Paging Dinerman: Stetson 'Special'

[thunderw21]

Anyone know about this model?

I picked one up today. 1930s, a very red sweatband, wide edge binding, nice dimensions: 2 1/2" brim, 5" bashed crown.

What was the 'Special'?

No pics, out of town. Maybe on Friday.

 

[tonyb]

I happen to have one, a dark blue homburg. It's been a while since I've had it out, but I do believe there's evidence to strongly suggest a '30s vintage.

As I recall from previous exchanges on this very topic, the "Special" was among the lower-priced of John B's offerings. Nice hat nonetheless, though.

 

[thunderw21]

Interesting. For being on the lower end of the Stetson scale it's a very nice quality hat. Demonstrates how quality has changed.

 

[billyspew]

I have one too - a self renovation project (had to take the sweat off (stitching rotten) and need to bathe it and reattach everything.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=834074&postcount=4747

According to this price list (1932) the quality was reasonably high.

Though I think mine is from the latter part of the 30's maybe even early 40's as it has a reeded sweat.

 

[Barrelhouse]

That ad makes it pretty clear that the hat was not from the lower end of Stetson's range. I was unfamiliar with the "special" class and confused it with the "standard" which was, I think, the entry level of the Stetson line in the 1920's.

 

[thunderw21]

I have one too - a self renovation project (had to take the sweat off (stitching rotten) and need to bathe it and reattach everything.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=834074&postcount=4747

That's the same hat, but mine is green.

Thanks for that ad. The Special was mid-range, then.




I'm sure this has been covered somewhere else but I couldn't find it through a search. It's good to repeat sometimes.

 

[billyspew]

Sure is.

These may help too...
1928

1937

1939

So at some point towards the mid-late 30's they redid the scale or had a major price drop.

 

[tonyb]

Thanks for that ad. The Special was mid-range, then.

My thanks as well. Just when it looks like we have the Stetson quality designations figured out, along comes contrary evidence. Makes me think that Stetson wasn't all that consistent about these things.

I just retrieved my old Stetson Special. A peek under the (reeded) sweatband reveals, among other things, a $5.00 price tag.

 

[Lefty]

from this thread

Special fell between 3x and 4x based upon the prices in this 1932 ad.

 

[Golden Earache]

I got one too, one of the JohnnyPhi hats. Very light almost white-ish blue gray color with a black Playboy style ribbon. Pumpkin colored reeded sweat, early 40's. One of my favorites, 5 1/2" open crown 2 1/2" brim and very light weight felt.

 

[Dinerman]

Do you have pictures yet? I'd love to see this one.

 

[thunderw21]

Do you have pictures yet? I'd love to see this one.

Oops, forgot about this thread.

Here it is.

It came in this box but it's not original to it.

 

[Dinerman]

I'd go mid to late '30s on that. See the old style gold (instead of manila) size tag?
Definitely an early one.

The box appears to be from the same era.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Looks like the precursor to the Whippet...

Cheers,
JtL

 

[tonyb]

Looks like the precursor to the Whippet...

Cheers,
JtL

That it does, but I wonder if it might be a converted homburg, similar to this one ...

 

[Feraud]

I just received an absolutely gorgeous Setson Special.
It has a slightly fuzzy finish in a green felt w/ green hatband.
Will update this thread with pics. My cell phone camera doesn't provide justice to how nice this fedora is in color and quality.
I will take some outdoor sunny shots of the hat.

Stay tuned..

 

[rlk]

Looks like the precursor to the Whippet...

Cheers,
JtL

Remember, the Whippet goes back to 1937, although I don't think we've seen one here that early.
The Stetson Special(not this liner) goes back to the 19th Century.

 

[Feraud]

Remember, the Whippet goes back to 1937, although I don't think we've seen one here that early.

I think I posted an early Whippet in the Green Machine thread..

 

[rlk]

you did...

I think I posted an early Whippet in the Green Machine thread..

and the second Air Light Whippet-
This one looks slightly bluer than the one above..

Is this unbound or missing its binding?

 

[Feraud]

Neither. Just checked and it's a Cavanagh style edge.