The Open Road Guild

[Snowman]

Unless you are going Aussie style, ORs with a Cattlemen's crease are not usually snapped down. Alternatively, modern 6X hats are often so stiff, it may take a considerable amount of steam to get the brim to stay in a down position.

Agreed. However, I have a Stetson “The Sovereign” OR that I like with just the front of the brim down. It is a softer felt and the brim has more give. With my Resistol San Antonio, it’s brim up all the way; I couldn’t turn it down if I wanted to.

 

[RBH]

In modern OR news, Hatco is finally making an open crown OR....for Stetson Japan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUClagsvSk4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUD7cNmv287/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Last Drop liner and all.

Dont know if you have seen this Jared.... but if this is what they are marketing as an Open Road, they missed the mark.

 

[jlee562]

Dont know if you have seen this Jared.... but if this is what they are marketing as an Open Road, they missed the mark.

I did see that black hat...weird.

I think the Instagram post is talking about a different hat though. It says "coming soon. " That black one is apparently beaver, but zooming into the interior pic shows a Royal Deluxe stamping. The black "Open Road" also just has the Stetson crest liner.I

 

[cube18]

Sorry for the subject change here. Just got my first Open Road. Stetson 6X. Curious about the sweatband. After about 6 hours of wear the X’s have all disappeared. And the John B Stetson on the side is starting to fade. Is this normal in the new hats?

 

[Wyldkarma]

Seller says "Vintage" 7X Beaver...hmmmmm. What do we classify as vintage these days? 20 yrs?

 

[FunnelVission]

Sorry for the subject change here. Just got my first Open Road. Stetson 6X. Curious about the sweatband. After about 6 hours of wear the X’s have all disappeared. And the John B Stetson on the side is starting to fade. Is this normal in the new hats?

I'm not sure if it's just a problem on new Stetsons, but both my 6x OR and 6x Gus have lost all the Xs, and the Gus has lost all but the logo on the side (and even that's wearing away). I wear the gus every day, sometimes for hours straight so I'm not surprised it wore off quickly, the OR though I only wear going to class or town so was a little disappointed how fast it wore off. I've got a premier stratoliner arriving soon, will have to see if the lettering lasts on that.

So many hats are posted here with great lettering still, not sure if there was a change in manufacturing, or if it's simply a case of lightly worn hats (or if there's some care routine to preserving them).

 

[Rmccamey]

The "ink" lettering on modern Stetsons doesn't seem to last very long.

I'm not sure if it's just a problem on new Stetsons, but both my 6x OR and 6x Gus have lost all the Xs, and the Gus has lost all but the logo on the side (and even that's wearing away). I wear the gus every day, sometimes for hours straight so I'm not surprised it wore off quickly, the OR though I only wear going to class or town so was a little disappointed how fast it wore off. I've got a premier stratoliner arriving soon, will have to see if the lettering lasts on that.

So many hats are posted here with great lettering still, not sure if there was a change in manufacturing, or if it's simply a case of lightly worn hats (or if there's some care routine to preserving them).

 

[FunnelVission]

The "ink" lettering on modern Stetsons doesn't seem to last very long.

I kind of figured it would be a new stetson problem, just on the basis of the number of vintage hats I see posted here and elsewhere that still have most or all of their lettering.

 

[jlee562]

Dont know if you have seen this Jared.... but if this is what they are marketing as an Open Road, they missed the mark.

Ok, the pics of the RD Open Road were just posted.


3-ply band, so still wrong.

Unless....

Was there a transitional variation of the Open Road between the wide ribbon version and the traditional 4-ligne version we know today? When I was looking at the Miller Stockman thread the other night, I noticed that there are two listings, 1949 and 1950, that list the Open Road as having a 3-cord band.


It was speculated in the thread that this was simply an error on Miller's part. But we also have this ad from Visalia Stock and Saddle which also shows the Open Road as having a 3-cord band. This catalog page is not dated, but Visalia left San Francisco in 1950, so it presumably predates that.



One catalog listing in error certainly seems plausible. Making the same error two years in a row would be an awfully funny coincidence. But two different catalogs in different cities making the same error? Should we consider the possibility that the 3-cord OR is really a thing?

 

[RBH]

Jared, good detective work. I had forgotten the 3 ply example.
Also they may have used the 3 ply [as it also seems to be correct] to differentiate this modern open crown Open Road from the current Stratoliner offerings. The two hats are very similar.

Ok, the pics of the RD Open Road were just posted.


3-ply band, so still wrong.

Unless....

Was there a transitional variation of the Open Road between the wide ribbon version and the traditional 4-ligne version we know today? When I was looking at the Miller Stockman thread the other night, I noticed that there are two listings, 1949 and 1950, that list the Open Road as having a 3-cord band.


It was speculated in the thread that this was simply an error on Miller's part. But we also have this ad from Visalia Stock and Saddle which also shows the Open Road as having a 3-cord band. This catalog page is not dated, but Visalia left San Francisco in 1950, so it presumably predates that.



One catalog listing in error certainly seems plausible. Making the same error two years in a row would be an awfully funny coincidence. But two different catalogs in different cities making the same error? Should we consider the possibility that the 3-cord OR is really a thing?

