Open Road or lookalike...

[plain old dave]

New hereabouts, and am wanting me one of these. I am of the understanding that several companies made hats that were almost identical to the OR. I like the OR, but am having a time justifying $125-150 for a hat with the Queen (wife)... Been trying to find me one of the lookalikes with no joy. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Rooster]

I got this one on ebay a couple weeks ago for ten bucks.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=17414

 

[RBH]

A good ol' southern welcome to you Dave!! Sit on down and have a glass of 'Tennessee' tea!
Check out this site for a new hat. You can shape it yourself.
http://shop.valleycountry.com.au/catalogue/category1/category13/category54/product334
For the money [around $100.00 or so] you cant beat it.

Also The LL Bean Moose River is a close hat without the bound brim.
You can run a search here for 'thin ribbons' have have some luck.

 

[scotrace]

Akubra makes a model called "Campdraft." It is the old Open Road (don't let the shape you normally see it picture in fool you - it comes open crown). In fact, Akubra had the contract to make these hats for Stetson for while. It's the same, with one major difference: the felt is a lot stiffer and less smooth. It even comes with a wind string. You'll just have to do a little hand shaping yourself.

Google for it. You should turn up several sources for around $85.

Welcome to The Fedora Lounge, plain old dave.


Edit: I see RBH's link is to the Campdraft. Great minds and all that...

 

[Snrbfshn]

Dave - everybody made one...

I have seen OR designs from Resistol, JCPenny, Stevens, Pilgrim, Adam, Knox, Caxton, Champ, Mallory, Dobbs, Cavanagh and others. Depending on your size, some are very affordable.

Here's an Adam OR-knockoff I just bought for $10.50:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160095573938&rd=1&rd=1

 

[aliados]

Open road (or equivalent)

New hereabouts, and am wanting me one of these. I am of the understanding that several companies made hats that were almost identical to the OR. I like the OR, but am having a time justifying $125-150 for a hat with the Queen (wife)... Been trying to find me one of the lookalikes with no joy. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

C'mon, guys, amd I the only one here with extras?
What size do you need?

 

[plain old dave]

I wear a....

7 3/8, I believe. Big old watermelon head...

 

[aliados]

I know a have a few 7-1/4s hanging around . . . Can't remember if I've a larger one. Will poke around tonite.

 

[aliados]

P.S. - If I can't find one for you, and you are reduced to trying eBay, lemme tout you away from the newer Open Roads sporting the Stetson hat pin. First, I'm opposed to wearing labels on the outsdie of my garments on principal. More importatnly, perhaps, is the fact that the pin simply advertsies the fact that the Stetson which carries it is relying upon its reputation, and not upon its current quality (which SADLY lacking). I know, 'cause I have one in caramel (in 7-1/4) which I wouldn't pawn off on an ususpecting member! (Hell, I can't even bring myself to offer it on eBay!)

 

[plain old dave]

A loose (i.e. stretched) 7 1/4 would suit fine... Honestly, a natural 7 3/8 is a little loose for me. I like a hat to be snug enough to never blow off.

 

[johnnycanuck]

A hat you can wear every day, in any weather and not give it a second thought.

http://www.everythingaustralian.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=19&ccode=1190&cat_id=2

With shipping handling and customs it should be about $100 US.

Johnny

 

[Wesne]

I recently purchased an Akubra Stylemaster from Everything Australian. Same price as the Campdraft ($90 Australian) and with standard airmail shipping the total was $86 and change, U.S.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Welcome aboard Dave & greetings from K-Town,

I too suffer from a fat head, but have managed to acquire several ORs & clones (Churchill, Stetson Western Royal, Borsalino in the past year, pd. less than $50 for any one of 'em. (OK, the borso was $85) Be patient & you can find one in yr. size on ebay for less $$$ than new & with better felt. If you’re going new I would go Akubra, best bang for the buck out there & I had my Akubra, shipped from OZ, within five days of ordering.

 

[aliados]

A loose (i.e. stretched) 7 1/4 would suit fine... Honestly, a natural 7 3/8 is a little loose for me. I like a hat to be snug enough to never blow off.

Then I'd suggest you forget Akubras or all but the oldest Open Roads, and set your sights on something far softer. It's been my experience that the wind hitting a stiff brim levers the hat up off my head and across the street, whereas my soft Borsalinos (even the lossely fitting ones) with wide sweatbands and abiilty to bend under the wind, stay put!

 

[Tango Yankee]

Here's an Adam OR-knockoff I just bought for $10.50:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160095573938&rd=1&rd=1

Man, I have got to sit down and start working out a search strategy for eBay! You obviously have worked out a very good one with a great selection of key words. I'm impressed! :eusa_clap

Cheers,
Tom

 

[johnnycanuck]

?!?Stay away from Akubra because of stiff brims?!? I have never had an Akubra fly off my head in the wind. Besides The Open Road has a - Wind Cord - if you are concerned, use it.
As for sizing it gets a little tricky. My head measures 59. I have an Akubra Federation in that size and let me tell you it will not come off my head in a hurricane. I usually buy my hats size 60 or 7 1/2 now and let the leather sweat band shrink down to my actual size(I don't really like my hats tight). Now I know my real size is 7 3/8 long oval or 59 long oval, but very few people make hats like that any more. Besides if you are in-between sizes you always get the foam tape to shrink the hat down a size if you like.
Hope that helps any.

 

[RBH]

I agree 100% johnnycanuck !
And I will go one futher, I think Akubra make one of if NOT THE BEST hat going nowdays!!!
A little 'working' of the brim on my Campdraft has it now as soft as my Stratoliner.
I hope you can find you a vintage O R, Dave, for one reason there is just something about owning a vintage Stetson like that. BUT do not hesitate if you want to get an Akubra, they are great hats!

 

[aliados]

My suggestion was merely an observation of simple physics -- push down on one end of a stiff brim and the other end levers up. Push down on one edge of a soft brim, the hat doesn't move. Just my experience that softer hats are less likely to fly off.

That having been said, I was not knocking Akubras. From what I've seen, they are excellent hats -- I have a Federation, Bushman (the older version, without the eyelets) and a Squatter -- but personally, I prefer softer ones.

 

[mingoslim]

If you are really interested . . .

I know a have a few 7-1/4s hanging around . . . Can't remember if I've a larger one. Will poke around tonite.

I have a "new" OR from the late 70s early 80s which I was going to let me wife eBay . . . Its a XXX . . . nice enough, but a little stiff for me. I would give it to you, if I could afford to . . . But I can't . . .
But I can certainly let it go at what I paid for it. Let me know if you are interested . . .

 

[plain old dave]

I have a "new" OR from the late 70s early 80s which I was going to let me wife eBay . . . Its a XXX . . . nice enough, but a little stiff for me. I would give it to you, if I could afford to . . . But I can't . . .
But I can certainly let it go at what I paid for it. Let me know if you are interested . . .

I am interested, but I can't PM...