The Official Stetson Nutria Quality Thread

[Jesse John]

Cheyenne was a big railroad town from its founding. With passengers from the east headed west by train, I would imagine an early store like Max Meyer's did quite well.

Still a railroad town today Cheyenne is also big with military & government facilities & people.

Yessir. I visit Wyoming frequently. Was just in Cheyenne last summer for Frontier Days. My pops grew up there so it's always fun to retrace the family roots. Love the cowboy & train culture there. Really somethin' else!

 

[Jesse John]

If you can look at the underneath of the sweatband in the front of the hat (carefully, with a mirror, maybe) you should find a LOTXXXX number stamped.

Here ya go! This is the best I could do for now using a screen shot from a video I took...Doesn't look like much of the print is there but enough to know it's certainly there. What do ya think?

 

[Jesse John]

Fantastic hat. I've owned three - one with the same brim binding as yours. All were 1920s era. If you can look at the underneath of the sweatband in the front of the hat (carefully, with a mirror, maybe) you should find a LOTXXXX number stamped. Add it to this thread. And to the "pre-1940s Stetson Westerns" thread as well. The hats I've owned all had LOTXXXX numbers in the 4XXX range. Interestingly, unlike other felts, the Nutria fur seems to hold up remarkably well from moth damage. Yours seems to have survived unbitten too. Enjoy it!

Here's another shot. Will add to the thread you mentioned! Also, is there a thread for Miller hats? I just acquired an old San Fran & would like to share with the community.
Thanks, Jesse

 

[Jesse John]

Get to digging. This store should be easier than most as it was pretty famous in it's own right. You might look for an historical society, Cheyenne history or the County (Cheyenne is in) history in Facebook groups. Sometimes that was the only place I could come up with anything on the stores some of my hats came from. Whatever you find you should share in this thread:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/show-us-your-vintage-hat-store.95776/

This related pic gives new meaning to "hat bodies". Try that with a Stingy. Please...

View attachment 253535

No kidding. They say sex sells but I'm personally more engaged in checking out the hats than I am her...
Also, what kind of set is that? Is she climbing through something?? Looks uncomfortable...

Hey thanks for the recommendation! Ill be sure to check those out. Consider the FB groups added

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Yessir. I visit Wyoming frequently. Was just in Cheyenne last summer for Frontier Days. My pops grew up there so it's always fun to retrace the family roots. Love the cowboy & train culture there. Really somethin' else!

I worked from Cheyenne for 3 extended periods. Everyone knows about Frontier Days even if they don't attend any rodeo events. Vic was just bustin' my chops for being off topic. I was last at Frontier days 2 yrs ago, 2018.

 

[carouselvic]

the Granddaddy of em all!

 

[alanfgag]

Here ya go! This is the best I could do for now using a screen shot from a video I took...Doesn't look like much of the print is there but enough to know it's certainly there. What do ya think?

Great to see... and right in line with the ones I have owned... the LOT4XXX hats are likely 1920s. Odd that the Real Nutria Fur designation seems to survive insects much better than the Clear Nutria quality, finer fur and much tastier too.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I recently received this hat I found online. Aside from the sweatband being toast and the liner missing, the hat is in nice vintage condition. The crown is 6” tall and the brim is 3”. The binding/ribbon contrast with the felt is very nice.

 

[Jesse John]

I recently received this hat I found online. Aside from the sweatband being toast and the liner missing, the hat is in nice vintage condition. The crown is 6” tall and the brim is 3”. The binding/ribbon contrast with the felt is very nice.

View attachment 259688 View attachment 259689 View attachment 259690 View attachment 259691 View attachment 259692 View attachment 259693 View attachment 259694 View attachment 259695

Congratulations! I was wondering who was lucky enough to hop on that deal. Happy to see it was you. Wear it well! Really love the colors on this one.

 

[steur]

I recently received this hat I found online. Aside from the sweatband being toast and the liner missing, the hat is in nice vintage condition. The crown is 6” tall and the brim is 3”. The binding/ribbon contrast with the felt is very nice.

View attachment 259688 View attachment 259689 View attachment 259690 View attachment 259691 View attachment 259692 View attachment 259693 View attachment 259694 View attachment 259695

Nice find, Brent. Would make a great rescue project for someone.

