New Member-Open Road age?

[Old Timer]

Hello everybody! I've been visiting the Lounge for a good 3 months before I finally registered today. I'm glad to hear that there are so many other people who share the love of fedoras and other things vintage. A lot of my friends think I'm borderline crazy with my obsession of "old stuff."

I have two fedoras so far. A Beaver brand, black with 1 7/8 brim and a Biltmore Senator (brown) with a 2 1/4 brim. I've seen a ton of fedoras in resale shops here in Milwaukee, but they are always too small for my head.

I have an Open Road on the way, which I purchased on eBay 2 days ago. The seller thinks its from the 50's. This leads me into my question:

How can you tell how old/new an Open Road is?

 

[Pilgrim]

Welcome!

The only bit of date-related info I've heard is that if the sweatband is brown, it pre-dates the 70's. My understanding is that they went to black leather in the 70's. If anyone knows more or differently, I'm sure they'll chime in.