At the Dog Track... The Whippets

[Blare]

I’m not sure if I’d call this light gray or ice blue or ??? I love the color and it really does look more gray in direct light and more light blue in the shade. 5 1/2” open crown and 2 1/2” wide brim. I’m guessing mid 1950s.

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Quite nice

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Quite nice

Thanks, Joe.

 

[MikeinRome]

Whippet, about 1953. Has stars in liner, maple leaf in sweatband, old style mftg tags.

 

[MikeinRome]

Another Whippet, also about 1953, stars in liner and maple leaf in sweatband with old mftg tags. I posted this hat on "What hat you wearing today", thinking it was a late 40's to early 50's hat.

 

[MikeinRome]

A 1940's Whippet I got recently and some of you may have seen for sale on eBay. The sweatband has issues but has been repaired enough by seller etc so that once you have it on, you don't notice anything. I wanted a for sure 40's Whippet to see if the felt differed from my early 50's Whippets. It might be a tad thicker. Considering Whippet prices in general and 40's Whippets specifically, the sweatband issue dropped the price on this hat down to a good price.

 

[Randall Renshaw]

Whippet, about 1953. Has stars in liner, maple leaf in sweatband, old style mftg tags.

Nice colors, Mike!
Whippets are cool even if the felt quality isn’t relatively top notch.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’m guessing this is a mid-1950s hat. The felt is mid-weight and more substantial than I’d prefer this time of year. Just a bit of moth damage too. 2 ⅝” wide brim and the open crown is 5 ½ inches.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Unfortunately, there is some significant moth damage:

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Here’s a great one…except the sweatband has full thickness dry rot

 

[Blare]

Here’s a great one…except the sweatband has full thickness dry rot

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What a color combo

 

[Pkyoakum]

What a color combo

What distinguishes a Whippet from another Stetson around same era with similar dimensions but is not labeled Whippet?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

What distinguishes a Whippet from another Stetson around same era with similar dimensions but is not labeled Whippet?

You can start a fight with such a question. There is an ongoing similar discussion on the Open Road. Battle lines are drawn and I don’t know if either side is very tractable.

 

[Rmccamey]

I'm squarely in the "If it fits and I like it" camp.

You can start a fight with such a question. There is an ongoing similar discussion on the Open Road. Battle lines are drawn and I don’t know if either side is very tractable.

 

[Frunobulax]

What distinguishes a Whippet from another Stetson around same era with similar dimensions but is not labeled Whippet?

If the blocking and dimensions are correct, the notion can be entertained; however, I like my Whippets to say "Whippet."

 

[Pkyoakum]

If the blocking and dimensions are correct, the notion can be entertained; however, I like my Whippets to say "Whippet."

But if all else is the same, then usually one has to pay dearly for that Whippet logo compared to not having the logo. I was told by a Fedora Lounge brother that Stetson didn't mark as Whippet on hats from around mid 50s to early 60s and that these are called Whippet clones. Ever heard this?

 

[Mighty44]

But if all else is the same, then usually one has to pay dearly for that Whippet logo compared to not having the logo. I was told by a Fedora Lounge brother that Stetson didn't mark as Whippet on hats from around mid 50s to early 60s and that these are called Whippet clones. Ever heard this?

Any hat that looks like a Whippet but isn’t can be referred to as a Whippet clone, it’s not Stetson specific. Similarity a lot of thin ribbons get called strat or open road clones.

 

[Frunobulax]

But if all else is the same, then usually one has to pay dearly for that Whippet logo compared to not having the logo. I was told by a Fedora Lounge brother that Stetson didn't mark as Whippet on hats from around mid 50s to early 60s and that these are called Whippet clones. Ever heard this?

The Whippet, like the Playboy, has been on and off the menu since it was introduced in the 1940s (?). Even during times when Whippets were in production in the 40s and 50s, Stetson would make hats that looked similar (straight crown, bound edge). A Whippet clone would be any hat, by any manufacturer, that has the style and dimensions of a Whippet. However, Stetson never called them "Whippet clones," as we do now.

I've had many a Stetson in hand that resembled a Whippet but wouldn't call a Whippet. Some clones are of higher quality than the Whippet but you don't get the name. I've seen Royal Deluxe and 3X hats that were "better" than a Whippet and undoubtedly sold at a higher price point, but if you want to call it a Whippet, you can call it a Whippet.

The name is the value added to the hat at this point. At the time Whippets were out, they were popular, but not as popular as the Playboy or Open Road. It's really only on the used market the Whippet became so desirable as to command the high prices they do now.

 

[Pkyoakum]

The Whippet, like the Playboy, has been on and off the menu since it was introduced in the 1940s (?). Even during times when Whippets were in production in the 40s and 50s, Stetson would make hats that looked similar (straight crown, bound edge). A Whippet clone would be any hat, by any manufacturer, that has the style and dimensions of a Whippet. However, Stetson never called them "Whippet clones," as we do now.

I've had many a Stetson in hand that resembled a Whippet but wouldn't call a Whippet. Some clones are of higher quality than the Whippet but you don't get the name. I've seen Royal Deluxe and 3X hats that were "better" than a Whippet and undoubtedly sold at a higher price point, but if you want to call it a Whippet, you can call it a Whippet.

The name is the value added to the hat at this point. At the time Whippets were out, they were popular, but not as popular as the Playboy or Open Road. It's really only on the used market the Whippet became so desirable as to command the high prices they do now.

Thanks. What is the difference between a Playboy and a Whippet? I am more a Borsalino guy, so don't know much about vintage Stetsons like you guys.

 

[Blare]

Thanks. What is the difference between a Playboy and a Whippet? I am more a Borsalino guy, so don't know much about vintage Stetsons like you guys.

Playboy Usually similar straight blocking to a whippet with a shorter mid ribbon. Most often an unbound brim.. the brim length tends to vary. May or may not have a single row of decorative brim stitching But in general says Playboy on the sweatband under the Stetson logo. So similar to whippet styling.. you’ll have Playboy clones… or non-playboy playboys.

Oh and I believe they tend to be a bit lighter weight felts. Kinda summer crossover hats.

 

[Blare]

If the blocking and dimensions are correct, the notion can be entertained; however, I like my Whippets to say "Whippet."

Then of course there are those oddball ones that SAY whippet on the liner or sweat… but dont so much scream whippet in their dimensions. My guess is those were ones that popped up in the 60s 70s or 80s. I think they might even have dogs on the liner.