Borsalino thread by the time you post your hats of the week! Thanks for the comment and the like!

 

[Judgmentalist]

Got a new one in today. Nothing under the sweatband so far as I’ve been able to determine, though I’ve been very careful about manipulating it. Based on the size tag, I’m guessing this one is from sometime in the ’60s, but I’m happy to be corrected if necessary.

There was a Henry Forrest in the right era who trained some Kentucky Derby winners, but without more data it’s impossible to narrow it down. I also found a picture of this Henry Forrest wearing a very-much-not Stetson One Hundred type hat for what that is worth.

There are several other plausible candidates with a paper trail, and no way to know how many Henry Forrests with deep pockets simply didn’t leave a 60-ish-year mark on history.

Stetson One Hundred

good news/bad news; it's my wife's size, not mine - she looks better than me in my hats anyway - probably for the best

 

[Judgmentalist]

Got a new one in today. Nothing under the sweatband so far as I’ve been able to determine, though I’ve been very careful about manipulating it. Based on the size tag, I’m guessing this one is from sometime in the ’60s, but I’m happy to be corrected if necessary.

There was a Henry Forrest in the right era who trained some Kentucky Derby winners, but without more data it’s impossible to narrow it down. I also found a picture of this Henry Forrest wearing a very-much-not Stetson One Hundred type hat for what that is worth.

There are several other plausible candidates with a paper trail, and no way to know how many Henry Forrests qiht deep pockets simply didn’t leave a 60-ish-year mark on history.

Stetson One Hundred
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good news/bad news; it's my wife's size, not mine - she looks better than me in my hats anyway - probably for the best
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I had my world-famous hatter make a few minor modifications to make it wearable for me and bring it into the modern era.

 

[ruvort]

Got a new one in today. Nothing under the sweatband so far as I’ve been able to determine, though I’ve been very careful about manipulating it. Based on the size tag, I’m guessing this one is from sometime in the ’60s, but I’m happy to be corrected if necessary.

There was a Henry Forrest in the right era who trained some Kentucky Derby winners, but without more data it’s impossible to narrow it down. I also found a picture of this Henry Forrest wearing a very-much-not Stetson One Hundred type hat for what that is worth.

There are several other plausible candidates with a paper trail, and no way to know how many Henry Forrests with deep pockets simply didn’t leave a 60-ish-year mark on history.

Stetson One Hundred
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good news/bad news; it's my wife's size, not mine - she looks better than me in my hats anyway - probably for the best
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View attachment 814057

I was bummed when I lost this auction. Hopefully it has gone to a good home and your wife wears it in good health.

 

[Judgmentalist]

I was bummed when I lost this auction. Hopefully it has gone to a good home and your wife wears it in good health.

I didn’t bid on the eBay listing - though I would have if I had seen it. A friend of mine bought it for the case and didn’t need the hat.

I was surprised at how low the eBay listing closed, even for a 6 7/8.

 

[ruvort]

I didn’t bid on the eBay listing - though I would have if I had seen it. A friend of mine bought it for the case and didn’t need the hat.

I was surprised at how low the eBay listing closed, even for a 6 7/8.

Gotcha.

Dang. Sort of makes me feel worse knowing the winner didn't want the hat.

 

[Judgmentalist]

Gotcha.

Dang. Sort of makes me feel worse knowing the winner didn't want the hat.

I know. I’m sorry. - I thought you were a 7. Can you wear a 6 7/8?

 

[ruvort]

I know. I’m sorry. - I thought you were a 7. Can you wear a 6 7/8?

Not your fault

I am actually a 6 7/8, but sometimes 7 works if the sweatband dimensions are right.

 

[Rmccamey]

A very nice hat with a proper homburg curl!

This Barbisio i bought after a tip from Stefan @steur . Thanks Stefan. It's a very nice black homburg (is it a homburg??). Very glorious brim of 7cm in front and 6,5cm at the sides. Size 58 is a bit snug for me, so i will give it a stretch. I don't know the age but it's a very nice hat!!
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