The Untouchables - Hats You Won't Part With

[deadlyhandsome]

This hat has been posted in a few places, including the Cav thread.

But you're right. There should be pictures here.

View attachment 140642

That is an incredible hat. I’m glad it went to someone who can truly appreciate it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[scottyrocks]

That is an incredible hat. I’m glad it went to someone who can truly appreciate it.

I'm embarrassed to say how much I appreciate it. haha

 

[scottyrocks]

I can see why it's a keeper, Scotty. I've been admiring that lid since @moontheloon acquired it.

Me, too. I am still amazed that the cosmos lined up just so, and I was able to acquire it.

 

[Rmccamey]

Great hats, Tuk. Glad to see them. I have a Gannon on order that is similar; Granite with a burgundy ribbon...hoping it makes it here before Christmas. I'm hoping the Gannon fits and looks like everyone's posts. He has obviously built quite a reputation for quality. RM

This second hat is a custom Michael Gannon made for me. But choosing it for this category has more to do with the natural 100X beaver felt and the vintage slate crown ribbon than who made it for me. I think my other custom hatters could have made this hat, too. I feel like I just found my color felt, basically. Yes, the pouncing is superb and the construction is world class. But I love the natural felt and how versatile it is. I can wear this hat with most anything and it will work. IMO, natural felt is highly underrated.

The above posted Royal Stetson was a big inspiration for this hat. The colorway, mostly. But the twisted bow keep is something I saw in custom Gannon hats commissioned by both @moontheloon and @Frunobulax . It's also seen on older Dobbs and Knox hats, and it's just a special touch that makes a big impression on me.

The natural hats that @Frunobulax and @Short Balding Guy had made by Michael Gannon also made me change my mind about this hat... I was originally asking for a moss green hat from Michael, another "Rodolfo" hat cloned from the stylings of @Chamuco . But the moss hat body had issues and that gave me a chance to change gears. I still want that moss green hat, though; maybe next year.

.

 

[Bamaboots]

I don't often get attachments with objects of clothing but for the most part it has been boots over my lifetime I've associated certain memories with. If my mom were alive she'd tell you how I still bitch about her throwing my Justin mule hide boots away. You know, the ones with the worn out soles and heels, the heel counters broken down from spurs and the burned area near the top of the left boot where I slept too close to the fire after a long evening of drinking some of Jackson Co.'s finest white.

I had to think on this hat thing and I could only not narrow it down to two. The Stetson nutria quality and the old black Stetson. Both for the history they have or that I think they have.

The nutria belonged to Lucien Wulsin III, former CEO of Baldwin Piano Co. There's quite a bit written about him. This hat has been on Ranchero Visitadores rides in the 40's and maybe many other adventures but mostly it's associated with a fellow who has a lot of history.

The two sterling Ranchero Visitadores pins that came on the hat.

The old black Stetson is one I would keep because at over a a 100 years old, no telling what this hat may have gone through.

 

[T Jones]

My converted 3X Resistol Costner'esque Open Range style Western hat...

and my Bradford 7X OR / Strat conversion clone

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I don't often get attachments with objects of clothing but for the most part it has been boots over my lifetime I've associated certain memories with. If my mom were alive she'd tell you how I still bitch about her throwing my Justin mule hide boots away. You know, the ones with the worn out soles and heels, the heel counters broken down from spurs and the burned area near the top of the left boot where I slept too close to the fire after a long evening of drinking some of Jackson Co.'s finest white.

I had to think on this hat thing and I could only not narrow it down to two. The Stetson nutria quality and the old black Stetson. Both for the history they have or that I think they have.

The nutria belonged to Lucien Wulsin III, former CEO of Baldwin Piano Co. There's quite a bit written about him. This hat has been on Ranchero Visitadores rides in the 40's and maybe many other adventures but mostly it's associated with a fellow who has a lot of history.
View attachment 141367
The two sterling Ranchero Visitadores pins that came on the hat.
View attachment 141368
The old black Stetson is one I would keep because at over a a 100 years old, no telling what this hat may have gone through.
View attachment 141369

BB, personally I can think of several more hats from your Top Ten list that I would add to this list.

 

[Bamaboots]

BB, personally I can think of several more hats from your Top Ten list that I would add to this list.

