Resistol Hats???

[Molorom]

Of all the hat companys i know of,
i know the least about Resistol Hats.
So ive got some questions.
1. When where they made?
2. Were they bought out by hatco?
3. Are they still sold?
4. When were the "Self Conforming" hats made?
5. Hows the felt?
Thanks,
Adam

 

[jamespowers]

Oh boy, I am probably not the guy to answer this but I will give it a whirl. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Resistol is an Older brand created by Hary Rolnick and Byer. The name Resistol is an allusion to them being able to resist weather, oil and soil stains. I do not know what they did to the felt to make that claim but greater things have been claimed. They were producing from the 1940s to the present. They are curently part of Hat Brands now and stopped producing "dress hats" in 1968. They currently produce only "cowboy hats."
The self conforming hats are still made today in the cowboy hats made by Resistol from the examples I have seen.
The felt in the vintage hats is on the same par as other American makers at the time. It just depends on the finish and quality of the example you are dealing with. They were not cheaply priced at their time of production. A Champ hat was selling for $8 while the Resistol was selling for $11. Champ was the "price leader" then that all others could be measured against. In other words--cheap.
I have a nice NOS Resistol in "Skyfleet" color. It is a very nice hat and all the Resistols I have come in contact with were nice as well. Their present day offerings are stiff enough to drive nails with. The vintage dress hats are very soft and pliable.
I hope that answered some of your questions.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Molorom]

would a Resistol stage coach self conforming, Cowboy be
any good? or would that be just as bad? Im deciding between
this hat and a Herbert Johnson, 6" crown 2"inch brim, which is one
size to small which i would block up. Which is a better choice you think?
Adam

 

[jamespowers]

Gee, I would have to see them to answer for sure. How old is the Johnson and Resistol in question? Do you have pictures?

Regards,

J

 

[Matt Deckard]

As for the self conforming, that is just as conforming as the next hat... nothing special from what I have seen, just a leather band in felt.

The HJ sounds like a rare find if it is vintage. Resistol Cowboy hats are easier to find.

I'd have too see the hats too. It's all up to what you want.

 

[Molorom]

Im going to/have sent bolt of you private messages for your own
stance on the subject.
Adam

 

[Andykev]

Self Conforming

Both MK and I bought New Old Stock (NOS) hats from Art, Resistol. My hat was a beautiful blueish gray. MK's was a nice light gray.

The hats came with the orig. "owners instructions" touting the value of the "self conforming" sweatband.

The hats are nice, very nice felt. I have worn the hat and the sweat seems to be of great quality and easily conforms to the shape of your head. I somewhat believe it was a marketing gimic or claim, but the quality of the sweat lent some credence to the "advertised" name.

 

[WesternHatWearer]

"In the early 1920's a young millionaire, E.R. Byer sold his business in Michigan and traveled South to further his fortune and investment. His investment was a brilliant young hat maker, Harry Rolnick, who was operating a small hat factory. E.R. Byer was one of Rolnick's customers and was so impressed by his professionalism, flair for fashion and devotion to quality that in 1927 the firm of Byer-Rolnick was founded in Dallas, Texas. The company produced men's felt hats in Western and Dress stylings, both were marketed under the newly created brand name "Resistol Hats," meaning to resist- all weather.


Distribution was limited to Texas and Oklahoma early on, but innovations like the Self-Conforming band and Kitten Finish (an innovation in the finishing process of felt) gained national exposure and in 1938 prompted expansion to a larger facility in Garland, Texas, where Resistol hats are manufactured today.

Byer-Rolnick's success continued and the Resistol brand became the greatest name in western hats. In an effort to better control the quality and flow of product, Byer-Rolnick acquired a fur cutting plant and built a rough-body plant in Longview, Texas. These acquisitions made Byer-Rolnick the first and only manufacturer to operate the entire felt hat making process, which includes over 200 processes. By operating all phases of production, Byer- Rolnick was able to obtain maximum quality control and thereby produce the most consistent and finest hat known the world over.

Demand for Resistol hats continued and today "the small hat factory" is the largest manufacturer of headwear in the world, as a part of Hatco, Inc. All phases of production are still operated and controlled to ensure product of the highest quality."

Taken from the Resistol Hat Company Webpage: http://www.resistolhat.com/history.php

 

[T Jones]

Resistol was Stetson's biggest competitor at one time. Now they're both made in the same factory. I know that Stagecoaches are desirable for hat conversions with their tall crowns and dense felt. I have four Stagecoaches and they're nice quality hats. Two of my Stagecoaches were converted to fedoras and the other two I reblocked, changed out the ribbon and bow, and kept those Western....(Personally, and that's just me, I'm not a fan of British made hats).

Stagecoach, Silverbelly. 3 1/2 brim

Stagecoach, Chestnut. 4' brim

Stagecoach 4X, Indyesque conversion

Stagecoach conversion, Black

 

[barrowjh]

Four very nice hats, T Jones.

 

[RJR]

I still favor that Indy conversion.

 

[T Jones]

barrow, RJR, thanks guys. I appreciate the comments.

 

[Dallashat]

As for the self conforming, that is just as conforming as the next hat... nothing special from what I have seen, just a leather band in felt

The selfconforming band is attached to the underside of the brim just a bit and not at the point where the brim and crown meet as with most hats.
Making the sweatband bend around the corner, so when your head is within the crown of the hat the sweat "conforms" to your head and the stitching is not against your forehead.

 

[DaveProc]