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The Stratoliner Society {VINTAGE}

Stetson Excellent "Stratoliner", 58cm, probably later 1950s. Made by Mayser in Germany under license and is in NOS condition. The unique color is listed as Peacock. The color will show better in sun light. The lighter weight felt has a Chamois like finish and easily dry creases.

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Open Crown

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Here's something unusual. This week we've seen some German manufactured Excellent Stetsons popping up. Steve @mayserwegener and Georg @Steinbockhase posted examples of those. Well, I found one too yesterday. Excellent Stetson, made under license in Germany. This one is a Stratoliner in black (which is quite unusual I gather). Size 57 (7 1/8), bound brim at 7cm and crown 10,5cm at the pinch. This one looked like someone had been sitting on it for a month (I really should take "before" pics), so it did take quite a bit of steaming to get it back to glory. Seemed to fit me in the store, but after steaming and shaping I found it is a roomy 57, so too large for me (dammit), so another one for sale, auction or trade.

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You guys are just killing with these......I would soooo love to find ANY German Stetson in my size let alone one of these Strats..........
All I can say is WOW!!!
M
 
Here is a sort of Stratoliner/OR clone.....though much more a Strat.....with the crown blocking and ribbon treatment. It is NOS and simply flawless.....
Only differance is it only has a 2 1/8 inch brim.:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
In real life it is very much a medium grey/ blue.
Out side the simply awsome heavy gold liner more often associated with the 50's, the sweat and $13.95 price scream mid-sixties.......5 1/2 inch open crown, this one is NOT a factory crease version.....
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DRB

One Too Many
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Florida
USUALLY with a mild use of oxiclean it will not do that.......it works differently than chlorine..but it does happen on non colorfast..............It sounds like it is time for a magic marker touch up.........there is no other way to restore that color loss. My wife is quite the wizard on spots like those, she can match the color and feather it out so that even when you know the spot is there it is hard to see.......
Apply the color to a cloth then slowly rub onto the hat gradually adding the color until you get the shade you need.....
M
I have enjoyed reading your input in an effort to help with his stain. Good stuff. I'm learning here. Tell me what you think of this idea: blending some chalk powdered colors and applying with a q-tip? A temporary fix maybe? I am just dreaming here. You da man. Talcum powder to a white hat?
 
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I have enjoyed reading your input in an effort to help with his stain. Good stuff. I'm learning here. Tell me what you think of this idea: blending some chalk powdered colors and applying with a q-tip? A temporary fix maybe? I am just dreaming here. You da man. Talcum powder to a white hat?

They would have the same effect of the colored "finishing/filler" powders have that the hat companies use......somewhat to very temporary, depending on how they are worked into the felt. Stetson still uses a LOT of this powder to even out the color on their light grey hats......gets all over any black suits you wear with it and dare to touch with the hat:eek:.....learned that the hard way with my tux:eek::eek:......does have the added benifit of giving a softer hand to the felt though:rolleyes:.
M;)
 
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DRB

One Too Many
Messages
1,621
Location
Florida
They would have the same effect of the colored "finishing/filler" powders have that the hat companies use......somewhat to very temporary, depending on how they are worked into the felt. Stetson still uses a LOT of this powder to even out the color on their light grey hats......gets all over any black suits you wear with it and dare to touch with the hat:eek:.....learned that the hard way with my tux:eek::eek:......does have the added benifit of giving a softer hand to the felt though:rolleyes:.
M;)

M: Thanks. Interesting subject.
 

AbbaDatDeHat

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moontheloon

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Rmccamey

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Bob and I were talking about a couple of hats and he commented about a greenish cast. I lost track of which hat he was referring to. When I opened the box, I was both surprised and pleased! There are a couple of other Peacocks on the Lounge and one or both were Stetsons made in Germany. Yes, I am pleased with the hat and the unique color. Thanks again @BobHufford

beautiful
and in a quite rare color
fantastic
 

Rmccamey

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The previous owner was not sure and suggested that it might have been trimmed short to get a 30's look. I've inspected the hat and if it has been cut down and re-bound I sure can't tell it; looks factory perfect to me. Have Strats always had thin ribbons? If so, the thin ribbon on this one has been replaced with a wide ribbon. I'll post pics in a few days. Thanks.

5 1/2" x 2 1/2" seems to be the default; however, we've seen them all over the place.
 
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19,409
Location
Funkytown, USA
The previous owner was not sure and suggested that it might have been trimmed short to get a 30's look. I've inspected the hat and if it has been cut down and re-bound I sure can't tell it; looks factory perfect to me. Have Strats always had thin ribbons? If so, the thin ribbon on this one has been replaced with a wide ribbon. I'll post pics in a few days. Thanks.
I'll be interested in seeing it.

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moontheloon

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The previous owner was not sure and suggested that it might have been trimmed short to get a 30's look. I've inspected the hat and if it has been cut down and re-bound I sure can't tell it; looks factory perfect to me. Have Strats always had thin ribbons? If so, the thin ribbon on this one has been replaced with a wide ribbon. I'll post pics in a few days. Thanks.
many people had hats professionally altered to accommodate trends of the time.
yours has been altered
the earliest Open Road hats were wide ribbon but Strats have always been thin ribbon
 
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moontheloon

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Did 40/50's Strats ever come with a 2 inch brim?
I've owned probably 30 plus Strats in my time collecting ranging from very early 40s to very late 50s.
they all had pretty much the exact same specs outside of some of the very early ones being a touch higher and wider but nothing too noticeable.
all 122 block with a 2 1/2" brim give or take a hair
 
Messages
19,409
Location
Funkytown, USA
I've owned probably 30 plus Strats in my time collecting ranging from very early 40s to very late 50s.
they all had pretty much the exact same specs outside of some of the very early ones being a touch higher and wider but nothing too noticeable.
all 122 block with a 2 1/2" brim give or take a hair
I found a curious one awhile back. Low, tapered crown, under 2" brim, but a genyoowine Stratoliner labeled sweatband. Didn't look altered, it looked like somebody put a Strat sweat in some other hat.

I think I posted it upthread about a year ago.

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