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[Hat and Rehat]

I have more size 7 hats now than 7 1/8, which I wear. Some 7s were bought as merchandise if I can get my business plan operational, others though were sellers being wrong about an untagged size, or giving a size range, and losing my own calculated wager.
I had resolved to buy no more 7s for a while, but then saw an auction nearing close with a 99 cent minimum and no bidders. $11.20 shipping, and a "vintage Stetson 3X Beaver."
I bid .99 and forgot about it until I got the pay now email. I paid my $12.20 and pretty much forgot about it again, partly because of major distractions over the weekend.
A package arrives yesterday and I think, Oh, cool. When I open it and see a green Stetson I realize its my $12 hat, though it isn't the olive I expected from the pictures. Its a rather interesting blue/green, and the felt is light and soft, but has almost a touch of velour , but is not a velour felt. The hat is clean and in pretty new condition but a little dented up. A horizontal dent breakes the front of the crown right above the ribbon, and is there with memory. The brim is a felted overwelt and the sweat informs me its a Selv-edge. It also informs me in a "shield" border that the hat is 3X Beaver "Quality". The lining is different than any other Stetson I own, with the logo in that same shield, a circle with indents on four corners.
I reverse the sweat looking for more information. Any paper tagging is gone, but again something is unlike any of my Stetsons. The tape for the reed is cut back on the inside, and instead a chain stich of almost 1/4", up from the tape/leather seam, this is sewn low, at that seam.
Does "3X Beaver Quality" mean the same thing as 3X Beaver. Or do I now own a Stetson Mallory hat of wool felt?
If so, its still a much better deal than any Scala wool on Amazon, but it does seem a bit deceptive.

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[Hat and Rehat]

Not yet, but thanks for asking.
Right now, the hat is in a giant ziploc bag with a bowl of baking soda. I'll leave it there for a few days and see if it makes any difference. A couple days ago I sprayed the interior down with 90% rubbing alcohol and put it out in the sun for about 8 hours. I don't think it helped. Prior to that I wiped the interior down with some wipes designed for dogs/pets. They are scented, and those actually seemed to be most effective in removing odor. With all the various things I have tried, I think the overall odor is reduced by about 70%, so progress is being made. It still smells just enough that it bothers me when I wear it, especially out in the sun. If the baking soda doesn't do it, I will consider removing the sewn-in sweat or the naptha/dry clean or just getting a new hat!

It couldn't hurt to drop in at a drycleaner and ask questions. Its free too, unless you go with their services. I've replaced sweatbands several times, and presently have two new ones basted into place ready to be sewn in. If you remove yours you will be able to sew it or a new one in.
I think anyone who has done one will tell you the first one was a royal pain. The darn thing seems to constantly get in your way.
They get much essier after you have a couple under your belt ---- or hat.

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[deadlyhandsome]

I have more size 7 hats now than 7 1/8, which I wear. Some 7s were bought as merchandise if I can get my business plan operational, others though were sellers being wrong about an untagged size, or giving a size range, and losing my own calculated wager.
I had resolved to buy no more 7s for a while, but then saw an auction nearing close with a 99 cent minimum and no bidders. $11.20 shipping, and a "vintage Stetson 3X Beaver."
I bid .99 and forgot about it until I got the pay now email. I paid my $12.20 and pretty much forgot about it again, partly because of major distractions over the weekend.
A package arrives yesterday and I think, Oh, cool. When I open it and see a green Stetson I realize its my $12 hat, though it isn't the olive I expected from the pictures. Its a rather interesting blue/green, and the felt is light and soft, but has almost a touch of velour , but is not a velour felt. The hat is clean and in pretty new condition but a little dented up. A horizontal dent breakes the front of the crown right above the ribbon, and is there with memory. The brim is a felted overwelt and the sweat informs me its a Selv-edge. It also informs me in a "shield" border that the hat is 3X Beaver "Quality". The lining is different than any other Stetson I own, with the logo in that same shield, a circle with indents on four corners.
I reverse the sweat looking for more information. Any paper tagging is gone, but again something is unlike any of my Stetsons. The tape for the reed is cut back on the inside, and instead a chain stich of almost 1/4", up from the tape/leather seam, this is sewn low, at that seam.
Does "3X Beaver Quality" mean the same thing as 3X Beaver. Or do I now own a Stetson Mallory hat of wool felt?
If so, its still a much better deal than any Scala wool on Amazon, but it does seem a bit deceptive.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Photos would really be helpful. From what you describe, this is definitely a fur felt and not a wool felt hat. Also, Selv-Edge is a felted edge but not an overwelt per se. I get that there is a lip on the top, but overwelt is used to describe a sewn down edge rather than a felted edge.

