Stetson Flagship

[Lefty]

Thanks! I have that straws ad, in the same size, and could never read the text.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Here's mine:

 

[carter]

Nice Flagships, Gentlemen!

Gene, That's a sweet Flagship. Based on the ads, I'd say that one comes from the 40's. The ribbon looks to be the same width as the ribbon on mine. However, the liners are markedly different. My best guess is that yours is older. Can you post a picture of the sweatband?

GoneSolo, You two Flagships are outstanding. 1950 or later? Can you post pictures of the liners and sweatbands?

I can't locate a picture of Douglas' Flagship. I hope he'll have an opportunity to post some pictures here.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Carter -- Man, that is one beautiful lid. I love it! :eusa_clap I am very partial to the ribbon treatment, which is reminiscent of the Stetson Playboy -- the ends of the bow are square with the rest of the ribbon. It's a very clean look. The liner looks 50's to me -- and, if the photo shows the reflection of plastic liner protector, that would also indicate 50's, in my view (but probably early 50's).

GoneSolo and Gene -- great Flagships, as well. I would love to find one of these lids in my size someday...

Cheers,
JtL

 

[GoneSolo]

Gentlemen, thanks for the kind words.
Both have the "Flagship" designation on the sweatband; just forgot to capture it in the first picture.
Here is the liner for the sage color. There is an acetate film covering the liner:


And the brown:


Sage color: Wind trolley, underwelt, cursive text on sweatband This hat seems to be from '51 or so as it has similar details to Douglas' hat.
Brown color: no trolley, underwelt (cant really tell as the felt is folded under but is similar to a cav egde above), old english text This one is similar to dinerman's hat.

 

[carter]

Here's another ad, featuring the Whippet and the Flagship, from 1947

Lefty, All the information I have states that Stetson began their National Branding Campaign in 1939 and that the campaign featured one hat each year. It also states that they featured the Flagship in 1946. However, the earliest Flagship ad that I have been able to locate is from 1947. It may be that the decision was made in 1946 for the 1947 campaign.

 

[ET]

What a nice hat and a nice story...

 

[DOUGLAS]

Flagship

This one is a bit minty but as promised.

Just as with Dman's this one has the three rows of brim stitching. This one is slated for a cleaning and reblocking.

 

[gtdean48]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[carter]

The Fellowship of the Flagship

Douglas, Thanks for posting pictures of your "Minty" Beauty. I especially like the profile shot where we see the top and bottom stitching on the ribbon and the square-cut ends of the bow. The Flagship has nice details and wonderful proportions.

 

[DOUGLAS]

My hat is in desperate need of a cleaning. It looks more gray than blue.

 

[carouselvic]

Was the Flagship both an over welt and under welt during its production?

 

[Dinerman]

Mine's a pressed underwelt, where the stitching does not come through the top of the brim, and the edge is pressed to simulate a cavanagh edge.

Douglas's brown one had an underwelt, but with stitching that goes all the way through.

Looks like others have a triple stitched overwelt

 

[DOUGLAS]

This last one has the three rows of stitching on the underwelt that goes through the brim top and bottom. It is tagged with the original price of $12.50. It also has a more narrow ribbon than my brown one.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Here is a mid-40's Royal Stetson DeLuxe Flagship in Sage. The felt is a medium thickness, soft and malleable. I just love the weight of this felt -- it's very similar to the thickness and feel of early-50's Stetson 3X fedoras. The liner is embroidered. The sweat is intact and supple. In general, this lid has survived in excellent condition...

1946

Cheers,
JtL

 

[ScottF]

Petersham?

Here is a mid-40's Stetson Royal DeLuxe Flagship in sage. The felt is a medium thickness, soft and malleable. I just love the weight of this felt. The liner is embroidered. The sweat is intact and supple. In general, this lid has survived in excellent condition...

1946

Cheers,
JtL

Jimmy, that hat is gorgeous, but the ribbon appears to be petersham. I didn't realize they used this back then, but it looks good on that hat.

The one Carter posted looks like it might be the same, but hard to tell from the pics.

Hopefully the winner of the recent 7 1/4 Flagship will post pics for comparison.

 

[ScottF]

Petersham must have been standard on the ones from this period - very nice look and bow.

 

[Tooch]

That's a beauty! It shows some similarities to my own gray Flagship, with black ribbon, that may help me date my hat.

Is that an unreeded sweatband? That's what I found on my hat.

Here is a mid-40's Royal Stetson DeLuxe Flagship in sage.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Is that an unreeded sweatband? That's what I found on my hat.

Correct. For more on this particular technique check out this thread.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Aw, Jimmy, that sage number is wonderful. Great condition and color. You've gotta' be lovin' it. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Thanks for showing us!