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Messages
18,470
Location
Nederland
This one arrived today. I knew it wasn't my size, but I had to get it anyway.
Stetson Medalist vita-felt in black (blue would have been better, but there it is). Size 7 3/8 with the brim at 6,5cm and the crown at about 11cm at the center dent. Only thing wrong with it is that the liner has gone AWOL. The liner seems to have been glued in. Fairly lightweight hat with just 115 grams on the scale. Shapes with no effort at all and a nice hand to the felt. Unreeded construction and stars on the Stetson logo point towards early to mid fifties I believe. I've brushed it an steamed it but left it open crowned and brim-up for now.
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crawlinkingsnake

A-List Customer
Messages
419
Location
West Virginia
This one arrived today. I knew it wasn't my size, but I had to get it anyway.
Stetson Medalist vita-felt in black (blue would have been better, but there it is). Size 7 3/8 with the brim at 6,5cm and the crown at about 11cm at the center dent. Only thing wrong with it is that the liner has gone AWOL. The liner seems to have been glued in. Fairly lightweight hat with just 115 grams on the scale. Shapes with no effort at all and a nice hand to the felt. Unreeded construction and stars on the Stetson logo point towards early to mid fifties I believe. I've brushed it an steamed it but left it open crowned and brim-up for now. View attachment 257746 View attachment 257747 View attachment 257748 View attachment 257749 View attachment 257750 View attachment 257751 View attachment 257752 View attachment 257753 View attachment 257754 View attachment 257755

hey steur just MY SIZE! :)
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
This one arrived today. I knew it wasn't my size, but I had to get it anyway.
Stetson Medalist vita-felt in black (blue would have been better, but there it is). Size 7 3/8 with the brim at 6,5cm and the crown at about 11cm at the center dent. Only thing wrong with it is that the liner has gone AWOL. The liner seems to have been glued in. Fairly lightweight hat with just 115 grams on the scale. Shapes with no effort at all and a nice hand to the felt. Unreeded construction and stars on the Stetson logo point towards early to mid fifties I believe. I've brushed it an steamed it but left it open crowned and brim-up for now. View attachment 257746 View attachment 257747 View attachment 257748 View attachment 257749 View attachment 257750 View attachment 257751 View attachment 257752 View attachment 257753 View attachment 257754 View attachment 257755

Very nice. Mid 1950s?
 
Messages
18,470
Location
Nederland
hey steur just MY SIZE! :)

Thanks! Haven't decided yet where's this one is going to go. Could well be the classifieds.

Very nice. Mid 1950s?
Thanks, Brent. I think so, yes. I don't know Stetson lore all that well, but from what I gather the sweatband logo with the stars was changed to one with a maple leaf in 1955. So this one would be earlier.
 
Messages
18,470
Location
Nederland
Joseph E Ward fedora in Dark Olive. Size 7 (7 1/8 American), but it runs a bit small, so a perfect fit. Bound brim at a near 6cm and crown 10,5cm at the center dent. Liner sewn in. Generic English style label, but handwritten. Joseph E. Ward was a hat company based in Bredbury, England and didn't make hat bodies itself. It just did the finishing. In 1958 it merged with the hat factory Battersby&Co of Stockport England, which places this hat somewhere in the late fifties or early sixties, because the sweatband mentions Stockport (where Battersby was located). The factory merged together with some others into Associated British Hat Manufacturers in 1966.
A green hat I like; who would have thought?;)
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Messages
19,430
Location
Funkytown, USA
Thanks! Haven't decided yet where's this one is going to go. Could well be the classifieds.


Thanks, Brent. I think so, yes. I don't know Stetson lore all that well, but from what I gather the sweatband logo with the stars was changed to one with a maple leaf in 1955. So this one would be earlier.

It's a moving target. While the CW is the maple leaf came about in about '53, there are numerous examples that show the sweats and liners were phased in over time. To me, it's fairly early because of the interior labels. Interesting on the Block number, as well. Block 123 is commonly a Playboy block.

Here's the Stetson Hat Block project.
 
Messages
18,470
Location
Nederland
It's a moving target. While the CW is the maple leaf came about in about '53, there are numerous examples that show the sweats and liners were phased in over time. To me, it's fairly early because of the interior labels. Interesting on the Block number, as well. Block 123 is commonly a Playboy block.

Here's the Stetson Hat Block project.
Thanks, Jim. Interesting stuff about the block numbers. Wasn't there an overlap between the Playboy and the Medalist? The names being more a marketing matter than a distinct model difference?
 

Pellie

One Too Many
Messages
1,683
Location
Enschede, Netherlands
This one arrived today. I knew it wasn't my size, but I had to get it anyway.
Stetson Medalist vita-felt in black (blue would have been better, but there it is). Size 7 3/8 with the brim at 6,5cm and the crown at about 11cm at the center dent. Only thing wrong with it is that the liner has gone AWOL. The liner seems to have been glued in. Fairly lightweight hat with just 115 grams on the scale. Shapes with no effort at all and a nice hand to the felt. Unreeded construction and stars on the Stetson logo point towards early to mid fifties I believe. I've brushed it an steamed it but left it open crowned and brim-up for now. View attachment 257746 View attachment 257747 View attachment 257748 View attachment 257749 View attachment 257750 View attachment 257751 View attachment 257752 View attachment 257753 View attachment 257754 View attachment 257755
Did you buy it on M.plaats?
 
