Peters Bros Shady Oaks Fifty

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281305948803
This vintage hat was made in the 1950s by Peters Brothers Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas. It is “The Texas Hat” – the Shady Oaks Banker’s Special. Later models would change the name to the Shady Oak, dropping the s. These were the models famously presented to presidents, and worn by wealthy Texas oilmen. It retailed for $50 in the 1950s, an extremely expensive hat for the time, and the quality really shows. I would say it is comparable to Stetson’s 7X Clear Beaver felt of the period.
The beaver felt hoods used in these earlier models were made in Switzerland. I have read they used these imported felt bodies because mercury processing was still done in Switzerland at that time, which resulted in a higher quality felt.

Size: 7-3/8
Brim Width: 3″
Crown Height: 5-1/2″

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Peters Bros Shady Oak Bankers Special 75

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271370313623
This vintage hat was made in Fort Worth Texas by Peters Bros. It is a “Shady Oak Banker’s Special”, and originally sold for seventy five dollars, making it more than three times as expensive as an average fur felt Stetson of the time. It is made from dress weight beaver felt. The hat is styled similarly to an earlier Stetson Playboy, with a raw brim with a stitched edge detail and a thin ribbon. At some time, the hat must have had some work done, as it has a liner from Fort Worth’s other noted hatter, Hatter’s Hats.

Size: 7
Brim Width: 2-1/2″
Crown Height: 5-3/8″

Peters Bros Shady Oak Bankers Special 75

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271327370482
This vintage hat was made in Fort Worth Texas by Peters Bros. It is a “Shady Oak Banker’s Special”, and originally sold for seventy five dollars, making it about three times as expensive as a fur felt Stetson Open Road of the time. It is made from dress weight beaver felt. The hat is a dressy western style, with a short brim with a stitched edge detail and a medium width corded western hatband. At some time, the hat must have had some work done, as it has a liner from Fort Worth’s other noted hatter, Hatter’s Hats.

Size: 7
Brim Width: 2-1/2″
Crown Height: 5-3/8″

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