The Open Road Guild

[Frunobulax]

Thank you! And...no, no, you'd be surprised how reasonably priced it was... is what I said to my wife. ;-)

You're going to fit right in here.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Hi! My name is Chad and I'm new here. This is my first post.

My hat addiction began a few years ago and I am excited to have found this forum. I look forward to learning lots from the experienced hat folks here.

I consider myself lucky to have a unique view into the hat world because in my primary job I sell all the gold foil and other foil colors used in the sweat bands in Stetson, Resistol and Charlie 1 Horse hats, plus a few other brands. Since RHE Hatco is a good customer of mine, I spent about 3 hours on Stetson's factory floor last week helping them improve little production details related to hot foil stamping.

About the O.R....
A few months ago I sent a sample of some metallic blue foil to one of my contacts at RHE Hatco. Blue was an unusual request for them. I didn't ask what they planned to do with it. When I visited them last week they talked about how they used the blue foil I sent them in a special short run that they first described as "some really nice hats". They also mentioned that the hats had a really nice blue liner as well. After talking about it a while someone mentioned that the hats were 100X Open Roads. I had never heard of a 100X Open Road. After hearing directly from the production supervisors and staff who built them that my blue foil was used on a limited edition O.R. AND it was 100X fur, I WANTED ONE.

I got one! Here it is...

This one came in a shiny black box that was different than my other Stetson boxes.

My biggest issue is that I wear a 7 5/8 and there were none available in my size. But since I was there at Stetson the nice folks in production had all the right tools to properly stretch my hat out a full size. It fits great!

I've been trying to find another stetson that used this specific version of the JBS branding iron pin but haven't found one yet. I'll be speaking with some of my contacts at Stetson to find out more specific details about this hat, but maybe someone here already knows if this pin (gold with rinestones..I assume they're rinestones) is used on another Stetson in the past.?

A little sign on the receptionist's desk at RHE Hatco in Garland, TX that I thought people here might appreciate.

Just a happy goofball wearing his most prized new hat.

Best-
CK

Hi Chad. Welcome to the forum. If you can it would be interesting to know the crown height ( open or creased) on your new OR, & a side by side comparison of dimensions & felt impressions with the OR Pure? Perhaps friends in the plant can help with facts on the OR Pure?

 

[CKC]

Hi Chad. Welcome to the forum. If you can it would be interesting to know the crown height ( open or creased) on your new OR, & a side by side comparison of dimensions & felt impressions with the OR Pure? Perhaps friends in the plant can help with facts on the OR Pure?

Hi Jack,

As it is creased currently, the crown is 4 1/4" in front and back. The highest point in the center is 4 7/8". I would expect it to be the same as any new Open Road but I don't know because I didn't ask. The people I talked with didn't indicate that these were formed any differently than usual, they just talked about upgraded materials and unusual colors.

This is my first O.R. so I don't have an O.R. Pure to compare this one to, yet. I have a feeling that is going to change really fast, but in the meantime I sent an email to a contact at Hatco. One specific individual decided to do this run and I plan to talk with him about the details soon. I'll see what he can tell me about the differences in the felt grades. Worst case, I'll be back out there in about a month and talk about it in person at that point. By then I'll probably have an O.R. Pure of my own to compare. Either way I'll get back to you with more info.

 

[Rmccamey]

Might fine, mighty fine! We look forward to seeing more pics. How tall is the crown - it still looks a tad on the short side to me.

Hi! My name is Chad and I'm new here. This is my first post.

My hat addiction began a few years ago and I am excited to have found this forum. I look forward to learning lots from the experienced hat folks here.

I consider myself lucky to have a unique view into the hat world because in my primary job I sell all the gold foil and other foil colors used in the sweat bands in Stetson, Resistol and Charlie 1 Horse hats, plus a few other brands. Since RHE Hatco is a good customer of mine, I spent about 3 hours on Stetson's factory floor last week helping them improve little production details related to hot foil stamping.

