STETSON 7x CLEAR BEAVER QUALITY

[The Lost Cowboy]

I’m in.

Having read this entire thread I guesstimate this guy to be a mid-50s example. It is Open Road style but not marked as such, though I have to say the crown is much boxier than any of my other ORs. The shape is more like my larger crowned homburgs than anything else (I did not find any mfg tags, but I did not dig deep under the liner, either).

The felt is soft and consistent all the way through without an instance of coarseness. It feels like a cushion against my head. It would take any crease I put to it without steam, but I have only changed the crease slightly and used steam to do so in order to keep from damaging in the slightest this impeccable felt.

The color reminds me of desert sand in Sinai but has also a very unique, marble-esque tone to it, which makes me think of the Renaissance masterpieces in stone that I grew up visiting in Italy.

The only problem with this guy is he is so utterly perfect that I know I won’t wear him as much as he deserves to be worn. Easily the best hat in my collection, hands down, this has absolutely made me see my other hats in a whole new light.

How to return to normalcy after a 7X? My palette has tasted something extraordinary.

 

[goodolddays83]

Wow!

 

[Blare]

I’m in.

Having read this entire thread I guesstimate this guy to be a mid-50s example. It is Open Road style but not marked as such, though I have to say the crown is much boxier than any of my other ORs. The shape is more like my larger crowned homburgs than anything else (I did not find any mfg tags, but I did not dig deep under the liner, either).

The felt is soft and consistent all the way through without an instance of coarseness. It feels like a cushion against my head. It would take any crease I put to it without steam, but I have only changed the crease slightly and used steam to do so in order to keep from damaging in the slightest this impeccable felt.

The color reminds me of desert sand in Sinai but has also a very unique, marble-esque tone to it, which makes me think of the Renaissance masterpieces in stone that I grew up visiting in Italy. This hat is just such a work of art in its own right.

The only problem with this guy is he is so utterly perfect that I know I won’t wear him as much as he deserves to be worn. Easily the best hat in my collection, hands down, and has absolutely made me see my other hats in a whole new light.

How to return to normalcy after a 7X? My palette has tasted something extraordinary.

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It is a beaut. And would agree with your age assessment. You wear it well.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

It is a beaut. And would agree with your age assessment. You wear it well.

Thank you Joe.

 

[CRH]

I’m in.

Having read this entire thread I guesstimate this guy to be a mid-50s example. It is Open Road style but not marked as such, though I have to say the crown is much boxier than any of my other ORs. The shape is more like my larger crowned homburgs than anything else (I did not find any mfg tags, but I did not dig deep under the liner, either).

The felt is soft and consistent all the way through without an instance of coarseness. It feels like a cushion against my head. It would take any crease I put to it without steam, but I have only changed the crease slightly and used steam to do so in order to keep from damaging in the slightest this impeccable felt.

The color reminds me of desert sand in Sinai but has also a very unique, marble-esque tone to it, which makes me think of the Renaissance masterpieces in stone that I grew up visiting in Italy.

The only problem with this guy is he is so utterly perfect that I know I won’t wear him as much as he deserves to be worn. Easily the best hat in my collection, hands down, this has absolutely made me see my other hats in a whole new light.

How to return to normalcy after a 7X? My palette has tasted something extraordinary.

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Wear it well, Brother, as I know you will. I'm still waiting for mine.

But just for fun, could ya show us a little Oreana, or a little Gus, just because. Just a little bit. Lol

 

[M Hatman]

I’m in.

Having read this entire thread I guesstimate this guy to be a mid-50s example. It is Open Road style but not marked as such, though I have to say the crown is much boxier than any of my other ORs. The shape is more like my larger crowned homburgs than anything else (I did not find any mfg tags, but I did not dig deep under the liner, either).

The felt is soft and consistent all the way through without an instance of coarseness. It feels like a cushion against my head. It would take any crease I put to it without steam, but I have only changed the crease slightly and used steam to do so in order to keep from damaging in the slightest this impeccable felt.

The color reminds me of desert sand in Sinai but has also a very unique, marble-esque tone to it, which makes me think of the Renaissance masterpieces in stone that I grew up visiting in Italy.

The only problem with this guy is he is so utterly perfect that I know I won’t wear him as much as he deserves to be worn. Easily the best hat in my collection, hands down, this has absolutely made me see my other hats in a whole new light.

How to return to normalcy after a 7X? My palette has tasted something extraordinary.

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WOW...SUPER CLEAN!!! A real winner! As to the OR thing, they did make marked 7XCB OR's (I have one). Stetson liked their Silverbelly thin ribbon hats and had MANY models with but little variation from the 1948 OR (the OR as we now see it was introduced in 1948). Now I said the date deliberately as they made such hat models well before (going back to at least the 20's). Even their marked OR's had some variations in crown and brim (height/width) and sometimes even block (on the taller ones).

