What is Vita Felt???

[hatflick1]

Okay, this may have been hashed over before. But what is Stetson Vita Felt?
Is it wool?
Did Stetson or Dobbs or any of the vintage makers produce wool fedoras back in the day? I see Stetson ads from the forties featuring Vita Felt yet I can't get a clear fix on what it actually consists of.
Thanks!

 

[Dinerman]

Vita felt's fur felt, some special process.
You sometimes see old wool fedoras come up, most of the time they're not in very good shape.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I have one, it's a thin ribbon medium grey number. It's very soft, but it's been relegated as the yardwork/camping hat because it has a hole at the top front crease. It makes a good beater and has a nice, wide brim.

 

[bolthead]

I have one, it's a thin ribbon medium grey number. It's very soft, but it's been relegated as the yardwork/camping hat because it has a hole at the top front crease. It makes a good beater and has a nice, wide brim.

Can we see a picture of it?

 

[Brad Bowers]

I wonder if it's a composite felt. It came out around the same time that hat manufacturers were experimenting with different felts, such as the casein felts.

Brad

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Ok, hold yer horses.

 

[fedoralover]

I had one and it wasn't any different than any other felt. I just think it was a marketing ploy. It was a good hat mind you, very dense but so are many others of that era.

fedoralover

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I always feel goofy taking pictures of myself.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I always feel goofy taking pictures of myself.

Don't we all?

 

[hatflick1]

Many thanks, fellow Loungers. I always know where to turn for answers.
A happy Labor Day weekend to all!

 

[John in Covina]

Vita Herring!

I wonder what the reference is to: Vitality, Vitamin, Good health?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Vita Herring!

I wonder what the reference is to: Vitality, Vitamin, Good health?

Vita sales gimmick?

 

[tonyb]

Vita sales gimmick?

Seems the likeliest explanation.

 

[Lefty]

or vita as in vital to the war effort, as in not-fascist Borsalino - still just marketing

 

[carldelo]

Gee, I always assumed it was short for "vita-meat-a-vege-felt", no?

 

[4and1]

^ HaHa.Nice!

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I have one,...it has a hole at the top front crease.

One of mine (medium brown) from around 1940 is nearly in the same condition. I have owned dozens and dozens of vintage fedoras by many makers and this is one of only two with that amount of weakness. The hat is otherwise not that worn looking. I removed the liner and reinforced it from the inside of the crown but it was almost worn through. The brim is also too easily shaped. The slightest touch changes the swoop.

I do believe Vita-Felt was not only a marketing name but some actual process to get Stetson's felt to feel more 'mellow' in order to better compete with Borsalino. It may have accomplished that but it is not as durable as felt not treated this way.

Here's mine:

 

[Dinerman]

 

[ScottF]

Another Playboy Vita Felt. This hat was used heavily - very dirty and sweaty when I got it - but the only holes were from moths. The felt is very similar to some of the floppy Borsalinos I've had.

 

[carouselvic]

or vita as in vital to the war effort, as in not-fascist Borsalino - still just marketing

Here is a 1943 Stockman cataloge where they directly say that these Dobbs hats are to replace the Borsalinos that are no longer available.