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

I've had two or three RD three ply westerns pass through and I'm 99% sure that even though they had OR dimensions, none were labeled as such. This OR RD arrived right at the beginning of the pandemic and will always remind me of how it felt getting my head around lockdown and no work. Glad we're through those days.

 

[RBH]

Jared, I have a few Buckaroos that are similar to the Japan OR, mine have a shorter brim [thats what I like] and I have a couple with no bound brim. So I do like the style and look.

What I would like to see is HATCO offer a Resistol in the vintage San Antonio style.
It would not compete with the Stetson brand as to the Stratoliner or the Open Road.

Max Goldfine and Homer Stephenson holding a hat inside of Goldfine’s department store. An advertisement for Resistol hats with a picture of Errol Flynn is on the wall behind them

Ok, the pics of the RD Open Road were just posted.


3-ply band, so still wrong.

Unless....

Was there a transitional variation of the Open Road between the wide ribbon version and the traditional 4-ligne version we know today? When I was looking at the Miller Stockman thread the other night, I noticed that there are two listings, 1949 and 1950, that list the Open Road as having a 3-cord band.


It was speculated in the thread that this was simply an error on Miller's part. But we also have this ad from Visalia Stock and Saddle which also shows the Open Road as having a 3-cord band. This catalog page is not dated, but Visalia left San Francisco in 1950, so it presumably predates that.



One catalog listing in error certainly seems plausible. Making the same error two years in a row would be an awfully funny coincidence. But two different catalogs in different cities making the same error? Should we consider the possibility that the 3-cord OR is really a thing?

 

[Snowman]

Royal DeLuxe Stetson OR in a deep charcoal color.
It doesn’t look like it, but the brim is a full 2 3/4”. Crown is 5” as creased, 5 1/2” open.

The size tag is missing, but it looks like it was the black square tag. Nothing under the liner. The sweat is as soft as butter. My best estimate is late ‘60’s.

 

[StoryPNW]

I received my Open Road today, it's just as nice as advertised. Seller said it is the original box too, maybe someone here can verify if the box is the correct vintage. The hat is in near perfect condition, no sweat marks inside, felt and leather are in awesome condition. It needs some steam and to be rebashed but otherwise I love it, the only wish I have would be that is was a long oval. I'm so happy to be part of the Open Road guild.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I received my Open Road today, it's just as nice as advertised. Seller said it is the original box too, maybe someone here can verify if the box is the correct vintage. The hat is in near perfect condition, no sweat marks inside, felt and leather are in awesome condition. It needs some steam and to be rebashed but otherwise I love it, the only wish I have would be that is was a long oval. I'm so happy to be part of the Open Road guild.

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Nice clean find!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Mid-1960's 3X OR from around the time of the Stetson Centennial, I believe. During the time of Ramco ownership of Stetson. A charcoal gray with blue undertones that has a hand that leaves prints & photographs dusty looking. I have no idea what the name of the color was.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Mid-1960's 3X OR from around the time of the Stetson Centennial, I believe. During the time of Ramco ownership of Stetson. A charcoal gray with blue undertones that has a hand that leaves prints & photographs dusty looking. I have no idea what the name of the color was.

View attachment 385658

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Don’t people pay big bucks for that kind of distressing nowadays?
Wear it in good health and Rock that look!
Johnny

 

[steur]

Stetson Royal de Luxe Open Road in silverbelly. Size 56 with the bound brim at 7cm and the crown at 11,5cm at the center dent. I gave this one a diamond crease, because I have another one with my usual center dent and side pinches. I've been reading that Open Roads tend to be stiff, but this one certainly isn't. Wonderful hat.

 

[T Jones]

Ok, the pics of the RD Open Road were just posted.


3-ply band, so still wrong.

Unless....

Was there a transitional variation of the Open Road between the wide ribbon version and the traditional 4-ligne version we know today? When I was looking at the Miller Stockman thread the other night, I noticed that there are two listings, 1949 and 1950, that list the Open Road as having a 3-cord band.


It was speculated in the thread that this was simply an error on Miller's part. But we also have this ad from Visalia Stock and Saddle which also shows the Open Road as having a 3-cord band. This catalog page is not dated, but Visalia left San Francisco in 1950, so it presumably predates that.



One catalog listing in error certainly seems plausible. Making the same error two years in a row would be an awfully funny coincidence. But two different catalogs in different cities making the same error? Should we consider the possibility that the 3-cord OR is really a thing?

That kind of looks like a conversion I'm in the middle of working on right now. It started as a very dirty and nasty 50s era Stetson 3X Beaver Quality Western. It's my version of a variation of the Open Road. I'm reusing the 3 ply hat band and will also be reusing the brim binding as well. I only cleaned it up enough to get the sweat and nasty out of it. I want that lived in and slightly distressed look. Anyway, here's my version of what I have so far. I still have to make some tweaks to the 3 ply hat band before I sew it on, and I still have the brim binding to do...

Before:

Didn't know that the Open Road had a 3 ply hat band back in '49-'50. Interesting to know.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I've been reading that Open Roads tend to be stiff, but this one certainly isn't. Wonderful hat.

I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said don't believe everything you read on the internet.

And it certainly is a nice OR you have.