The Open Road Guild

[Hurricane Jack]

I believe this designation is quite unusual too, don’t recall seeing another.

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Ross, is there any difference in the blocking like we see in the later Twenty-five OR’s? With the Young’s nomenclature that’s like double dipping for you!

 

[RossRYoung]

Ross, is there any difference in the blocking like we see in the later Twenty-five OR’s? With the Young’s nomenclature that’s like double dipping for you!

You know I’m sucker for them Young’s stamps! I did buy this one of Randall, and I say he got paid very handsomely for it, but I was happy to have it as well. Here’s some interior shots, I’ve lost track of all the block #s used with OR’s, so I’ll defer to your interpretation. Looks like 123 maybe?

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Here's one for discussion. With the exception of the Stetson 100 at top left of the first photo, all of these hats are Open Roads. There is also a 7X Clear Beaver, a Twenty Five, a Twenty, a Sovereign, a 3X, 4X & a 5X and Royal DeLuxe Open Roads. Then there is the odd ball of the group on the far right of the middle row. It is a Royal Open Road. First and only Open Road I've come across that wasn't a Royal DeLuxe or better . What say y'all ?
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Did you steam and reshape the crowns on all of these yourself? Great looking collection!!

 

[TimmyV]

Did you steam and reshape the crowns on all of these yourself? Great looking collection!!

Yes I did. Thanks !

 

[TimmyV]

Quite a nice collection, Timmie. Royals are around.
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I didn't think mine was the only one... Thanks for the photos !!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

You know I’m sucker for them Young’s stamps! I did buy this one of Randall, and I say he got paid very handsomely for it, but I was happy to have it as well. Here’s some interior shots, I’ve lost track of all the block #s used with OR’s, so I’ll defer to your interpretation. Looks like 123 maybe?


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I have 2 OR’s Twenty-five & they are both different in blocking & felt quality, even from each other. I’ve often wondered if they were some early adaptation of a “city Open Road”. Both from the 1960’s & I can remember one is from the Morris Men’s Shop, Chicago Stock Yards.

 

[jlee562]

Even though it's really an Open Road in name only...

I was checking Village Hat Shop's labor day sale and stumbled upon this "Kodiak" OR variant on their site. I have never seen or heard of this before, but apparently it's a limited edition that a few other sites have online. I am oddly drawn to this hat I have to say.

 

[ClementJames]

I think this hat is awesome. I tried to get it for the store, and they were sold out. Made me very sad! If you like it, you should get it because they are hard to get and I am not sure when/if they are doing the next run.

Clement & James
Charlotte, NC.

 

[ScottF]

I would love to feel that felt.

I just visited the Stetson 'Open Road' selection (which I haven't done since they brought them back). The 'Pure' OR is $705 and is made from pure beaver felt. That's felt I would also love to feel - I wonder how stiff the felt on these current high-end OR's are compared to the ones from the 1950's?

 

[M Hatman]

Even though it's really an Open Road in name only...

I was checking Village Hat Shop's labor day sale and stumbled upon this "Kodiak" OR variant on their site. I have never seen or heard of this before, but apparently it's a limited edition that a few other sites have online. I am oddly drawn to this hat I have to say.

I have seen a silverbelly version too, but I think I like the look of the black better.....

 

[jlee562]

I have seen a silverbelly version too, but I think I like the look of the black better.....

Yeah, the Silverbelly isn't doing it for me either. But I do really like the black. It looks like it is exempt from the VHS sale (special order I guess?), otherwise I would have already impulsively bought it. I still might because I have been wanting a long hair, but I could also build myself one.....decisions, decisions.

 

[jlee562]

Well, I found a working coupon code for 10% off (village10, fyi), which is just about the same as the $40 off Labor Day sale. I did also look at the grizzly bodies that Tim has over at Pure Beaver, they're very nice, but no black. So, we're gonna roll the dice on this one too. When the 160th OR came out, I almost got it in black, but I thought since it was so close to my black Premiere Strat that I should get the fawn for that one. There's something about this fuzzy black OR though.

I would love to feel that felt.

I just visited the Stetson 'Open Road' selection (which I haven't done since they brought them back). The 'Pure' OR is $705 and is made from pure beaver felt. That's felt I would also love to feel - I wonder how stiff the felt on these current high-end OR's are compared to the ones from the 1950's?

I have an Excellent Quality Fortune and Glory which is a 100% beaver hat. I don't know for certain if that's the exact same felt they're using for the Pure hats, but it is among the best modern felts I've handled. The F&G is an open crown hat, so the level of stiffener might also be different in the Pure hats, but the Excellent Quality is very shapeable with a soft hand to the felt. It's too bad that the Pure hats are not also open crown. I accept the foibles of modern Hatco Stetsons (mainly the clear poly thread they insist on using for tacking stitches), but at $705 I feel there should be a little more attention to detail. The problem is not with the workers really, it's just what they're being given. It honestly sometimes feels like they accidentally ordered 1,000 pallets of poly thread instead of 1,000 rolls or something.