About the O.R....
A few months ago I sent a sample of some metallic blue foil to one of my contacts at RHE Hatco. Blue was an unusual request for them. I didn't ask what they planned to do with it. When I visited them last week they talked about how they used the blue foil I sent them in a special short run that they first described as "some really nice hats". They also mentioned that the hats had a really nice blue liner as well. After talking about it a while someone mentioned that the hats were 100X Open Roads. I had never heard of a 100X Open Road. After hearing directly from the production supervisors and staff who built them that my blue foil was used on a limited edition O.R. AND it was 100X fur, I WANTED ONE.

I got one! Here it is...

This one came in a shiny black box that was different than my other Stetson boxes.

My biggest issue is that I wear a 7 5/8 and there were none available in my size. But since I was there at Stetson the nice folks in production had all the right tools to properly stretch my hat out a full size. It fits great!

I've been trying to find another stetson that used this specific version of the JBS branding iron pin but haven't found one yet. I'll be speaking with some of my contacts at Stetson to find out more specific details about this hat, but maybe someone here already knows if this pin (gold with rinestones..I assume they're rinestones) is used on another Stetson in the past.?

A little sign on the receptionist's desk at RHE Hatco in Garland, TX that I thought people here might appreciate.

Just a happy goofball wearing his most prized new hat.

Best-
CK

 

[glider]

That is a damn nice hat, I might fight ya for that hat and I'm 73 years young.

 

[CKC]

That is a damn nice hat, I might fight ya for that hat and I'm 73 years young.

Thank you sir! You sound like we might be related. It's an honor to know I may have to fight ya' off to keep my new hat. Best regards!

 

[CKC]

While I was reluctant to mess with it for the first few days, I just felt like this hat needed to be adjusted. I'm starting to re-shape it and make it mine.

I'm not entirely sure where I'll land when it's all done but this is the start. I'm thinking I'll add a mule kick next.

I'm liking the way pulling the front brim down lets me wear it higher on my forehead (further back on my head overall) while maintaining the same visual line in front.

**Update** I'm getting the mule kick started. A little more work to do but it's starting to take shape. Is it strange that I feel like the hat is more wearable and better as I make it less perfect? I'm happy so far.

Good, bad or ugly? I welcome your opinions.

Best-

 

[DaveProc]

While I was reluctant to mess with it for the first few days, I just felt like this hat needed to be adjusted. I'm starting to re-shape it and make it mine.

I'm not entirely sure where I'll land when it's all done but this is the start. I'm thinking I'll add a mule kick next.

I'm liking the way pulling the front brim down lets me wear it higher on my forehead (further back on my head overall) while maintaining the same visual line in front.

Good, bad or ugly? (referring to the hat ) I welcome your opinions.

Best-

My opinion is: it's your hat, shape it in a way that suits you. Only your opinion matters
That said, in my opinion, it looks good

 

[deadlyhandsome]

While I was reluctant to mess with it for the first few days, I just felt like this hat needed to be adjusted. I'm starting to re-shape it and make it mine.

I'm not entirely sure where I'll land when it's all done but this is the start. I'm thinking I'll add a mule kick next.

I'm liking the way pulling the front brim down lets me wear it higher on my forehead (further back on my head overall) while maintaining the same visual line in front.

Good, bad or ugly? (referring to the hat ) I welcome your opinions.

Best-

Welcome to The Fedora Lounge.
Great entrance! I really like how you have it shaped. We don’t see many of these high end modern Stetsons. I love the liner and the sweatband markings.

 

[hambone71]

While I was reluctant to mess with it for the first few days, I just felt like this hat needed to be adjusted. I'm starting to re-shape it and make it mine.

I'm not entirely sure where I'll land when it's all done but this is the start. I'm thinking I'll add a mule kick next.

I'm liking the way pulling the front brim down lets me wear it higher on my forehead (further back on my head overall) while maintaining the same visual line in front.

