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The Open Road Guild

Colby Jack

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,218
Location
North Florida
Does my Bushman count as an OR?[huh] ...I'm also waiting to see if the Biltmore will make it as an OR...Bound edge and thin ribbon...Swwwwweeeet!:D
 

mingoslim

Practically Family
Messages
858
Location
Southern Ohio
OR Mania IV

Continuing my photo array of my dozen or so ORs and clones . . .

My fourth installment . . . an early 1950s Lee Corral . . . wonderful hat in every way, though some might consider it more a Stratoliner clone than an OR . . .

leec1950corral02.jpg


leec1950corral03.jpg


leec1950corral01.jpg
 

BigSleep

One of the Regulars
Messages
295
Location
La Mesa CA
My vintage O.R. is in my pic on the left. It is a very light weight felt and I like it for warm days.
Would like to find another O.R. with as light a felt.
The color is kind of a beige color. But very light in tone.
A lot like the one in Mingslim's post right above this one.
 

RBH

Bartender
GentlemanFarmer said:
From what I know (and I am dubious about that), most Open Roads have a 2 3/4 inch brim. Two inches sounds pretty "stingy" to me. The crown height is correct though. I'd verify it with the seller.

What do you think guys?? A two inch brim doesn't sound right for an OR.
I am with you...never saw a Open Road brim that short.

Sweet hat Slim!!!:eusa_clap
 

mingoslim

Practically Family
Messages
858
Location
Southern Ohio
You never know . . .

GentlemanFarmer said:
From what I know (and I am dubious about that), most Open Roads have a 2 3/4 inch brim. Two inches sounds pretty "stingy" to me. The crown height is correct though. I'd verify it with the seller.

What do you think guys?? A two inch brim doesn't sound right for an OR.

I have seen Stetson ORs from the 60s with brims form 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 inches . . . Some with shorter crowns as well . . . I do not know if they were customs, or reworked, but I think the upshot is that the OR was a very versatile style, which did see some variation.

Certainly a 2 inch brim would be stingy for the classic OR . . . but if it works, and you like it . . . wear it!
 

Justdog

Practically Family
Messages
819
Location
North of 48
Stetson Silver Belly OR Sovereign

Had my unblocked OR pictured here. Took it to my hatter thinking there was something special had to be done to form it. Took it out of the the box and in 5 seconds he bashed the center dent in and pinched the sides. There he said that is the way an open road is supposed to be worn, Too funny, I can just hand block it whenever I want to wear it. On another note though he did have some nylon biltmore summer hats that were 50 dollars. Very nice, I bought one of those.
 

mingoslim

Practically Family
Messages
858
Location
Southern Ohio
My Newest Aquisition . . .

Took a chance on the Bay . . .
Love the result . . .

08-043008.jpg


A very early (possible 48 or 49) Royal Deluxe . . . and it fits like a custom made . . .
 

PabloElFlamenco

Practically Family
Messages
581
Location
near Brussels, Belgium
I just won a "1950's vintage Stetson Sovereign Twenty cowboy hat" which, judging from the ebay pictures, looks mighty like an OR style of hat. But is it? What exactly are the qualifying characteristics for OR status?

When I have the hat in my posession, I will (depending on your replies to this message) apply for OR guild membership.
 

Stan

A-List Customer
Messages
336
Location
Raleigh, NC
I was wondering that as well.....

Hi,

The Open Road I know when I see it. Thin ribbon, edge binding, cattleman's crease. It's easily spotted in a sea of fedoras, and even not too hard to tell from other cowboy hats. Which is good, since folks seem to list them in both categories on eBay. ;)

Now, around here most OR fans like to convert them into a fedora. Myself inculded since my first custom from Art is exactly that. :D

This is all grand, but herein lies my trouble. I see other hats out there that are fedoras already, but carry different names. For example: Stratoliner and Playboy.

What are the true differences here? I appears to me that the Strat and the OR are the same, except for the crown shaping. Now, this is from pix online, and mostly eBay ones at that, so what appears to be may not actually be.

Any words of wisdom from those who have both in their collections and so know the facts here? I think I need to don a fedora and speak in a Sgt. Friday voice here - just the facts! :D

I have this feeling that I might be missing out on something here just because I'm watching for a certain look or pair of words.....

Later!

Stan
 

mingoslim

Practically Family
Messages
858
Location
Southern Ohio
OR Mania V

Continuing my photo array of my dozen or so ORs and clones . . .

My fifth installment . . . Well . . . I said in an earlier post that an OR by any other name would look as sweet . . . And here is a prime example; a mid-1950s Portis OR clone, in grey . . . A new acquisition, from our fellow lounger Razzman.

portisc195502.jpg


portisc195504.jpg
 

PhilS

One of the Regulars
Messages
237
Location
Upper West Side Gotham City
My New Open Road

I like the hat, but it is the dirtiest hat I have ever seen and totally unwearable until it has been fumigated. Who cleans the hard cases?


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

MAB1

Suspended
Messages
390
Location
Cool Town
PhilS said:
I like the hat, but it is the dirtiest hat I have ever seen and totally unwearable until it has been fumigated. Who cleans the hard cases?


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

You haven't seen mine yet. :D
 

PhilS

One of the Regulars
Messages
237
Location
Upper West Side Gotham City
Cleaning Suggestions? What about new ribbons?

My responses were killed by server interruptus; if any of you have any cleaning suggestions it would be much appreciated. It is a very, very dirty and smelly hat indeed.
 

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