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The Stratoliner Society {VINTAGE}

frussell

One Too Many
Messages
1,409
Location
California Desert
Original Problem

All it needed originally was a new sweatband. The old one wasn't quite gone, but was starting to get sticky and flaky when warm. I only like that quality in pastry, so I decided to get a new sweat. I got this hat to wear, not for looking at, so I wanted it to be functional. Maybe I should have just toughed it out, but it's a hot mother here right now. I already have the hammerless 38 snubby, but since I'm already built like a palooka, I really don't want to scare people with my headwear. My father used to tell me when he saw a hat like that " it takes about 40 points off your IQ." I don't have many points to spare, so it needed fixing. I'm not thrilled, but it'll do. Frank
 

buler

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,383
Location
Wisconsin
Note from Stratoliner Box

Note that was placed in Strat box.

B

strat_box_note.jpg
 

Mobile Vulgus

One Too Many
Messages
1,144
Location
Chicago
Note that was placed in Strat box.
strat_box_note.jpg

Also, the Stratoliner note card measures 3-1/2 X 4-3/4.

I find it to be a bit amusing "sales speak" to be telling folks that the shape of the box doesn't harm the brim and that the brim can just be smoothed out with the hand.... yet on the other hand they are saying the shape of the box helps keep the curl to the brim "more permanent." Wait a minute.... how can it both keep the curl to the brim "more permanent" yet have no effect on the brim at the same time?? It's funny how sales pitches sometimes sound.
 

Mobile Vulgus

One Too Many
Messages
1,144
Location
Chicago
Makes you wonder why all the hat boxes from then on weren't made the same shape.....HMMMmmmmmm?????

Ha, ha. Good point!! Obviously the narrowness of the box made many customers wonder what the heck was going on. One wonders if this sales card was included in the Stratoliner box from the beginning or if it was added later in the production years as Stetson began to see that people were worried about the box!?
 

Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
how can it both keep the curl to the brim "more permanent" yet have no effect on the brim at the same time??

It doesn't say it has no effect on the brim, it says that (1) it curls the brim toward the crown, (2) this causes no damage to the brim, and (3) it keeps the curl of the brim. Still, having to explain that your packaging doesn't damage your product can't be the result of positive feedback from customers.
 

Mobile Vulgus

One Too Many
Messages
1,144
Location
Chicago
Say, does anyone know the years that the Strato was made? From reading thru the thread here it looks like it debuted in 1940. When did they stop making it?
And how many levels of quality were there? The one I got in the mails today has a sort of pinkish liner with just "Stetson" on it with "Royal Stetson Stratoliner" in gold on the sweatband.

I also bought a Strato box separately.

stratoliner_gray_01.jpg



stratoliner_gray_02.jpg



stratoliner_gray_04.jpg



stratoliner_gray_06.jpg


I also bought a hat and a box together from Baron, but it isn't here yet. He says he has one of those "disputed" pins with his.

And, yes, I have the original little info sheet that came in the box to describe why the box is so narrow. I'm guessing that little info sheet is more rare than the hat or the box, but I am not certain about that. It's the same sheet that buler put up an image of a few days ago on the previous page of this thread.
 
Last edited:

RBH

Bartender
Robert, I think this finally settles what type pin was on the Stetson Stratoliner.
I was always sure it was the 'DC-3' type pin. BUT... I thought the pin had no letters on it.
The first pin I ever got for my Stratoliner was a gold DC-3 type pin with no letters.
For the longest I thought that this was the pin.
Then I found a newspaper ad that stated the pin was sterling silver, and then HATCO [the member] sent me a scan
of Patty Stetsons Stratoliner.
I then knew my pin was not the one but still thought it had no TWA on it.
Jimmy made a large scan of the photo and he was certain the letters were there. I was not.
But now I am.
Thanks for this scan.
 

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