The Open Road Guild

[Judgmentalist]

Me: I want to shave my skull bones down to half their current thickness.

Plastic surgeon: You might die, though.

Me: That’s a risk I’m willing to take.

 

[TimmyV]

Now that’s a collection! The wall of Awe!

Thanks Phil. Took several years of huntin' to fill that space.

 

[hambone71]

Thanks Phil. Took several years of huntin' to fill that space.

Years well spent! I should have a nice addition to “smaller” collection come Friday.

 

[blewnote]

Reckon I might as well share my collection of Open Roads since it seems the thing all the cool kids are doing these days. lol.
Top left is my Stetson 100 which is NOT an Open Road. ( All others shown are OR in one form or another )
Followed left to right...7XCB, 5X, 25, 20
RD, RD3X, RD3X, RD, R
RD, RD, RD, RD25, 20 Sovereign
* last one pictured sitting on the dresser is a 4X

View attachment 818261

What is a RD3X? I've seen Stetson Royal DeLuxes, Royal Stetson Deluxes, and 3Xs but I have never seen a Royal DeLuxe 3X. Are the liner/sweatband mismatched or is there a different Stetson designation I've never heard about before?

Edit: I think you've posted this before and I was just as in awe then as now. Well done!

 

[RossRYoung]

What is a RD3X? I've seen Stetson Royal DeLuxes, Royal Stetson Deluxes, and 3Xs but I have never seen a Royal DeLuxe 3X. Are the liner/sweatband mismatched or is there a different Stetson designation I've never heard about before?

Edit: I think you've posted this before and I was just as in awe then as now. Well done!

To add even further to the mystery of a $15 Stetson crossing into several different grade offerings, check out the link below. This is the only Imperial OR (US made) that I have come across.

I make an observation on the ribbon treatments shared between these 2 hats, but I have noticed it repeated since on other Strat and OR models from around the same time period.

Post in thread 'The Open Road Guild'
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-open-road-guild.7047/post-2903961

 

[TimmyV]

What is a RD3X? I've seen Stetson Royal DeLuxes, Royal Stetson Deluxes, and 3Xs but I have never seen a Royal DeLuxe 3X. Are the liner/sweatband mismatched or is there a different Stetson designation I've never heard about before?

Edit: I think you've posted this before and I was just as in awe then as now. Well done!

My apologies, both hats in question are simply 3X. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

* I have edited the original post to make it correct.

 

[moontheloon]

To add even further to the mystery of a $15 Stetson crossing into several different grade offerings, check out the link below. This is the only Imperial OR (US made) that I have come across.

I make an observation on the ribbon treatments shared between these 2 hats, but I have noticed it repeated since on other Strat and OR models from around the same time period.

Post in thread 'The Open Road Guild'
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-open-road-guild.7047/post-2903961

Ross that is incredibly strange.
Very interesting.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this
Feel free to hit me up privately if you wish to not hijack the thread.

 

[hambone71]

Latest addition to my growing OR collection/obsession. An early 50s, possibly late 40s example. I tinkered with some steam and reshaping last night. I put in a Cattleman’s crease but never was satisfied with it. I eventually settled on this teardrop variant. The last two photos are from the seller’s listing.

 

[wsmontana]

I don’t believe I’ve documented this one before. I’ve had this one for a few years but it’s been neglected. I think I’ve always overlooked this one because it’s a 60s model and I tend to reach for my 50s models first. This is a fine hat in its own right! View attachment 817443 View attachment 817444 View attachment 817445 View attachment 817446 View attachment 817447 View attachment 817448 View attachment 817449 View attachment 817450

Great crease on that one!

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Latest addition to my growing OR collection/obsession. An early 50s, possibly late 40s example. I tinkered with some steam and reshaping last night. I put in a Cattleman’s crease but never was satisfied with it. I eventually settled on this teardrop variant. The last two photos are from the seller’s listing. View attachment 819185 View attachment 819186 View attachment 819187 View attachment 819188 View attachment 819189 View attachment 819190

Looks good!!

 

[hambone71]

Looks good!!

Great crease on that one!

Thanks, fellas!

 

[moontheloon]

This is my Open Road facebook group.
No BS here
There's another group that is full of BS... not here.
Come check it out.
We are not looking to grow into thousands of subscribers... just a small group of true lovers of the Stetson Open Road.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1555705859697880

 

[hatsRme]

This is my Open Road facebook group.
No BS here
There's another group that is full of BS... not here.
Come check it out.
We are not looking to grow into thousands of subscribers... just a small group of true lovers of the Stetson Open Road.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1555705859697880

But, Why? What’s the advantage?

 

[M Hatman]

But, Why? What’s the advantage?

Just Stetson Hats "Open Roads" are allowed to be posted. The other thread has had EVERY imaginable brand and style of hats allowed to be posted......plus bs adverts.

PS: I will add that we had persons with new OR's (nothing wrong with that) that were regularly arguing with people posting Vintage OR's that they were not OR's......YES it gets that crazy over on that page.

 

[moontheloon]

But, Why? What’s the advantage?

the advantage is to free those want to be freed from the bull$#!+ and talk about actual history... to post actual Open Road hats and their ehemera without the CONSTANT random hat that happens to have a cattemen crease being represented as an Open Road.
Without constant AI photos of someone weaing a random cowboy hat.
Without political discussions
Without religious discussions.
... that's why... that's the advantage of my group.
No BS

 

[wsmontana]

Love seeing all the impressive OR collections! Here is my modest but well-loved OR collection.

Back row from left:
- 5X Beaver
- Sovereign 20
- 3X Beaver (project)

Front row from left:
- Royal
- 25
- RDL

These are all marked “Open Road” except for the 5X and all are likely 50s except for the 5X which is likely early 60s. The RDL could be a bit older than the rest.

Interestingly the 5X has the most velvety hand of the bunch but it isn’t as dry shapable as the 20, 25, or RDL.

 

[moontheloon]

View attachment 824382

Love seeing all the impressive OR collections! Here is my modest but well-loved OR collection.

Back row from left:
- 5X Beaver
- Sovereign 20
- 3X Beaver (project)

Front row from left:
- Royal
- 25
- RDL

These are all marked “Open Road” except for the 5X and all are likely 50s except for the 5X which is likely early 60s. The RDL could be a bit older than the rest.

Interestingly the 5X has the most velvety hand of the bunch but it isn’t as dry shapable as the 20, 25, or RDL.

Beautiful family photo Bill

 

[wsmontana]

Beautiful family photo Bill

Thanks Anthony!

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

I just picked up this 3X OR. It’s my first real vintage OR and I have to say I’m pretty sold! I love the feel of the felt and the hat overall. Need to spend some more time and steam on it. Regardless I am enjoying the new hat

 

[BobHufford]

I just picked up this 3X OR

Nice!

What in the AI h*ell is happening here?