Man's Bowler Hat

Bowlers can be hard to date because they're made in many eras, including the modern one. I can't help you with dating as I'm not an expert on Stetson - you might like to try googling for Stetson bowlers and see if there's any information available (not that googling is necessarily accurate).

Have you tried searching for info on Stetson or Heeseman's? I think your hat looks fairly old ('40s-50s?) but as mentioned, I'm no expert.

From a hat point of view, of more concern would be it's condition, which looks to be a little crushed. It may be that steaming and/or reblocking will improve the crown.

Nicole
 
It might help to do a search on the store name as well - I found that very helpful with local stores.

Hollis
 
Hi,

My guess is 1910 to 1930. As Nicole said, the basic style stayed the same for many decades. Clues can be found in the lining, the height of the crown (which varied slightly over time), and type of crown ribbon used. The lining is an older style, and stores often had a choice of linings to be put in the hats, with their store name pre-stamped on the lining. The same quality hat would be made by Stetson, but the linings could be different in both look and quality, depending on the store which would sell them.

Yours is pretty badly beat up, but good for a costume.

Try the Fedora Lounge? It can be a good resource for info on men's hats, but be sure to get a variety of advice and make your own judgement too.

And Hollis is right, checking the store name is excellent advice too.

B
 
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