Late 1800s / early 1900s Stetson Montecristi Panama Hat

Now on eBay! LINK

This hat was made in the early part of the 20th century, or possibly the late 1800s. I’ve never seen another hat with this super early John B. Stetson crest. It’s extremely old and unusual.
The hat is a very fine montecristi panama, see the detail picture with a penny for scale for an idea of just how fine. There are three breaks in the straw in the brim, at the back, but unlike the other early Stetson Montecristi, they don’t show very badly, especially when worn. The hat has a classic optimo blocking, and the brim is finely backwoven. THe sweatband has some of the finest stitching I’ve seen and is extremely wide. It is still nice and supple. The original owner’s initials, “ECA” are stamped opposite the Stetson logo.
Size: 7-1/4
Brim Width: 2-1/8″
Ribbon Width: 7/8″
   
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1930s NRA tagged Stetson Montecristi Panama

Now on eBay! LINK

The quality of this early motecristi panama is absolutely incredible. It has a typical early panama style, with a optimo crown and wide brim. The number of weaves per inch is staggering, and the body of the hat more closely resembles a linen than it does straw. A high dollar hat in its day to be sure. It has an early 1930s Stetson foil tag, and a NRA label- made under the Hat industry code authority. The sweatband is wide and supple, with a taped back seam. The liner is half mesh, half silk, with one of the most detailed Stetson imprints I’ve seen. Unfortunately, there are rips in the straw, at the 12:00 position, 1:00, 6:00 and 9:00, as well as a weak spot at the front of the crown.

Size: 7-1/4
Brim Width: 2-3/4″
Ribbon Width: 1-1/4″
Crown Height: 5″

   
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Supernatural Milan by the Ecuadorian Panama Hat Company

Now on eBay! LINK

This vintage men’s fedora was made in the late 1940s by the Ecuadorian Panama Hat Company.of New York. It is a Supernatural Milan and was sold by the Ben Estes Company – “Fine Clothes for Men” – of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is an extremely high quality milan. Great, tight straw, with a looser ventilated panel behind the sweatband so that it breathes better on your head. There is a perspiration barrier behind the sweatband to help prevent staining of the hat body or ribbon. It, along with the sweatband, are perforated to also allow the hat to breathe. There is a tasteful puggaree, and the hat is blocked with a teardrop crown. The sweatband is nice and supple. A few stitches at the back seam have broken, but that’s barely worth mentioning. This is one of the nicest milans I’ve come across, in terms of styling, quality and condition.

Size: 7-3/8
Brim width: 2-5/8″
Band With: 1-3/4″
Sweatband width: 1-3/4″
Crown Height: 5-3/4″

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1930s fedora for Lazarus, Ohio.

Now on eBay! LINK
This vintage fedora was made in the 1930s for high end men’s shop Lazarus.  It has a late 1930s style sweatband, and fancy pleated liner.  It is camel fur felt, with wide binding and a rust colored ribbon.  Very similar to the Whippet.  There’s a good deal of moth damage to the hat, especially to the bottom of the brim, and the sweatband has dropped stitches, mostly in the 10 to 12 position.  This hat has the reverse-wind-string arrangement, where the button is sewn to the body of the hat, and it’s the loop that attaches to your jacket- this was much more common in the ’30s and waned in popularity in the years following. 
Size: 7-1/4Brim Width: 2-3/4″Ribbon Width: 1-3/4″5-1/2″Crown Height: 
   
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1940s Imperial Stetson

I found this 7-3/8 Imperial Stetson at an antique store in Maryland. It wasn’t marked, but due to the condition of the sweatband, the owner gave it to me for $5. It’s mid 1940s, and has the early style “Stars” Stetson crest. The brim is wide, the crown is tall and the ribbon is bold. It has a huge overwelt.

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