The Open Road Guild

[Sanford Goldstein]

Yes the leather band is original according to a habadasher I talk to about the hat.. she mentioned some mumbo jumbo about why its not a replacement etc but she assured me the only thing not original is the tiny white bow and the booklet placed in the headband. And although the word Stetson that stamped in the headband is underlined she believes it is not a second.

She said sometimes they will try a new look but go with something else and the bands they made will be seconds

She said the crease was done separate and not made as a cattleman crease

 

[T Jones]

I finished the refurbishment and size up on this once moth biten 3X Open Road. I reused as much as I could that was original to the hat, 3/8 ribbon and bow, sweat band bow, and I put the 7 1/8 size tag back in it even though it's now a 7 1/4. I put in a new sweat and another liner that is like the original that came out of it. The old liner had small holes all through it. I lost a little brim width with the reblocking and size up. The original brim width was 2 3/4 but now sports a 2 5/8 reflanged snap brim. It has a straight medium tall crown that is creased in my preferred tear drop crease. I'll have more later in the 'Conversion Corral'.

A couple of Before and After pics

 

[Rmccamey]

You do some great reworks, TJ.

I finished the refurbishment and size up on this once moth biten 3X Open Road. I reused as much as I could that was original to the hat, 3/8 ribbon and bow, sweat band bow, and I put the 7 1/8 size tag back in it even though it's now a 7 1/4. I put in a new sweat and another liner that is like the original that came out of it. The old liner had small holes all through it. I lost a little brim width with the reblocking and size up. The original brim width was 2 3/4 but now sports a 2 5/8 reflanged snap brim. It has a straight medium tall crown that is creased in my preferred tear drop crease. I'll have more later in the 'Conversion Corral'.

A couple of Before and After pics

 

[T Jones]

You do some great reworks, TJ.

Thank you buddy! I'll have more pics of it tomorrow.

 

[Rmccamey]

Is this a '50's liner?

 

[T Jones]

Is this a '50's liner?

View attachment 153427

Looks very similar to this one

Later than '50s.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Is this a '50's liner?

View attachment 153427

Black sweat usually means late 60's & newer.

 

[Sanford Goldstein]

So here’s my most recent acquisition from a friend in Phoenix. 50.00 isn’t too bad for a new open road. Original box and yes it is not stamped but it is an open road. As you see it has a black sweatband as well as someone else’s hat recently posted. This is a new hat

I added the wind trolly and I love the
Contrast. I don’t want the ribbon or bound edge green but that wind string looks really good

I guess since it’s not just Stetson anymore as much as resistol dobbs Bailey etc and what ever other brand hatco. bought out
I wonder Will this ever become sought after like these other greats here?

 

[T Jones]

Here's my refurbished 3X Open Road on the head. I have more in the Conversion Corral and in the WHAYWT threads. It's always satisfying when these old classics can be saved and given new life to be worn again.

 

[Sanford Goldstein]

T Jones: that’s a great hat and a good look

Thanks for the images

Now I noticed the high point up front... is that typical of the style?

 

[T Jones]

T Jones: that’s a great hat and a good look

Thanks for the images

Now I noticed the high point up front... is that typical of the style?

Thank you, Sanford! I can't say that's actually the typical style for an Open Road. A lot of members here on the Lounge like wearing their Open Roads with the classic Cattleman crease and with the brims up. Others of us like wearing our Open Roads with the brims snapped down and with crowns done up in various other creases like, the Tear Drop (my preferred crease), a C- Crown, Diamond, Center Dent,....it just depends on your preference. Open Roads are pretty versatile. I like wearing mine in a fedora style with the brim snapped down and with the crown creased in a Tear Drop. Here's a few famous people sporting their thin ribbons in a fedora fashion....

Hank Williams

Robert Ryan..."Bad Day At Black Rock"

Jimmy Stewart..."FBI Story"

......it's all a matter of preference.


...and for $50.00, I say you got a heck of a bargain for your OR.

 

[Sanford Goldstein]

Hey you know I’m kinda the mix.. I have with the cattleman crease and the front is dipped down my other I guess is done with an oval crown (telescope?) I have akubra type fedora but not actually a real fedora based on brim and such butnits the closest I could do. I’m cutting the brim down about an inch and putting a satin band about 1 1/2” wide around the crown

it’s so old that the felt has a hole in the crown where I grab the front pinch and at the brim where I use to grab it it’s on off green and probably about 30 or so years old.. I’ve had this one well after their move from Sydney but at least 1992 after getting back from the gulf war

Looks like crap... no liner, no sweat band, no real way to prove the lineage but I’ve had it so long. I’ll post image later

 

[T Jones]

Hey you know I’m kinda the mix.. I have with the cattleman crease and the front is dipped down my other I guess is done with an oval crown (telescope?) I have akubra type fedora but not actually a real fedora based on brim and such butnits the closest I could do. I’m cutting the brim down about an inch and putting a satin band about 1 1/2” wide around the crown

it’s so old that the felt has a hole in the crown where I grab the front pinch and at the brim where I use to grab it it’s on off green and probably about 30 or so years old.. I’ve had this one well after their move from Sydney but at least 1992 after getting back from the gulf war

Looks like crap... no liner, no sweat band, no real way to prove the lineage but I’ve had it so long. I’ll post image later

Looking forward to the pics.

