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[Rick Blaine]

...What is 1988, Alex?

 

[Alexander Sommerset]

Can someone help me with these Borso labels? I think I am going with the 1930s. But....

 

[alanfgag]

The separate size label could be pre-war. Looks like an interesting find.

 

[moontheloon]

a discussion in the "new hat" thread got me thinking

... when did the "Open Road" first go into production ... I feel like it was mid to late 40s maybe ?

 

[alanfgag]

The 1937 ad showing an early wide ribbon hat referred to as the Open Road can be seen in a few places on the Lounge and a couple of examples of this hat have turned up.

 

[moontheloon]

The 1937 ad showing an early wide ribbon hat referred to as the Open Road can be seen in a few places on the Lounge and a couple of examples of this hat have turned up.

awesome ... thank you Alan

 

[alanfgag]

I thought there might be a dead Trademark record showing the first use in trade, but I did not find one in a quick search.

 

[Frunobulax]

That "original" OR doesn't have bound brim either, does it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[moontheloon]

I thought there might be a dead Trademark record showing the first use in trade, but I did not find one in a quick search.

so the OR as we know it today with the thin ribbon and bound edge came about in the 40s correct ?

 

[alanfgag]

so the OR as we know it today with the thin ribbon and bound edge came about in the 40s correct ?

I can't answer definitively... I've only owned a handful of Open Roads, all c.1950 or later. There were countless modestly endowed western hats (3" brims) that were early precursors and the Stratoliner which is close to identical to the OR begins in 1941 and Vita-Felt hats with a thin ribbon and bound brims under 3" seem to have been plentiful during the war years.

I usually ring up Carouselvic for tough Stetson questions like these... ;^)

 

[Brad Bowers]

The earliest Open Road newspaper ads I can find are from Fall 1937. Here's one from March 23, 1938.

The first newspaper ad I can find with narrow ribbon is from March 1948.

 

[moontheloon]

great stuff

thanks Brad

 

[Xylophile]

When you see the string on each side in a sweatband that's tied with a bow in the back, where do the untied ends (or end) atteach? does it go all around the sweat? Is that effective for size adjustment?

 

[Alexander Sommerset]

String woven through a leather sweatband was originally for adjusting the size of the hat a size or two. But later it morphed into just a decoration. So, it depends on what sort of string you are talking about.

 

[Xylophile]

String woven through a leather sweatband was originally for adjusting the size of the hat a size or two. But later it morphed into just a decoration. So, it depends on what sort of string you are talking about.

I was asking about the working size changing string. Funny it never occurred to me it would be ornamental, and thinking about it I wonder what the working string would be configured and what it would look like. I imagine its an ancient way to make hats fit.

 

[carouselvic]

The original Open Road.



It took on its present form and name around 1948.

 

[TheDane]

It took on its present form and name around 1948

Very interesting, indeed! I always thought the OR was a thin ribbon "by birth". Vic, you are a true well of Stetson knowledge.

 

[moontheloon]

The original Open Road.



It took on its present form and name around 1948.

wow ... you own that ?

what a wonderful piece of history

 

[carouselvic]

All mine....for now....

 

[moontheloon]

All mine....for now....

just absolutely beautiful Vic
I'm envious of things you own ... just awesome pieces of history