Vintage Biltmore Fedora Hat Grey Canadian Beaver Plush Deluxe 7 1/8

This is a Biltmore fedora hat made in Canada.  This Biltmore fedora is made in a grey coloured fur plush.  The brim is turned up at the back.  The crown has a black grosgrain ribbon around its base with a bow at the left and a red and blue feather accent.  The sweatband of the fedora hat is gold stamped “Canadian Beaver De Luxe Finish”.  The lining is stamped with the Biltmore logo and with text that reads “Biltmore The Master Hat of Canada Canadian Beaver Deluxe Finish”.  The size tag is missing, but this should fit a size 7 1/8 - it measures 22 1/2” around the sweatband and 7” by 7 3/4” across the opening.  The brim measures 2 1/4” in width at the front 2” in width at the sides and the crown measures 4 3/4” in height.  This Biltmore fedora is in very good condition - pre-owned, but quite clean and very well cared for. 

Biltmore was founded in 1917 and was Canada’s premier fedora 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  The Biltmore brand was withdrawn from the market from 1982 until 1988, when a group of Canadian investors revived it.  The Biltmore fedora has always been a quality hat, and Biltmore a quality maker, even producing the Dobbs and Knox brands in Canada.

This is a nice Biltmore fedora - attractive tone and excellent quality beaver plush!