The Open Road Guild

[alanfgag]

Sometimes I'll refer to it as Stetson cloning its own Open Road. A Royal Stetson OR clone in this case.

It would be interesting (at least to me) to explore the transformation of western hats into the thin ribbon bound brims of the 1940s and beyond. I think I have enough to give it a start in the Side By Side thread. I have quite a few small brim (3") thin ribbon western hats that date from 1900 - 1930s. What none have (save one early oddity from the first decade of the 20th century) is a bound brim. The Open Road (see this 1937 ad a few pages back) began life as a light weight travel height with a wider ribbon. My guess (only a guess) is that it was not very successful. Few show up for sale on the vintage market. Then came the Stratoliner (1941) and the popularity of the style grew from there. The OR got new life in this form, along with a sea of hats at all quality levels - up to the Stetson 100 in the 1950s. The OR could be seen as a clone of the Stratoliner. Seems everyone made them, including the Italian manufacturers.

Sunday daydreaming on this... will need to think further and collect my thoughts for a better researched post.

 

[g.durand]

Alan, I would say that your initial thoughts on the origins of the thin ribbon OR have some merit. Please do post some photos of those early 20th Century thin ribbons for our edification.

 

[handymike]

Yes, please!

 

[BobHufford]

This Stetson Open Road is my first fur-felt hat. I have read all 2,422 posts in this thread, looked at all the vintage ads at news.google.com and read through several side threads (liners, sweat bands, etc.). I have bought a brush and a sponge and I'm looking for the Coleman fuel I know I have somewhere.

As I am not very "hat" experienced I cannot expect inclusion in the Guild on this first request, but I am willing to apprentice.

Thanks for your consideration.

This was taken on the day we met. I will treasure the memory ...

 

[Bob Roberts]

You're probably a shoe in!

 

[1mach1]

Looks great Bob! Nice find, and you wear it well!! Those 3X hats are nice.

 

[RJR]

+1

 

[jlee562]

That's a really great OR, Bob! Last Drop liner too, just about all you could want from an OR.

 

[g.durand]

Bob, you have passed right through the apprenticeship to the journeyman level!

 

[rclark]

That's a really great OR, Bob! Last Drop liner too, just about all you could want from an OR.

+1!

 

[BobHufford]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

 

[Bob Roberts]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

Are you a "Master" now...?

 

[Rogera]

I know I'm late to the party but wow BobHufford, great find and man is that hat you! Congrats and welcome to the OR Guild!

 

[BobHufford]

Are you a "Master" now...?

Not even close. Just a guy with a hat.

I know I'm late to the party but wow BobHufford, great find and man is that hat you! Congrats and welcome to the OR Guild!

Thanks Rogera!

 

[Bob Roberts]

Not even close. Just a guy with a hat.


Thats all it takes!

 

[Rogera]

Yeah we're all just guys (and Esther) with hats!

 

[Frunobulax]

Yeah we're all just guys (and Esther) with hats!

Even before I was a hat wearer, I always told folks I wanted to be in a Hollywood movie, billed as "Man With Hat."

 

[gtdean48]

...
This was taken on the day we met. I will treasure the memory ...

Classic in so many ways! Welcome to the Guild...

 

[BobHufford]

Thanks gtdean48! Very happy to be here.

 

[hatophile]

+1, that hat looks great on ya. I like your Scotch/plaid avatar too.