a STETSON Foldable & Packable FUR Felt?

[Rick Blaine]

Yup. Stetson "Riviera". Never heard of it, seen one or knew it existed. I have tried Akubra, Christys' & (Modern) Borsalino folders & I found something lacking in each one. I've high hopes for this 'un!

 

[gtdean48]

Looks to have a reeded cloth sweatband...interesting!

Somebody posted on the Lounge = "My Stetson Vita-Felt Riviera came in. This is a cool hat. It's just a tad small and I haven't had the guts to stretch it yet."

 

[Rick Blaine]

Looks to have a reeded cloth sweatband...interesting!

Somebody posted on the Lounge = "My Stetson Vita-Felt Riviera came in. This is a cool hat. It's just a tad small and I haven't had the guts to stretch it yet."

I recall the via-felt, it was a 4o's number, quite striking -black w/ red trim, if I am correct.

This seller also has a feather weight Stetson, 2 1/4" brim w/ the Playboy stitched treatment. He tells me it was a 5o's body, made into a hat in the 8o's and has been languishing, at the back of some shelf, ever since. I wish it were the right size (& price! lol).

 

[RBH]

Damn Rick... I like the looks of that one.
Remember me if it dont fit.....

 

[Rick Blaine]

Damn Rick... I like the looks of that one.
Remember me if it dont fit.....

10-4 good buddy.

 

[mayserwegener]

Is it USA Stetson or Euro Stetson? If it is USA Stetson is it US made?

 

[Rick Blaine]

Is it USA Stetson or Euro Stetson? If it is USA Stetson is it US made?

Not yet in hand, but I will post once received. Is there anything resembling it in the EU?

 

[mayserwegener]

I know Stetson Europe (ie F. W. Scheinder) has a whole different model line-up and manufacturing source. This doesn't look like US made Stetson but I could be wrong. I did a quick search but didn't find anything. You would need to have access to their complete catalog. I am pretty sure the modern Vita - Felt models are Euro Stetson.

http://www.stetson-europe.com

 

[gtdean48]

Hatco must not be at HatCo anymore or he would've surely brought this one to our attention.....

 

[Rick Blaine]

Hatco must not be at HatCo anymore or he would've surely brought this one to our attention.....

I phoned BOTH Garland & St. Joe & according to them; there is no such hat!

 

[randooch]

Wow! I hope it meets expectations, Mr. Blaine. Great color, and looks mighty comfortable to boot.

Eager for your post-experience report.

 

[gtdean48]

I phoned BOTH Garland & St. Joe & according to them; there is no such hat!

Ebay seller = Hat Town USA has a lot of product on the Bay & listed out of California....HMMmmmm

 

[mayserwegener]

Something strange going on there.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Something strange going on there.

These guys are the ebay presence of Berkeley Hat Co in the bay area, they are straight shooters- on the bubble guys, so far as I can tell.
Thirty two years in biz they must be doin' something right.
I phoned them, spoke to Fransisco, got the skinny on these- clearing warehouses & backstock & so on. Some nice older Biltmores too, when they were still made in Canuckistan. But certainly some oddballs.

Makes me wonder if'n this one might've been a prototype, as I can find NO mention of it, ANYwhere- old magazines, trade pubs, newspaper ads- nothin'. Makes me wonder. [huh] At least it is not labeled STEMSON, right? lol

 

[Rick Blaine]

Wow! I hope it meets expectations, Mr. Blaine. Great color, and looks mighty comfortable to boot.

I too hold high hopes. The only packable fur felt that has ever suited me was a Lagomarsino from Argentina, been to China & back w/ that one.

Eager for your post-experience report.

Forthcoming. It has shipped!

 

[Blackthorn]

I phoned BOTH Garland & St. Joe & according to them; there is no such hat!

If they're saying that, I hope it's not a Chinese knock-off. But...if it is, maybe they won't be using powder in their dyes. Hmmm....I'm still interested. Let us know if it's true to size.

 

[Hoyt Clagwell]

Some nice older Biltmores too, when they were still made in Canuckistan.

I have never learned to like that reference to Canada. Good luck with the hat though.

 

[mayserwegener]

These guys are the ebay presence of Berkeley Hat Co in the bay area, they are straight shooters- on the bubble guys, so far as I can tell.
Thirty two years in biz they must be doin' something right.
I phoned them, spoke to Fransisco, got the skinny on these- clearing warehouses & backstock & so on. Some nice older Biltmores too, when they were still made in Canuckistan. But certainly some oddballs.

Makes me wonder if'n this one might've been a prototype, as I can find NO mention of it, ANYwhere- old magazines, trade pubs, newspaper ads- nothin'. Makes me wonder. [huh] At least it is not labeled STEMSON, right? lol

So what did they have to say about it?

 

[Rick Blaine]

I have never learned to like that reference to Canada. Good luck with the hat though.

As a future Calgarian, I extend polite apologies.

So what did they have to say about it?

'bout what I told ya'll i.e.- warehouse cleaning, old or forgotten stock, odds & sods and so on.
I asked if this were a prototype and was told that he thought they sold this model in the eighties. [huh]
I'd never heard of nor seen such.

 

[Hoyt Clagwell]

As a future Calgarian, I extend polite apologies.

Thanks Rick, I know you didn't mean anything by it.
I usually don't get so sensetive about those kinds of things, but that one always brings to mind what Pat Buchanan said, and how many young Canadian soldiers have died since he said it.
Sorry to stray off topic.
Go Flames!