Pre 1940s (non-Stetson) Westerns

[MikeinRome]

Absolutely serious. Elmer brought you the 357 and 44 magnums as well as being an icon for worldwide big game hunting and writing. He was also famous for his big hats.
B

Yes, you got me Googling him. Well I thought I overpaid for that hat, but the Elmer Keith ownership sure doesn't hurt the value of it any!

 

[CRH]

Just relax and reveal the trigger.

 

[CRH]

Here's a couple more photos. The owner's name inside the hat looks like Elmer Keith (?) or similar. His initials EK were scratched into the sweatband. The last photo is of another NRA period Miller showing the placement of the small size tag. That photo is from pg 7 of this thread, a Miller that belonged to Dinerman. Unfortunately, I don't think he showed the Lot Number anywhere.

I just did a Google search for Elmer Keith's hat size and found out that he was 5'6"? Anxiously waiting updates on this.

 

[MikeinRome]

I just did a Google search for Elmer Keith's hat size and found out that he was 5'6"? Anxiously waiting updates on this.

Maybe he was a little guy with a Napoleon complex and liked big ***s and big hats

 

[BobHufford]

Rode hard …

Mid-to-late 1930s Miller, 7-1/2” x 5”.

It’s coming around a little.

 

[MikeinRome]

Rode hard …

Mid-to-late 1930s Miller, 7-1/2” x 5”.

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It’s coming around a little.

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That's a real oldie! I'm jealous!

 

[BobHufford]

That's a real oldie! I'm jealous!

Thanks Mike! I feel the same about most of your hats.

 

[MikeinRome]

Thanks Mike! I feel the same about most of your hats.

Have you looked to see if there's a Stetson Lot Number on the sweatband?

 

[BobHufford]

Have you looked to see if there's a Stetson Lot Number on the sweatband?

Not yet. Letting the conditioner do its thing.

 

[MikeinRome]

Not yet. Letting the conditioner do its thing.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there is one. Offhand, I'm guessing that hat is mid 30's or earlier.

 

[Bamaboots]

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there is one. Offhand, I'm guessing that hat is mid 30's or earlier.

Would you share what info you have that Stetson was still making hats for Miller in the 30’s? Credible sources have posted in the lounge that Miller’s partnership with Stetson fell apart in 1908.

 

[BobHufford]

Have you looked to see if there's a Stetson Lot Number on the sweatband?

Not seeing one. I did see this “**XX Quality” debossing hiding in the patina though.

 

[MikeinRome]

Not seeing one. I did see this “**XX Quality” debossing hiding in the patina though.

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I was wondering if it was a 4X, since you didn't mention it before. The design of it is different from the 4X Quality stamp on my Stetson-made hat. Don't know if that signifies anything. There were various designs.

 

[MikeinRome]

Not seeing one. I did see this “**** Quality” debossing hiding in the patina though.

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Yes, I see the **XX Quality stamp. It's similar to the stamp on Dinerman's hat in the attached photo, from pg 4 of this thread. However, the 2 hats have different sweatbands.

 

[MikeinRome]

Unknown brand. Has 4 inch finished brim, was 4 1/2 originally. The brim binding is 3/8 inch on the top or inside and 1/2 inch on the bottom or outside. The open crown measures 6 3/4 inches but I think it was originally 7 inches and has shrunk a bit. The hatband ribbon has the fraying on the back edge. There's no sweatband or paper tags. I have a hunch those little leather hatband additions are pretty early. This might be a 1920's hat, but that's just a guess. It's heading straight off to cowboy hat Rehab!

 

[MikeinRome]

Unknown brand. Has 4 inch finished brim, was 4 1/2 originally. The brim binding is 3/8 inch on the top or inside and 1/2 inch on the bottom or outside. The open crown measures 6 3/4 inches but I think it was originally 7 inches and has shrunk a bit. The hatband ribbon has the fraying on the back edge. There's no sweatband or paper tags. I have a hunch those little leather hatband additions are pretty early. This might be a 1920's hat, but that's just a guess. It's heading straight off to cowboy hat Rehab!

Here's photos of 3 Stetsons with narrow leather hatbands from the thread Pre 1940 Stetson Westerns. The first dates 1913 or earlier and the second is a The Fray Stetson, dating 1920's or earlier. The third dates around 1930.

 

[MikeinRome]

Unknown brand. Has 4 inch finished brim, was 4 1/2 originally. The brim binding is 3/8 inch on the top or inside and 1/2 inch on the bottom or outside. The open crown measures 6 3/4 inches but I think it was originally 7 inches and has shrunk a bit. The hatband ribbon has the fraying on the back edge. There's no sweatband or paper tags. I have a hunch those little leather hatband additions are pretty early. This might be a 1920's hat, but that's just a guess. It's heading straight off to cowboy hat Rehab!

Same hat after being cleaned, reshaped, and getting a new sweatband. The hatband ribbon is so fragile it fell apart but was kept anyway. The small leather hatband fell apart trying to remove it. I might have more money invested in this hat than I could get out of it, but I'm glad I could keep it from going to ruin. I'm dating the hat as before about 1940 and leaving it at that.
Before the hat was cleaned, it had a gray color, but after cleaning, it's more of a tan color for some reason.

 

[Jesse John]

Well, this might be barely making the time period threshold for this thread as I’m unaware of how to gauge the age…So I hope it lands well. I took a stab at a low price 10 gallon on eBay with not much info and came out on the winning end.
Surprised to unbox this Montgomery Ward 7.5” x 5 1/4” standard quality felt.

It came without a ribbon on the crown and some pretty bad wear & tear. At the price I got it I felt inclined to give the size a push and refresh it thru n thru.

I used a variety of blocks to size the hat up without compromising the profile of the crown. Reflanged the brim & worked out some old kinks. New trim for the once bare brown really brought it back to life. New sweatband too since the original had some popped stitches and dry rot. I’ll keep it for history’s sake…

Mug shot to wrap it up.

 

[BobHufford]

Surprised to unbox this Montgomery Ward

Great find and refurb Jesse!

I’m not sure of the exact era of that MW logo, but apparently Hardeman was making some hats for Montgomery Ward at that time.