John B. Stetson Company
Encyclopedia
The John B. Stetson Company, founded by John B. Stetson in 1865, was the maker of the Stetson
cowboy hats, but ceased manufacturing in 1970. Stetson hats are now being manufactured in Garland, Texas
by Hatco Inc who also produce Resistol, and Charlie 1 Horse, hats.
Stetson reentered manufacturing in the 1980s, but the company went bankrupt in 1986. . It was purchased by Hat Brands, a company owned by Irving Joel.
Since 2009, Pro Equine Group has owned Stetson.
, in 1865 when John B. Stetson decided to mass-produce a hat like one had fashioned for himself out of necessity during a lengthy Western expedition. Stetson's Boss of the plains
, with its high crown, and wide flat brim, became the prototype for all other cowboy hat
designs. Now located in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Stetson hat factory there and its second factory in Galveston, Texas
, continue to turn out the "Boss of the Plains," along with over 100 variations for men and women.
The Stetson has become "a symbol of Western pride and bravado, this hat, with its large crown and wide brim, has graced the heads of America's most treasured Western heroes, from old-time favorites like actor John Wayne
, Clayton Moore
as the Lone Ranger, and country singer Gene Autry
, to modern-day popular artists like Garth Brooks
and Larry Hagman
as J.R. Ewing
on the television series Dallas." J.R.'s hat is now displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's contemporary Americana exhibit. Furthermore, the Stetson hat has also been worn by prominent country singers from Dale Evans
to Trisha Yearwood
, spurred on by legendary female maverick Annie Oakley
, proving "that females can carry off this most essential Western look, too."
Stetson
Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing over 3.3 million hats a year in a factory spread over . Today Stetson remains a family-owned concern...
cowboy hats, but ceased manufacturing in 1970. Stetson hats are now being manufactured in Garland, Texas
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
by Hatco Inc who also produce Resistol, and Charlie 1 Horse, hats.
Stetson reentered manufacturing in the 1980s, but the company went bankrupt in 1986. . It was purchased by Hat Brands, a company owned by Irving Joel.
Since 2009, Pro Equine Group has owned Stetson.
History
The John B. Stetson Company was established in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, in 1865 when John B. Stetson decided to mass-produce a hat like one had fashioned for himself out of necessity during a lengthy Western expedition. Stetson's Boss of the plains
Boss of the plains
The Boss of the Plains was a lightweight all-weather hat designed by John B. Stetson for the demands of the American west. It was intended to be durable, waterproof and elegant...
, with its high crown, and wide flat brim, became the prototype for all other cowboy hat
Cowboy hat
The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat best known as the defining piece of attire for the North American cowboy. Today it is worn by many people, and is particularly associated with ranch workers in the western and southern United States, western Canada and northern Mexico, with...
designs. Now located in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Stetson hat factory there and its second factory in Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, continue to turn out the "Boss of the Plains," along with over 100 variations for men and women.
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, Clayton Moore
Clayton Moore
Clayton Moore was an American actor best known for playing the fictional western character The Lone Ranger from 1949–1951 and 1954-1957 on the television series of the same name.-Early years:...
as the Lone Ranger, and country singer Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, to modern-day popular artists like Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
and Larry Hagman
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman is an American film and television actor, producer and director known for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early life and career:Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
as J.R. Ewing
J.R. Ewing
John Ross Ewing, Jr., more commonly known as J. R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, was a central, nefarious figure on the hit CBS television series Dallas . J. R...
on the television series Dallas." J.R.'s hat is now displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's contemporary Americana exhibit. Furthermore, the Stetson hat has also been worn by prominent country singers from Dale Evans
Dale Evans
Dale Evans, was an American writer, movie star, and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.-Early life:...
to Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
, spurred on by legendary female maverick Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...
, proving "that females can carry off this most essential Western look, too."