My new pet beaver

[shortbow]

Hey, kinda hesitate to post this as I can't do pics, but. I recently bought two hats from a good guy over in classifieds. One was a nice gray Stratoliner, the other is a Beaver Hats bound-edge fedora in brown, well moth bitten, bound edge, 23/4" brim, 51/2" crown, 11/8" band, 17/8" sweat band, sold by The Mart in Dodge City, Kansas.

I am still blown away by this lid. Until I got it, I was sure I would not see a better hat than my 50's era Borsalinos, but the felt in this thing is eye popping. It is thicker than than any other hat I have, but the softness, suppleness and character of the felt is like velvet and has caused me to park my Borsos and Stetsons, for the moment anyway. Love this hat.

I did a search, and read through previous threads, especially one discussing whether or not Beaver Hats and Beaver Brand are the same, but I didn't really come away all that informed on this particular hat.

The band is marked with only one X. Any body know what this designation means in this case? Every thing on this one says 40's to me, but any help there would be appreciated as well.

Thanks eh?

 

[shortbow]

Refer to first sentence, above.

 

[gtdean48]

My bad...X's mean whatever that hat brand wants it to be = totally variable...Some say it started to be $10 = 1x cost $10, 2x cost $20. Some say it was % beaver in the felt. Bottom line is you like the felt. Does it have a size tag or any sticker behind the sweatband?

 

[shortbow]

Cheers.

No usual size tag protruding into the crown, but behind the band is a red and white paper sticker with "7" on it and a "use this number to duplicate" space but no written in number.

 

[Goose.]

Yep...
What GTD said. Variable.

Other sites on the web pretty much say the same as what GTD and the below state...varies.
But, here's one excerpt just for grins...
From: http://www.mosertackandsaddle.com/hats.php
What does the X rating mean?
Many people ask about the X factor ratings on hats. What does it really mean when you wear a 10X hat? 50X hat? 100X hat? Well. According to a book called "the Cowboy Hats" it explains that in the hat making field, felt has traditionally been graded according to its X factor. Years ago the number of X's meant the number of beaver pelts to make a hat: the higher the number of X's, the more beaver fur and therefore, the higher quality of the hat. The X factor was originally determined by the density and shape of the material, and ranged in grade from a low of 1X to a high of 10X. A 10X hat was made of 100 percent pure beaver fur. The X factor was also a reliable price guide. The hat industry has fallen victim to the modern world where X's are more for selling than for indicating quality. Today the X factor rating system is rather subjective. Today you cannot compare one company's rating system with another because in the hat industry there are no standards for measurement of the percentage of beaver felt in a hat. Manufacturers and dealers rate their hats differently, each according to their own criteria. Xs are used for pricing rather than quality rating. Because a hat cost more, does not mean it is of good quality. One company's 5X might be better than another's 10X. The number of X's are a valid measurement only of the quality of the same company’s line of hats. There are even straw hats advertised with X ratings. On a scale of 1X being worst and 10X being best, we rate our hats as 7X; which produces a very quality hat at a reasonable price.

 

[shortbow]

Thanks Goose. Yep, the subjectivity of the x system is why I was querying the one x on this Beaver Hats number, as the felt quality is so high, better than any of my old Stetsons by far, and at least as good if not better than the Borsos I have. Thirty years of wearing and messing with hats suggests to me that there is lots of beaver, very well handled, in this hat. The one only x is therefor puzzling, sure would like to know what the company system was and when the hat was made. Perhaps I shall just have to keep wondering and just enjoy it. Nothing wrong with a little mystery, anyhow.

 

[gtdean48]

Cheers.

No usual size tag protruding into the crown, but behind the band is a red and white paper sticker with "7" on it and a "use this number to duplicate" space but no written in number.

Tough to say but I have 2 1950's era Stetson with similiar style tags. The Resistol I have does not & I think it is more 1960's, possibly earlier 70's. Others with deeper Resistol knowledge may know better.

 

[shortbow]

Thanks GT, good circumstantial evidence.