Derby, Western, Fedora...a Venerable Legend, THE Stetson 3X...BEFORE 1970!!!!

[M Hatman]

It has been all hats to all people...."Back in the Day" a 3X Beaver was a hat to be revered. Much higher mid-range quality than the rest of the Stetson line, The 3X Beaver meant you had a hat that stood over many, many other hats!! In the beginning, for a 3X Derby you spent $8 to $10...later...in a Fedora it was a $12 to $15 dollar hat.....for a western you were shelling out $15 to $20!!! All this in times where many other companies were selling their hats for $5 - $7 or less (even Stetson had $5 models).
In a rather subjective determination, I feel the true status of the 3X Beaver was absolutely dead by 1970 (MANY would say even earlier, that Stetson did not make a good hat after 1960, but, personally I HAVE seen (and OWN) several good hats from the 60's, especially the early 60's). Good 3X's were being made in the 60's, but fewer and fewer as the decade progressed...the soft Open Road 3X among the last (I have a really nice 60's 3X Open Road). Eddie Bauer seems to have convinced Stetson to make a couple of decent hats (3X's) for them in the 60's, as did a few other private labels. So, here we are.....Lets start posting our beloved vintage Stetson 3X Beaver Hats!!!! Be it Western, Derby, Fedora or Pork-pie (yes, I have a 3X Pork-pie) THE Stetson 3X Beaver needs to be admired here.

SO....I start this off with some of my ads......and two of my 50's 3X Beavers..................More details on those as we move along!!!!! Lets keep this thread internet and troll free....Lets share OUR 3X Stetsons and all the ephemera WE have collected through the years!!!!!!!!!!! So...What 3X(s) do YOU own?!?!?!?!?!?
ENJOY!!!!!
M

 

[Michael A]

I've only got two that I recall. This Open Road from the '50s
Stetson 3X Beaver Open Road Hat by Michael A2012, on Flickr
And this Longhorn, or Longhorn Jr that I think is also from the '50s
DSCN2371 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
I guess I have this one that might be from the '60s too
IMG_6378 by Michael A2012, on Flickr
It is a nice soft felt and quite different from a couple that I have that are late '70s or '80s

Michael

 

[jlee562]

50's possibly early 60's 3x OR. A bit of an odd duck, wider sweatband; embroidered liner; oil skin tip liner seem to indicate 50's, but when it arrived, it had a square black paper tag. That thingie was hanging on by a thread and eventually fell out. This one is more of a wearer than a true collector's piece. I had it cleaned and blocked by whomever was doing it for Hat Guys in Oakland at the time. They replaced the liner with a bit of glue...nothing excessive, but I'm still kinda salty about that one. Lesson learned, it's still a nice hat that shapes easily and has a nice, soft hand.

 

[Mustang Mike's Hats]

I'd say I'm envious, but I heard that envy would be a sin, so I'll just say, WOW! Nice hats! Love that Longhorn!!

 

[Cornshucker77]

1950's 3X. The glare on the photo blocks out one of the X's.

 

[RJR]

50s OR.

 

[BobHufford]

The hat that brought me to the Lounge. Late 1950s Open Road.

 

[splintercellsz]

1910s 3x homburg

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[Redfokker]

1910s 3x homburg

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Wow Justin. From Philly to the Southern Hemisphere and back, well traveled hat.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

1910s 3x homburg

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Well now there’s a damn slam dunk i’d say!!
A hundred + years and that sweat is incredible!! Sheez nicer than some half it’s age! Sheez!!
B

 

[splintercellsz]

no kidding! I believe I purchased this one from Canada. I wish it had a list of the places it's seen

Wow Justin. From Philly to the Southern Hemisphere and back, well traveled hat.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

 

[splintercellsz]

Well now there’s a damn slam dunk i’d say!!
A hundred + years and that sweat is incredible!! Sheez nicer than some half it’s age! Sheez!!
B

thanks B!

