The Resistol Roundup

[S. Beagles]

Resistol 990

Just wanted to add my contribution to the Risistol Roundup. 990 with a stingy brim.

 

[Scott Wood]

Beautiful hat in very good condition with soft, malleable felt. No spots, stains or moth bites. The only problem with this hat is a home-made one... I rinsed the liner with water and a wee bit of soap as it was a little grimy and the oilskin stuck to the silk; this action rather successfully helped to get rid of the printing on the liner (logo etc.)...

Oh well, apart from that it's a great hat.

My brown, akin to that one, is at the spa in Chicago to get an aftermarket sweat so the stamps will be gone as well. Did save the liner though

 

[gtdean48]

If it was only my size...

I fished this out of the 'Bay because of the style & it is the size of the guy who feeds & waters the horses when I travel.
This Resistol looks so much like the VS Wanderer I had Art make except for stitching around the brim & the bow on the ribbon.

 

[HosManHatter]

Here`s my first(and only) vintage fedora. A 1960`s Resistol stingy brim brown felt fedora. I can`t find a name or model name/number on the hat.Can anyone help?

Color is brown but with a subtle greenish undertone that shows in certain light.Very high quality and workmanship on this hat.I`m impressed!

 

[simmonsgc]

Nice find!

My Lounger pal flute scored this nice Resistol kitten finish fedora recently, and asked me to post up the pics. I'll let him supply the details in a reply. Nice score!

Cheers,
GC

 

[fluteplayer07]

Hey-

I got this at a vintage clothing store for $20, but I don't know how old it is. Any insight? It's got a Cavanagh Edge, and 'Kitten Finish' (No clue what that means, but I assume it's referring to the feel of the felt. It's probably the softest felt I've touched--it's hard to describe) Any thoughts would be appreciated. And thanks go out to GC for doing this favor for me!

--flute

 

[HosManHatter]

Can`t tell you much about it,flute. She looks very similar to a Resistol fedora I recently picked up w/box in a thrift store.I think your hat is vintage 1960`s.The "Kitten Finish" logo probably means it was a more expensive hat.

Great find!

HMH

(here`s mine for comparison):

 

[ScottF]

1952 3X Kitten finish - Royal Order of Texas White Hats

The certificate has Harry Rolnick's signature, but it might be a stamp.

 

[Lefty]

A Stratoliner Certificate for the cowboys. Very nice. :eusa_clap

 

[ScottF]

A Stratoliner Certificate for the cowboys. Very nice. :eusa_clap

It just arrived - the certificate signature is authentic, not a stamp. Hat is mint, felt is nicer than my 7X Stetson (feels nicer, anyway). I give up and will now be wearing a genuine cowboy hat in public...at times.

 

[carouselvic]

Hill, William Dexter Male White Farmer

Married Etta J. Warren February 18, 1906

Born May 27, 1888 Alabama

Died May 10, 1966 Borger, Texas

Father Cobb Hill Mother

Perrin Cemetery Perrin, Texas

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Could this be the original owner?

 

[ScottF]

Hill, William Dexter Male White Farmer

Married Etta J. Warren February 18, 1906

Born May 27, 1888 Alabama

Died May 10, 1966 Borger, Texas

Father Cobb Hill Mother

Perrin Cemetery Perrin, Texas

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Could this be the original owner?

Thanks for that research, CV - it certainly is possible.

 

[ScottF]

Conversion?

Would it be sacrilege to convert this to a dress western? i.e - trim the brim, re-block, keep the current ribbon but give it more of an Open Road look?

I ask because I won't wear it as-is (no dress-up Cowboy functions to attend).

Any opinions?

 

[Lefty]

It's your hat, but this one seems pretty special, with the certificate and even (possibly) knowing the owner.

 

[theinterchange]

Would it be sacrilege to convert this to a dress western? i.e - trim the brim, re-block, keep the current ribbon but give it more of an Open Road look?

I ask because I won't wear it as-is (no dress-up Cowboy functions to attend).

Any opinions?

In light of all the ceremony surrounding this particular hat, I'd leave it be man. It's pretty doggone special.

Randy

 

[ScottF]

In light of all the ceremony surrounding this particular hat, I'd leave it be man. It's pretty doggone special.

Randy

Yeah, I was torn between having a high-quality wearable hat, and having a nice collectible - it goes against my philosophy of not owning hats that I don't wear, but I'll leave it as-is.

Thanks!

 

[gtdean48]

Would it be sacrilege to convert this to a dress western? i.e - trim the brim, re-block, keep the current ribbon but give it more of an Open Road look?

I ask because I won't wear it as-is (no dress-up Cowboy functions to attend).

Any opinions?

The hat would still be white. The Royal Order doesn't mention a crease or brim length that I can see. Convert it & wear it out! Cool story behind it & it gets worn = save it from a box or hat stand.

 

[ScottF]

The hat would still be white. The Royal Order doesn't mention a crease or brim length that I can see. Convert it & wear it out! Cool story behind it & it gets worn = save it from a box or hat stand.

That was my thinking as well. Fortunately there's no hurry - it comes with a MASSIVE Resistol box (biggest I've ever seen), so the extra brim doesn't take up extra floor space.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[gtdean48]

I'm sure you have plenty of hats to wear & some you buy for research that don't fit but...IMHO a hat was made to be worn. They have a sweatband & a hole where your head goes. I know folks buy original A-2s & other garments that are practically museum pieces that get displayed & not worn. I don't see this as a museum piece. If it was John Wayne's, Randolph Scott's, Audie Murphy's, etc. I could see leaving it alone. If it was somebody in your direct family that you wanted to preserve & whip out at family gatherings, I can see that.
This is a great piece of felt with a good back story that needs a little tweaking to get to something you will wear. Hats need to be worn if they are still serviceable & not a museum piece! JMHO

 

[jimmy the lid]

Nice pick-up, Scott! I'm pretty much with gtdean on this one. Only difference is -- I'm not big on shaving brims down. No "haberslasher" here. What I would do is the same thing that I have done to a couple of nice Stetson westerns I have come across -- re-crease it into an outback style, brim down all around, teardrop (or other style of your choosing). Those big brims have a place, and as an outdoors hat, come in very handy. The hat will still be intact, but simply shaped more to your particular style (whatever that may be ).

Cheers,
JtL