The Stratoliner Society {VINTAGE}

[RBH]

Here's a blurb from the New York Times, dated July 6, 1940, noting Stetson's introduction of the Stratoliner in the fall of that year...

Cheers,
JtL

Very cool!

 

[billyspew]

Have people seen this one?
1941

 

[RBH]

WOW! Some really neat ads of late!!
This newspaper ad is from 1945 Kansas.

 

[tortswon]

Have people seen this one?
1941

Anyone have the address of this shop? I'll take two dozen at $6.50 each! Best, Sam

 

[jimmy the lid]

This March 5, 1941 from the New York Times is interesting for a variety of reasons. In particular, the article notes that, due to the war, Stetson lost 60% of its foreign market. It appears that the development and marketing of the Stratoliner was directly related to a push by Stetson to revitalize its business in the face of this loss of sales. Apparently, the Stetson campaign was quite successful -- by spring of 1941, the Strat accounted for 10% of Stetson's "low-end" business (sales in the "volume" market). Interesting.

Also of interest is the mention of Stetson's development of a $10 hat to serve as a replacement for import hats that were no longer available due to the war. I think that this confirms theories advanced in another thread that the Vita-Felt (priced at $10) was intended to fill the gap for the disappearance of hats like Borsalino during the war years...

I wonder if the Stratoliner was specifically designed to offer a low-cost alternative to models like the Borsalino Alessandria that were no longer available during the war years? [huh]


Cheers,
JtL

 

[Felt and Straw]

Is the "How Many Engines" debate still going on?
Does this help?

 

[Nick D]

Introducing the littlest member of the Stratoliner Society:

No size, but it's 20" in circumference. Needs a little steam but it'll make him a fine hat in a few years.

 

[HatDoc]

Is the "How Many Engines" debate still going on?
Does this help?

We all know how many engines the Strat had. The debate is whether the original hat pin had 2 or 4 engines. From old photos, we know the airplane pin is flying from right to left. The most abundant pins that can be found in existence are the TWA pins, but they only have 2 engines.

ZemkeFan recently found a 4-engine pin on eBay that was flying in the correct direction, but it was gold. And the Patty Stetson pin was silver and only had 2 engines......and appears to have TWA written on the wings.

So.......most Stratophiles belive that the actual pin was indeed the TWA 2-engine DC-3 pin.

 

[buler]

Alpine Blue Strat

Just got my Alpine Blue Strat and thought I'd take some pics with my light blue/grey Strat. The sweat logos are a little different and the liner in my Alpine just says Stetson and not Royal Stetson. The original $10.95 price tag was behind the sweat which dates it to roughly 1955-1958 based on earlier posts in this thread. The color is really hard to photograph. Had the Alpine Blue Strat ad already.

B

Alpine:

Blue/gray:

 

[RBH]

Now that is nice!!!!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Thanks for posting the photos...

Wow! Love the hat, especially the color.

BTW: If you'd be interested in selling the ad to me for my Stratoliner collection, I'd be mighty grateful. (If not, would appreciate knowing the issue from which it came.)

The TWA hostess is wearing the "cutout" style uniform which dates it to 1944 or thereafter...

 

[buler]

Wow! Love the hat, especially the color.

BTW: If you'd be interested in selling the ad to me for my Stratoliner collection, I'd be mighty grateful. (If not, would appreciate knowing the issue from which it came.)


The TWA hostess is wearing the "cutout" style uniform which dates it to 1944 or thereafter...

Zemke Fan, I'm going to hang onto the ad for now. Its from Esquire, Nov 1945.

B

 

[Zemke Fan]

Thanks for the lead!!

This is one I'd never seen before. Got a spot on my wall just crying out for it!

 

[RBH]

I just have to add my new Stratoliner!!!!

The brim is 2 5\8s, front pinch comes in at 4 7\8s and the back of the crown
is 4 1\2,

 

[Jauntyone]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
Fantastic!

 

[billysmom]

Black lettering on sweatband?

My newly-arrived Stratoliner has black printing on the sweat. I've looked through this entire thread and all your examples have gold lettering! Is this something that was done only for this retailer? Are there "copy" Stratoliners out there?

Sue

 

[jimmy the lid]

My newly-arrived Stratoliner has black printing on the sweat. I've looked through this entire thread and all your examples have gold lettering! Is this something that was done only for this retailer? Are there "copy" Stratoliners out there?

Sue -- Stetson used the black printing on sweats for other models and other retailers. Somewhere in my lid photo archives I have a photo of a Stratoliner that has a very similar sweat in terms of the surface of the leather, as well as the presence of the black logotype. That Strat was specifically tied to the year 1954, since the sales receipt still existed. Going by these similarities, and taking into account the nature of your liner, I'd say that circa 1954 isn't a bad bet for your Strat. And, congrats!

Cheers,
JtL

 

[billysmom]

Thanks, JTL!

I knew one of you experts would have the answer!

Sue

 

[ScottF]

Here is a 1940's Stratoliner that was put to a strange use:

 

[Zemke Fan]

Anyone need Stratoliner pins...?

I've got some of the larger sized ones flying in the right direction, plus smaller ones flying the other way, some lapel pins, and some Stratoliner Club tokens. See this thread in classifieds: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=915139

ZF