Old West
Hat History. There
has been a long competitive history between Stetson Hats and
Resistol Hats. Maybe it was preordained that they would one day
combine under one roof. John B Stetson invented the broad brim hat,
because he was broke, knew how to make hats, and was tired of getting
his head wet while mining for gold. Turns out that his cure for
the aggravation of weather made him a fortune by returning him to
his hat making roots. (I'm told he left the East, as a hatmaker,
to find his fortune panning for gold in the West.) Boys in
Texas decided that Missouri couldn't have all the fun. They
started Resistol hats for all those cattle drive cowboys. Resistol figured a way to keep your head oil from staining the hat
so fast by using spacers that separated the inner hat band from
the straw.
(resist oil hats). Stetson lost sales because that resist
oil feature was a better sizing system. Cowboys liked it better
than the shoestring you pulled up in the back of your Stetson. Then Stetson developed
more styles, more comfort features, So Resistol decides to take
styling to the cowboys and puts a team of them together to see
what they like.
On it went for about a
century. Both companies out doing the other! Today, we wear the benefit of all the innovation of both
companies. Hats cost less in
today's dollars than they did way back then. A ten gallon hat was
really ten Spanish coins, (Galleons), about a month's wages.
"Green" environmentally friendly resins have replaced
what used to be used to hold the straw together. Many straw
hats are
easier to reshape than they used to be. (You still need some
steam.) And, your straw hat is still hand woven by skilled
craftsmen who examine and size and blend each fiber for you. They come in
a few dyed colors as well as the most popular natural. Hats cost less in
today's dollars than they did way back then. A ten gallon hat was
really ten Spanish coins, (Galleons), about a month's wages.
How to fit your
size.
Resistol Western
hats are available In Sizes: 6 3/4 - 7 5/8, (some in 6 1/2, 6 5/8
and 7 3/4). Hat sizes kinda sort of go by ruler sizes, but
the confusion comes in a size 6 1/2 is not 6 1/2 inches around. If you are not sure of your size, just take a soft
ruler tape and measure around your head where you prefer it to fit. Most
people will go around the biggest part of the back of their head, and be
about 2 to 3 fingers (turned sideways) above their eyebrow. We can
convert these inch measurements to your hat size for you. You want
to be able to pull your hat down in a windstorm, but wear it a
little more loose in normal weather. Some people like to tilt it
back a little when they relax. Then wear it more square when
business need to be done! There is a hat fitting chart at the
bottom of this page.
Also, have a friend look at
the top of your head and see if it is shaped round like a ball,
like an egg, square looking, or like a round oval race track. This
helps us to steam and pre-fit your hat to better break your hat
in.
Resistol Hat is now differentiating
between their W Wide Round oval crown shape and their R round
crown shape. You can have a friend look at the top of your head,
or take a pic with their camera phone. Look to see if your head
shape is round like a basketball. This is W Wide Oval. If rounded,
but definitely more length from front to rear, than side to side,
the R Regular Oval works well. If your head is egg shaped, the R
Oval works well. If your head is long and narrow on the sides in
shape, you need an L Long Oval. If your head shape is regular
oval, you can just about wear most hats, though there might be a
tightness in places and a looseness in places. This does sweat in,
in most hats. But if you are buying a dress hat for dress use, it
is better to choose a shape close to your head shape. It is best
not to get a W Oval for a Long Oval head, nor a Long Oval hat for
a Wide Oval head. ( Resistol seems better known for their
Long Oval hats, whereas their sister company , Stetson has more
Round Ovals.)
If you like, you can email
pics of your face and the top of your head to us. We'll take a
look and make adjustments to better fit when we can, or tell you
if the hat shape will be a total wreck for your head. Hats should
be shaped a little for fit, function and to match your facial
features. Cultured Cowboy is a hat store. We have all the
steamers, stretchers, shapers, etc. and over 30 years of hat
experience.
With all this said, we often
steam and adjust hats to fit the inches measurement, and head
shape you give us. It is a service that many stores cannot offer.
Many would charge up to $10.00 or $15.00 to adjust. We include
this service, if needed, in our hat pricing.
When you see options of several
colors in a Straw Hat style, you can expect the hatband, ribbons and
such to complement the color shown. Some will be Natural with
a couple hatband color options. Some offer 3.5" or 4"
brim or even wider widths. But, cowboys have always
carved their own uniqueness. Part of that is in customizing your
hatband. If you need help, or want to see more selections, just
call us or check out some of the hatbands
on our website.
How About Hat Bands? When you see options of several
colors in a Resistol Hat style, you can expect the hatband, ribbons and
such to complement the color shown. But, cowboys have always
carved their own uniqueness. Part of that is in customizing your
hatband. If you need help, or want to see more selections, just
call us or check out some of the hatbands
on our website.
How do I care for My Hat?
Hats are as much fun to own
as they are to buy. Most straws can be lightly washed with water,
and a mild detergent if needed. Click
here to take a look at cleaners, stiffners, hat racks, boxes,
brushes and such. Because we have spent 30 years cleaning
hats, just give us a chat to ask what you might need if you are
not sure. You will be amazed how nice they look with a simple brim
brushing. After every so many rainstorms, you may need to apply
another light coat of hat stiffener. Always remember that like
painting a car, you want to use a lot of light coats.
Straw hats are absorbent. They soak up sweat and stains in the same fibers that
wick the moisture away from your head. This wicking and
evaporation is why hats seem to be comfortably cool in the hot
sun. Once stained, you can only cover the coloration. You know,
there are hats they make look all stained when you first get them.
And can you believe they do charge extra for that!
You can take a single layer of a
plastic food wrap, like Saran Wrap, and carefully place it between
(I use scotch tape to hold it in place.) the leather sweat band
inside your hat, and the straw. This will help prevent the sweat
stains from coming into contact with the straw so fast. Years ago,
many of the hats for police and military would have this plastic
wrap sewn into the hat between the sweatband and straw. Today,
this is seldom done. Yes, adding the plastic will make the hat a
little more hot to wear in the heat of summer. It is a trade-out.
Any other questions? Just
write them down and shoot us an email. It's your questions that wind up
as comments on the Cultured Cowboy site.
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