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

 

[Hurricane Jack]

It has been all hats to all people...."Back in the Day" a 3X Beaver was a hat to be revered. Much higher mid-range quality than the rest of the Stetson line, The 3X Beaver meant you had a hat that stood over many, many other hats!! In the beginning, for a 3X Derby you spent $8 to $10...later...in a Fedora it was a $12 to $15 dollar hat.....for a western you were shelling out $15 to $20!!! All this in times where many other companies were selling their hats for $5 - $7 or less (even Stetson had $5 models).
In a rather subjective determination, I feel the true status of the 3X Beaver was absolutely dead by 1970 (MANY would say even earlier, that Stetson did not make a good hat after 1960, but, personally I HAVE seen (and OWN) several good hats from the 60's, especially the early 60's). Good 3X's were being made in the 60's, but fewer and fewer as the decade progressed...the soft Open Road 3X among the last (I have a really nice 60's 3X Open Road). Eddie Bauer seems to have convinced Stetson to make a couple of decent hats (3X's) for them in the 60's, as did a few other private labels. So, here we are.....Lets start posting our beloved vintage Stetson 3X Beaver Hats!!!! Be it Western, Derby, Fedora or Pork-pie (yes, I have a 3X Pork-pie) THE Stetson 3X Beaver needs to be admired here.

SO....I start this off with some of my ads......and two of my 50's 3X Beavers..................More details on those as we move along!!!!! Lets keep this thread internet and troll free....Lets share OUR 3X Stetsons and all the ephemera WE have collected through the years!!!!!!!!!!! So...What 3X(s) do YOU own?!?!?!?!?!?
ENJOY!!!!!
M
View attachment 124631 View attachment 124632 View attachment 124633 View attachment 124634 View attachment 124635

Mark, I like this one a whole lot! My kind of hat!

 

[Frunobulax]

1950s 3X Beaver back-bow with overwelt edge.

 

[M Hatman]

I've only got two that I recall. This Open Road from the '50s
Stetson 3X Beaver Open Road Hat by Michael A2012, on Flickr
And this Longhorn, or Longhorn Jr that I think is also from the '50s
DSCN2371 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
I guess I have this one that might be from the '60s too
IMG_6378 by Michael A2012, on Flickr
It is a nice soft felt and quite different from a couple that I have that are late '70s or '80s

Michael

NICE Additions Michael!!!! Your second hat does not appear to be a Longhorn, but rather has had the longhorn clip (it is not a pin actually, but a clip, to attach to the 6 cord thin ribbon the Longhorn came with) added to the ribbon. The second hat in my post IS a longhorn and there is also one in the upper left corner of the ad I posted. Yours IS a great hat and I love that ribbon....
I wonder if it is in fact a Dawson model which came with the wide ribbon. It sure is beautiful...I really want to find a 3X western with the wider ribbon like that...
If you get time show us the insides of those!!! Bet they look great!!!!
Best,
M
PS Here are more pictures of My early 50's Stetson Longhorn....came with the original box.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Fedoras first:

1950's Stetson 3X Beaver quality in Chocolate brown. Keyhole tag. 2" overfelted brim w stitch, 2" brown double bow ribbon w wind trolley. 2" sweat & liner with plastic protector.

1950's - 1960's Stetson 3X Beaver Quality. Overwelt brim @ 2-1/8", open crown @ 5-1/2". Green Olive with 2" dark green/gray Back Bow ribbon. This one went on to New Jack, who since flipped it on eBay.

 

[M Hatman]

Mark, I like this one a whole lot! My kind of hat!

Jack,
I just posted more about it here. It is one of may favorites......hard to describe the felt....really great hand....and sort of a light heathered tones....
Yep...it is a gem.
M

 

[M Hatman]

WOW.....we certainly are seeing some GREAT 3x'rs here (and some good scotch)!!!!!!!!! You guys are awesome!!!!! This thread is starting out with a BANG (no pun or reference to the 4th of July intended)!!!!!!!!!
M

 

[BobHufford]

This one didn’t fit me, but I had to have it for the local store connection.

 

[Bamaboots]