The Beatles Beach Hat | Beatles memorabilia

Now, Beatles fans could "follow the sun" in a stylish protective fashion! It was likely a scientific fact that the sun shone more brightly on Beatles fans at the beach, and what type of headgear could they trust? Well, the Beatles Beach Hat, of course!

Manufactured in the U.S., the beach hat (or "sports hat" in some advertisements) was available in red and white, black and white, or blue and white fabric. Pressed onto the white space of the cap were graphics with Beatles faces and facsimile autographs in black ink. When fanned out, the hat was 9" in diameter.

Some advertisements called it “The Authentic Beatle Tyrolean Hat,” in homage to the type of headgear like Bavarian and Alpine hats that originally came from the Tyrol area in the Alps.

The advertisement for the hat lured the consumer with enticing language: "Cotton Twill Stitched Brim Hat with The Beatles Flocking. Blue and white and red and white. One size fits all. Hurry! 99¢. Be In Rhythm with 'em!"

The label inside the beach hat contained the logo of the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union (Union Made). It also had a tag that said: "Made in U.S.A."

The hat first came out of England in black, then headed across the waters to the U.S. with the additional red and blue colors to the inventory for the American market.

Puritan Fashions had the license from NEMS to produce the beach hats via the U.K. company Kangol and U.S. solicitor/middleman Budd Hellawell. Many of the early Sixties ads for Puritan products included their sweatshirts, shirts, and beach hats grouped.

Interesting side notes: Kangol Wear in the U.K. talked via phone on February 10, 1964 (the day after the first Ed Sullivan appearance), to Puritan representative Bud Hellawell. It granted Puritan a sublicense to manufacture and distribute "hats" in the United States. During that phone call, Kangol reminded him that he owed them $1000 as a "down payment" for the license.

Additionally, Radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh had both red and blue beach hats imprinted with their call letters.

Reliance Mfg. Company / Puritan Fashions

The Seltaeb agreement was with Reliance Mfg. Company, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York. The manufacturing license was for ‘pajamas, sleepware.’ Reliance received the first Seltaeb license.

Kangol Wear in the U.K. had the license for Beatles “hats and berets.” They talked via phone on February 10, 1964 (the day after the first Ed Sullivan appearance), to Puritan representative Bud Hellawell. It granted Puritan a sublicense to manufacture and distribute "hats" in the United States. During that phone call, Kangol reminded him that he owed them $1000 as a "down payment" for the license.

Puritan also had an office in Montreal, with Simme Pickman as President.

Reliance Mfg. Company / Puritan Fashions

The Seltaeb agreement was with Reliance Mfg. Company, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York. The manufacturing license was for ‘pajamas, sleepware.’ Reliance received the first Seltaeb license.

Kangol Wear in the U.K. had the license for Beatles “hats and berets.” They talked via phone on February 10, 1964 (the day after the first Ed Sullivan appearance), to Puritan representative Bud Hellawell. It granted Puritan a sublicense to manufacture and distribute "hats" in the United States. During that phone call, Kangol reminded him that he owed them $1000 as a "down payment" for the license.

Puritan also had an office in Montreal, with Simme Pickman as President.

Reliance Mfg. Co. was named in a NEMS Enterprises, Ltd vs. Seltaeb, Incorporated lawsuit filed in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, dated: New York, New York, July 6, 1965

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