Vintage Stetson Fedora Hat 7 3/8 LO Whippet Style Brim Binding Grey Fur Felt For Sale

If you\'re fond of vintage fedoras, it\'s likelyyou\'re a fan of the fabled Stetson Whippet. From the early 1940s throughthe end of the 1950s, the Whippet was one of the top-selling models fromAmerica\'s #1 hat manufacturer during that long gone mid-twentieth century\"golden age\" of men\'s style. There was just something about theWhippet\'s proportions & trimmings that seemed to create a sartorial\"perfect storm\" in terms of fedora styling: the hat\'smid-to-wide ribbon and distinctive bound brim combined to create a trulyclassic fedora profile that makes vintage examples of the Whippet highly sought-after items tothis day.The Stetson Whippet\'s continued popularity among hat wearers means a good example will often sell for a tidy sum when it shows up at sale; this is especially true if the example in question happens to measure in at the larger end of the sizing chart. If you\'re a fella with a large-ish noggin who has been hankering for a Whippet of your ownbut have found yourself shut out by the high prices Whippets tendto fetch these days, the Royal Stetson presently up for offers may be the lid for you.You won\'t find the word \"Whippet\" printedon the liner, but this hat features the same fantastic Royal Stetson felt &perfectly proportioned ribbon/ brim binding combination that made the Whippetsuch a beloved model.Tags, stamps, and trimmings on this Stetson indicate a mid-1950s production date. At that point, the Whippet had been a proven top-selling model for Stetson for many years. Since this lid is blocked and trimmed just like a Whippet, one might wonder why the folks at Stetson didn\'t include the famous \"Whippet\" cursive imprint underneath the liner crest in the crown tip. The answer is connected to the then-nascent field of \"scientific marketing.\" The marketing whiz-kids at Stetson knew that consumers responded favorably to the Whippet name & styling in most markets. However, those whiz-kids also knew that in some markets, hat buyers were less likely to pick up a new lid with a somewhat cutesy name---even if those consumers responded favorably to the hat\'s styling. Therefore, Stetson gave retailers the option of ordering a run of hats with the popular Whippet-style trimmings sans the \"Whippet\" imprint on the hats\' interiors. The same was true of other well-known \"named\" models in Stetson\'s line-up such as the \"Playboy\" and the \"Open Road;\" retailers who felt their customer base might be turned off by gimmicky sounding names could order hats trimmed just like these---the only difference was the lack of a moniker stamped inside the hat.This was Stetson\'s way of broadening the appeal of its various hat styles to the fullest extent: whether you were a whimsical sort of fellow who liked the idea of a lid with a fun-sounding name, or more of a fuddy-duddy who would rather not have some fanciful name stamped inside your hat, America\'s #1 hat-maker wanted to keep you covered, as it were. Today, the existence of \"anonymous\" Whippets like this one may allow you to acquire some vintage Whippet style at a more reasonable price, since a lot of collectors out there are merely shopping for \"the name.\" Personally, I\'m more concerned with a hat\'s quality & exterior styling than I am with any names that may or may not be stamped on the inside. If you feel the same way, you\'ll want to take a good look at this vintage Stetson. In terms of profile & trimming, it\'s every inch a classic Whippet. It\'s in nice shape & it\'s blocked in a hard-to-find larger size, too! Read on for all the pertinent specs & condition details:Size & Dimensions: Tagged size \"3/8 long oval,\" which was Stetson\'s shorthand for a size 7 3/8 hat blocked for a long-oval shaped noggin. I measure the internal circumference (hard to do with absolute accuracy) as about 22 7/8\" or so. This lid is a bit loose on my size 7 1/4 noggin, so I guess I\'ll have to pass it on. For what it\'s worth, the long oval blocking on this one doesn\'t seem particularly pronounced (I\'m not noticing lots of extra room fore & aft), so if you wear a standard oval, you\'ll probably be okay with this one also.Brim measures 2 1/4\" wide; it\'s finished with a 3/8\" grosgrain binding in classic Whippet fashion. Crown as creased is 4 7/8\" tall at highest point (crown is 5 1/2\" tall open). Grosgrain ribbon adorning the crown is 1 3/4\" wide. Brown leather sweatband is 1 3/4\" wide.Condition: Excellent. Stetson\'s Royal Quality fur felt finish during this period was mighty nice. The felt is soft, smooth, supple, and luxurious to thetouch. You can shape the hat into your favorite fedora creases &configurations with ease. Although the felt is quite soft, it alsosomehow feels dense & substantial at the same time. That\'s asure-fire sign of premium-quality vintage felt. This evident densityindicates that the time, effort, and expense was taken to ensure the felt\'s furfibers were closely interlaced---or \"densely felted.\" Theextensive rendering & finishing process required to create a felt hat bodylike this one produced hats that were both soft & durable; felt like thisretains its shape & texture after exposure to wear and the elements in away no modern hat can equal. Today\'s economies of scale would makeproducing hat bodies like this prohibitively expensive for modern hatcompanies. In short: they don\'t make `em like this anymore, fellas.The hat looks pretty clean, overall: I can\'t find any significant signs of wear or handling. No stains, blemishes, or indications of insect activity. From the looks of things, this Stetson hasn\'t seen much wear.The felt is rendered in an attractive shade of medium grey. This color seems to dwell in the \"cool\" end of the grey spectrum: there are some faint blue & even violet undertones visible when you look at the hat in certain lighting situations. The black grosgrain ribbon treatment & silvery-grey brim binding provide the perfect complements to this fetching shade. Even a quick glance at this Stetson makes it easy to understand why these Whippet-style trimmings were so popular for so many years. You\'ll definitely turn some heads with this one! I\'ve taken the photos in natural light without flash in order to provide the best possible representation of this hat\'s lovely colors and styling.Inside the hat, the leather sweatband is still soft & flexible; it exhibits nothing more than a hint of mild wear. Stitching is tight. Stamped in gold on the leather: the Stetson logo, \"Royal Stetson,\" and \"R.W. Camp Co. Middletown, Conn.\" (the name & location of the hat\'s original retailer). The original owner\'s initials---\"ALB\"---are expertly punched into the leather. The white satin liner is clean and the clear plastic protector over the Royal Stetson crest in the crown tip is unblemished & intact.In short, this marvelous fedora begs the following question: would a Whippet by any other name look assweet? To paraphrase the immortal Bard: you bet your sweetpatootie! This terrific vintage Royal Stetson has everything you want ina Whippet except for that expensive (these days, anyway) name stamped on theliner. Vintage Stetsons with a classic profile & trimmings like thisone aren\'t showing up as often as they used to; if this fedora fits, don\'t letit get away! Offered at a low starting offer with . Thanks for reading & happy offerding!