The Open Road Guild

[milandro]

Thank you , I did say I wasn’t sure I qualified.

Aside from the ribbon, I think all the other things are fitting the parameters

crown 13cm (5.12") brim 8cm (3.15”). The Bar None is an original Stetson (and as far as I can tell is square blocked or ever so slightly tapered) the other one was blocked on a “ stetson” block

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thank you , I did say I wasn’t sure I qualified.

Aside from the ribbon, I think all the other things are fitting the parameters

crown 13cm (5.12") brim 8cm (3.15”). The Bar None is an original Stetson (and as far as I can tell is square blocked or ever so slightly tapered) the other one was blocked on a “ stetson” block

The crown ribbon and the ribbon bound brim are constants with the OR. The hats were often, maybe even mostly, creased as fedoras rather than the bow ubiquitous cattleman’s crease that yours wear, but that was in the days of soft open crown hats. Your conversion is more a short brim Rancher than an OR, but regardless of taxonomy or nomenclature they are nicely styled hats.


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[Frunobulax]

We spend a lot of time classifying hats. Purist believe that Stetson that in every way match the specifications of the Open Road (OR) cannot be called as such if they are not labeled “Open Road.” Perhaps they are technically right.

Your hats are great. I’ve trimmed down the brims of western hats to fit my taste better too. The results don’t turn a Stetson Rancher into an OR, but they do make them more wearable (for me).


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I'm still og the opinion that if it has the right dimensions and the reorder label shows the right block, it's an OR.

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[milandro]

You know what the bard wrote...: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I'm still og the opinion that if it has the right dimensions and the reorder label shows the right block, it's an OR.

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Me too. We give things names to describe the thing, and if it meets the description than that’s what it is. That’s my logic anyway.


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[deadlyhandsome]

You know what the bard wrote...: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”

Yours is a lily and not a rose.

Nice hat in any case, and from 10 meters not one person in 100 will be able to tell them apart from an actual OR.


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[milandro]

I won’t get anyone get closer then

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Welcome to the Lounge @milandro and the world of hat specificity.
It’s always good to have a new member and another Netherlander. You’re in good company.
You could call it an Open Road other then the brim, ribbon and no branding but i think that might be somewhat a stretch in this thread.
I’d certainly call it a nice Western and be good, just no Guild card.
Keep looking, you’ll find an OR someday.
Look forward to your posts.
Keep coming back.
B

 

[milandro]

Thank you very much for your welcome
Just to clarify
Perhaps you have missed the fact that one of the two hats that I’ve shown above is an original Stetson ( so same brand as an Open Road) and is a Silverbelly (so one of the colors that Open road comes in) and is a 6X ( one of the felt types). Indeed not the same hat but one closely related to it.

The other one is a Tacchino.

I wasn’t aware of how sensitive this issue could be.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I'm still og the opinion that if it has the right dimensions and the reorder label shows the right block, it's an OR.

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Is it your opinion then given the same circumstances concerning dimensions & block I can call my nondescript Stetson a Turf Club? Can I call my Wormser a Texan Ten Star? My Dobbs a Game Bird? Can I call my Knox a Rocking K?

What about hats beyond the era of block numbers on tags? It may look the same.

If I have a Peter's Bros Shady Pines can I call it a Shady Oaks because it has the same specs? If I have a Shady Oaks Bankers Special can I drop the Bankers Special & just call it a Shady Oaks?

Why do we even worry about nomenclature & have entire threads devoted to it?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Thank you very much for your welcome
Just to clarify
Perhaps you have missed the fact that one of the two hats that I’ve shown above is an original Stetson ( so same brand as an Open Road) and is a Silverbelly (so one of the colors that Open road comes in) and is a 6X ( one of the felt types). Indeed not the same hat but one closely related to it.

The other one is a Tacchino.

Not the same dimensions, no ribbon instead of a band with buckle, no binding on brim. Is a Chevrolet a Corvette? Closely related?

 

[milandro]

Not the same dimensions, no ribbon instead of a band with buckle, no binding on brim. Is a Chevrolet a Corvette? Closely related?

No Sir, it isn’t, you have made your point. I suppose feathers on hats are not to be ruffled not even when politely saying in the first post in this thread: “ I am not sure I qualify...” .

Message received.

 

[J Williams]

No Sir, it isn’t, you have made your point. I suppose feathers on hats are not to be ruffled not even when politely saying in the first post in this thread: “ I am not sure I qualify...” .

Message received.