Me as well, Jack. That's the problem with these lists. My top ten has already changed. If it's a burning building and I have to decide, I may get a bit singed.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Me as well, Jack. That's the problem with these lists. My top ten has already changed. If it's a burning building and I have to decide, I may get a bit singed.

And that can be the problem with these threads too. The OP asked for "unique, one-of-a-kind, classy, classic or memorable hats that you love so much you will keep them forever." Somehow that's been turned into a "baby cried for milk & there wasn't any to give him" so we have to sell a hat scenario.

 

[jlee562]

I've been waffling on whether or not the following is really relevant here, but at least personally, it ties into my feelings on vintage hats.

The fuller backstory for the hat above:


The Golden Rule was a chain of stores in Wyoming which is where J.C. Penney got his start. He eventually became a partner in the company and expanded it. In 1913, he incorporated under his namesake brand. Hence, I believe this to predate 1913. Interestingly, it may be earlier than that based on the three locations (Powell, Cody, Basin) listed on the imprint. The sources i I found in Google (wiki and others), show that Penney started working for the company in 1898, and in 1899 he moved to the store in Evanston, before moving again to launch a store under his own purview in Kemmerer in 1902, and eventually opening some 34 Golden Rule stores across the multiple states.

Obviously I can only speculate, but it seems likely that the die would have been changed after the expansion of three stores to something else. Would one have purchased a hat with "Powell, Cody, Basin" at a Golden Rule store in Evanston? I can't prove anything either way. But being generous to my assumptions, this hat would be from earlier in that stores history. And if they were already in Evanston in 1899...well, maybe this one is really old.

And you can tell by the sweat stains, rumpled center crease, and ribbon frays, that this hat was well worn and has many stories it could tell. When I opened the box, my thoughts were "well, there's a real deal cowboy hat." It's no dude ranch western from the 50's or 60's...not that I wouldn't collect those either, I've got a "junior cowboy" coming my way. But this hat, with a connection to an American retail giant, that almost certainly predates 1913, this hat is something else.

Oh, and it fits!

 

[Bamaboots]

this hat is something else.

Yes, sir it is.

 

[T Jones]

I've been waffling on whether or not the following is really relevant here, but at least personally, it ties into my feelings on vintage hats.

The fuller backstory for the hat above:


The Golden Rule was a chain of stores in Wyoming which is where J.C. Penney got his start. He eventually became a partner in the company and expanded it. In 1913, he incorporated under his namesake brand. Hence, I believe this to predate 1913. Interestingly, it may be earlier than that based on the three locations (Powell, Cody, Basin) listed on the imprint. The sources i I found in Google (wiki and others), show that Penney started working for the company in 1898, and in 1899 he moved to the store in Evanston, before moving again to launch a store under his own purview in Kemmerer in 1902, and eventually opening some 34 Golden Rule stores across the multiple states.

Obviously I can only speculate, but it seems likely that the die would have been changed after the expansion of three stores to something else. Would one have purchased a hat with "Powell, Cody, Basin" at a Golden Rule store in Evanston? I can't prove anything either way. But being generous to my assumptions, this hat would be from earlier in that stores history. And if they were already in Evanston in 1899...well, maybe this one is really old.

And you can tell by the sweat stains, rumpled center crease, and ribbon frays, that this hat was well worn and has many stories it could tell. When I opened the box, my thoughts were "well, there's a real deal cowboy hat." It's no dude ranch western from the 50's or 60's...not that I wouldn't collect those either, I've got a "junior cowboy" coming my way. But this hat, with a connection to an American retail giant, that almost certainly predates 1913, this hat is something else.

Oh, and it fits!

Nice!!!!

 

[T Jones]

Another hat that I won't be parting with is this Stetson Nutria from either the late '40s to the very early '50s. I'm in the process of getting it ready to sew on this brim binding, which hopefully I'll feel motivated to doing sometime this week. Hand sewing these brim bindings are a real chore.

Getting it ready...

On the head without the binding...

