I have my fingers crossed on this one!

[Pilgrim]

I just won and paid for an auction on a grey Open Road! The size label is 7 1/8 which I should be able to stretch to fit me at 7 1/4, but the measurement given in the auction is much smaller. I'm betting that the size is closer than the measurement.

And if not, I suppose I can shape the hat up a bit and re-sell with a better write-up for at least as much as I have into it. The hat looks good, but hasn't been worn or had any shaping in a long time from the looks of it.

If it fits, it will soon be the grey Open Road I've been looking for.

Comments?

 

[feltfan]

You gotta love a hat that has been listed under "Unisex & T-Shirts".

That crown looks a bit over-pinched. Might be some wear there.
Otherwise nothing a teakettle can't put right. Congrats.

 

[riccardo]

Great hat,
I won an Open Road 7 1/4 and I reblock it in 7 1/2 . It work very well.
Your silverbelly is very beautiful.
Good luck.
Riccardo.

 

[jamespowers]

That's the nicest looking T-shirt I have seen in a while.
You got a good deal one way or the other. I think you should be able to stretch it. It is close enough to your size in the first place. You know how sellers can be about measuring things---lousy. I will keep my fingers crossed for you as well. :cheers1:

Regards,

J

 

[tonyb]

I'm guessing it'll stretch fine. Anecdotal observation: Those older Stetson 7 1/8s run everywhere between "almost big enough as is" to "no way can I make this fit without regretting it." I've yet to find a 7 1/8 Open Road that I couldn't stretch, although I do have a late-1950s (I'm guessing) size 7 1/8 Stetson Royal Deluxe Homburg (a recent acquisition) that I will probably pass along to someone with a smaller head. That's the risk of buying online--you really don't know what you've bought until the mailman arrives.

 

[jake_fink]

That hat looked like a bargain, so I tried to snipe you.

Sorry.

I hope the size is right... I was leery about the inside measurment too. Post pics when you get it and show us how it looks all cleaned up.

:cheers1:

 

[John in Covina]

Shrinkage

I was told that fur felt hats will shrink over time, when not worn much or at all. If it is a quarter of an inch diameter between sizes, I'd expect an older hat needs to be ordered a size step up to have a chance at fitting.

Anyone else have insights of time shrinking all fur felt hats?

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Shrinkage

I was told that fur felt hats will shrink over time, when not worn much or at all. If it is a quarter of an inch diameter between sizes, I'd expect an older hat needs to be ordered a size step up to have a chance at fitting.

Anyone else have insights of time shrinking all fur felt hats?

Well in my observations, I've only gotten 2 hats marked 7 3/8 that were too tight on my head and BOTH were Royal Stetson Playboy Vita Felts. All my other hats have fit fine, and any time I get the rare 7 1/2, it's a tad too big and requires filler in the sweatband. I've even gotten a few 7 1/4's that fit me just fine, and of course a few I needed to stretch. :cool2:
DR

 

[GA Wildlifer]

Shrinking with age

I am glad to hear your experience of hats stretching back out well. I recently bought an open road that I plan to have Art reshape and stretch. It is a 7 1/8 but fits much tighter.

GA Wildlifer

 

[Pilgrim]

No problem Jake, it's all fair online. And I still got a good buy. If it doesn't fit, my feeling is that I can easily shape it up a bit, do a MUCH better write-up and re-sell it for more than I paid on ebay. I think that with a bit of shaping and creative wordsmithing, I could get $70 or more for that hat if I have to re-sell it.

Now I just have to wait. Darn.