Stack Hats

[Frunobulax]

I am the great-grandson of Frank Stack who was the Mayor of Norwalk, CT between the years of 1935-1943. He came from a line of Milliners from Ireland and worked at the Hat Corporation for years. He eventually opened up his own hat company called Stacks Hats. I am on the lookout for any of these hats they may still be in existence today or any stories from anyone who had them. They are pretty rare. I added a few pics of Frank wearing his hat. Would love to hear from anyone with information on these hats. I don't know much about these types of hats but would love to learn.


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We have a few Members with Mr. Stack's hats. They turn up occasionally on eBay, as well.

Here is a thread on Stack Hats: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stack-hats.54085/page-2#post-2362495

I wish you luck finding one, as you re correct - they are fairly rare and quite desirable. Getting a Member to part with one may be a possibility, but most really value them if they have them. Good luck!

 

[Frunobulax]

We have a few Members with Mr. Stack's hats. They turn up occasionally on eBay, as well.

Here is a thread on Stack Hats: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stack-hats.54085/page-2#post-2362495

I wish you luck finding one, as you re correct - they are fairly rare and quite desirable. Getting a Member to part with one may be a possibility, but most really value them if they have them. Good luck!

Hopefully, a bartender will move this over to the Hats forum where it may garner a more receptive audience.

 

[Stackdescendant]

We have a few Members with Mr. Stack's hats. They turn up occasionally on eBay, as well.

Here is a thread on Stack Hats: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stack-hats.54085/page-2#post-2362495

I wish you luck finding one, as you re correct - they are fairly rare and quite desirable. Getting a Member to part with one may be a possibility, but most really value them if they have them. Good luck!

Thank you Frunobulax! I will check it out. I just think of all the missed opportunities over the years to get some keepsakes and how many were probably just tossed. We have some great pictures and documents but no hats. I didn't realize how many of my ancestors were involved in the hatting business. My maternal grandfather was also a manager at the Hat Corporation in Norwalk as well. He had some great hats too. Nothing was saved though. Sad.

 

[BobHufford]

Welcome to the Lounge! Looking forward to you sharing more documents and photos when you can. I have a Stack hat that I was planning on listing on eBay this Fall (due to the style and this being Spring).

Stack Heather.

 

[hatsRme]

I am the great-grandson of Frank Stack who was the Mayor of Norwalk, CT between the years of 1935-1943. He came from a line of Milliners from Ireland and worked at the Hat Corporation for years. He eventually opened up his own hat company called Stacks Hats. I am on the lookout for any of these hats they may still be in existence today or any stories from anyone who had them. They are pretty rare. I added a few pics of Frank wearing his hat. Would love to hear from anyone with information on these hats. I don't know much about these types of hats but would love to learn.


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Frank looks great!

Here’s my meager addition to the conversation, a circa 1943(?) Stack. Lucky me!!

 

[Stackdescendant]

Frank looks great!

Here’s my meager addition to the conversation, a circa 1943(?) Stack. Lucky me!!
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Wow, that's a great piece! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Stackdescendant]

Welcome to the Lounge! Looking forward to you sharing more documents and photos when you can. I have a Stack hat that I was planning on listing on eBay this Fall (due to the style and this being Spring).

Stack Heather.

 

[Stackdescendant]

Nice hat! Interesting how the brand logo changed over time. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Stackdescendant]

I am the great-grandson of Frank Stack who was the Mayor of Norwalk, CT between the years of 1935-1943. He came from a line of Milliners from Ireland and worked at the Hat Corporation for years. He eventually opened up his own hat company called Stacks Hats. I am on the lookout for any of these hats they may still be in existence today or any stories from anyone who had them. They are pretty rare. I added a few pics of Frank wearing his hat. Would love to hear from anyone with information on these hats. I don't know much about these types of hats but would love to learn.


. View attachment 509112 View attachment 509114 View attachment 509115

Welcome to the Lounge! Looking forward to you sharing more documents and photos when you can. I have a Stack hat that I was planning on listing on eBay this Fall (due to the style and this being Spring).

Stack Heather.