I don’t know where the “Mallory” reference came from. Did the hat say “Mallory by Stetson” or something similar?

It’s hard to say without photos, but the finish could be an antelope/suede finish. Suede finishes have a longer nap than the standard finish but still shorter than velour. I’m a big fan of suede finishes.

Looking forward to seeing the photos.


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[Hat and Rehat]

Photos would really be helpful. From what you describe, this is definitely a fur felt and not a wool felt hat. Also, Selv-Edge is a felted edge but not an overwelt per se. I get that there is a lip on the top, but overwelt is used to describe a sewn down edge rather than a felted edge.

I don’t know where the “Mallory” reference came from. Did the hat say “Mallory by Stetson” or something similar?

It’s hard to say without photos, but the finish could be an antelope/suede finish. Suede finishes have a longer nap than the standard finish but still shorter than velour. I’m a big fan of suede finishes.

Looking forward to seeing the photos.


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OK. Thanks, but the pictures will have to come later. I said Mallory, because other ads I've seen that stated a Stetson was wool were more than one time an ad for a Mallory. I wasn't really using it in a technical sense, but trying to infer "Mallory like."
Incidentally, the felt feels pretty nice, but I don't believe most of my fur felts would be as stubborn with the fold in the front.

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[jonesy86]

How do you clean a stain in ribbon?

I picked up a stain on the light colored ribbon of my Biltmore hemp, probably from fooling around with feather and flower lei hat bands:

It doesn't look like the straw is stained, and I am wondering if I can clean it without taking it off the hat as I don't know much about sewing.

Thanks,

Peace.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

How do you clean a stain in ribbon?

I picked up a stain on the light colored ribbon of my Biltmore hemp, probably from fooling around with feather and flower lei hat bands:

View attachment 168898

It doesn't look like the straw is stained, and I am wondering if I can clean it without taking it off the hat as I don't know much about sewing.

Thanks,

Peace.

Hit up Bowen. He can describe his Marine toothpaste method.


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[Hat and Rehat]

A seller says a hat was originally one size, but listed it much smaller and estimated it is up to 1/2 " smaller than it started.
I'm waiting to hear why they believe that was the origional size.
Should I trust a tag or their estimate? 1/2" shrinkage sounds extreme if the leather is present and smooth.

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[deadlyhandsome]

A seller says a hat was originally one size, but listed it much smaller and estimated it is up to 1/2 " smaller than it started.
I'm waiting to hear why they believe that was the origional size.
Should I trust a tag or their estimate? 1/2" shrinkage sounds extreme if the leather is present and smooth.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

I’d pass on the hat.


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[Hat and Rehat]

I’d pass on the hat.


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OK. And thanks. Why would you pass, though?
You may be giving me excellent advice, but it doesn't reveal anything new that I can continue to apply in the future.

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[Hat and Rehat]

And .... It's a Strat, so I'm looking for loopholes in your advice.

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[Rmccamey]

You might get them to take a picture of themselves (or someone) wearing their regular size hat then a pic wearing this one. Not an exact science, but it might give you a gauge. I have a wonderful 50's size 7 (by the label and production tag) Stetson 15 that has not been abused and I know is at least one size, maybe two, smaller. I have no idea why. My only guess is that it may have been stored in an area that was not climate controlled and the combination of heat, cold, and humidity may have been factors. I have another 50's size 7 OR that fits my 7 1/8 perfectly. Go figure!

