Stetson 5X Clear Beaver, 1942

[Just Daniel]

The National Recovery Act went live in 1933 and was found unconstitutional in 1935. Those tags are fun to find, and far less common than the OPA (~41-47) and OPS (~51-53) wartime price control tags.

Wonderful hat!

Thanks all, it is a great hat.



interesting, I had it pegged on late 30s with the size tag but will have to check out the NRA reference too

 

[Frunobulax]

Excellent hat. Congratulations, Ross.

 

[RossRYoung]

Thanks again all! I’ll post some follow up shots after it’s upcoming bath.

 

[alanfgag]

Found a hens tooth! This is the first time I bought a used hat that, I think, would benefit from a proper cleaning. While it’s there, I’m going to see if it can be bumped a size, too. Better felt then my two 7XCBs, hands down. 52 block 6x3:
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Great piece of history. Please add the LOTXXXX stamp if you can get to it.

 

[RossRYoung]

Great piece of history. Please add the LOTXXXX stamp if you can get to it.

I knew I forgot a photo, I’ll also add it to the appropriate thread. #6876

 

[alanfgag]

Fantastic addition - thank you. LotXXXX numbers with dating provenance are so rare and valuable. I have been of the mind that the Stetson XXXXX imprint seen in your hat was a style that originated in the 1940s and continued into the post-war era. Great to have evidence that it dates back at least to the early 1930s. Congratulations on this wonderful time capsule hat.

 

[RossRYoung]

Fantastic addition - thank you. LotXXXX numbers with dating provenance are so rare and valuable. I have been of the mind that the Stetson XXXXX imprint seen in your hat was a style that originated in the 1940s and continued into the post-war era. Great to have evidence that it dates back at least to the early 1930s. Congratulations on this wonderful time capsule hat.

Thanks so much Alan, I always greatly appreciate your insight and input. I had it pegged at late 30’s early 40s but with the Lot and NRA tag, I’ll feel comfortable saying early 30s. Cheers

 

[J Williams]

What a hat! Great work Ross.

 

[M Hatman]

Found a hens tooth! This is the first time I bought a used hat that, I think, would benefit from a proper cleaning. While it’s there, I’m going to see if it can be bumped a size, too. Better felt then my two 7XCBs, hands down. 52 block 6x3:
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HOLY HELL......Just now seeing this!!!

I sure wish I DID have one!!!!!

 

[RossRYoung]

5x is back, and it is certainly cleaned up and looking much better. However, the sweat has been replaced. I have a variety of different emotions and reactions to this whole cleaning experience (my first time sending out), as I felt I was left completely in the dark on the progress and the decision to have the sweat replaced. This must have been suspected by the hatter though, because I came back to work and the hat is here with no notice of shipment, nor attempt to collect for the work done. Odd part is, the old sweat still looks perfectly fine to me (though I am no expert) and fits with room over my 60ish cm noggin. I’ll be posting better photos in the comparison thread, I figured it’d be nice to make another CB contribution including this new lid. I’ll be keeping it center fire for now since I think it’s a fitting crease for this early 30’s western. Last photo shows a curious 27 & 31 stamped above the LOTXXXX:

 

[Bamaboots]

5x is back, and it is certainly cleaned up and looking much better. However, the sweat has been replaced. I have a variety of different emotions and reactions to this whole cleaning experience (my first time sending out), as I felt I was left completely in the dark on the progress and the decision to have the sweat replaced. This must have been suspected by the hatter though, because I came back to work and the hat is here with no notice of shipment, nor attempt to collect for the work done. Odd part is, the old sweat still looks perfectly fine to me (though I am no expert) and fits with room over my 60ish cm noggin. I’ll be posting better photos in the comparison thread, I figured it’d be nice to make another CB contribution including this new lid. I’ll be keeping it center fire for now since I think it’s a fitting crease for this early 30’s western. Last photo shows a curious 27 & 31 stamped above the LOTXXXX:
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Ross, the hat looks great. Shame about the sweat and though the leather looks great, they may have felt that the reed tape was too fragile to survive additional stitching. I have a couple of old Stetson’s with that type reed tape, sort of a pale green coated, light canvas and they do break down and sometimes get loose. It happened to my NQ and I was able to save it. Not perfect but wearable.

 

[RossRYoung]

Ross, the hat looks great. Shame about the sweat and though the leather looks great, they may have felt that the reed tape was too fragile to survive additional stitching. I have a couple of old Stetson’s with that type reed tape, sort of a pale green coated, light canvas and they do break down and sometimes get loose. It happened to my NQ and I was able to save it. Not perfect but wearable.

Thanks BB, I appreciate the insight and comments. I just wish I had the option to leave as is if I knew it meant the sweat was getting replaced. A bummer but I’ll get over it, might even look into getting the original stitched back down the road.

 

[alanfgag]

5x is back, and it is certainly cleaned up and looking much better. However, the sweat has been replaced. I have a variety of different emotions and reactions to this whole cleaning experience (my first time sending out), as I felt I was left completely in the dark on the progress and the decision to have the sweat replaced. This must have been suspected by the hatter though, because I came back to work and the hat is here with no notice of shipment, nor attempt to collect for the work done. Odd part is, the old sweat still looks perfectly fine to me (though I am no expert) and fits with room over my 60ish cm noggin. I’ll be posting better photos in the comparison thread, I figured it’d be nice to make another CB contribution including this new lid. I’ll be keeping it center fire for now since I think it’s a fitting crease for this early 30’s western. Last photo shows a curious 27 & 31 stamped above the LOTXXXX:
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Great to see again. Who did the restoration work?
The numbers above the LOTXXXX on the left reference the sweatband width (2”). Not sure on the right - often the number 81 appears. Sometimes on older hats the words “stiff” or “soft” were stamped, either the character of the leather or the type of hat...

 

[RossRYoung]

Original work was done at VS, and the experience was not ideal. I understand the volume of their business inhibits the ability to have a 1on1 with each customer. Though I did give explicit details into what I wanted, which included saying please disregard the LO if it involves changing anything original to the hat, the sweat was replaced and the ribbon was flipped to move a stain towards the back of the hat.

After almost 3 years, several inquiries, several conversations & cross country moves (for each of us), our very own @Jesse John was able to do what literally no other hatter would touch… taking this incredibly rare hat back to it’s original form! Seeing his journey from east coast photog to AZ hatter in under a year has been awesome, but getting him to complete this nearly 3 year journey for me was the perfect finish! Thank you again, Jesse!

 

[Jesse John]

Original work was done at VS, and the experience was not ideal. I understand the volume of their business inhibits the ability to have a 1on1 with each customer. Though I did give explicit details into what I wanted, which included saying please disregard the LO if it involves changing anything original to the hat, the sweat was replaced and the ribbon was flipped to move a stain towards the back of the hat.

After almost 3 years, several inquiries, several conversations & cross country moves (for each of us), our very own @Jesse John was able to do what literally no other hatter would touch… taking this incredibly rare hat back to it’s original form! Seeing his journey from east coast photog to AZ hatter in under a year has been awesome, but getting him to complete this nearly 3 year journey for me was the perfect finish! Thank you again, Jesse!

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Appreciate the challenge and the opportunity to work on such a rarity. Glad it meets your expectations my friend!