Pre- 1940s Stetson dress hats.

[M Hatman]

To those Sellers anything with a Rancher or Cattleman crease is an OR. That’s all they know. That doesn’t bother me; I know the difference.

What I was addressing was the “If it walks like a duck…” mentality that believes these unmarked models like the Challenge above are unmarked OR’s. That’s why some of us use the NOR designation for these unmarked models. It’s fun & interesting to try to identify such unmarked models.

I knew what you were talking about......I heartily agree with everything you said.

I am firmly in the: if it's not marked as an OR it is not an OR, camp myself. I have several OR like Stetsons, some with almost identical proportions....I do not call them OR's.

As for the Alpine crease I never liked them myself and yes, with the OR now having the pressed in Alpine, every hat with an Alpine is a OR as you say. Not to mention it makes them all look alike in other ways too.....it is a shame really. This is especially evident on FaceBook where people post every darn Stetson (and any other hat) with an Alpine crease as an OR.

I think currently they have only 3 crease molds that they use to "crease" all their hats at HatCo. Oh, well......I AM appreciative that they offered the 160 OR in open crown, and I supported it by buying one! (if they come out with one in brown mix I would be all over it as well)

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I knew what you were talking about......I heartily agree with everything you said.

It’s like a former VP said in an interview just the other night:

“It’s important to not be limited and not allow your ambition by other people’s limited ability to see your capacity.”

 

[BobHufford]

This was being sold as a lady’s hat (there was a satin ribbon over the original), but the felt, shape and appearance of the original bow under the replacement led me to take a chance on it. Glad I did.

1920s?

2-1/2” brim, 4-1/4” crown.

The felt is thin and shapes almost too easily. Hence the side dent in the pic below.

The Fray …

 

[RossRYoung]

Dang Bob… super early piece! Hoping the Stetson pros will weigh in here, but that logo sweat crest makes me think a couple decades older

 

[BobHufford]

Dang Bob… super early piece! Hoping the Stetson pros will weigh in here, but that logo sweat crest makes me think a couple decades older

I hope you are right Ross! Too many dead image links on TFL for me to find a match.

 

[MikeinRome]

I hope you are right Ross! Too many dead image links on TFL for me to find a match.

It's going to probably be 1920's with that brown inventory tag, and since it has a The Fray stamp, I'd guess no later than about 1925. You might look at the Fray thread. Did you look for a Lot Number?

 

[BobHufford]

It's going to probably be 1920's with that brown inventory tag, and since it has a The Fray stamp, I'd guess no later than about 1925. You might look at the Fray thread. Did you look for a Lot Number?

Thanks Mike. A cursory look didn’t show a Lot Number and I’m leery of manipulating the sweat too much.

 

[Jesse John]

Just received this Pre 40s Nutria with a very unique stamp styling as seen previously in a post by @alanfgag in the Nutria Quality Thread (referred to by @RossRYoung ) still knocking some dust off this oldie.

Looks to be a 6” crown by 2.25” brim, featuring a welted & sewn edge. LOT3601
Size 7.

The sweatband stitching has seen better days and there’s a tiny piece of deep blue liner attached (if only it was all there)!
The felt is in remarkable shape for its age.