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This is a particularly handsome example of Stetson’s higher-grade postwar dress hats, finished in a versatile medium-gray felt with a broad black grosgrain ribbon, matching wind trolley, and Stetson’s proprietary Selv-Edge brim treatment.
The proportions are superb and unmistakably vintage:
- Brim: 2 5/8\"
- Open crown: 5 1/2\"
- Crown as currently creased: 4 1/2\"
- Ribbon: 1 3/4\"
- Tagged size: 7 1/8 Long Oval
The combination of a 5 1/2\" open crown and 2 5/8\" brim gives the hat considerably more presence than the lower-crowned, narrower-brimmed dress hats that became increasingly common in the following decade. The current crease is restrained and classic, but the generous open crown gives the hat plenty of traditional 1950s character.
The interior retains the ornate 3X Beaver Quality liner crest, clear liner-tip protector, richly stamped brown leather sweatband, and retailer imprint for Zachry of Atlanta, a prominent Atlanta men’s clothier and Stetson dealer.
The original Long Oval size tag remains present.
The felt has a fine, smooth hand and holds its shape well. The sweatband remains supple and usable. There is age-related wear and discoloration to the liner and interior consistent with a hat approaching 70 years old, but the exterior presents very well overall.
The hat also retains its original-style wind trolley, a desirable period detail that is often missing from surviving examples.
The hat is shown both open crown and with a traditional fedora bash, which really demonstrates the beauty and responsiveness of this vintage felt. It can be shaped easily by hand and still has enough memory to settle naturally back toward the crease it has worn over the years. With a little steam, however, the crown can readily be reshaped to suit the wearer’s preference.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and show the condition in detail.
A very attractive and increasingly difficult-to-find late-1950s Stetson 3X Beaver Quality fedora with excellent proportions, Selv-Edge brim, wind cord, Long Oval sizing, and Atlanta retailer provenance.
