Keens Colonials Straw

[Lon Goval]

I recently came across a couple of "Keens Colonials" Straw hats. They appear to be new and one has a factory tag at $13.95. I have never heard of this name, and after a little searching it appears to possibly be connected to HATCO. It has a 3 color ribbon (about 2 inches) and a leather sweatband (about 1 3/4 inches). The sweatband is stamped "Farnsworth-Reed Ltd. Washington".

One interesting item is the inside of the crown. There is a 7 point liner insert at the center of the crown(approx 2x3). I have several straw western hats with a logo patch glued to the inside of the crown, but have never seen this type which has a little padding to it. It makes me think it is a nicer hat (at the low-end of the spectrum).

Size is 7 3/8, but I need a larger size. I'm thinking about stretching them, but may end up selling instead and get my correct size.

Any info would be appreciated as to what I may have.

Thanks, Ralph

 

[Ambassador Kosh]

Though before my time, Farnsworth-Reed was a well regarded Washington mens store. The link is to a 1956 Time magazine article. Towards the bottom it notes that Sen. Kefauver bought a couple of suits there after getting the nomination for Democratic VP in the 1956 presidential race against Eisenhower/Nixon.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,893524-7,00.html

So, while I can't assist with the hat itself the above info should help in bracketing the hat's quality.

 

[Lon Goval]

Thanks Ambassador for the info on the store. At least it's a quality store.

I'm trying to add photos.

Pardon me while I fumble around trying to get decent size photos.

 

[feltfan]

Looks like your basic quality Milan straw hat to me.
You'll find threads on the Knox and Cavanagh versions
of this hat here if you look around.

Ah, Senator Kefauver. For fans of comics,
and the EC comics of the 1950s in particular,
a name that will live in infamy as the very worst
sort of "liberal" senator.

 

[cookie]

Looks like your basic quality Milan straw hat to me.
You'll find threads on the Knox and Cavanagh versions
of this hat here if you look around.

Ah, Senator Kefauver. For fans of comics,
and the EC comics of the 1950s in particular,
a name that will live in infamy as the very worst
sort of "liberal" senator.

Estes Kefauver ran the crime hearings/chase the Mob before the Kennedys ...right?