Vintage Biltmore Wide Brim Fedora Hat Golden Pheasant Velour Stetson Size 7 1970s

This is a wonderful wide brimmed hat made by Biltmore of Canada.  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  The Biltmore brand was withdrawn from the market from 1982 until 1988, when a group of Canadian investors revived it.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. <br> <br>

The hat is made in a plush brown fur felt that Biltmore branded as “Golden Pheasant Velour”.  The crown has a wide multicolour striped grosgrain band around its base.  The sweatband is gold stamped “Canadian Velour” as well as with “A Gasco Inc”.  The lining is stamped in gold and red with an illustration of a pheasant and with “Biltmore Golden Pheasant Velour”.  It  is sized as a 7 - it measures 22” around the sweat band and 6 3/4” by 7 7/8” across the opening.  The brim measures 2 3/4” in width and the crown measures 4 1/2” in height.  The hat is in very good condition with a some wear to the stamping on the sweatband - pre-owned, but well cared for.  

This is a great looking hat - nice band, quality and wide brim!