 

[Rmccamey]

I want to thank all of you for your replies. Frankly, this is exactly the kind of conversation I wanted to read as, it seems, most every one of those "forever hats" has a history, big or small, with the current or former owners. I love all these stories. Keep them coming. You all have some great hats. RM

I don't often get attachments with objects of clothing but for the most part it has been boots over my lifetime I've associated certain memories with. If my mom were alive she'd tell you how I still bitch about her throwing my Justin mule hide boots away. You know, the ones with the worn out soles and heels, the heel counters broken down from spurs and the burned area near the top of the left boot where I slept too close to the fire after a long evening of drinking some of Jackson Co.'s finest white.

I had to think on this hat thing and I could only not narrow it down to two. The Stetson nutria quality and the old black Stetson. Both for the history they have or that I think they have.

The nutria belonged to Lucien Wulsin III, former CEO of Baldwin Piano Co. There's quite a bit written about him. This hat has been on Ranchero Visitadores rides in the 40's and maybe many other adventures but mostly it's associated with a fellow who has a lot of history.
View attachment 141367
The two sterling Ranchero Visitadores pins that came on the hat.
View attachment 141368
The old black Stetson is one I would keep because at over a a 100 years old, no telling what this hat may have gone through.
View attachment 141369

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

^^^^bumping this thread back into existence.
B

 

[tropicalbob]

I don't often get attachments with objects of clothing but for the most part it has been boots over my lifetime I've associated certain memories with. If my mom were alive she'd tell you how I still bitch about her throwing my Justin mule hide boots away. You know, the ones with the worn out soles and heels, the heel counters broken down from spurs and the burned area near the top of the left boot where I slept too close to the fire after a long evening of drinking some of Jackson Co.'s finest white.

I had to think on this hat thing and I could only not narrow it down to two. The Stetson nutria quality and the old black Stetson. Both for the history they have or that I think they have.

The nutria belonged to Lucien Wulsin III, former CEO of Baldwin Piano Co. There's quite a bit written about him. This hat has been on Ranchero Visitadores rides in the 40's and maybe many other adventures but mostly it's associated with a fellow who has a lot of history.
View attachment 141367
The two sterling Ranchero Visitadores pins that came on the hat.
View attachment 141368
The old black Stetson is one I would keep because at over a a 100 years old, no telling what this hat may have gone through.
View attachment 141369

Hey, Bama,
Is there a name for the style of the black Stetson, and could we get a few more shots of it? Love that style. And thanks.

 

[tropicalbob]

I have two hats that fill the bill: the first is my VS Navy Milan. I love the Milan straw, but as I already had two of the wheat-colored straws I figured I'd be a little adventurous. When Art hand-dyed it the straw only picked up some of the dye, leaving it kind of buck-shot looking. The second time was much better, leaving it with a kind of interesting texture. My other one is an Optimo Montecristi, one of the nicest Panamas I've ever seen and felt. DH of this parish had alerted me to it and I just couldn't resist it. After it arrived I really couldn't believe what a great deal it seemed to be (I was just getting started). The sweatband was marked " Newt of Honolulu", and I was the informed that all of Newt's straws were from Optimo. And sure enough it was. The hat is a Planter style, very high WPI, soft as a kitten, and absolutely flawless. And the weirdest thing about it is that it fits me beautifully: a perfect 7 7/8 (or 63). This kind of thing just doesn't happen! I can't thank DH enough.

 

[T Jones]

This '50s era 3X Beaver Quality Stetson Western came to me in a crushed up and dirty sweat stained mess. As the person who gave it to me said, this hat has a story to tell. In spite of the dirt and sweat stains the felt itself was in good condition. I did just enough cleaning on it to get the nasty out while still retaining some of its original staining and dirt to preserve the hat's history and story. The sweat band was toast so I had to replace it. I was able to save and reuse the original brim binding and three ply hat ribbon. I blocked it up a size larger and restyled it for a hat that looks well worn and naturally seasoned...

Before:

After:

 

[Hurricane Jack]

...most every one of those "forever hats" has a history, big or small, with the current or former owners. I love all these stories.

This Cowboy's Hat
Chris LeDoux

"Now partner this old hat is better left alone
See it used to be my daddy's but last year he passed on
My uncle skinned the rattler that makes up this ol' hatband
But, back in sixty nine he died in Vietnam

Now the eagle feather was given to me by an Indian friend of mine
But someone ran him down around the Arizona line
And a real special lady gave me this ol' hatpin
I don't know if I'll ever see her again"

 

[Bushman]

Definitely my HJ Poet.