A seller says a hat was originally one size, but listed it much smaller and estimated it is up to 1/2 " smaller than it started.
I'm waiting to hear why they believe that was the origional size.
Should I trust a tag or their estimate? 1/2" shrinkage sounds extreme if the leather is present and smooth.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[Hat and Rehat]

You might get them to take a picture of themselves (or someone) wearing their regular size hat then a pic wearing this one. Not an exact science, but it might give you a gauge. I have a wonderful 50's size 7 (by the label and production tag) Stetson 15 that has not been abused and I know is at least one size, maybe two, smaller. I have no idea why. My only guess is that it may have been stored in an area that was not climate controlled and the combination of heat, cold, and humidity may have been factors. I have another 50's size 7 OR that fits my 7 1/8 perfectly. Go figure!

That's a good tip.
I haven't heard back, but think the "original size" might be theirs, but it doesn't fit.

I noted you didn't use the past tense describing your hats.

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[Rmccamey]

Yep. My little OR was one of those "finds of a lifetime" and it's a keeper. The Fifteen does need a good home, however.

 

[Frunobulax]

That's a good tip.
I haven't heard back, but think the "original size" might be theirs, but it doesn't fit.

I noted you didn't use the past tense describing your hats.

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Ask them to measure the inside of the sweatband front-to-back and side-to-side. If you add those two numbers (in inches) and divide by 2, it will give you a pretty accurate size.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

OK. And thanks. Why would you pass, though?
You may be giving me excellent advice, but it doesn't reveal anything new that I can continue to apply in the future.

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Personally, I’ve been burned too often with seller’s telling me how it fits or giving their circumference measurements. I’ve had better, but still spotty, luck with length and width measurements. Is it really “8 inches” or was it 7 3/4 and they rounded up? There’s always some risk when you buy vintage items, but I’m getting to be more risk averse

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[Hat and Rehat]

Does anyone tell them that a lot of hats also have the size somewhere else, scrawled on the felt or sweatband during production? I don't have the experience of any of you, but some of these "Oh, looks like 7 to 7 1/4," purchases I've made did have a 7 somewhere, even if the size tag was gone.
Recent discussions here have clued me in about the lower demand for sub 7 hats. It might even tempt a seller to remove a tag and estimate a size higher.
The present one however, works in reverse, which would be difficult to explain.

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Also, off topic, I did it again. I said I wouldn't, but did.
I'm not going to start any new threads for a long time, but if I did, it would be "Confessions."
I couldn't resist a Royal Quality 5X size 7 Stetson Western for $29 shipped. Another 7 with eyes wide open.

 

[the uncowboy]

It couldn't hurt to drop in at a drycleaner and ask questions. Its free too, unless you go with their services. I've replaced sweatbands several times, and presently have two new ones basted into place ready to be sewn in. If you remove yours you will be able to sew it or a new one in.
I think anyone who has done one will tell you the first one was a royal pain. The darn thing seems to constantly get in your way.
They get much essier after you have a couple under your belt ---- or hat.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

I've lost patience and decided to try the "nuclear option." The hat got a hot bath today.



Given what they do to my clothes, I don't trust the local dry cleaners. So I decided to do something that I can control. If I ruin it, so be it. Ran a hot bath with a tablespoon of laundry detergent. Soaked the hat for about 5 minutes, then scrubbed it down with a natural bristle brush. Gave it a hot water rinse, and it is now out drying in the sun. Looks OK so far. Fingers crossed.

 

[The Jackal]

I couldn't find a dedicated thread on it, so I'll ask here.

Any suggestions on a hat to wear to the pool?

My buddy is opening his pool up for the summer next weekend, and that's one place above all others that I've not been without a hat since I started wearing them again. I don't want to break that streak just cause I may end up wearing the hat on a floaty with a drink in my hand.

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[deadlyhandsome]

I couldn't find a dedicated thread on it, so I'll ask here.

Any suggestions on a hat to wear to the pool?

My buddy is opening his pool up for the summer next weekend, and that's one place above all others that I've not been without a hat since I started wearing them again. I don't want to break that streak just cause I may end up wearing the hat on a floaty with a drink in my hand.

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My choice for brimmed hats around water is polypropylene. Make sure it’s well-vented as it otherwise won’t breath and your head will be a sauna. I like my Akubra Country Club.


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