 

[Sanford Goldstein]

Old hat akubra after the move from Sydney... this is similar to the man from snowy river I think but purchased over 25 years ago and it is used ... I have no proof of it’s make but I will say this hat was constantly in use for everything and anything in Texas and Arizona for that time... yes oats for the horse, yes water (for me and horse) cookies, Halloween candy out of a hat you say? It’s texas it can happen. This hats been run over by trucks and tractors... worn all day throwing hay to the cattle in copperas cove and lampasas. Lost it in a lake. Wore it for calf roping in Phoenix and cutting wore it in Texas mucking out stables. Wore it In the rain and sun, which in Houston that is a lot, and 90% humidty there to about 20% maybe here in Phoenix. This hat lasts and I will get another. Got a bid on one now I am trying to get. 1960’s or earlier. Open road Stetson akubra and I’m hoping I get it... if I do. I know who’s getting it

 

[T Jones]

View attachment 153628 View attachment 153630

Old hat akubra after the move from Sydney... this is similar to the man from snowy river I think but purchased over 25 years ago and it is used ... I have no proof of it’s make but I will say this hat was constantly in use for everything and anything in Texas and Arizona for that time... yes oats for the horse, yes water (for me and horse) cookies, Halloween candy out of a hat you say? It’s texas it can happen. This hats been run over by trucks and tractors... worn all day throwing hay to the cattle in copperas cove and lampasas. Lost it in a lake. Wore it for calf roping in Phoenix and cutting wore it in Texas mucking out stables. Wore it In the rain and sun, which in Houston that is a lot, and 90% humidty there to about 20% maybe here in Phoenix. This hat lasts and I will get another. Got a bid on one now I am trying to get. 1960’s or earlier. Open road Stetson akubra and I’m hoping I get it... if I do. I know who’s getting it

That old hat has tons of character. Other than putting in a new sweat and some sort of Western style hat band like aged distressed leather, braided cord,.... something rustic, I would leave it as is. Maybe even curl the brim in ''cowboy" fashion to add to the hat's rugged character. Some good possibilities there, hole and all.

 

[BobHufford]

The open road is in Akubra Stetson open road 3x and it is atdecent price ... I’m interested in buying but first anyinfo I can’t seem to find much

Sanford -- I got a response from the seller on the size (as we are both 7-1/2, right?). Looks to be too small...

 

[T Jones]

Sanford -- I got a response from the seller on the size (as we are both 7-1/2, right?). Looks to be too small...

View attachment 153651

If you guys are both 7 1/2, no way that hat's going on either head.

 

[Sanford Goldstein]

I know it’s ok somebody may want it. I thought maybe a good block and stretch but it’s not going to take it to a 59-60 very well. (Sigh) I’ll probably put it up on offer up if I can’t find someone here to either buy it or neteork for me to sell it.
I have a person who would want it just for a display part of his collection. We’ll see

 

[Rmccamey]

Always great hats and converts, TJ. What might you suggest as a straw hat that would mimic Hank`s OR fedora?

Thank you, Sanford! I can't say that's actually the typical style for an Open Road. A lot of members here on the Lounge like wearing their Open Roads with the classic Cattleman crease and with the brims up. Others of us like wearing our Open Roads with the brims snapped down and with crowns done up in various other creases like, the Tear Drop (my preferred crease), a C- Crown, Diamond, Center Dent,....it just depends on your preference. Open Roads are pretty versatile. I like wearing mine in a fedora style with the brim snapped down and with the crown creased in a Tear Drop. Here's a few famous people sporting their thin ribbons in a fedora fashion....

Hank Williams

Robert Ryan..."Bad Day At Black Rock"

Jimmy Stewart..."FBI Story"

......it's all a matter of preference.


...and for $50.00, I say you got a heck of a bargain for your OR.

 

[Rmccamey]

Always great hats and converts, TJ. What might you suggest as a straw hat that would mimic Hank`s OR fedora?

Thank you, Sanford! I can't say that's actually the typical style for an Open Road. A lot of members here on the Lounge like wearing their Open Roads with the classic Cattleman crease and with the brims up. Others of us like wearing our Open Roads with the brims snapped down and with crowns done up in various other creases like, the Tear Drop (my preferred crease), a C- Crown, Diamond, Center Dent,....it just depends on your preference. Open Roads are pretty versatile. I like wearing mine in a fedora style with the brim snapped down and with the crown creased in a Tear Drop. Here's a few famous people sporting their thin ribbons in a fedora fashion....

Hank Williams

Robert Ryan..."Bad Day At Black Rock"

Jimmy Stewart..."FBI Story"

......it's all a matter of preference.


...and for $50.00, I say you got a heck of a bargain for your OR.