The Open Road Guild

[jimmy the lid]

Great idea, Mingoslim -- looking forward to it. Since you know the date of the brown OR, could you also post a shot of the interior so that we can see the liner and sweat characteristics for that particular vintage?

Many thanks!

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Stoney]

Very nice Viper Man and Slim! Those are both beauties. I also saw the new one JTL posted today and it is rock solid.

I just picked up an open road clone that looks to be quite old. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get a chance to snap a few.

 

[RBH]

NICE hat Slim!!!

 

[Viper Man]

:eusa_clap What a beauty! Very nice OR, Mingoslim.

Since you know the date of the brown OR, could you also post a shot of the interior so that we can see the liner and sweat characteristics for that particular vintage?

Yes, that would be great. I guessed mine at being from the late 40s to early 50's largely based on the brim width and absence of a wind trolley. I'm leaning more towards the early 50s since it had that thin layer of plastic in the crown. Does anyone know when they started adding that or the trolley? Also, it appears that Mingoslim's hat above seems to have a narrower brim than mine. Any idea on the width, Mingo?

 

[jimmy the lid]

I guessed mine at being from the late 40s to early 50's largely based on the brim width and absence of a wind trolley. I'm leaning more towards the early 50s since it had that thin layer of plastic in the crown. Does anyone know when they started adding that or the trolley?

V-man -- a couple of observations on dating your lid...

I'm not sure I would base anything on the presence or absence of a wind trolley. Yours could have had a wind trolley at one point, but it may have gone with the wind. Also, I don't think that brim width is a reliable indicator for dating an OR, since these were most likely available in a variety of brim widths at any given time. [Incidentally, what is the width of your brim?]

To me the most telling factor is the liner logo, in combination with the characteristics of the sweatband. That particular logo was certainly in use in the 60s, and it may have been in use by the late 50s (but I don't know that for certain). Given the fact that the sweat is a wider, lighter brown sweat, my best guess is that this lid dates from the late 50s to early 60s. Other folks may have some different ideas.

In any event, you sure got yourself a good one!

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Viper Man]

Thanks. That's good to know, Jimmy. I was attempting to make an "uneducated" guess but It's nice to know that I'm at least in the ballpark. I didn't know about the choice of brim widths either. I just figured they changed with the times and fashions of the day. [huh]
Sorry, the brim width on mine is 2 7/8".

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Here ya go!

Hey Viper Man; that's pretty close to the emblems, etc. on one I own. Any ideas on when that dates back to??

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

Love the chocolate Stetson

Hey Slim. That's a great looking hat.

That's the one hat I would love to add to my collection.

If ANYONE happens on a 7 1/4 chocolate Stetson OR (or clone) PLEASE give me a heads-up. I would really appreciate it.

 

[PhilS]

New Open Road

I broke down and bought a new open road figuring I could use it until my dream vintage came along. People aren't kidding when they say the new ones don't hold a candle to the old ones.. Even allowing for the fact that cowboy hats are typically stiffer, it's pretty stiff. I rebashed it as best I could, but I think anyone interested in the OR should hold out for a vintage one. There is simply no comparison. Still, I'm back in the Guild.

<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/philschatz/?action=view&current=Photo38.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/philschatz/Photo38.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[RBH]

I broke down and bought a new open road figuring I could use it until my dream vintage came along. People aren't kidding when they say the new ones don't hold a candle to the old ones.. Even allowing for the fact that cowboy hats are typically stiffer, it's pretty stiff. I rebashed it as best I could, but I think anyone interested in the OR should hold out for a vintage one. There is simply no comparison. Still, I'm back in the Guild.

<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/philschatz/?action=view&current=Photo38.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/philschatz/Photo38.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

You never left...

 

[mingoslim]

1954 Stetson Lining . . .

Great idea, Mingoslim -- looking forward to it. Since you know the date of the brown OR, could you also post a shot of the interior so that we can see the liner and sweat characteristics for that particular vintage?
JtL

Hey Jimmy . . .

Sorry it has taken me a couple of days to get this pic up . . . but here it is, as requested . . .

The reason I am as sure as I am about the date is that the receipt was in the original box, as well as pencil markings of the date on the inside of the sweat of this hat and one other that came from the same estate, and were bought at the same location . . .

 

[mingoslim]

OR Mania - Part II

As previously stated, I am a thin ribbon kind of guy . . . and I love my ORs and OR clones . . .

So I have recently begun doing a photo array of my dozen or so ORs and clones . . .

Here is the second installment - an early 1960s Stetson Twenty Five OR in Silverbelly . . .

Unless you all say "Enough already", there are more to come . . .

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

29!!

Twenty-nine !!! Go ahead, rub it in.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Thanks!

Mingoslim -- thanks for posting that interior shot.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[mingoslim]

OR Mania III

As previously stated, I am a thin ribbon kind of guy . . . So I have recently begun doing a photo array of my dozen or so ORs and clones . . .

My third installment . . . Not one, but two . . . and not ORs, but a couple of clones . . .

First, a late 1940s Dobbs Twenty . . . a real beauty!

And second . . . a Knox Westlite, circa 1955 . . .

So do you want to see more?

 

[RBH]

So do you want to see more?

Of course......

 

[PhilS]

Might as well show us the whole lot....

So do you want to see more?

You can't make me feel more resentful than I already do
What a great collection!

 

[J.T.Marcus]

So do you want to see more?

By all means! :eusa_clap

 

[jimmy the lid]

So do you want to see more?

Absolutely -- and that sage green OR better be in the mix!

Cheers,
JtL

 

[RPeers]

I was looking into getting an open road and I came across one in my price range but I am concerned that it is a cheap knock off, so I have a few questions the size is 7 1/8th and they claim the brim is just 2 inches and the height is 4.75 inches. Do these measurments seem right to you guys (I read some post about them having a wide brim) and thought they were taller then this. It also has a very light colored sweatband, is this indicative of a newer OR(and is a new era OR worth $30+shipping)

Thanks in advance,
RPeers