Help me find this hat?

[illumin8em]

I have had this photo that i have been using as a reference for many months now in search of, to me the hat. Thinking that I would be able to figure it out on my own, I avoided asking "what is this" to the forum, but am today thoroughly discouraged. I usually do well at these personal searches, but this one just has me stumped.

Took me a month or two to come across the Stetson Open Road, ( i spent some days around a fella who wore a straw Open Road) and there and then thought it a closed case. but after some months of stewing, mostly because i live in WV and we have not a single hat shop that I know of, and the only hat selling stores do not carry Stetson, and for months lurking over the forums thread about the Open Road, I have began to think that it is maybe not the Open Road. There is something about the crown...

The brim size looks about right, and it has been cattleman creased, but the crown is, to my eyes shorter, more subtle

This is the fella standing next to him. The two hats look very similar, except this one looks to have an open crown. This open crown does not look as tall/big as the Open Roads, and Campdrafts that I have seen on the forum.

Thanks for whatever insight you have.

 

[gtdean48]

With the brim turned up & pushed back off his face as in the second photo, the crown doesn't seem as large but these look like typical Open Roads. The Campdraft is not a direct copy of even vintage (1950s) Open Roads that I have. The crown is larger on the Akubra than the US made Stetson. That second picture appears open crown by that angle but I'd hazzard it has a telescope crease to it.

 

[carldelo]

Weren't Open Roads offered open crown back then? His hat looks either hand-bashed from open or just a cattleman's crease that's been beaten up over time. You might look at the Roadmaster, which is basically an undyed OR - it looks more old-fashioned to my eye, and apparently has less stiffen than the OR, so it would be easier to modify the bash:
http://www.sterlingleather.com/stetsonhats-10840-TF3205Roadmaster.html

GTD, didn't you order one of these a while back?

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I agree that the angle of view and the brims being up are giving the illusion of a shorter crown.

In any event, vintage OR's and Stratoliners (very similar) turn up on Ebay frequently. You might find what you want there.

 

[Torpedo]

I agree it looks like an Open Road, or one of the various clones other brands offered. Your best bet would be the 'bay.

 

[Ordinary Guy]

I am by no means an expert but going along with the above comments, I might add perhaps a Resistol, one that resembles an open road.....

I picked one up on the bay.

 

[Rick Blaine]

I am by no means an expert but going along with the above comments, I might add perhaps a Resistol, one that resembles an open road.....

I picked one up on the bay.

Agreed. Almost everyone made a thin ribbon similar to an OR that will usually sell for alot less than a Stetson. I have Resitols, Marathon,Emmerson, Akubra and Smithbilt thin ribbons that are basically the same. And are cheaper, by far, than a new hat. Even for someone with my generous cranium!

 

[illumin8em]

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions,

i just found a place two hours away that carries stetson, and the open road, but were out of 7 1/2. After some whining they agreed to order one so that i may come in and try it on, with no obligation to buy. I guess I just didn't realize that it would be as easy as finding a hat, with the same brim (2 1/2-2 3/4) thin ribbon, and just reshaping the bash... (don't know if I said that right).

I am very new to good hats. Though I have wore them for years, they were not of very good quality or fit. I have been kind of reinventing myself over the past couple of years, in a way returning to the way i was raised or more so the men who raised the men who made an impression on me as child. My look has kind of gone along with me. For some reason i just really feel a connection to this hat.

again, thanks for the help

 

[RBH]

Good luck on the new Stetson.
But you need to know re-creasing a new Open Road will not be easy.

 

[Tone]

If you're finding that the Stetson OR crown still resembles the standard Campdraft look afterall, you might also consider something like the Westside for the balance you're looking for.

Some tweaking and a thin ribbon added would put it pretty close. Another alternative.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

If you're finding that the Stetson OR crown still resembles the standard Campdraft look afterall, you might also consider something like the Westside for the balance you're looking for.

Some tweaking and a thin ribbon added would put it pretty close. Another alternative.

That is a great looking hat. Even the feather looks good! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[colps]

Very sharp hat!!!

 

[Terrier]

Hello,

I have experimented with a couple of fedoras, but find them too thick and stiff. The shape of crown and brim is moulded very fixed, the brim says Pop! as you choose either down or up position front and back. Their shape is perfect, but my face is not perfect. I would like a thinner and softer felt material, that has the basic fedora shape, but easily can be squeezed, crumpled, to become a little more rough and uneven looking. Like the old Stetson Playboy.
I prefer a hat in light beige or cream colour, with brown ribbon band, and brim 6 - 7 cm wide. Do you have ideas of a suitable brand model?

 

[belfastboy]

Hello,

I have experienced with a couple of fedoras, but find them too thick and stiff. The shape of crown and brim is moulded very fixed, the brim says Pop! as you choose either down or up position front and back. Their shape is perfect, but my face is not perfect. I would like a thinner and softer felt material, that has the basic fedora shape, but easily can be squeezed, crumpled, to become a little more rough and uneven looking. Like the old Stetson Playboy.
I prefer a hat in light beige or cream colour, with brown ribbon band, and brim 6 - 7 cm wide. Do you have ideas of a suitable brand model?

You probably want to look at vintage or custom. Modern commercial grade hats are by and large on the stiff side. The crease is placed mechanically and set firmly. In order to get a soft hand to the felt you need to find a vintage. Or commission a custom from certain hatters that can replicate a vintage feel. What size are you? What is your budget?

 

[jlee562]

The closest hat I've gotten to a Playboy is my VS Playboy made in lightweight beaver from Winchester. Not sure if this is still available from Mr. Gibson. Penman offers a lightweight FEPSA felt for his Blacklist hat.

 

[Rmccamey]

Look for a Dobbs Cross Country; very light and unlined. I also have an unlined Mayser that is a very similar lightweight hat.

 

[Terrier]

Thank you for your suggestions!

I am size 59 cm, which I guess translates to a 7 1/2.

I am new at this, so I am not willing to invest too much in something I don't quite understand the essence of. Around $100 perhaps, at the most, less more likely. If I really fall in love with something, I would pay more.

The Dobbs Cross Country is nice. To say the least. But it is from the good old days, like the Stetson Playboy, when style was natural and genuine, not commercially hasty and insincere. "Cross Country" pretty much captures in words what I want; stylish, and yet rough and tumble, for sun, rain, and wind.

The Blacklist hat looks alright too, if the brim is not too narrow.

 

[Rmccamey]

You should be able to find a few unlined lightweight hats at your price point, so don't give up.

Dobbs Cross Country



Mayser made all number of different models, I just happened to find this unlined model a few years back.

Thank you for your suggestions!

I am size 59 cm, which I guess translates to a 7 1/2.

I am new at this, so I am not willing to invest too much in something I don't quite understand the essence of. Around $100 perhaps, at the most, less more likely. If I really fall in love with something, I would pay more.

The Dobbs Cross Country is nice. To say the least. But it is from the good old days, like the Stetson Playboy, when style was natural and genuine, not commercially hasty and insincere. "Cross Country" pretty much captures in words what I want; stylish, and yet rough and tumble, for sun, rain, and wind.

The Blacklist hat looks alright too, if the brim is not too narrow.

 

[Terrier]

How in the world ...?! My thread ended up being moved inside illumin8ems thread ...! I certainly did not mean to intrude.

 

[Frunobulax]

How in the world ...?! My thread ended up being moved inside illumin8ems thread ...! I certainly did not mean to intrude.

Bartenders merge threads around here on a regular basis to keep subjects within grasp. This helps others, as many come here to find historical information or the like, and keeping the information together makes for a less cluttered site.