hat confusion

[vintagemama]

I am not fully understanding the hat eras but am wanting to learn. this has me puzzled. this guide states ...

WPL numbers were issued from 1941 through 1959 under the Wool Products Labeling Act. WPL numbers begin at 00101 and end at 13669. All numbers issued subsequently are RN numbers.

but isn't this hat considered 80s? it has a WPL #7008

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/2980/ilfullxfull210704251.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5858/ilfullxfull210704316.jpg

 

[twolittlebeauties]

The WPL number belongs to the company, not the item.

So in your example, the comany applied for a WPL number between the time frame it was issued. that company keeps that WPL number forever so anything made after the time frame that the number was issued would still have that WPL number.

Make sense?