Good, bad or ugly? (referring to the hat ) I welcome your opinions.

Best-

I like what you've done with the brim! That's pretty dang tough lookin'!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Stetson 3X OR in a color I call Dun. Nice soft felt.

 

[Rmccamey]

Welcome to the Lounge. I like what you have done with your hat. I would not be ashamed to wear that one!

While I was reluctant to mess with it for the first few days, I just felt like this hat needed to be adjusted. I'm starting to re-shape it and make it mine.

I'm not entirely sure where I'll land when it's all done but this is the start. I'm thinking I'll add a mule kick next.

I'm liking the way pulling the front brim down lets me wear it higher on my forehead (further back on my head overall) while maintaining the same visual line in front.

**Update** I'm getting the mule kick started. A little more work to do but it's starting to take shape. Is it strange that I feel like the hat is more wearable and better as I make it less perfect? I'm happy so far.

Good, bad or ugly? I welcome your opinions.

Best-

 

[DiamondJimLA]

Hi Jack,

As it is creased currently, the crown is 4 1/4" in front and back. The highest point in the center is 4 7/8". I would expect it to be the same as any new Open Road but I don't know because I didn't ask. The people I talked with didn't indicate that these were formed any differently than usual, they just talked about upgraded materials and unusual colors.

This is my first O.R. so I don't have an O.R. Pure to compare this one to, yet. I have a feeling that is going to change really fast, but in the meantime I sent an email to a contact at Hatco. One specific individual decided to do this run and I plan to talk with him about the details soon. I'll see what he can tell me about the differences in the felt grades. Worst case, I'll be back out there in about a month and talk about it in person at that point. By then I'll probably have an O.R. Pure of my own to compare. Either way I'll get back to you with more info.

Attached are pics of my Open Road Pure. Didn't have a better way to get the measurements at the time but these should be pretty close. Hat is "True Blue", beautiful color, but looks black in these photos.

As an aside, all my Stetsons fit perfectly in 7 1/4, but the Pure is loose and needed hat sizing strips.

 

[LeeR]

This is a 3x Beaver Quality. I put a sort of Tom Mix dent in to for fun. It is in essentially mint condition because I have another that I wear regularly. I went on a Stetson/vintage hat buying spree about 15 years ago and have looked more recently and see they are very difficult to find anymore in good condition. Really no idea of the age of the Open Road but it is in unworn condition. It still has the size tag.

 

[LeeR]

This is my regular wear Royal Stetson Deluxe. The felt is so smooth soft and malleable.

 

[carouselvic]

This is my regular wear Royal Stetson Deluxe. The felt is so smooth soft and malleable.

Oldie for a Open road

 

[LeeR]

Oldie for a Open road

Don't know the age but wear it much as I can. Where I live it's 90 degrees and 70% humidity 6-7 months of the year.

 

[PDXHAT]

Hey Guys:

I'm about to have Michael Gannon work on an open Crown open road style clone. I want it to be the traditional open crown Truman type. He's asking me crown height and brim width, and I'm not sure what to tell him.

Does anyone know the traditional measurements of the old ORs from the 50s era?

Thanks!

 

[Mighty44]

I’ve had a number of them. I think they’ve all been 5 1/2 crown. My royal Deluxe is 2 5/8 brim, which I like a lot but I believe 2 3/4 is more standard. I had a beautiful 3X but at 2 7/8 I felt like the brim was too wide for my taste—in a 7 1/8 hat. If you have a big head you should definitely go wider. But there are much bigger experts here.

Good luck—I’m sure it will be beautiful.

David

 

[hambone71]

Hey Guys:

I'm about to have Michael Gannon work on an open Crown open road style clone. I want it to be the traditional open crown Truman type. He's asking me crown height and brim width, and I'm not sure what to tell him.

Does anyone know the traditional measurements of the old ORs from the 50s era?

Thanks!

Michael just shipped my vintage OR clone yesterday. 5 1/2" open crown 2 3/4" brim.