Posted 12 years ago
rjsnelsonjr
(1 item)
Additional Photos Available...
Custom Leather Hat Box measures approximately 14" x 16" x 9" with Yale brass locks and a "Beller" logo tag. The box is lined with purple satin fabric. The hat rests in a sized ring. The hinged box lid is also lined with a fabric panel attached to the lid with leather straps and brass snaps. Lifting the fabric panel reveals a certificate of authenticity from the John B. Stetson Company.
The parchment is mounted in a leather frame. Its reads,
"This certifies that Hat No. 7 in the Stetson Ermine Series "J" was manufactured from pure Ermine fur and pure Beaver fur exclusively by expert handcraftsmen in the factories of John B. Stetson Company Philadelphia. Only ten hats have been made in this series.
The Ermine tails attached hereto are from skins used in making these hats.
John B. Stetson Company"
The hat is made of black Ermine and Beaver fur. The stand (rise) of the hat is approximately 6" with a oval brim 14" from front to back. The brim has a tight "pencil" role upward. A black fabric band (ribbon) approximately 1/4" tall is secured around the hat in a single bow several inces wide. The hat has been worn but appears in "fine" condition. The leather sweatband is stamped with the Stetson trademark on one side in gold-colored ink. The opposite side of the sweatband is marked the the same gold color with the logo of "Jones Merc. Co.", "Canton's Big Dept. Store", "Canton, GA"
The buyer and original owner of the hat was my Great-Grandfather (maternal), Mr. Earl Woods of Alpharetta, GA. Born 1890? and died in 1956. Mr. Woods was a contractor in the metro Atlanta area during the 1940's and 50's. He was a tall, dapper man smartly dressed for the time who grew his own roses which were often worn on his suit's lapel.
Many of Mr. Woods hats as well as contractor's tools have been saved by the family, but this particular hat is a standout amongst the surviving possessions.
Any additional information regarding the Stetson Series "J" Hats would be appreciated.
The hat pictured doesn't go with the case. Sorry. The Ermine series Stetsons were hats made in the early 40's that sold for $150/piece. The black hat you have pictured is a Stetson No. 1 Quality hat. Nice hat, but not an ermine beaver.
Thanks for the feedback... What you are saying makes sense. This is the hat that which has been with the box for at least the last 12 years, but as I said there are numerous other items from this estate... Entirely possible that there was a switch in the past and the true hat is elsewhere or that the original Ermine is no longer with the family.
Would you be able to point me to additional resources to identify the correct hat that would match this box. Photos of similar ermine Stetson hats or the proper Stetson logo in the sweatband. My hope is that the true hat is still available but in worse condition so that someone in the past switched to the current No 1 quality in this box.
Do a google search on Stetson Ermine fedoralounge. That will get you to a thread with pictures of an original Stetson Ermine hat.
I found a Stetaon Ermine hat complete with its case, but the outside of the case is in rough condition. Any chance this one is for sale?
*Stetson