lbgradwell
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 82
- Location
- Mount Pearl, NL
Although I have long appreciated hats and even had a couple back around 2000 or so, I was not very conversant. But I have learned a great deal over the past couple of years by reading the threads here at The Fedora Lounge and for that, I thank you!
Residing in Canada, my interest was piqued again a few years back when I learned the venerable Biltmore Hats was being shut down and moved to Texas. Even though I'd been aware of Biltmore and had even driven past their former location in Guelph, ON a number of times, I had never taken the time to visit the factory, and that is now something I will always regret.
So, over the past year or so, I have bought a number of Canadian-production Biltmores from people listing the hats on kijiji (like craigslist). I have also picked up a few Akubras both locally and via eBay or directly from an Aussie retailer. In total, I'm now up to 14 including today's acquisition and an Akubra Cattleman that doesn't appear in the photo below...
The hats range from an outright cowboy Biltmore through the western and casual Akubras, a Tyrolean Biltmore for Octoberfest in nearby Kitchener, and a collection of fedoras. In short, I've just been having fun exploring and learning...
But reading through the threads here, it becomes apparent that vintage hats are held in very high esteem. I'm somewhere between a 7-1/2 and a 7-5/8, so I have not been very hopeful of finding anything vintage in my size for an amount I'd be prepared to pay, and had largely decided I'd try a Fed 4 and Campdraft and be done with it.
The hat I bought today was listed as a 7-3/8 - fairly large for vintage I understand - so I thought I'd have it if only to re-sell or trade for something in my size. But when I collected it, the Royal Stetson turned out to be an Extra Long Oval (something I'd never encountered), and, to my pleasant surprise, was pretty close to fitting me!
Once home, I gave it a good brushing and gently wiped it down with a damp cloth. Apart from that musty storage smell, the hat is in extremely good condition. The lady from whom I purchased it said it had been her husband's grandfather's. She was around 50, so I had at least a rough idea of its age, and subsequent research today makes me think it might be a Canadian-made 1950s specimen.
I would like to hear your thoughts - voices of dissent are welcome!
First with the crown popped back to open:
...and then with a quick dry bash and pinch...
And the clues from inside!
I can't quite make out the scribble in the last photo. I considered "Twenty", but I don't know if that makes sense or is even possible.
I look forward to your input!
Residing in Canada, my interest was piqued again a few years back when I learned the venerable Biltmore Hats was being shut down and moved to Texas. Even though I'd been aware of Biltmore and had even driven past their former location in Guelph, ON a number of times, I had never taken the time to visit the factory, and that is now something I will always regret.
So, over the past year or so, I have bought a number of Canadian-production Biltmores from people listing the hats on kijiji (like craigslist). I have also picked up a few Akubras both locally and via eBay or directly from an Aussie retailer. In total, I'm now up to 14 including today's acquisition and an Akubra Cattleman that doesn't appear in the photo below...
The hats range from an outright cowboy Biltmore through the western and casual Akubras, a Tyrolean Biltmore for Octoberfest in nearby Kitchener, and a collection of fedoras. In short, I've just been having fun exploring and learning...
But reading through the threads here, it becomes apparent that vintage hats are held in very high esteem. I'm somewhere between a 7-1/2 and a 7-5/8, so I have not been very hopeful of finding anything vintage in my size for an amount I'd be prepared to pay, and had largely decided I'd try a Fed 4 and Campdraft and be done with it.
The hat I bought today was listed as a 7-3/8 - fairly large for vintage I understand - so I thought I'd have it if only to re-sell or trade for something in my size. But when I collected it, the Royal Stetson turned out to be an Extra Long Oval (something I'd never encountered), and, to my pleasant surprise, was pretty close to fitting me!
Once home, I gave it a good brushing and gently wiped it down with a damp cloth. Apart from that musty storage smell, the hat is in extremely good condition. The lady from whom I purchased it said it had been her husband's grandfather's. She was around 50, so I had at least a rough idea of its age, and subsequent research today makes me think it might be a Canadian-made 1950s specimen.
I would like to hear your thoughts - voices of dissent are welcome!
First with the crown popped back to open:
...and then with a quick dry bash and pinch...
And the clues from inside!
I can't quite make out the scribble in the last photo. I considered "Twenty", but I don't know if that makes sense or is even possible.
I look forward to your input!
