The cowboy hat has been a symbol in our Country of the tamed West. It is a symbol of the American hero. While it is a fashionable symbol today, it was not always reflected that way.
The man who made the cowboy hat famous was a man by the name of John Stetson. He is well-known for making a wide-brimmed, high crowned hat that he would use on his tours. It was usually made out of common fur from horse hides, and used during his wild hunting tours.
The large brim of the hat helped protect against the sun. The crown of the hat also made it easy to fetch water from streams or rivers. It also worked to start the fire by fanning it to keep the embers burning.
Stetson’s hats became popular to cowboys out on the plains. He sold the first hat in Colorado. They called it the “ten-gallon hat”. The the late 1860s the hat started being associated with Western heroes.
Some people don’t agree that Stetson was the first one to come up with the western cowboy hat. Many feel that ranchers in Mexico and Texas started the hat from “Sombreros”. Regardless of who invented the hat, Stetson definitely was the one who made it popular.
The most common type of hat was called the pork pie. It was a soft, less expensive hat. It remained popular until the late 1870s.
Other popular names for the hats were “Boss of the Plains” and “Trapper”. Most early hats had a telescope crown and brim of 3 inches. They also featured three-piece lining.
The cowboy hat was a wonderful invention for farm hands and cowboys. It provided the transition from hand woven hats to machine made hats. Today they continue to be a symbol of the West, and remain a popular choice of hat style.
AA Callisters has been selling Western Wear, Cowboy Boots, Western/English Tack, and Cowboy Hats for over 50 years. They are Utah’s leading Western Retailer with 2 store locations as well as their online store. Visit their blog for free and useful information or their online store for a great selection of western products.
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