I actually have several Stetson hats so designed but not marked as an OR (mostly from the 50's like yours) and I Love them! The thin ribbon are my favorites.....I have several examples of other makers with that design too..... It is my go too hat to wear for everyday and work wear. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! GREAT GET!

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

WOW...SUPER CLEAN!!! A real winner! As to the OR thing, they did make marked 7XCB OR's (I have one). Stetson liked their Silverbelly thin ribbon hats and had MANY models with but little variation from the 1948 OR (the OR as we now see it was introduced in 1948). Now I said the date deliberately as they made such hat models well before (going back to at least the 20's). Even their marked OR's had some variations in crown and brim (height/width) and sometimes even block (on the taller ones).

I actually have several Stetson hats so designed but not marked as an OR (mostly from the 50's like yours) and I Love them! The thin ribbon are my favorites.....I have several examples of other makers with that design too..... It is my go too hat to wear for everyday and work wear. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! GREAT GET!
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Thank you sir! I am blessed to have acquired such a pristine example, and the color still blows me away.

As I understand it, the OR went from an original wide ribbon to a 3-ply to the thin ribbon we know today. Is that the evolution you know as well?

 

[M Hatman]

Thank you sir! I am blessed to have acquired such a pristine example, and the color still blows me away.

As I understand it, the OR went from an original wide ribbon to a 3-ply to the thin ribbon we know today. Is that the evolution you know as well?

Introduced as a wide ribbon "air light" fedora in 1937. Produced thru the 40's then re-introduced as we know it today in 1948.

Much debate on the three ply, there are ads in private company catalogs showing a three ply with the description being the normal one, AND a normal image with a three ply description. NOTHING from Stetson showing a three ply OR.

And no one has seems to have found a three ply marked example. Personally I think it was just a listing error in the private catalogs, confused by Stetsons similar bound edge 3X & Royal Deluxe offerings of the time.

And of course the newish ones such as we have now that are different animals altogether with low pressed crowns, no wind cord and much stiffer built......I believe introduced by Stephens in the 1970's after they bought Stetson.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Introduced as a wide ribbon "air light" fedora in 1937. Produced thru the 40's then re-introduced as we know it today in 1948.

Much debate on the three ply, there are ads in private company catalogs showing a three ply with the description being the normal one, AND a normal image with a three ply description. NOTHING from Stetson showing a three ply OR.

And no one has seems to have found a three ply marked example. Personally I think it was just a listing error in the private catalogs, confused by Stetsons similar bound edge 3X & Royal Deluxe offerings of the time.

And of course the newish ones such as we have now that are different animals altogether with low pressed crowns, no wind cord and much stiffer built......I believe introduced by Stephens in the 1970's after they bought Stetson.

Ah, I didn't realize no 3-ply example had been produced. Good to know, thanks, since I believed the ads - but as you say, these are not from Stetson. (ad source, the 'The Open Road Guild' here:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-open-road-guild.7047/post-2861434):

 

[carouselvic]

…but have you ever seen a Open Road with a three cord band that was marked “Open Road”? I have not…

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

…but have you ever seen a Open Road with a three cord band that was marked “Open Road”? I have not…

Yeah that’s what we concluded - no one has ever seen one, so these ads remain a mystery.

 

[carouselvic]

Not sure who we is, but the conversation is more than a decade old on this forum. There are some very knowledgeable people on here, but there are some hacks too. I know I always consider the source…

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Not sure who we is, but the conversation is more than a decade old on this forum. There are some very knowledgeable people on here, but there are some hacks too. I know I always consider the source…

Your comments are confusing because both my comments and those of @M Hatman agree with your assessment. Also, the source of the ads was provided and the comment was made that neither of them are Stetson ads.

In other words, neither MHatman nor I ("we") have made any conclusions in the comments to which you are responding that disagree with you, so arguing with us and calling people names just seems counter productive.

 

[CRH]

Well, we've seen at least one professional Historian hanging around here for research and contribution, @Brad Bowers.

My take is that history, like the future is constantly being debated as we speak.

 

[carouselvic]

My comments were not directed at you or anyone else. You used the word we and like I said some I trust some and some I don’t. Period. Nothing more, nothing less…

 

[CRH]

As we speak

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

My comments were not directed at you or anyone else. You used the word we and like I said some I trust some and some I don’t. Period. Nothing more, nothing less…

Sounds good, take care.

 

[CRH]

Clear

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Later 1940s or early 1950s Stetson 7X Clear Beaver with a 3” wide brim and 5 ⅝” open crown. I love how moldable this felt is.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’m guessing this is a mid 1950s hat, but that’s just a guess and I’m happy to be educated.