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Champ Hats
The History of Champ Hats
Champ Hats was a brand of the LaSalle Hat Company of Sunbury, PA, and was distributed nationally from at least the 1930s.
Explore the fascinating history of Champ Hats, an emblem of mid-century style and affordability.
Champ Hats, a significant division of the LaSalle Hat Company based in Sunbury, PA, made its mark on the national stage around the 1930s. Balancing quality and cost-effectiveness, these hats radiated style and were sold for an average price of $7.50 during the 1940s and 50s. This pricing made them competitive with brands like Adam and Lee, while they remained less expensive than Knox, Mallory, and Stetson.
In the 1950s, Champ Hats upped their game with celebrity endorsements, including Guy Williams, sponsoring major events, and radio ads by famed broadcaster Walter Winchell. In 1956, the Hat Corporation of America saw the value in Champ Hats and incorporated it into their broad portfolio of labels.
I have a Champ trilby that has a side pin in the shape of the Space Needle.
The same design is on the inside liner. The hat is black and in remarkably good condition. Can you tell me anything about the hat in question?
The Space Needle pin is really cool. I have one with a football pin that I pull out every football season.
Probably the early 60’s as the Space Needle was new for the 1962 world’s fair.
I have a champ hat from the 70’s. I still were it . Its old and banged up
My father was a sales representative for Champ Hats in the 1960s covering Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Finding this web site really brings back memories of helping him load and unload the large sample cases that hats required. Because of the size of sample cases he always drove a station wagon. I also remember the collapsible bamboo hat racks he carried to display the sample hats to a retailer.
Lee,
Great story about Champ Hats back in the day and on-the-road salesmen. The collapsible hat racks sound interesting…
Adam
I could write these same things about my father. He was the rep in GA, FL and other southern states.
I liked working the switch board of telephone calls coming in to Champ Hats for a summer. I believe my boyacoss’s name was Mr. Greco.
I have a Champ Hat that I was left to me by a n elderly friend.
It looks as though it was made wrong. The folded ends of the ribbon was put on the back of the hat instead of the side. Is this possible?
I came across an Olson and Lowe Champ hat, it’s dark blue with a green satin band. Looks like new. Only the box is falling apart
Can you tell me anything about it and what they are worth?
I have a La Salle hat (fedora) does it pre-date the champ? It was sold in walla walla wa. Between 1927 and 1954 at “Central Hatters” 5 1/2 2nd ave.