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The Open Road Guild

M Hatman

M Hatman

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,364
Location
Broken Illinois, where we even tax you on the tax!
Yesterday.....I picked this up.....my second "Open Road"....I think.....the sweat just says 3x only.....NO lining....and close examination does not indicate there ever was....NO evidence of a sewn or glued liner.....inside felt is clean........does have an onionskin protector behind the generous 2" russet sweat. Protector has penciled numbers on it......could not find the blocking tags. Very, very, very clean.....has seen little if any wear. 2 7/8 brim, blocked/ creased in a round or telescope crown, not sure I have ever seen another OR so creased. Looks like it always has been. NO evidence or shadow of any other crease. May have been a special order or special version carried by this particular shop. Sized as 7 3/8 but it ALMOST fits me so is a large 7 3/8..........
VERY NICE LOOKING HAT!
Cheers,
M
20170710_143033.jpg 20170710_143044.jpg 20170710_143107.jpg 20170710_143118.jpg 20170710_143131.jpg 20170710_143204.jpg
 
V

Vagabundo

New in Town
Messages
6
A few years ago I was researching my family history and discovered that the 1920 census showed my great-grandfather listed as a "Hatter" working at the JB Stetson factory in Philadelphia. I was doing the research to re-claim Italian citizenship.... but that's another story.

1920 Census Larger

1920 Census Larger

Great-Grandfather worked at Stetson Philadelphia in the 1920s

With Stetson in my blood, I had to have one. Ideally an older Stetson. Something suited to my vagabond lifestyle. Also, I am extremely frugal, so it had to be inexpensive.

When we are not traveling, I visit the swap meet down by the border at least once a week. Here is a video I took of the piles of stuff unloaded down there.


A few weeks ago I was digging through the piles of hats and found this Open Road for $1. It was filthy. I took these photos after the first cleaning. I've since gotten it cleaner with my steamer and light brushing. It also smelled somewhat musty so I treated it with a light Mirazyme and water solution over night.

IMG_6670

IMG_6670

IMG_6671

IMG_6671

IMG_6672

IMG_6672

IMG_6674

IMG_6674


How do people here feel about rolling their Open Roads for travel?
 
Hurricane Jack

Hurricane Jack

Messages
17,587
Vagabundo said:
A few years ago I was researching my family history and discovered that the 1920 census showed my great-grandfather listed as a "Hatter" working at the JB Stetson factory in Philadelphia. I was doing the research to re-claim Italian citizenship.... but that's another story.

1920 Census Larger

1920 Census Larger

Great-Grandfather worked at Stetson Philadelphia in the 1920s

With Stetson in my blood, I had to have one. Ideally an older Stetson. Something suited to my vagabond lifestyle. Also, I am extremely frugal, so it had to be inexpensive.

When we are not traveling, I visit the swap meet down by the border at least once a week. Here is a video I took of the piles of stuff unloaded down there.


A few weeks ago I was digging through the piles of hats and found this Open Road for $1. It was filthy. I took these photos after the first cleaning. I've since gotten it cleaner with my steamer and light brushing. It also smelled somewhat musty so I treated it with a light Mirazyme and water solution over night.

IMG_6670

IMG_6670

IMG_6671

IMG_6671

IMG_6672

IMG_6672

IMG_6674

IMG_6674


How do people here feel about rolling their Open Roads for travel?
Click to expand...
Interesting block & flange. Hopefully someone can tell us more from your reorder tag.

IMG_2451.jpg
 
moontheloon

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,590
Location
NJ
Hurricane Jack said:
Interesting block & flange. Hopefully someone can tell us more from your reorder tag.

IMG_2451.jpg
Click to expand...
That's a 50s to early 60s manufacturer tag
they supposedly started using those as early as 1952 simultaneously with the red and orange tags while they transitioned

A safe guess is that this is on a mid to late 50s hat
 
Last edited:
V

Vagabundo

New in Town
Messages
6
moontheloon said:
That's a 50s to early 60s manufacturer tag
they supposedly started using those as early as 1952 simultaneously with the red and orange tags while they transitioned

A safe guess is that this is on a mid to late 50s hat
Click to expand...

I certainly cannot mistreat something this old. I will have to re-think my intention to use it as a packable travel hat.
 
moontheloon

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,590
Location
NJ
Vagabundo said:
I certainly cannot mistreat something this old. I will have to re-think my intention to use it as a packable travel hat.
Click to expand...
wear it ... and wear it hard
it's not like it is a deadstock museum piece.
I just wouldn't recommend rolling it because the reed never really seems to go back to the way it once was ... unreeded is one thing ... but reeds once rolled are pretty much damaged goods.
you have a lovely hat ... enjoy it for all its worth
 
Glouie

Glouie

New in Town
Messages
8
Location
Oregon
or1.jpg
or2.jpg
gor1a.jpg


Newbie lurking for while now and fell in love with all the Open Roads. I came across this early 3x in great clean shape. It's not marked OR just the medallion and shop. Stars on logo, keyhole size tag, and bright gold liner medallion with American Manufacture', full 3" brim, a whopping 6" crown and red and orange reorder tags.. It's a 7 1/2 which I have stuffed with dollar bills to fit my 7 3/8 egghead. Did not like deforming the tightly sewn and near perfect sweatband with felt spacers. Amazing these things survive so nicely!
 
RJR

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
Glouie said:
View attachment 82689 View attachment 82690 View attachment 82692

Newbie lurking for while now and fell in love with all the Open Roads. I came across this early 3x in great clean shape. It's not marked OR just the medallion and shop. Stars on logo, keyhole size tag, and bright gold liner medallion with American Manufacture', full 3" brim, a whopping 6" crown and red and orange reorder tags.. It's a 7 1/2 which I have stuffed with dollar bills to fit my 7 3/8 egghead. Did not like deforming the tightly sewn and near perfect sweatband with felt spacers. Amazing these things survive so nicely!
Click to expand...
Beauty.
 
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