Vintage Lee Fedora Hat Gold Ochre Fur Felt Size Medium 7

This is a wonderful fedora hat made by the Lee Hat Company in a striking colour.  Lee was established by Frank H Lee in 1886, but became a major manufacturer when a manufacturing plant was built in Danbury, CT in 1909.  By the 1940s, Lee was considered to be the General Motors of the hat industry.  They were bought by Stetson in 1960 but operated separately until a major fire burnt down the plant in 1968.

This hat dates to the 1960s and is made in a colour that I would call “light gold ochre”, almost like a goldenrod colour.  It features a narrow brim with a turned and stitched rim and a crown that is banded in brown felt with matching gold ochre detailing.  The lining is gold stamped “Lee Ambassador Beaver Finish” and the sweatband is gold stamped “Genuine Fur Felt”.  The retailer’s name is also stamped on the sweatband - it reads “Merceries Cartier Men’s Shops”.  Cartier was a Montreal based men’s shop.  It is sized as a size 7 - it measures 22” around the sweatband and 6 1/2” by 7 3/4” across the opening.  The brim measures 2 1/8” in width at the front and at the back and 2” at the sides - the crown measures 4 7/8” in height.  The hat is in very good condition - pre-owned, but very clean and well cared for, the only issue being a bit of waviness to the sweatband and a very light moisture stain to the lining that could be cleaned.  This is a very nice quality hat in an attractive style and colour - great looking hat!