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[Bill Hughes]

Hatman, the more I look at these photos the more I see that none of them are quite the same as this hat. I noticed on the hat I'm inquiring about; it has a flat brim and a ribbon and bow treatment identical to an Open Plains but with a bound brim. It's a good starting point for sure but there's an odd mix to this hat. It doesn't seem to exactly fit. I do appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.

After 70 years there is a very good chance the brim shape has been changed. And the bow does not look frayed to me. It just looks like the fold has come loose.

 

[gilligan]

After 70 years there is a very good chance the brim shape has been changed. And the bow does not look frayed to me. It just looks like the fold has come loose.

Good insight Bill. Here's what I found out about the hat which still puzzles me. The hat I have pictured is one that is from a website where this hat sold at auction. Not much info on it other than they had it listed as a 1950s Stetson Deluxe Western Fedora. I have found one that I'm waiting for the seller to mail to me. It's the same identical model. It too has the flat brim frayed bow on the one end and it's dated 1957. This is what's so puzzling to me that both hats have these distinctive features. I know it's not the same hat that was sold and now being resold, but identical for sure. I've looked at all the Stockman/Miller catalog pics on here and not one shows this hat. The closest one is a 1930s or 1940s model with the flat bound brim edge and same bow treatment but I know the hat I'm referring to is a later model. When I get the hat, I'm going to post pics on here. Would i post them under the Stetson forum or on this one?

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

^^^ both
1 for reference here and 1 for discussion there.
Kinda looks like one of those early wide ribbon ORs but without more pics who knows. Could be anything.
B

 

[gilligan]

^^^ both
1 for reference here and 1 for discussion there.
Kinda looks like one of those early wide ribbon ORs but without more pics who knows. Could be anything.
B

I agree and I wish I had more pics but until I receive the hat, I'm totally confused. You're right about being an early Open Road but with a wider brim as far as I can tell. I can't wait to post pics when I can and see what someone can come up with. Thanks for the advice for pointing me in the right direction for posting.

 

[gilligan]

^^^ both
1 for reference here and 1 for discussion there.
Kinda looks like one of those early wide ribbon ORs but without more pics who knows. Could be anything.
B

^^^ both
1 for reference here and 1 for discussion there.
Kinda looks like one of those early wide ribbon ORs but without more pics who knows. Could be anything.
B

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1457839550...uid=JBfaEqmDSOi&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Here's a link to one that is for sale on Ebay now. This should give you a good idea as it shows every detail pretty good. Seller has it listed as a 1960s but it really should be a late 1950s.

 

[Bill Hughes]

Good insight Bill. Here's what I found out about the hat which still puzzles me. The hat I have pictured is one that is from a website where this hat sold at auction. Not much info on it other than they had it listed as a 1950s Stetson Deluxe Western Fedora. I have found one that I'm waiting for the seller to mail to me. It's the same identical model. It too has the flat brim frayed bow on the one end and it's dated 1957. This is what's so puzzling to me that both hats have these distinctive features. I know it's not the same hat that was sold and now being resold, but identical for sure. I've looked at all the Stockman/Miller catalog pics on here and not one shows this hat. The closest one is a 1930s or 1940s model with the flat bound brim edge and same bow treatment but I know the hat I'm referring to is a later model. When I get the hat, I'm going to post pics on here. Would i post them under the Stetson forum or on this one?

I wouldn’t call either one of those a flat brim. They are just not as curled as most. But they both do have some curl. I find the ribbon treatment to be interesting. Based on the auction hat with good pictures it looks to me like the original idea was to just leave the back end of the ribbons unfinished and not folded-under. To me it looks like any fraying that has occurred has happened over time. But it doesn’t look to be intentionally frayed Like the one below. Looking forward to seeing more of these hats once you get them in hand.

 

[gilligan]

I wouldn’t call either one of those a flat brim. They are just not as curled as most. But they both do have some curl. I find the ribbon treatment to be interesting. Based on the auction hat with good pictures it looks to me like the original idea was to just leave the back end of the ribbons unfinished and not folded-under. To me it looks like any fraying that has occurred has happened over time. But it doesn’t look to be intentionally frayed Like the one below. Looking forward to seeing more of these hats once you get them in hand.

