The Open Road Guild

[M Hatman]

Stetson Japan got the better open crown hat. They're still on the 3ply, unbound version which appears in catalogs, but we've never seen one, unless they were not branded as ORs. Undyed beaver felt.

Made in Japan? I did not know they were making them........funny calling it an OR. We all would laugh and laugh if it were an Ebay listing.

PS: Jared, how much is that hat over there? I tried clicking on the link but no go......

 

[jlee562]

Made in Japan? I did not know they were making them........funny calling it an OR. We all would laugh and laugh if it were an Ebay listing.

PS: Jared, how much is that hat over there? I tried clicking on the link but no go......

About $925 with tax.

 

[Dan718]

About $925 with tax.

Yes, I’m in Japan and compared to buying from the US everything seems overpriced by a fair margin unless you with wool felt. There’s no way I’d consider spending 93,000 yen (about $600) on a fur felt whippet.

 

[jlee562]

Yes, I’m in Japan and compared to buying from the US everything seems overpriced by a fair margin unless you with wool felt. There’s no way I’d consider spending 93,000 yen (about $600) on a fur felt whippet.

As I understand it, these are made in Japan hats, not from HATCO in the US. It's more expensive than the Pure OR, but less expensive than say, a silver beaver Optimo.

 

[Dan718]

As I understand it, these are made in Japan hats, not from HATCO in the US. It's more expensive than the Pure OR, but less expensive than say, a silver beaver Optimo.

So I hear. I wonder why to added price? Does anyone know if there in an extra duty on importing the felts or something like that?
In any case, even the second hand market stetsons here are way overpriced, it’d literally be cheaper to order one in the US and get someone to post it.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

About $925 with tax.

Jared, do you know if any US dealer is importing the Japanese OR for their stock? Is the Pure OR still available in that market? Ever see any second hand Fortune & Glory’s in that market since I’m sure you follow it somewhat?

 

[rclark]

Jared, do you know if any US dealer is importing the Japanese OR for their stock? Is the Pure OR still available in that market? Ever see any second hand Fortune & Glory’s in that market since I’m sure you follow it somewhat?

I have a fortune and glory in size 7 1/4 that I’ve never worn if that’s your size.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I have a fortune and glory in size 7 1/4 that I’ve never worn if that’s your size.

Hi Rick. Thanks for the post, but too small. I know you buy good quality, usually 3/8. Wish you would move up to 5/8, but keep posting your beauties.

 

[jlee562]

Jared, do you know if any US dealer is importing the Japanese OR for their stock? Is the Pure OR still available in that market? Ever see any second hand Fortune & Glory’s in that market since I’m sure you follow it somewhat?

I don't know of anyone importing them. I'm not sure what the status is currently with the Japan Post having suspended service to the US, but there's a company called Tenso, which is an International forwarding service for domestic Japanese parcels. You set up an account with Tenso, and it's more or less a sort of virtual P/O box. They give you an address to mail the package to, then they forward it from there (for a nominal fee of course). So with a Japanese translation browser plugin, you could order from Stetson Japan, and have it sent to Tenso.

It looks like the Pure is not currently on the Stetson Japan site, but I think they bring in hats from the US at random intervals. I really just follow the Stetson Japan and Tokyo store Instagram accounts. Sometimes they post domestic made hats, sometimes they've brought in something from the US (like the 160th OR).

 

[M Hatman]

A Bit of OR history this, License made by Akubra. Felt is thinner and smoother, way better than the Campdrafts (which I still love) produced since (and better than a lot of the HatCo stuff). I am guessing looking at all the points (and especially the liner) this was made at or just after 1972 but before 1974 when Akubra was bought out and the factory moved. Not sure their license held out much longer than that. I have been wanting an example of one of these for some good long time!

Color is similar but different from their modern "Fawn" (Wife calls it 'Mushroom") though this may have been called that or "Taupe" back then.

Liner is darker sort of a gold \ tan, with the screen printed tip being white.

I like their keyhole size tag which I am sure they used until the very end.

And for this thread the important part!

 

[Stu K 323]

A Bit of OR history this, License made by Akubra. Felt is thinner and smoother, way better than the Campdrafts (which I still love) produced since. I am guessing looking at all the points (and especially the liner) this was made at or just after 1972 but before 1974 when Akubra was bought out and the factory moved. Not sure their license held out much longer than that. I have been wanting an example of one of these for some good long time!
View attachment 777657
Color is similar but different from their modern "Fawn" though this may have been called that or "Taupe" back then.
View attachment 777658
Liner is darker sort of a gold \ tan, with the screen printed tip being white.

I like their keyhole size tag which I am sure they used until the very end.
View attachment 777659
View attachment 777660
And for this thread the important part!
View attachment 777663

I have an Aussie Stetson, never did find out what my model was as it’s not listed on the sweatband. A wonderful hat you have there.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

A Bit of OR history this, License made by Akubra.

I had an Akubra BOP pass thru my hands. Even though the keyhole size tag was behind the sweat the seller couldn’t find it & the size was listed incorrectly. So I returned it.

 

[jeffgarf]

I had an Akubra BOP pass thru my hands. Even though the keyhole size tag was behind the sweat the seller couldn’t find it & the size was listed incorrectly. So I returned it.