Messages
19,430
Location
Funkytown, USA
Thanks, Jim. Interesting stuff about the block numbers. Wasn't there an overlap between the Playboy and the Medalist? The names being more a marketing matter than a distinct model difference?

Here's the Medalist discussion thread.

Medalist is most likely a quality designation, and seems to have been part of a "line" of types of hats even moreso than a quality designation. There are Medalist-designated Stetson Eagles, for example. The newer Medalists seem to be exclusively Panamas. So, I think Playboy vs. Medalist could be apples and oranges.

I'd have to go do my research, but I think 122 and 123 have been seen in Playboys.
 
Messages
18,470
Location
Nederland
Here's the Medalist discussion thread.

Medalist is most likely a quality designation, and seems to have been part of a "line" of types of hats even moreso than a quality designation. There are Medalist-designated Stetson Eagles, for example. The newer Medalists seem to be exclusively Panamas. So, I think Playboy vs. Medalist could be apples and oranges.

I'd have to go do my research, but I think 122 and 123 have been seen in Playboys.
Didn't know there was one! Thanks, Jim. From what I've read Medalist is more likely a quality designation and not a model. Medalist quality on a Playboy block therefore. If that's the situation I'm not complaining (even if I'm not going to wear it anyway).
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,855
This one arrived today. I knew it wasn't my size, but I had to get it anyway.
Stetson Medalist vita-felt in black (blue would have been better, but there it is). Size 7 3/8 with the brim at 6,5cm and the crown at about 11cm at the center dent. Only thing wrong with it is that the liner has gone AWOL. The liner seems to have been glued in. Fairly lightweight hat with just 115 grams on the scale. Shapes with no effort at all and a nice hand to the felt. Unreeded construction and stars on the Stetson logo point towards early to mid fifties I believe. I've brushed it an steamed it but left it open crowned and brim-up for now. View attachment 257746 View attachment 257747 View attachment 257748 View attachment 257749 View attachment 257750 View attachment 257751 View attachment 257752 View attachment 257753 View attachment 257754 View attachment 257755
Umm...should i check the size on that brown Vita-felt homburg??
B
 
Messages
11,720
D1A45E6D-A37E-4561-90D8-4B5B8177D68C.jpeg


Miller Western Hats - Black
5 1/2 open crown 4 7/8 as shaped
3/8 Black tri cord thin ribbon
2 7/8 brim with matching 3/16 bound edge

To say I am very pleased with today’s latest arrival is quite an understatement. I’ve been hankering for a black soft top western in a somewhat Stratoliner/Open Road style for quite a bit now. This one definitely is checking that box for me! The only downside is the sweat’s rear stitching is removed and it’s is cracked clean through on the side. However it still feels fine on the head. Think I’ll live with it for now and replace if/when needed. The felt on the crown is fairly thick and super soft... Possibly a tiny bit too soft as it’s not holding side dents on a quick hand crease so well. But that may come with steam or time. Just a fantastic casual wear Hat I could wear just about any time.

Don’t know the age on this one... but I’m assuming this came from the old Miller Stockman catalogs. Thanks again to @BobHufford for pointing me in the right direction on this one.

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Messages
11,720
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Borsalino Debrosan - SFINGE (Light Tan)
5 1/2 crown 4 3/4 as shaped
1/2 inch tri cord ribbon
2 1/2 brim with 1/8 binding on underside

I got around to steaming this one into shape today. It could probably use a bit more work. But this one cleaned up nicely So far from the shape it arrived in. I haven’t attempted to do anything to the small reddish stain on the back of the brim (maybe red wine?) but it is not too obtrusive.

Taking a stab at the manufacturing label this is a Borsalino Debrosan in the color SFINGE which is a light tan that in certain lights can lean more to yellowish. I think this type of label points to mid to late 1950s. I’m sure Stefan can correct me if I missed on any of that. I think the original store is Calliada in Livorno, Italy. This is a very thin light weight unlined felt with a decent 5 1/2 open crown and a 2 1/2 brim. Very unusual to me is the very thin grosgrain binding only on the underside of the brim.



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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,871
Location
Denmark
View attachment 257949

Borsalino Debrosan - SFINGE (Light Tan)
5 1/2 crown 4 3/4 as shaped
1/2 inch tri cord ribbon
2 1/2 brim with 1/8 binding on underside

I got around to steaming this one into shape today. It could probably use a bit more work. But this one cleaned up nicely So far from the shape it arrived in. I haven’t attempted to do anything to the small reddish stain on the back of the brim (maybe red wine?) but it is not too obtrusive.

Taking a stab at the manufacturing label this is a Borsalino Debrosan in the color SFINGE which is a light tan that in certain lights can lean more to yellowish. I think this type of label points to mid to late 1950s. I’m sure Stefan can correct me if I missed on any of that. I think the original store is Calliada in Livorno, Italy. This is a very thin light weight unlined felt with a decent 5 1/2 open crown and a 2 1/2 brim. Very unusual to me is the very thin grosgrain binding only on the underside of the brim.



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Two nice Borsalinos, Joe. Congrats.
 

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