View attachment 616084

Thanks Bill, I appreciate the insight and I'll definitely post pics for you to take a look. Thanks again Bill.

 

[M Hatman]

Today is:

Have a pleasant weekend and be sure to remember our fallen heroes.....

 

[M Hatman]

 

[gilligan]

Thanks Bill, I appreciate the insight and I'll definitely post pics for you to take a look. Thanks again Bill.

I wouldn’t call either one of those a flat brim. They are just not as curled as most. But they both do have some curl. I find the ribbon treatment to be interesting. Based on the auction hat with good pictures it looks to me like the original idea was to just leave the back end of the ribbons unfinished and not folded-under. To me it looks like any fraying that has occurred has happened over time. But it doesn’t look to be intentionally frayed Like the one below. Looking forward to seeing more of these hats once you get them in hand.

View attachment 616084

I wouldn’t call either one of those a flat brim. They are just not as curled as most. But they both do have some curl. I find the ribbon treatment to be interesting. Based on the auction hat with good pictures it looks to me like the original idea was to just leave the back end of the ribbons unfinished and not folded-under. To me it looks like any fraying that has occurred has happened over time. But it doesn’t look to be intentionally frayed Like the one below. Looking forward to seeing more of these hats once you get them in hand.

View attachment 616084

Hi Bill, I wanted to post pics of the hat as I received it today. I hope this gives you a good indication of the uniqueness of it. The shape is as I received it. It's interesting for sure as it has a great snap brim. The backend of the ribbon is an unusual factory touch and the felt is identical to an early 1950s Open Road and it has a 3" brim as opposed to the Open Road at 2 3/4". Let me know what you think.

 

[CRH]

Hi Bill, I wanted to post pics of the hat as I received it today. I hope this gives you a good indication of the uniqueness of it. The shape is as I received it. It's interesting for sure as it has a great snap brim. The backend of the ribbon is an unusual factory touch and the felt is identical to an early 1950s Open Road and it has a 3" brim as opposed to the Open Road at 2 3/4". Let me know what you think. View attachment 616237 View attachment 616238 View attachment 616239 View attachment 616240 View attachment 616241 View attachment 616242 View attachment 616243 View attachment 616244 View attachment 616246

Ok, I'll play . . .

Royal Stetson. Hmmm. Doesn't look like a '50s sweatband to me.

What's under the sweatband? How is it sewn in? How is the liner attached?

 

[CRH]

On further review it looks like the rusty ribbon highlights and the edge binding highlights match which would suggest aftermarket artisanship. And that concave ribbon? Total artisan aftermarket job.

 

[CRH]

It's a hat but not a Stetson factory hat.

 

[Frunobulax]

Not necessarily. If the patina could have just settled in that way. I have similar hats.

But if that sweatband is black, my money's on the 60s. Especially given the lack of definition in the sweat logo.

 

[CRH]

Not necessarily. If the patina could have just settled in that way. I have similar hats.

But if that sweatband is black, my money's on the 60s. Especially given the lack of definition in the sweat logo.

What about the ribbon?

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

But if that sweatband is black, my money's on the 60s. Especially given the lack of definition in the sweat logo.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that about the sweatband. The blurry liner logo doesn’t say 1950s to me, either.

 

[CRH]

Sketchy blurry like a Rolling Stones tune.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Nothing sketchy blurry about that Stones performance. But it was red.

 

[jlee562]

What about the ribbon?

More commonly found on earlier Stetsons.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hi Bill, I wanted to post pics of the hat as I received it today. I hope this gives you a good indication of the uniqueness of it. The shape is as I received it. It's interesting for sure as it has a great snap brim. The backend of the ribbon is an unusual factory touch and the felt is identical to an early 1950s Open Road and it has a 3" brim as opposed to the Open Road at 2 3/4". Let me know what you think. View attachment 616237 View attachment 616238 View attachment 616239 View attachment 616240 View attachment 616241 View attachment 616242 View attachment 616243 View attachment 616244 View attachment 616246

Not 1957…I’d bet serious money it’s 1960s. That bow looks nothing like any “early 1950s Open Road” that I’ve seen.

It’s a cool style and one I’d wear a lot if it was in my size. Congrats on a nice less common hat.