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

[MikeinRome]

Stetson 3X Beaver. Has 4 inch bound brim and 6 inch open crown. Dates about 1952 per OPS tag. Includes original hatbox. This hat is like new, bought from a new Lounge member.

 

[RossRYoung]

Not sure where Daniel had shared this hat before, but figured I’d add it to this thread too. It came with the front portion of the sweat cut out, but just added a piece of one to make it wearable.

Always wanted a BOTP style hat, this one certainly scratches that itch. It’s got the unusual rolled sweat attachment too, only hat I own with this treatment.

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson 3X Beaver with 2 7/8 inch bound brim and 5 1/2 inch open crown. I'm calling this a late 1940's hat. Comes with the original hatbox.

 

[Frontporchcharlie]

This one's been through it. Trying to figure out how old it is. 3X Open Road.

 

[Just Daniel]

I missed this one on eBay but it’s worth adding to the virtual record. A rare pre-war 3X brown long hair with the distinctive symbol on the liner.

The 3X beaver marker is a fairly rare version that is after one on an 1895 poster and that shows up on a 1902. Both posters are floating around here in the Lounge.

 

[RossRYoung]

Shoot, sorry you missed out Daniel! That woulda made a nice addition to your collection, looks like it’s your size? Kind of unusual that the pebbled sweat is only marked Extra Light Weight, in that plain script font too.

 

[Just Daniel]

I thought the sweat was unusual as well - the sewing and the reed and the stamp.

Just more questions unless someone in the group picked it up!

Shoot, sorry you missed out Daniel! That woulda made a nice addition to your collection, looks like it’s your size? Kind of unusual that the pebbled sweat is only marked Extra Light Weight, in that plain script font too.

 

[BobMitt]

I've just finished rehabbing this one. It was in REALLY rough shape when I acquired it. Missing a liner, etc. I reshaped it into a pork pie and put a new band and liner on it. It's my first rehab attempt, so I'm pretty pleased.

P.S. I have no idea how old this is. I'm guessing '60s or maybe '50s? (I believe Rothschild's ceased operation in 1971.) If you have any insights, let me know.

 

[Chuck14911]

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
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I just purchased one for resale. It's a beautiful 3X 1 /12 brim. It actually still has the Hale's retail store tag stuck behind the leather sweatband with a D 53 under the name and a price of $15.00. Very cool.