John B. Stetson Company

The Stetson Hat Company, founded by John B. Stetson in 1865, is the maker of the Stetson cowboy-style hats, but ceased manufacture in 1970. Its name is now used by Hatco, Inc., and the stetson hats are produced in the company's subcompany called Stetson Hat Co. in St. Joseph, Missouri. Its culturally competing brand of cowboy hats, made in Texas since 1923, is Resistol, but it is also owned now by Hatco [Jeffrey B. Snyder "Stetson Hats and the John B. Stetson Hat Company, 1865-1970" Schiffer Publishing (1997)ISBN 0-76430211-6] [ [http://www.stetsonhat.com/raw/index.html Stetson Company Home Page] ] .

History

The Stetson Hat Company was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1865 when John B. Stetson decided to mass-produce the modified sombrero he had fashioned for himself out of necessity during a lengthy Western expedition. Stetson's "Boss of the Plains" model, with its high, creased crown and wide, molded brim, became the prototype for all other cowboy hat designs. Now located in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Stetson hat factory there and its second factory in Galveston, Texas, continue to turn out the "Boss of the Plains," along with over 100 variations for men and women.Kristin Palm "Stetson Hat" [http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Stetson-Hat.html MadeHow website] Retrieved August 7, 2007.]

Reportedly, the Stetson has become "a symbol of Western pride and bravado, this modified sombrero, with its large crown and wide brim, has graced the heads of America's most treasured Western heroes, from old-time favorites like actor John Wayne, Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger, and country singer Gene Autry, to modern-day popular artists like Garth Brooks and Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing on the television series Dallas." J.R.'s hat is now displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's contemporary Americana exhibit. Furthermore, the Stetson hat has also been worn by prominent country singers from Dale Evans to Trisha Yearwood, spurred on by legendary female maverick Annie Oakley, proving "that females can carry off this most essential Western look, too" .

Confusion with Resistol hats and the demise of the genuine Stetson

Often Stenson hats are confused with Resistol hats. Allegedly, a Resistol wearer will object to have his hat called a "Stetson".Fact|date=September 2008 Nonetheless, even notable Texans such as longtime CBS news anchor Dan Rather use expressions such as "tip of a stetson to ya".Fact|date=September 2008

Reportedly, "the old John B. Stetson Co. founded by John Stetson 135 years ago, no longer exists as a maker of hats. The name still exists, though, and companies pay good money for the right to use it on their products. Nowadays, Stetson hats are made by a company with the very '90s name of Hatco Inc. Hatco also makes the popular brand of today's cowboy hat, Resistol. Hatco hangs its hat in Garland, Texas. The Stetsons are made at the company's Stetson Hat Co. factory in St. Joseph, Mo." ["Stetson hats have new maker, but no archive." Staff. The News Journal (Wilmington, DE). LIFE & LEISURE; Pg. 3D. December 6, 2000.]

ee also

*Stetson University

References