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice. I don't recall seeing that kind of contrast on older, wide brimmed hats.

I recently received this hat I found online. Aside from the sweatband being toast and the liner missing, the hat is in nice vintage condition. The crown is 6” tall and the brim is 3”. The binding/ribbon contrast with the felt is very nice.

View attachment 259688 View attachment 259689 View attachment 259690 View attachment 259691 View attachment 259692 View attachment 259693 View attachment 259694 View attachment 259695

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Very nice. I don't recall seeing that kind of contrast on older, wide brimmed hats.

I like the contrast a lot too. I’m torn on what to do with the hat...it’s too small for me and there isn’t enough brim for accommodate reblocking it to my size.

 

[Jesse John]

I like the contrast a lot too. I’m torn on what to do with the hat...it’s too small for me and there isn’t enough brim for accommodate reblocking it to my size.

Just my size if you ever resell it but I certainly hope you can make it work!

 

[RossRYoung]

Early 30’s Real Nutria quality western. 4” bound brim, looks to be 7 1/4 crown with little taper, and a 1 1/4” frayed end ribbon. Braided band was added and sewn through the sweat and reed.

Telescope crease shadow permanently etched into the felt. A few quick dry creases with the malleable felt.

Plenty of character on this one, size tag is illegible for block and crown markings but I believe the Lot to be #6287.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Very nice find & save, Ross!

 

[RossRYoung]

Very nice find & save, Ross!

Thanks Jack, it’ll be one for the wife and hopefully she’ll let me post pics soon in the WHAYWT thread. It’s alotta hat!

 

[belfastboy]

Here is a late 1940's or 1950's Stetson nutria that I picked up from DeadlyHandsome. I removed the badly sunbleached ribbon and that revealed deep sun damage to the felt. It is a mid brown but originally was much darker brown. The brim binding was a dark brown as well. But as the binding has faded so much I chose a light coloured ribbon to match the binding colour. I gave the hat a thorough naptha bath and it was missing the liner so it now has a new one. The sweat is useable so retained that. After the bath, a good working with the non abrasive poly sponge and a good luring it has a softer hand and a bit of lustre to the felt. Overall a great hat.

 

[Jesse John]

Early 30’s Real Nutria quality western. 4” bound brim, looks to be 7 1/4 crown with little taper, and a 1 1/4” frayed end ribbon. Braided band was added and sewn through the sweat and reed.
View attachment 283872 View attachment 283873 View attachment 283874 View attachment 283875
Telescope crease shadow permanently etched into the felt. A few quick dry creases with the malleable felt.
View attachment 283878 View attachment 283879 View attachment 283877
Plenty of character on this one, size tag is illegible for block and crown markings but I believe the Lot to be #6287. View attachment 283880

WOW what a find. I drool for these oldies. Huge fan of the old westerns. That light colored one is super sharp. Currently keeping my eyes peeled for one for myself. Always wanted a light colored Carlsbad or something of that nature. Anyway, the two look good together. Please do post some of you wearing them!

 

[RossRYoung]

WOW what a find. I drool for these oldies. Please do post some of you wearing them!

Thanks Jesse, I think you speak for most of us on TFL, having a soft spot for these novelty type westerns. Your long hair Nutria is real treasure that I would also love to see more of, it looks like the original photos are down.
My tan No. 1 has become almost a daily driver, I’ve posted it in the Western Anyone? and WAYWT threads a few times. I plan to post a few more in both those threads, including the new black Real Nutria, this weekend.
Cheers

 

[Jesse John]

Thanks Jesse, I think you speak for most of us on TFL, having a soft spot for these novelty type westerns. Your long hair Nutria is real treasure that I would also love to see more of, it looks like the original photos are down.
My tan No. 1 has become almost a daily driver, I’ve posted it in the Western Anyone? and WAYWT threads a few times. I plan to post a few more in both those threads, including the new black Real Nutria, this weekend.
Cheers

I’ll click my way to those threads! Looking forward to seeing those posts , Ross. I’ll take a few more of my long haired. Can’t believe they aren’t coming through. I’ve been wearing it frequently since the weather has been perfect for it, so I guess a selfie is in order. I’ll keep an eye out for your weekend post as inspiration!