 

[M Hatman]

Well, I found a working coupon code for 10% off (village10, fyi), which is just about the same as the $40 off Labor Day sale. I did also look at the grizzly bodies that Tim has over at Pure Beaver, they're very nice, but no black. So, we're gonna roll the dice on this one too. When the 160th OR came out, I almost got it in black, but I thought since it was so close to my black Premiere Strat that I should get the fawn for that one. There's something about this fuzzy black OR though.



I have an Excellent Quality Fortune and Glory which is a 100% beaver hat. I don't know for certain if that's the exact same felt they're using for the Pure hats, but it is among the best modern felts I've handled. The F&G is an open crown hat, so the level of stiffener might also be different in the Pure hats, but the Excellent Quality is very shapeable with a soft hand to the felt. It's too bad that the Pure hats are not also open crown. I accept the foibles of modern Hatco Stetsons (mainly the clear poly thread they insist on using for tacking stitches), but at $705 I feel there should be a little more attention to detail. The problem is not with the workers really, it's just what they're being given. It honestly sometimes feels like they accidentally ordered 1,000 pallets of poly thread instead of 1,000 rolls or something.

Well let us know. I am not sure I want another modern one. I do NOT like the pressed in crease and low crown, and while I have played with it a lot the only thing I could really do is a Pork Pie.....(though my attempt at a Gus was not too bad). I did get the 160 (I mean open crown, h e l l YES!) added a wind cord and am pleased with it. But let us know if it turns out.....I DO like the look of that black felt...almost a heather look...and I love a good long hair.

My modern Cognac RD........

 

[M Hatman]

Here's one for discussion. With the exception of the Stetson 100 at top left of the first photo, all of these hats are Open Roads. There is also a 7X Clear Beaver, a Twenty Five, a Twenty, a Sovereign, a 3X, 4X & a 5X and Royal DeLuxe Open Roads. Then there is the odd ball of the group on the far right of the middle row. It is a Royal Open Road. First and only Open Road I've come across that wasn't a Royal DeLuxe or better . What say y'all ?
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Yep, they exist.......now I am wondering if they are all grey....

 

[blewnote]

Yep, they exist.......now I am wondering if they are all grey....
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I have a silver belly Royal Stetson Open Road. Will post pics later.

 

[moontheloon]

I would love to feel that felt.

I just visited the Stetson 'Open Road' selection (which I haven't done since they brought them back). The 'Pure' OR is $705 and is made from pure beaver felt. That's felt I would also love to feel - I wonder how stiff the felt on these current high-end OR's are compared to the ones from the 1950's?

I held one.
It was comical.
At the same time I was holding the modern Royal Deluxe which was $305.
The felt on the RD felt better to me.
The "Pure" had a nicer sweat and liner but that's it.
Both hats were literally a glorified Akubra Campdraft.
They felt to me like costume hats you get at Party City or something.
Stetson is duping everyone with the word "Pure"
These hats are trash.
Plus the proportions look off to me.
The crown is to low for the brim width.

These modern hats are so many lightyears behind a vintage hat that a comparison is almost not possible.
Even though I did one for a YouTube video.

 

[blewnote]

Yep, they exist.......now I am wondering if they are all grey....
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Here's my silver belly Royal Stetson OR. Pulled the liner to clean and haven't bothered to put it back on this one. It has the same interesting starburst on the left side of the shield instead of the stars or maple leaf (Rick posted pictures of one of his hats with this recently and I showed my liner there as well).

 

[jlee562]

The fuzzy OR arrived. We all know the deal with Hatco Stetsons, they're certainly not up to vintage quality, but they can be a perfectly good wearer. Gave it a good brush out of the box. It looks better in person, compared to some of the retailer photos. It's no Optimo melusine, but its got a little bit of shine. Finishing was typical for Hatco, save for a stray poly thread end. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one though, as it was 'camouflaged' by the long hairs, and I missed it on my initial once over too. Not sure why they're leaving the bow tails this long? Feels a little bit lighter than the 160th open crown, though they're both 6x. I like it, but it's probably gonna be in the box for a bit, as September is usually summer here in SF.

 

[RossRYoung]

I bought a pure OR a few years back, had the same tail length. I promptly chopped them. The entire ribbon needs to be replaced on mine imo, sloppily applied and always riding up the crown. I like the long nap felt on yours though Jared!

 

[jlee562]

I bought a pure OR a few years back, had the same tail length. I promptly chopped them. The entire ribbon needs to be replaced on mine imo, sloppily applied and always riding up the crown. I like the long nap felt on yours though Jared!

Thanks Ross! Yeah, something about the long hair just made this an appealing variant. I just might re-sew the ribbon too.