October 2011
17 posts
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Old Faithful, part II
Yesterday I wore a faithful old western hat… approaching its 90th birthday, this Stetson 1X Nutria (X’s went a long way in those days) is a favorite. Nutria is a water rodent which became a popular source for hats when beaver became scarce in the early 20th C. It makes a very soft and very durable felt.
Simple unlined interior, with “the Fray” sweatband giving the...
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September 2011
10 posts
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The Imperial Stetson
A glorious hat circa 1940… they don’t make them like this any more.
A good hat makes a happy Monday.
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Austin, TX... part 2
Hot and dry… five hundredths of an inch of rain this summer and weeks above one hundred degrees. You wouldn’t know it from the resort region around Horseshoe Bay. Somehow they manage to water the golf courses and gardens. We got up in time to enjoy the sunrise.
We passed through the path of one fire on our fifty mile drive from Austin. The golden late afternoon sun masks the...
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Austin, TX
Heading off for my first trip to Texas. I should really be taking a cowboy hat I guess, or maybe a fine dress western like this Stetson 100. Top of the line in its day, it retailed for a C note in the 1950’s and 60’s - a lot of change back then.
But it’s going to be 102 tomorrow in Austin… too hot and sweaty for this pale pristine beauty. I’ll bring the...
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Bowler Derby
Bowler or derby? In America it’s a derby, in England, a bowler… an iconic hat with a storied history. When you find one that fits, it’s a very comfortable lid. This recent addition is a private label sold through Lord & Taylor in the 1930s.