View attachment 777708
View attachment 777707
View attachment 777706
View attachment 777709

Might I ask how to contact the seller? I might be interested.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Might I ask how to contact the seller? I might be interested.

According to the meta data on my pics that was in July 2019.

 

[jeffgarf]

According to the meta data on my pics that was in July 2019.

Fooey!

 

[JustJim]

May I ask a question? I like the Open Road, as a beat up specimen was my Dad's choice on our outdoors adventures. I purchased a new Royal Deluxe grade a couple years ago, and I like it fine. However, I am now tempted to purchase the "Pure" version.

I'm the farthest thing from a fashion guy. I live way out in the woods, and we get 100 inches of rain most years. My Dad's OR has taken quite the beating from my wearing it in the rain. I'm trying to keep my new OR looking good for trips to town with the wife, but it too is going to get wet.

Is the "Pure" grade more resistant to rain damage? It's not inexpensive, and I certainly don't want one for status or style, I need a good, durable hat that will shrug off the rain. Can any of you gents answer whether this $700 hat will meet this challenge?

Thanks in advance for your experience...

 

[Dan718]

May I ask a question? I like the Open Road, as a beat up specimen was my Dad's choice on our outdoors adventures. I purchased a new Royal Deluxe grade a couple years ago, and I like it fine. However, I am now tempted to purchase the "Pure" version.

I'm the farthest thing from a fashion guy. I live way out in the woods, and we get 100 inches of rain most years. My Dad's OR has taken quite the beating from my wearing it in the rain. I'm trying to keep my new OR looking good for trips to town with the wife, but it too is going to get wet.

Is the "Pure" grade more resistant to rain damage? It's not inexpensive, and I certainly don't want one for status or style, I need a good, durable hat that will shrug off the rain. Can any of you gents answer whether this $700 hat will meet this challenge?

Thanks in advance for your experience...

Although I’m quite tempted by the OR, the cost of a high end Stetson scares me off. On the other hand, if you want a pretty much bombproof OR style hat I’d recommend an Akubra Campdraft, which is basically an OR with (from what I can tell) very slightly taller crown and wider brim that modern OR’s.

Dense rabbit felt, a fraction of the price of a Stetson, and if you get it from the Hattery in Katoomba I’m sure they’d put a cattleman crease in it for you.

 

[jlee562]

May I ask a question? I like the Open Road, as a beat up specimen was my Dad's choice on our outdoors adventures. I purchased a new Royal Deluxe grade a couple years ago, and I like it fine. However, I am now tempted to purchase the "Pure" version.

I'm the farthest thing from a fashion guy. I live way out in the woods, and we get 100 inches of rain most years. My Dad's OR has taken quite the beating from my wearing it in the rain. I'm trying to keep my new OR looking good for trips to town with the wife, but it too is going to get wet.

Is the "Pure" grade more resistant to rain damage? It's not inexpensive, and I certainly don't want one for status or style, I need a good, durable hat that will shrug off the rain. Can any of you gents answer whether this $700 hat will meet this challenge?

Thanks in advance for your experience...

In the most general sense, beaver felt should be more resilient to rain. I have an Excellent quality Stetson which is also 100% beaver felt, and it is among the nicest modern felts I've handled in terms of finish. TBH I haven't tested it in the rain because I have other rain hats. My go to is actually a 10x Resistol. Unlike an Akuba, the sweatband actually conformed to fit better over time, not shrink to headache causing tightness. As is routine for Hatco hats, the level of finish is higher than Akubra as well.

Hate to beat the dead horse again, but since you asked in the Stetson OR thread on a primarily vintage based forum after all: Akubra makes very good felt, and they make very good hats. But, they use cheaper leather and they spend less time on finishing. They've correctly assessed that most modern consumers don't care about either of these things, and you may not be compelled to either, they are admittedly nit picks (well, the finish more so than the sweatband, I really do not like Akubra sweats). But the price point difference between them isn't nothing.

In Akubra's defense, the Campdraft was originally produced under license as an Open Road. The license expired and they changed the name. They're also hats made for the outback and they do handle rain well. I do not mean to imply in any way that Akubra makes a bad or inferior product. Only to point out the material differences.

 

[M Hatman]

For a "Rain Hat" I would hands down go with a Campdraft (Akubra) and have them shape it for you if you feel uncomfortable doing so yourself (though in my mind that is half the fun/accomplishment). THAT is what I do with my Akubra's as they strand the weather well, very well indeed.

What Jared says about finish and the notorious sweat is true...but for a "Rain Hat"....you cannot go wrong with the Akubra.

 

[Dan718]

For a "Rain Hat" I would hands down go with a Campdraft (Akubra) and have them shape it for you if you feel uncomfortable doing so yourself (though in my mind that is half the fun/accomplishment). THAT is what I do with my Akubra's as they strand the weather well, very well indeed.

What Jared says about finish and the notorious sweat is true...but for a "Rain Hat"....you cannot go wrong with the Akubra.

That was the angle I was approaching it from. I’ve found my Akubra really don’t mind the rain at all, they hold their shape, and if you size up rather than down and wear them a lot they pretty soon conform nicely to my head size and shape.

On the other hand, if I had money to burn I’d definitely consider getting a beaver felt just to see if they’re as good as reported. Plus it seems the OP JD some personal reasons for preferring an OR.