The Open Road Guild

[M Hatman]

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.

Nice.....you are tempting me......darn you.
As for the ribbon bows...l do this to mine on the modern ones.

Fold and tuck under.....stich or two if nessesary.
Well, I also add a wind cord.

 

[jlee562]

Nice.....you are tempting me......darn you.
As for the ribbon bows...l do this to mine on the modern ones.

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Fold and tuck under.....stich or two if nessesary.
Well, I also add a wind cord.

Well, for some reason my phone decided to show me a coupon code that my tablet did not. On the Levine Hats site listing for this one, it says no discounts applied, but Google20 worked when I tested it, for 20% off.

 

[M Hatman]

Well, for some reason my phone decided to show me a coupon code that my tablet did not. On the Levine Hats site listing for this one, it says no discounts applied, but Google20 worked when I tested it, for 20% off.

Well.......c r a p.....................that coupon did indeed work and it tipped the scales. I have one on the way......now I am looking forward to snow?!?!?!?!?!?!? so I can wear it (after I fix up the ribbon and add a wind cord, and probably re-crease it). DARN YOU Jared!!!! (shakes fist at sky).......

 

[Clossonrr1]

Open road in silverbelly is hard to go wrong in any weather!

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Not sure if everyone was aware, but I just got the email below yesterday. Seems a little expensive, and a super limited quantity.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Not sure if everyone was aware, but I just got the email below yesterday. Seems a little expensive, and a super limited quantity.

With a 4.25” crown? For the money I would look for a nice vintage 7XCB.

 

[blewnote]

With a 4.25” crown? For the money I would look for a nice vintage 7XCB.

No kidding.

 

[jlee562]

I'm willing to give Hatco a lot of leeway (I even just bought the last limited OR), because at the end of the day, 99.8% of the people I could interact with do not notice, or would not care about the clear poly thread. But if they're asking $800 for an ostensibly premium product, the least they could do is use some cotton thread. This hat is more than the Pure OR, so I do kinda wonder what the 30x felt is, but not curious enough to bite on this one.

I will say though, that I do think they've made some tasteful choices with the rest of the design elements. Always good to see the Last Drop liner. The lighter colored roan leather and gold satin liner look good together.

 

[jba972]

I'm willing to give Hatco a lot of leeway (I even just bought the last limited OR), because at the end of the day, 99.8% of the people I could interact with do not notice, or would not care about the clear poly thread. But if they're asking $800 for an ostensibly premium product, the least they could do is use some cotton thread. This hat is more than the Pure OR, so I do kinda wonder what the 30x felt is, but not curious enough to bite on this one.

I will say though, that I do think they've made some tasteful choices with the rest of the design elements. Always good to see the Last Drop liner. The lighter colored roan leather and gold satin liner look good together.

There are other hats in the Stetson lineup that also have 30X. I figured it was going to be the same felt as those.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

This hat is more than the Pure OR, so I do kinda wonder what the 30x felt is, but not curious enough to bite on this one.

There are other hats in the Stetson lineup that also have 30X. I figured it was going to be the same felt as those.

The Pure is 100% beaver, yet the 30X costs $100 more? Why? In 6 months if you wanted to sell you would be lucky to get half your money back. A nice 7XCB is a much better investment plus you get the pride of ownership as a real collector.

 

[jba972]

The Pure is 100% beaver, yet the 30X costs $100 more? Why? In 6 months if you wanted to sell you would be lucky to get half your money back. A nice 7XCB is a much better investment plus you get the pride of ownership as a real collector.

I agree with you I was just commenting on what a 30X OR felt would be. Which I figured it would be the same as the other 30X Stetson hats, which I don't have any experience with either.

As far as 7XCB, is there a difference in the 7XCB felt from an Open Road vs the other cattleman crease variants? I am actually shopping them now.

 

[hambone71]

I agree with you I was just commenting on what a 30X OR felt would be. Which I figured it would be the same as the other 30X Stetson hats, which I don't have any experience with either.

As far as 7XCB, is there a difference in the 7XCB felt from an Open Road vs the other cattleman crease variants? I am actually shopping them now.

Here’s my take on it. A vintage 7XCB in good or great condition, although not cheap, can still be had for much less $ than the modern Pure or 30X. This will require patience as you search and wait for one to appear in the right size, vintage, and condition. What you actually get, versus a modern Hatco offering, is a pure beaver felt of much higher quality, better proportions in terms of block and crown height, and the ability to crease and re-crease until you make it it what you want it to be. All the details and construction will be much cleaner, i.e. less visible stitching on and under the grosgrain ribbon, a perfectly centered seam of brim binding, a much better quality of leather sweat with much better debossing less likely to fade with wear. And then, as HJ said, the entrance into the hat collector’s world with a highly coveted slice of USA hat Americana!

 

[jba972]

Here’s my take on it. A vintage 7XCB in good or great condition, although not cheap, can still be had for much less $ than the modern Pure or 30X. This will require patience as you search and wait for one to appear in the right size, vintage, and condition. What you actually get, versus a modern Hatco offering, is a pure beaver felt of much higher quality, better proportions in terms of block and crown height, and the ability to crease and re-crease until you make it it what you want it to be. All the details and construction will be much cleaner, i.e. less visible stitching on and under the grosgrain ribbon, a perfectly centered seam of brim binding, a much better quality of leather sweat with much better debossing less likely to fade with wear. And then, as HJ said, the entrance into the hat collector’s world with a highly coveted slice of USA hat Americana!

Yes ..it is hard to find the right condition! I do prefer the proportions of the vintage 7XCB over the current OR versions. I don't mind paying, I just don't like being disappointed lol. I also appreciate the provenance that comes with the vintage Stetson hats...it is a slice of Americana for sure!

 

[moontheloon]

Nothing in the world quite like these early 50s Open Road hats.
Especially in less common colors like this brown.
If you have an Open Road addiction like me you’ll definitely dig the Felt In Form YouTube channel.
I’ll link one of the videos below the photos.
Take a look and join the family.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Especially in less common colors like this brown.

Any idea how long Stetson carried Panama Brown forward from the introductory OR? I have a couple 1960’s OR’s, one being this brown that I searched for color names for.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

This one I’ve always called Confederate Gray. It came to me virtually NOS in an anniversary box.

 

[moontheloon]

This one I’ve always called Confederate Gray. It came to me virtually NOS in an anniversary box.

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That's beautiful Jack
I too have a NOS OR in the Anniversary 65 box.
It came to me still wrapped in the Stetson plastic bag with the paper around the crown.
Open Road hats in the 60s were still quite nice.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I too have a NOS OR in the Anniversary 65 box.
It came to me still wrapped in the Stetson plastic bag with the paper around the crown.

Amazing! I wish some ephemera from around 1965 & the anniversary would turn up. I watch for it, have tried researching but there’s just not much out there so far.

 

[moontheloon]

Amazing! I wish some ephemera from around 1965 & the anniversary would turn up. I watch for it, have tried researching but there’s just not much out there so far.

Yours is only the second 65 box I've seen
Mine being the first.

 

[M Hatman]

Amazing! I wish some ephemera from around 1965 & the anniversary would turn up. I watch for it, have tried researching but there’s just not much out there so far.

They did have a booklet on Stetson History they published. Mine came with a signed letter from the President at the time. It is uninspired and could almost have been written by the same people who write all the BS today...I need to photograph and post here.