Dating a Stetson "Open Road"

[RJR]

Dang, vic! Always a surprise.

+1

 

[M Hatman]

Holy Cow!!!!! Talk about an early "Open Road"....I had heard about these but have never seen one!!!! Love that stitched edge!!!! GREAT FIND!!!! That ad block is cool too!!!!!!
M

 

[moontheloon]

one of the best pieces this forum has to offer

Amazing !!!

 

[hatsRme]

How long have you been holding out on this one, Vic!?! Wow, WOW, WOW, is all I can utter

 

[barrowjh]

That is an unusual OR. Strange to see the metal stamp but we have never seen the advertisement. Somehow it didn't stick, maybe it was one hat that was itself trying to wear too many hats, trying to be too many things. There was a need for a less-formal and lightweight fedora, and at a $5 price, maybe it was a precursor to hats that followed such as the Stratoliner, Bantam, Playboy, Whippet.

 

[Rogera]

Very cool!

 

[M Hatman]

Here is a copy of a 1937 "Open Road" along with other Stetson "Air-Light" hats....
M

 

[T Jones]

Dear experts, I am trying to date my recently acquired vintage Open Road. The hat has a slightly higher crown than the contemporary OR and the brim is a bit narrower. Pictures can be viewed at this URL: http://princeinacowboysuit.blogspot.com/
Any help would be much appreciated

From the looks of the wider sweat, the square size tag without the addition of the size in centimeters, and the liner with that particular logo, I'd say very late 1950s to early 1960s. I have one just like it except mine has a more narrow and black sweat band.

 

[DaveProc]

1937

 

[DaveProc]

1938

 

[DaveProc]

1939

 

[DaveProc]

1941

 

[DaveProc]

1943

 

[DaveProc]

1944