Vintage Biltmore Fedora Plush Hat Tan Brown Canadian Rondelay Size 7 1/8 1960s

This is a wonderful fedora style hat made by Biltmore of Canada in a plush “Canadian Rondelay”.  Biltmore was founded in 1917 and was Canada’s premier hat maker, rival to Stetson.  In fact, after Stetson (Canada) went on a Canadian acquisition binge during the 1960s, Biltmore was able to eliminate its main competitor (Stetson) by buying it in 1970.  In 1982, after Biltmore filed bankruptcy, Stetson (USA) bought the assets of Biltmore, before they themselves filed Chapter 11 in 1986.  The Biltmore brand was withdrawn from the market from 1982 until 1988, when a group of Canadian investors revived it.  Biltmore has always been a quality maker, even producing the Dobbs and Knox brands in Canada. 

The hat is made in a tan brown fur felt that Biltmore branded as “Canadian Rondelay”.  The brim is a medium width and turned up at the back.  The crown has a dark brown grosgrain band around its base.  The sweatband is gold stamped “Canadian Rondelay” and has a label affixed to it with the retailer’s name “Leo Trudel” with the original price of $40.  The lining is stamped in gold, blue and red with an illustration of a the Biltmore logo and with “Biltmore Rondelay Made in Canada”.  It  is sized as a 7 1/8 - it measures 22 1/4” around the sweat band and 6 1/4” by 8” across the opening.  The brim measures 2 1/4” in width and the crown measures 4 5/8” in height.  The hat is in very good condition with no pronounced wear or soiling.  

This is a great looking hat - nice colour and finish!