Mickey Mouse black ears hat with a capitol "M" in the middle. Made by Merrimack.

[AWHOFAN]

What did I find? Mickey Mouse black ears hat with a capitol "M" in the middle. Made by Merrimack. The ears are put on by a factory staple. I'm think pre 1955. I cant find any details on the internet. I paid $15.00 what do you think the ears are worth and year?

 

[ZenMondo]

The "ear hat" was conceived of by Roy Williams, a Disney story man that many remember as "The Big Moosketeer" on the original Mickey Mouse Club.

The Mickey Mouse Club premiered in October of 1955, though they did appear on television in a short dance number and the classic "Mouseketeer Roll Call" on the Dateline: Disneyland broadcast of July 17, 1955.

The hat you describe was a popular souvenir at Disneyland but the plain "M" was soon replaced with a picture of Mickey Mouse, which could be protected with a trademark, while a capital letter M could not.

What are the ears made of?

The ones from the show would have been felt with a wire in them to keep them stiff. Those sold at the park would be attached with a staple -- in later years the ears would be plastic, but I don't know if they started out that way.

So, since these things did not even exist until 1955, it probably does not pre-date that. But it is a good chance that it is 1955 -- or shortly after, unless it is a reproduction of some sort.

 

[AWHOFAN]

Thanks for the information about the M ears. They have small staples.