I'm not going to speak for Jack - but I do agree with him. I purchased a hat that had all of the correct dimensions and attributes of an Open Road, but it was not an Open Road. I'm also certain nobody aims to offend or is upset that you posted here. From my limited time here on the lounge I have seen first hand as well as experienced how much time and effort goes in to accurately classifying, dating, and organizing information around vintage hats. Stetson hats in particular have a lot of different quality designations and vast differences throughout the years and a lot of research has gone into identifying them. For this reason everyone tries to keep things in the correct threads. It also sparks some conversation and debate, which is part of the fun. Have a look through some of the threads and I'm sure you will find a place to post any of the hats that you own or acquire.

Also if you are looking to acquire an actual Open Road have a look on ebay now and again or post a 'want to buy' in the classifieds and I'm sure you will find one in your size. I have found everyone here to be really helpful in determining if something is a good purchase or not.

That being said don't hesitate to post more and welcome to the lounge!

 

[Frunobulax]

Is it your opinion then given the same circumstances concerning dimensions & block I can call my nondescript Stetson a Turf Club? Can I call my Wormser a Texan Ten Star? My Dobbs a Game Bird? Can I call my Knox a Rocking K?

What about hats beyond the era of block numbers on tags? It may look the same.

If I have a Peter's Bros Shady Pines can I call it a Shady Oaks because it has the same specs? If I have a Shady Oaks Bankers Special can I drop the Bankers Special & just call it a Shady Oaks?

Why do we even worry about nomenclature & have entire threads devoted to it?

All good questions, Jack, but it's an indeterminate and unexact "science.". Given the popularity and variations in ORs, it's not a simple answer. I think there may be other things to consider with many models, such as Turf Clubs and the like. Quality levels, construction materials, etc.

The converse is, if I had an OR with a wide ribbon, blocking, and flanging as originally marketed, before it went thin, is it any less of an OR? Is the Strat I posted to the vintage Strat thread a few days ago really a Strat? It had a very tapered crown and a 2" brim. Is that a Strat?

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[Frunobulax]

Thank you very much for your welcome
Just to clarify
Perhaps you have missed the fact that one of the two hats that I’ve shown above is an original Stetson ( so same brand as an Open Road) and is a Silverbelly (so one of the colors that Open road comes in) and is a 6X ( one of the felt types). Indeed not the same hat but one closely related to it.

The other one is a Tacchino.

I wasn’t aware of how sensitive this issue could be.

Most of us like the discussion; only a few get exercised over it.

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[Frunobulax]

Not the same dimensions, no ribbon instead of a band with buckle, no binding on brim. Is a Chevrolet a Corvette? Closely related?

A more accurate analogy would be, is a Superbird a Road Runner? Is a Ford T-5 a Mustang?

IMHO, yes.

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[deadlyhandsome]

How about a model that only has the paper tag with the model and it isn’t repeated on the liner or the sweatband. If the tag becomes detached and is lost is it no longer the same model?




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[Rmccamey]

Which is a very nice way to say that there are some on the Lounge who are absolute enablers and who will "help you" find lots and lots of hats to buy! Beware

I have found everyone here to be really helpful in determining if something is a good purchase or not.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

All good questions, Jack, but it's an indeterminate and unexact "science.". Given the popularity and variations in ORs, it's not a simple answer. I think there may be other things to consider with many models, such as Turf Clubs and the like. Quality levels, construction materials, etc.

The converse is, if I had an OR with a wide ribbon, blocking, and flanging as originally marketed, before it went thin, is it any less of an OR? Is the Strat I posted to the vintage Strat thread a few days ago really a Strat? It had a very tapered crown and a 2" brim. Is that a Strat?

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The exact reason I gave up trying to clean up the OR clone list. There are hats previously listed that aren't even close & there are hats that listed that should be on a Stratoliner clone list, not an OR clone. A Rancher crease does not equal a Cattleman crease; does not an OR make.

Let's say I have a nondescript Stetson with the same dimensions & blocking & not only do I think it's an OR, I'm positive it's an Amon Carter "Shady Oak Farms" OR. Someone just removed the liner & replaced the sweat.

Let's say I have a mint 1940's Stetson Whippet I never wear. Don't be surprised if after some egregious violation to it, I show up with a 1940's Stetson Three Way.

If we don't stick to guidelines where does it all stop?

 

[Frunobulax]

How about a model that only has the paper tag with the model and it isn’t repeated on the liner or the sweatband. If the tag becomes detached and is lost is it no longer the same model?




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Or if the sweat with the marking is replaced? I put a new sweat in a Dobbs Hanover Square last year. I guess it's just an old schmatta now.

Judging from all the variations and markings on Stetsons over the years, I'm pretty sure we care a helluva lot more than John B. ever did. [emoji6]

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