Need vintage-style cowboy hat . . .

[Matt Crunk]

Can anyone suggest a source for a vintage-style white or off-white cowboy hat similar to what Country & Western performers wore in the 50's and 60's?

I've been to a couple of western wear stores but, with the exception of a few nice Stetson fedoras, all their hats look too modern. Their cowboy hats look more suited for Garth Brooks than Roy Rogers.

I've also looked around on eBay with little luck. What should I search for?

 

[Lefty]

Try searching SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) on ebay. You'll find a lot of hats with a deep Tom Mix crease. Is this the sort of thing you're looking for?

You might want check out this thread.

 

[Matt Crunk]

Actually, more like this . . .

or this . . .

or this . . .

But I don't want to pay $500 for a custom job.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Might find somethin' here pardner:

http://www.riverjunction.com/catalog/hats/hats.html

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Or here (pwa-tinggg!) - that was me spittin' out ma' chaw.

http://www.wildwestmercantile.com/cgi-bin/Category.cgi?category=6100&type=store

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

And lest I forget eusa_doh: ):

http://www.buckaroohatters.com/

This is fellow The Fedora Lounge member, and a heckuva nice guy, Mike (Major) Moore.

 

[gtdean48]

Another site...

http://www.shortyshattery.com/

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Matt what do you need it for? If it's for performing, then I believe you would want a different grade than one for going to church, for example.[huh]

 

[majormoore]

The hat that Roy has on in the above photo is what I make and call a Brush Popper hat. Gene wore one like this also in alot of his movies.

Major Moore

 

[Pat_H]

Nearly any Western hat maker can make one like that, but they'll likely be pricey.

 

[Daoud]

Honestly, except for the last one you showed, it doesn't seem to me as if there's a huge difference between the kind of hat you're looking for and what's available today off the shelf. At any rate, today there are 180 hats listed on eBay under "vintage cowboy hats"- Maybe you should just persevere.......something is bound to turn up. Also, you might try to find out what kind of hats some of the more recent alt/country- Americana-type groups have been wearing- the Derailers spring to mind- they've got the old Bakersfield sound and look down pat.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Standard advice: Akubra

Several nice Akubra western hats are available as stock items in the off-white Sand or Quartz colors for a mere $60 or $70 from Everything Australian - maybe one of them would do?

http://www.everythingaustralian.com.au/displayproduct.asp?id=2&cat=Akubra

For rounded (vs. telescope) crowns, check out the Arena, Bobby, Bronco, and Woomera.

 

[Fletch]

Fun Tom Mix pic

Shaking hands with Joseph P. Kennedy, 1928. (Joe Sr. was a big film producer at the time.)

Like "city boy" hats, cowboy hats seemed to be softer back then, more "outfit" than costume.

 

[feltfan]

How do you plan to use it?
Is this for a one-time costume or
something you plan to wear regularly?
If the latter, you should get a good quality hat.

Yes, a new one is expensive. Get an idea of
price and styles here:

http://www.rockymountainhatcompany.com/

I have found outstanding cowboy hats on eBay (and I
have a large head). Most cost less than $100. None cost
more than about $300 (and that was a very unusual hat).

I am not in the habit of teaching others how to search eBay.
I suggest you read this forum, find hats you like, and make
note of their model names and other words that appear on them.
All the information is here. Obviously I suggest looking for Stetsons.
But don't forget that there were plenty of other brands that made
quality Western hats, including Montgomery Ward, Miller Brothers,
and a gazillion small hatters. Your bargains may be among
non-Stetson makers, since fewer people are looking for them.

 

[Joie DeVive]

This unfortunately probably won't be overly helpful, but if you're going to be doing any traveling to the west, you could try our antique shops, junk shops and thrifts. Old cowboy hats really aren't that uncommon here. I even run across them at estate sales....

 

[HATCO]

Resistol makes open crown westerns up to 7" high crowns with 5" brims.

What crown height are you looking for? Brim Width?

 

[hollowpond]

Try this
http://www.goldengatewesternwear.com/Hatdept/dukecavalry.html
4X Resistol for 159$. Not too bad. Also worn by John Wayne, so its got to be great!

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Is this one of those times where someone posts a question and then forgets all about it? I've probably done it myself too.

In any event, and working in the info vacuum (a lot of good feedback questions from the posters here unanswered), I'd suggest you talk with Major Moore. I saw that he chimed in and can fit your bill. And I don't think the "bill" is as much as you are fearing, yet his hats are high quality.

 

[Matt Crunk]

Thanks all for all the advice.

To answer some of the questions, yes, this hat will be worn as stage attire, so it doesn't have to be top of the line as long as it looks good. I also don't want to spend a fortune on it - hopefully around $100 or less.

But reading some of the replies, I realize just how reshapeable cowboy hats are, and I now believe I can buy one of the more modern looking hats and have it shaped/reshaped to my liking without too much expense.

 

[Naphtali]

Can anyone suggest a source for a vintage-style white or off-white cowboy hat similar to what Country & Western performers wore in the 50's and 60's?

I've been to a couple of western wear stores but, with the exception of a few nice Stetson fedoras, all their hats look too modern. Their cowboy hats look more suited for Garth Brooks than Roy Rogers.

I've also looked around on eBay with little luck. What should I search for?

If you choose to have one made to your specifications, I recommend:

Jimmy Harrision
Double H Custom Hat Co.
121 South Main
Darby, MT 59829

877-HAT-MAKR
http://www.doublehhats.com/
jimmy@doublehats.com

His hats are 100 percent beaver fur felt. Quality of work is excellent; speed of completion is relatively quick. He is both a nice guy and a pleasant one. While it should make no significant difference, you might mention Lance referred you.

And, yes, he also creates fedoras. But here in Montana, Western hats outnumber fedoras by orders of magnitude.