The Open Road Guild

[Rmccamey]

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!

50s 3X OR

 

[deadlyhandsome]

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!

By the ‘50s the crowns were often getting shorter so the 5 ½ to 5 ⅝ inches could be right. Personally, I’d go with a 6” open crown…actually, Gannon’s crowns for me are over 6” because my size )61.5 LO) needs more brim and more crown to keep proportions looking right. I think most anyone can pull off a 6” open crown when creased as you’re planning.

 

[Tacocaster]

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?
The dimensions are identical to the modern Open Road. Stiffness is about the same as a modern 6X Open Road. Last time I was at Herb’s Hats in San Antonio, TX they had one in 7 3/8. Sadly, you could tell it had been there a while and had been tried on by many.

 

[PDXHAT]

That's exactly what I'm going to choose. Thanks!

 

[Mighty44]

Michael just shipped my vintage OR clone yesterday. 5 1/2" open crown 2 3/4" brim.
View attachment 518137

Beautiful—love the colors and look forward to seeing more photos.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

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?
The dimensions are identical to the modern Open Road. Stiffness is about the same as a modern 6X Open Road. Last time I was at Herb’s Hats in San Antonio, TX they had one in 7 3/8. Sadly, you could tell it had been there a while and had been tried on by many.

I’ve only ever seen & handled one Pure. Welcome to the forum.

 

[PDXHAT]

I'm barely 6', and long and lean (although not as lean as I used to be!). 5 1/2 and 2 3/4 feels right to me.

Michael is going to felt it with a more vintage feel, lighter weight than modern hats. I love my Akubras and modern Stetsons but sometimes they feel like wearing a helmet, especially Akubra, haha.

I'm really enjoying a few modern Trilby style unlined hats I have from Borsalino and Lock, they are a really fine, lightweight open crown rabbit fur, and that's the feel I'm going for. I have a beater that I think is an old Strat that I thrifted a few years ago, it's prob from the 50s, the lining is torn, the sweatband gone, but it's soft and it is just a pleasure to stick on my head to walk the dog, etc. The above mentioned Lock and Borsalinos are the closest thing I've found in a modern hat to that feel, and I'm hoping I can get somewhat close with this hat, at least in the ballpark.

Thanks everyone for your help. Pics when it's done.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Can any east Texan’s confirm if this is the Hemphill OR?

 

[DougC]

I grew up in Conroe—sort of East Texas. I can’t confirm…but that’s a great OR. for the life of me, I can’t keep the brim on my ORs stock—they always end up with a curl!

 

[Teej]

You do some great reworks, TJ.

Amazing craftsmanship!

 

[Teej]

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.

I think the hat can pair with many types of shoes & sneakers/ hi-tops, etc. Versatility & imagination. T-shit, collared shirt, blazer, etc. I just got my 1st Open Road toast & Stratoliner silverbelly- I’m so happy!!!

 

[Teej]

Royal stetson size 7 picked up in Florence Oregon in unworn condition for $20 plus resizing cost from Art
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I’m new to this site & conversation- i just purchased my 1st OR & Stratoliner. Previously, I wore Royal Deluxe Homburg in grey. Who is Art?

 

[Teej]

This hat was posted here a few weeks back. The attached form was for the dealer/retailer and the pricing is per dozen.

The size tag configuration does narrow it down to the very end of the 1950s or the very start of the 1960s. Most of the felt Stetson was making at this time was of substandard and ever lessening quality, but still better than what came after it. If you’re after a great felt Open Road you should keep looking. If you want a decent vintage hat and the price is fair this might be alright.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

What would be a “decent price?”

 

[deadlyhandsome]

What would be a “decent price?”

That’s for you to decide. I’m not trying to dodge the question, but it’s so personal and subjective that I’m reluctant to give a number. I don’t have much affinity for Stetsons of this era. At this size I think you should hold out for a better/older one, but that’s just me.

 

[jonbuilder]

Can any east Texan’s confirm if this is the Hemphill OR?

I can't confirm but it sure is a cool hat, I wish I could find one 71/4

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I can't confirm but it sure is a cool hat, I wish I could find one 71/4

The blocking appears that it is different. And hard to tell from a pic but the brim could be 2.5 or 2.625.

 

[Frunobulax]

I’m new to this site & conversation- i just purchased my 1st OR & Stratoliner. Previously, I wore Royal Deluxe Homburg in grey. Who is Art?

Art Fawcett is a now-retired hatter who was located in the NE US. He produced coveted hats of high quality and was (is) an active member here.

 

[Teej]

Art Fawcett is a now-retired hatter who was located in the NE US. He produced coveted hats of high quality and was (is) an active member here.

Thanks.

 

[Teej]

Michael just shipped my vintage OR clone yesterday. 5 1/2" open crown 2 3/4" brim.
View attachment 518137

Looks great. Who’s Michael Gannon?

 

[Teej]

This is a wonderful hat my friend Bowen @AbbaDatDeHat alerted me to. It was just listed as a size “⅝” but a quick question confirmed it was a 7 ⅝. Stetson The Sovereign Twenty Open Road with 2 ¾” brim and a 5 ½ to 5 ⅝ inch open crown. It’s a bit tight on me so I’m hoping to use eBay to convert it into another Gannon.

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Beautiful