The real deal- a big ’30s Dobbs western sold by Desmond’s of California. No interest when I sold this one- ended up losing money on it. Everyone wants a “Stetson” and are willing to pay big for the brand name. People will pay big for Dobbs fedoras, but they just didn’t become iconic in the western market in the same way.
This one’s a huge hat. Big crown, big brim, and like most modern Stetsons, lousy felt and trimming.
The leather sweatband on this one reacted very badly to moisture. I’ve had this problem with later, bonded leather sweatbands.
Mode (Cavanagh) edge 7X (XXXXXXX) clear beaver Stetson, a presentation model to employee George Kuhn at retirement.
I think this is the single nicest Stetson I’ve ever had. The felt is sublime and the trimmings are a cut above even other 7Xs and 100s.
The Stetson Stratoliner is arguably one of Stetson’s best known hat models. Named after the airplane, it had fedora blocking and a thin ribbon. This one, sourced in Frederick, Maryland, saw a lot of wear in its life.
1920s Stetson Select Quality Homburg. Sold by Holt’s of Los Angeles. Twisted knot bow, deep, crisp imprints on the leather sweatband.
A ’20s Stetson with “the fray” sweatband and wonderfully detailed logo. Double frayed edge bow and short, flattish brim.
This is a BIG hat. Tall crown. Wide brim. Likely made in the 1920s, it was sold by Moore’s of Santa Fe New Mexico and is Stetson’s No. 1 Quality, one of their western designations of the time.
Here’s a great example of a late 1950s Stetson Open road, creased with a diamond crown. It’s the 3x felt designation, indicating quite high quality felt; much better than what Stetson is currently calling 3x. Size tag, sweatband color and imprint and design of liner point to a date in the late ’50s, possibly pushing into the early 1960s.
Here’s a ’60s Stetson in the style of the Dobbs Gay Prince. Whipstitched self-felt ribbon, overwelt brim edge. Black sweatband and color logo suggests a 1960s date.
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