Hey Bobhufford, I don't know if there is where I should be posting from or replying from, but I have some more pics to share. The first set of pics is my grandfather Donald McMahon, he worked at the Hat Corporation for many years and he always wore a hat. THe DJM2 pic was him still wearing a hat at age 70.

 

[Stackdescendant]

Hey Bobhufford, I don't know if there is where I should be posting from or replying from, but I have some more pics to share. The first set of pics is my grandfather Donald McMahon, he worked at the Hat Corporation for many years and he always wore a hat. THe DJM2 pic was him still wearing a hat at age 70.

Here are a couple more pics of Frank Stack. The first one is my Grandfather Donald McMahon and Frank Stack. Frank was his Father in Law. I just can't tell if he was wearing a stack hat or not. Frank would wear his hat fishing! LOL.

 

[Stackdescendant]

Here are a couple more pics of Frank Stack. The first one is my Grandfather Donald McMahon and Frank Stack. Frank was his Father in Law. I just can't tell if he was wearing a stack hat or not. Frank would wear his hat fishing! LOL.

My grandfather Donald McMahon worked at Crofut and Knapp. He worked there for many years until the company moved out of town. Frank Stack., back in the late 30's was Superintendent at the C&K. Obviously hats were big in Norwalk at that time. My other Grandfather, Henry Dreher was always seen wearing the Penfeld model as were most other men during that time. I am getting bits and pieces of information from my father from that time period. Attached is a pic of Henry Dreher with his favorite hat.

 

[hatsRme]

Here are a couple more pics of Frank Stack. The first one is my Grandfather Donald McMahon and Frank Stack. Frank was his Father in Law. I just can't tell if he was wearing a stack hat or not. Frank would wear his hat fishing! LOL.

SUPER photos!

Thank you for sharing. These are insights we might never have.
Of course Frank wore his hat fishing. Probably even wore it mowing the lawn (if he mowed). That was the way!
I’m in New England outside of Boston. My wife is a Connecticut gal, so we still frequent the area. I continue to dream of finding a long forgotten family barn or warehouse space filled with new old hats somewhere down there…
Is there still a Stack family presence in that area?

 

[Stackdescendant]

SUPER photos!

Thank you for sharing. These are insights we might never have.
Of course Frank wore his hat fishing. Probably even wore it mowing the lawn (if he mowed). That was the way!
I’m in New England outside of Boston. My wife is a Connecticut gal, so we still frequent the area. I continue to dream of finding a long forgotten family barn or warehouse space filled with new old hats somewhere down there…
Is there still a Stack family presence in that area?

Unfortunately HatsRme, the Stack family line is very limited. I connected with a descendant of Frank Stack's brother Harry recently. The last direct descendant was my mom who passed in 2019. Frank was her grandfather on her mother's side. The last Male stack passed in 2013. I too live in MA, south coast near the Cape, and still have family in the New Haven County area of CT. I just continue digging into the history of the Family and trying to find out whatever I can. This hat connection and history are quite interesting though. When my grandfather passed in Norwalk, I was personally involved in cleaning out his lifelong house there and I'm sure I came across some hat boxes and had no idea what a keepsake that would have been.

 

[Stackdescendant]

Hatsrme, regarding the Stack Heather, what is the reference on the underside brim, " Baskin, Chicago and Evanston"? Is it where the leather came from? Just curious.
If you don't mind me asking, where did you acquire it? Did you add the feather or is it original?

 

[BobHufford]

what is the reference on the underside brim, " Baskin, Chicago and Evanston"?

That was the store it was sold in.

 

[Stackdescendant]

I found this blurb in the Hartford Courant. Looks like Frank started the business with $50,000.

 

[Stackdescendant]

More information on Frank Stack:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/frank-stack-hat-rare.110776/

 

[Stackdescendant]

Thinking about selling it.

Gunloader, do you still have this hat? I am in the market looking for a Stack. Username is obvious. Let me know.

 

[hatsRme]

He found one! Moreover, he found a BIG one, in his size!!! I need to mention again, @Stackdescendant how fortunate you are to have found this hat in this SIZE, and it didn’t take you years. So cool!!! You who have been seeking XXL vintage lids know the difficulty in obtaining those hats.

The meeting….

 

[Stackdescendant]

Thanks again Charlie! I will cherish this hat!