The Open Road Guild

[T Jones]

Always great hats and converts, TJ. What might you suggest as a straw hat that would mimic Hank`s OR fedora?

Thank you, buddy.
I would probably prefer an actual Panama straw for that one, probably. It seems to be softer and smoother material for something like that. But that's just my preference.

 

[Rmccamey]

TJ, do you have or ever see any mid-width ribbons on OR's or other "western creased" hats? I have similar tastes as I tend toward a "fedora-ized" western hats.

Thank you, Sanford! I can't say that's actually the typical style for an Open Road. A lot of members here on the Lounge like wearing their Open Roads with the classic Cattleman crease and with the brims up. Others of us like wearing our Open Roads with the brims snapped down and with crowns done up in various other creases like, the Tear Drop (my preferred crease), a C- Crown, Diamond, Center Dent,....it just depends on your preference. Open Roads are pretty versatile. I like wearing mine in a fedora style with the brim snapped down and with the crown creased in a Tear Drop. Here's a few famous people sporting their thin ribbons in a fedora fashion....

Hank Williams

Robert Ryan..."Bad Day At Black Rock"

Jimmy Stewart..."FBI Story"

......it's all a matter of preference.


...and for $50.00, I say you got a heck of a bargain for your OR.

 

[T Jones]

TJ, do you have or ever see any mid-width ribbons on OR's or other "western creased" hats? I have similar tastes as I tend toward a "fedora-ized" western hats.

I'm sure there's plenty out there. I've always wanted a Stetson Wanderer which is a mid ribbon fedora that has a thin bound brim like an OR. It's one of those unreachable hats I'll probably never get to have. Eventually, I'll end up making my own version of one.

Probably not what you were talking about, though.

I do have a Resistol Stagecoach that I converted to a six ply mid ribbon long hair fedora

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I'm sure there's plenty out there. I've always wanted a Stetson Wanderer which is a mid ribbon fedora that has a thin bound brim like an OR. It's one of those unreachable hats I'll probably never get to have. Eventually, I'll end up making my own version of one.

Probably not what you were talking about, though.

A bit off topic: I’ve been looking for a Playboy and a Wonderer for years. The only Playboys I’ve found in my size have been the 1960s’ stingy brims.


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[Hurricane Jack]

TJ, do you have or ever see any mid-width ribbons on OR's or other "western creased" hats? I have similar tastes as I tend toward a "fedora-ized" western hats.

For a legit OR you are going to have to look for one from 1937 - ~1951.

 

[T Jones]

A bit off topic: I’ve been looking for a Playboy and a Wonderer for years. The only Playboys I’ve found in my size have been the 1960s’ stingy brims.


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Yup. I've been wanting both for a long time but I gave up on trying for either. My pockets aren't that deep.

 

[T Jones]

For a legit OR you are going to have to look for one from 1937 - ~1951.

Something like that would be a dream hat for me.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Something like that would be a dream hat for me.

That originality stuff really matters to me too.

 

[T Jones]

That originality stuff really matters to me too.

The felt and dyeing quality just isn't there on the more recent vintage and newer hats like they were on the older stuff, (before the 1960s). Hat dimensions looked to have gotten smaller too. Felting here in the U.S. seems to be a bygone art.

 

[Rmccamey]

Ou-la-la, TJ, exactly the combo I've been looking for. Great conversion of yours also! I've got an OR going to Art for some updates and I may just go this Wanderer route with it. Great idea. I appreciate your sharing some history and your knowledge.

RM

I'm sure there's plenty out there. I've always wanted a Stetson Wanderer which is a mid ribbon fedora that has a thin bound brim like an OR. It's one of those unreachable hats I'll probably never get to have. Eventually, I'll end up making my own version of one.

Probably not what you were talking about, though.

I do have a Resistol Stagecoach that I converted to a six ply mid ribbon long hair fedora

 

[Rmccamey]

I'm with you, Brent. I keep looking for a Playboy. I found one recently but, just as you said, it was a short brim that just doesn't suit me at all.
RM

A bit off topic: I’ve been looking for a Playboy and a Wonderer for years. The only Playboys I’ve found in my size have been the 1960s’ stingy brims.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Frunobulax]

I'm with you, Brent. I keep looking for a Playboy. I found one recently but, just as you said, it was a short brim that just doesn't suit me at all.
RM

Those are usually the"Playboy II," a 1960s piece of cr@p that doesn't compare to the originals.

When I do see a Playboy on the Bay, it usually goes for $100-$140 or so. Not that bad. Wanderers are rare as hens' teeth.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[T Jones]

Ou-la-la, TJ, exactly the combo I've been looking for. Great conversion of yours also! I've got an OR going to Art for some updates and I may just go this Wanderer route with it. Great idea. I appreciate your sharing some history and your knowledge.

RM

Thank you, buddy, and you're welcome. Although, my personal preference for an OR would be to keep it a thin ribbon. But, that's me. You're the one who has to be happy with it.

 

[Willis&GeigerFan]

General question on footwear choices with the Open Road by Stetson. Clearly cowboy boots are the norm, but what else do people wear with theirs? Other types of boots? Work boots? Dress boots? Due to the old advertising, dress shoes? Converse sneakers? Other sneakers? Very interested in the pairings to dress up or down this legendary hat.

 

[Frunobulax]

General question on footwear choices with the Open Road by Stetson. Clearly cowboy boots are the norm, but what else do people wear with theirs? Other types of boots? Work boots? Dress boots? Due to the old advertising, dress shoes? Converse sneakers? Other sneakers? Very interested in the pairings to dress up or down this legendary hat.

Whatever you wish.

Except flip-flops. Flip-flops are evil.

 

[Bamaboots]

Let's not forget these

 

[Rmccamey]

Pretty flexible these days on footwear and many hat styles.

 

[RJR]

Let's not forget these
View attachment 154518

 

[Hurricane Jack]

For a legit OR you are going to have to look for one from 1937 - ~1951.

This 1949 OR ad featuring a thin ribbon backs down the timeframe for a mid ribbon by a couple yrs.

 

[carouselvic]

I’ve seen ads dated 1948 for an OR in the narrow ribbon, bound edge type. Now that being said Stetson made a narrow ribbon, bound edge hat many years prior, but they did not market as a Open Road.