The Stratoliner Society {VINTAGE}

[HatsEnough]

I do not see many Vita Felt Stetsons...

I have only two vita felts. They do seem far and few between.

 

[HatsEnough]

OK, guys. I just won an interesting Stratoliner box.

Nope, not the thin, oval one, but a larger, round one!

So what do I have, people? Is this the one the women's Stratoliner came in? Just a regular, round box that just any Stratoliner would have come in?

 

[HatsEnough]

Just in case some are wondering what the Strat box we are used to seeing looks like...

Notice how narrow it is.

 

[alanfgag]

Justin/Other wise Fedora Folks; How is the vita felt different from the regular felted Stratoliner? Weight/feel/wear/etc.?

Eric -

1940's Vita-Felt from the two examples I have is a lightweight, soft felt with a somewhat fluffy, springy feel. There are threads that discuss and speculate in length on this mystery process and the reasons it might have been produced during the war years.

The early 1940's Stratoliner included a lightweight unlined model. These were made in both regular felt and Vita-Felt process.

 

[Rodkins]

My light gray/blue Stratoliner

 

[Johnny J]

Rodkins, that is a sweet looking Strat! Mine is dark gray, but I think I like yours better.

 

[Rodkins]

I'm open for trades This one is about 22 3/4 and just a tad snug on me.

 

[DJH]

I was lucky enough to get hold of a nice light grey Stratoliner recently. It was pretty dirty, but the felt cleaned up easily with some steaming and brushing. Still need to do some work on the liner, otherwise a super hat.

After getting the hat, I also invested in the box and a repro DC3 pin (a vintage Stratoliner pin is on the way here, thanks to Lefty).

Here are a few shots of the Stratoliner, as it is today...

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I was lucky enough to get hold of a nice light grey Stratoliner recently. It was pretty dirty, but the felt cleaned up easily with some steaming and brushing. Still need to do some work on the liner, otherwise a super hat.

After getting the hat, I also invested in the box and a repro DC3 pin (a vintage Stratoliner pin is on the way here, thanks to Lefty).

Here are a few shots of the Stratoliner, as it is today...

So very nice, I am still on my quest for something as sweet as this hat!

 

[Johnny J]

I'm open for trades This one is about 22 3/4 and just a tad snug on me.

Can you post more pics of hat? Whats the condition?

 

[Rodkins]

It's in good condition. I actually put my cedar block from Art in it and it now fits pretty well.

 

[DJH]

So very nice, I am still on my quest for something as sweet as this hat!

Thanks LMH2. I got lucky with this one. Seller declined my BIN offer and I ended up buying for less than half my original offer.

Rodkins - looks good. Those blocks from Art are so useful for hats that are just a shade small.

 

[Johnny J]

It's in good condition. I actually put my cedar block from Art in it and it now fits pretty well.

Looks pretty nice! Now you don't have to trade it.

 

[HatsEnough]

Well, I got that interesting, round Strat box in today. It is very interesting in that we are all used to that elongated Strat box with the purple snap and strap on it. This one is shaped like a normal hat box but with the silver strat paper on it and the Strat sticker on the front.

I was not aware there was any other official Strat box other than that elongated one. But here we have a regular, round shaped one.

Finding this confirmed my suspicion that there had to be some other box that a Strat came in other than that strange elongated one. And here it is.

So, here are some more shots of that round Stratoliner Box I got off the bay…

Here is what it looks like open

Here it is from the top compared to the more elongated one we are more used to seeing.

Here is what it looks like from the front compared to the oblong one we are used to seeing.

 

[monbla256]

I noticed a sort of shipping label on the top. Is there a date on it as this may give some indication as to when they might have changed styles of boxes ? Interesting that it also has a black edge to the top of the top. A sort of reinforcement perhaps?

 

[HatsEnough]

I noticed a sort of shipping label on the top. Is there a date on it as this may give some indication as to when they might have changed styles of boxes ? Interesting that it also has a black edge to the top of the top. A sort of reinforcement perhaps?

When I bought it from the bay I was hoping for a date on that label, but no such luck.

The printed part of the label says:

293 Portage Ave. Phone 24 058
McCreerys Limited
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Men's Clothing, Furnishings, And Hats

Then in ink handwriting it says:

To Mr. C. T. Wilson
759 Marlborough Hotel

Then in pencil is added: Hold

The black edging is the black cloth tape used to hold the box together. The silver outer covering is glued over the top of the cardboard and the black edging tape.

 

[monbla256]

With that phone # you should be able to date it as well as the name and address of the store it seems to have come from. Looks like you've got some provenance to go with your Strat but you will have to do some detective work! Nice catch

 

[jimmy the lid]

That's a really neat find, HE. :eusa_clap

 

[HatsEnough]

Thanks, Jimmy and monbla.

I thought it was interesting to find one different from the elongated one. This is the very first one I've ever seen like it.

 

[jimmy the lid]

This is the very first one I've ever seen like it.

Ditto. Very interesting.