The Open Road Guild

[Michaelshane]

I found this in the bottom of the hatbox.

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It looks like it was $50.00.

 

[gtdean48]

...It looks like it was $50.00.

Yep, A 7X is the same as a 50. But that mark is 7 1/8 not 7 1/2, right?

 

[RBH]

Yep, A 7X is the same as a 50. But that mark is 7 1/8 not 7 1/2, right?

:eusa_doh:

 

[Michaelshane]

Yep.....71/8.

 

[The Good]

Hey everyone! First of all, those are fantastic Open Roads you've got there! They're great hats, and I admire the style. Now, I would like to ask, compared to an Akubra Campdraft, though it was once an "Open Road" labelled hat, is the modern Stetson Open Road tapered along the sides, somewhat? Could someone show me a comparison picture between the two lids if you happen to own both of them? I would appreciate it, as I am almost definitely considering an Open Road-esque hat in the future.

For those who are curious, the reason I'm asking about taper, is that I think it may suit my face shape, just not extreme taper, something more subtle...

 

[DanielJones]

I know I posted elsewhere but it belongs here too, I know Rusty & Jimmy would agree. I bought this one on ebay I think back in 2006. It was NOS from around the late 1950's and had never been worn or creased. The store it was originally sold at is still in Phoenix, AZ. I believe it is a place that sells supplies to Mormon Missionaries.
Took a little stretching to get it to fit just right, but it does now.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[DanielJones]

For those who are curious, the reason I'm asking about taper, is that I think it may suit my face shape, just not extreme taper, something more subtle...

JB: You might want to take a look at ebay and type in Stetson Open Road. You will get a bunch of vintage show up but you will also get a slew of newer hats in the mix as well. The liner on the newer Open Roads I have seen have sort of a water mark in them. As far as taper goes just look at the images there and you'll get a good idea of what it'll be like. Also, tale a look at the Akubra Campdraft (the modern Open Road clone), they have a bit of taper to them that might suit your proportions.
Anyway, that is my suggestion. If you can afford it I would start with ebay first. Who knows? You may just find a mad deal there in exactly what you want.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[gtdean48]

Hey everyone! First of all, those are fantastic Open Roads you've got there! They're great hats, and I admire the style. Now, I would like to ask, compared to an Akubra Campdraft, though it was once an "Open Road" labelled hat, is the modern Stetson Open Road tapered along the sides, somewhat? Could someone show me a comparison picture between the two lids if you happen to own both of them? I would appreciate it, as I am almost definitely considering an Open Road-esque hat in the future.

For those who are curious, the reason I'm asking about taper, is that I think it may suit my face shape, just not extreme taper, something more subtle...

Modern OR has a lower crown than vintage or the Akubra Campdraft. It does taper in where the CD has straighter sides. I have a moder OR, a modern Roadmaster, a couple of vintage ORs & 4 Campdrafts. For my money & the style, it is CD over modern OR all the time. They just shellac the moder OR too much like the Stetson westerns. The Roadmaster is not but only comes in 1 color of felt.

 

[jimmy the lid]

I know I posted elsewhere but it belongs here too, I know Rusty & Jimmy would agree.

Agreed! You are lucky to have found a vintage OR from the 50's in mint, open crown condition. That's like going back in a time machine and picking one off the shelf. Fantastic! :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL

 

[hatophile]

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An olive colored Open Road from Ebay, picked up a few months ago. Almost perfect condition except for a few small moth bites.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Congrats, Hatophile. From what I have seen, an olive Open Road is a rare find indeed. Great hat! :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL

 

[hatophile]

Thanks, JTL

Was going to post this a while ago, but computer wouldn't cooperate.

 

[RBH]

Congrats, Hatophile. From what I have seen, an olive Open Road is a rare find indeed. Great hat! :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[frussell]

You Lose Some....

This one was a heartbreaker. I bid the little bugger up way past my comfort zone, since 7 3/4 is hard to find. Too tight to begin with, but the main issue was the seller forgot to mention some pretty obvious mothbites. Nothing too horrible, but enough to keep me from selling it to a smaller headed friend. It's on its way to Optimo for some blocking. The sad part is that the sweat and liner are nearly pristine, just looks like someone left it out where the moths could chow down. Even had the wind trolley and JBS branding iron pin. Bummer. After Optimo, this will be a "user" for me, as I don't have to worry about it getting dinged here and there. You can see some of the moth tracking in the ribbon detail photo, right above the bow. There's several more all around the crown and brim. Says Stetson Twenty Five inside. Frank

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[RBH]

^^^
Still a nice one!

 

[Yeps]

I have a question for the members of the guild.

A little while back I was in New Orleans, and I stopped in Meyer the Hatter. I was checking out the hats, and there was one, which was regrettably in the wrong size, that was an open road, but with a soft crown, and side dents instead of a cattleman's crease.

Well, the guy at the desk said it was an open road, and he said it was a newer model. Being absent minded, I didn't bother to look at the actual label (d'oh!).

Does anyone know anything about a soft, modern open road?

 

[theinterchange]

Don't mind me, I'm just popping my head back in so I get a notification if someone answers Yeps' question, I'm interested.

Randy

 

[Lefty]

Yeps,
Just to clarify, when you say "soft", do you mean that it feels smooth when you "pet" it (having a nice "hand"), or are you talking about pliability - easily putting in a crease that stays?

 

[theinterchange]

Yeps,
Just to clarify, when you say "soft", do you mean that it feels smooth when you "pet" it (having a nice "hand"), or are you talking about pliability - easily putting in a crease that stays?

yeah, what he said...

 

[Yeps]

Yeps,
Just to clarify, when you say "soft", do you mean that it feels smooth when you "pet" it (having a nice "hand"), or are you talking about pliability - easily putting in a crease that stays?

Pliability, although it did have a rather nice hand. The salesman referred to it as the open road with a shapeable crown. Seems like something we should know about.