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Pre 1940s Stetson Westerns

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,829
Lovely hat and great photos. Here is the Porter's imprint from a 5X clear beaver western, 5-10 years later than yours.

View attachment 221263
And a couple more Porter’s.
One older and one newer, i believe.
Great hats guys!
B
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J Williams

Practically Family
Messages
638
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
I believe I have at least one but possibly a few hats that I will be documenting in this most wonderful thread. I did have a few questions before I do.

I know I have seen it but I can't for the life of me find it now - what is the thought on the dating caveat for natural reeds in sweatbands if any? Also this blown sweatband seam from my No 1 Quality appears to me to be unsewn. There are no visible stitches or holes. Thoughts?

IMG_2391.jpeg
 

Just Daniel

One Too Many
Messages
1,451
Stetson Boss of the Plains, Fray sweatband.

Size sticker, very early red reorder sticker, three box inventory tag, unsewn back of the sweat, vv stitching. I would guess 1910s?

The Stetson sweat crest is one I have not seen before and hard to capture.

The pics I received from the seller did not really show the moth damage, but I probably did not look close enough. I bit pretty hard to get it.


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Stetson Boss of the Plains, Fray sweatband.

Size sticker, very early red reorder sticker, three box inventory tag, unsewn back of the sweat, vv stitching. I would guess 1910s?

The Stetson sweat crest is one I have not seen before and hard to capture.

The pics I received from the seller did not really show the moth damage, but I probably did not look close enough. I bit pretty hard to get it.


View attachment 241025 View attachment 241026 View attachment 241028 View attachment 241029 View attachment 241030

giphy (2).gif
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,100
Location
San Francisco, CA
Question: for those who have handled Boss of the Plains or Austral type hats, what's the crown height?

I can't quite tell what's going on with the tag above. 4" depth? 4 3/8"? Finish 318?

My ranger hat definitely looks like 4" on the tag but seems to measure out at 4 1/4" if I put a ruler on top of the crown and measure to the brim break. Though I guess if the block itself measured 4" the finished hat measurements include the thickness of the felt? Maybe I'm over thinking?



There's this supposed ad floating around the internet...


The "B.O.P" in Justin's catalog shows 4 1/2" and I've seen other Austral ads at 4 1/2". Knudsen claims Stetson changed blocks around 1900 and the original is 4", though they scale theirs up to 4 1/4", "because we are so much larger today than they were 150 years ago."

I'm about to put in my order for a BOP block with Randal Alan, but wanted to be sure it was going to be "correct," but it seems there was not a consistent crown height? Knudsen doesn't offer any reference or evidence for their claims, but they did have an arrangement with Stetson to make their version with Stetson felt and branding, so I assumed their version was in the ballpark of truth.

Appreciate any insight!
 
Last edited:
Messages
18,171
What I would like to see more of, if and when you have the time is the ribbon and bow profile of that BRE. I haven’t had many opportunities to see something as rare as a WAR BRE and I try to take advantage of doing so at every opportunity. In the appropriate thread, of course.
Moving this to here, BB. I'm lighting up the ribbon & bow to the best of my ability so the black hat may be overexposed in some of these.

IMG_8563.jpg


IMG_8564.jpg


IMG_0887.JPG


IMG_0888.JPG


The ribbon is 1-1/2" wide

IMG_0893.JPG


IMG_8566.jpg


The bow turns up above the ribbon approximately 1/8 at the rear.

IMG_0894.JPG


The keeper is 3/16 wide.

IMG_0889.JPG


IMG_0890.JPG


Hope these exposures help.

IMG_8565.jpg
 
Last edited:
Messages
11,369
Location
Alabama
Moving this to here, BB. I'm lighting up the ribbon & bow to the best of my ability so the black hat may be overexposed in some of these.

View attachment 267469

View attachment 267470

View attachment 267463

View attachment 267464

The ribbon is 1-1/2" wide

View attachment 267467

View attachment 267472

The bow turns up above the ribbon approximately 1/8 at the rear.

View attachment 267468

The keeper is 3/16 wide.

View attachment 267465

View attachment 267466

Hope these exposures help.

View attachment 267471

Thanks, HJ. Don’t remember seeing another one quite like it. Most examples I’ve seen are like mine with the campaign bow. Pretty good shape for 120 years old.
 

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