jimmy the lid
I'll Lock Up
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According to Akubra's literature, in 1951, Akubra finalized a deal with Stetson to manufacture and distribute Stetson hats in Australia. This 3X Beaver Quality Stetson Open Road is an example of that collaboration. As such, it is a relatively rare piece of Stetson/Akubra history, and provides a perfect example of the official predecessor of Akubra's "Campdraft."
The color of this lid I would characterize as a Willow Green. The open crown stands at 5 1/2", and the brim width is 2 5/8". The original sweat was removed as part of the restoration of this hat, and its width is slightly over 1 1/4" -- thereby mirroring the width of the sweat in today's Akubra Campdraft. The "Open Road" inscription on the sweat is reminiscent of the "Open Road" script found on the original 1937 version of the Stetson Open Road. Under the "3X Beaver Quality" logo on the sweat is printed "Made in Australia Under Licence." The back of the sweat reveals a price tag of $10.95.
The felt has a coarse feel to it -- reminiscent of today's Akubras, and quite different from the hand of a contemporaneous 3X Beaver Quality Stetson made in Philly. That being said, the felt itself is smooth in appearance, and is essentially a dress weight.
As is often the case with green lids, the color is hard to photograph, and changes with the light. The direct sunlight shots are fairly accurate, while the shots taken in a flat light tend to bring out more gray. I have photographed this lid next to its progeny -- a bluegrass green Akubra Campdraft. The 3X is slightly lighter in color, and has a tad more yellow in it (which is common for Willow Green).
So, this is the "missing link", if you will -- reflecting the Stetson hat that would later become Akubra's Campdraft...
Cheers,
JtL
The color of this lid I would characterize as a Willow Green. The open crown stands at 5 1/2", and the brim width is 2 5/8". The original sweat was removed as part of the restoration of this hat, and its width is slightly over 1 1/4" -- thereby mirroring the width of the sweat in today's Akubra Campdraft. The "Open Road" inscription on the sweat is reminiscent of the "Open Road" script found on the original 1937 version of the Stetson Open Road. Under the "3X Beaver Quality" logo on the sweat is printed "Made in Australia Under Licence." The back of the sweat reveals a price tag of $10.95.
The felt has a coarse feel to it -- reminiscent of today's Akubras, and quite different from the hand of a contemporaneous 3X Beaver Quality Stetson made in Philly. That being said, the felt itself is smooth in appearance, and is essentially a dress weight.
As is often the case with green lids, the color is hard to photograph, and changes with the light. The direct sunlight shots are fairly accurate, while the shots taken in a flat light tend to bring out more gray. I have photographed this lid next to its progeny -- a bluegrass green Akubra Campdraft. The 3X is slightly lighter in color, and has a tad more yellow in it (which is common for Willow Green).
So, this is the "missing link", if you will -- reflecting the Stetson hat that would later become Akubra's Campdraft...
Cheers,
JtL
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