A freebie and a family link...

[thunderw21]

Two new ones.

This Champ was given to me by a family friend. She found it while cleaning out her mom's house and heard I collect hats. I nearly bowed in worship of her when she brought it over.
Brim 2 3/4", open crown 5 1/2", size 7 1/4 but fits me fine.

This next one is a Stetson OR in nearly unused condition. It was at a local antique shop for $65, too much for my blood, but decided to take a look at it anyway. Turns out it was originally from my great-great-grandpa's habberdashery he opened in the early 1900s (closed in the early 1990s). I was able to talk down the price a bit.
Brim 2 3/4", open crown 6", size 7 1/4 but again fits well.
Can someone give me a time period for this one?

"A boy can buy as cheap as a man."
Cheers

edit: spelling

 

[tonyb]

Love 'em both, thunderw21, especially the Champ, if only because it's less common than the OR. It's quite Whippet-esque, eh?
I, too, would like to get some sense of how old that OR is, cuz one of mine is very much like it.
How many generations have you all been in Iowa? I'd think that the retailer's name embossed on the OR's sweatband must make it almost precious to you. Heck, I covet hats carrying the logos of since-defunct local shops. If I had one with a direct ancestor's business name stamped on it, well goodness, I'd be downright tickled. I can understand why you shelled out more for it than you otherwise would have.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Great stuff, thunderw21! If, out of the blue, a friend happened to give me a vintage hat in the same condition as that Champ, I think I'd just about faint. The OR looks like it's in excellent condition, as well. Nice.

Incidentally, what does the other side of the sweat look like on the OR (with the Stetson seal)? Does it specify anything like 3X Beaver Quality or something similar?

Cheers,
JtL

 

[thunderw21]

Love 'em both, thunderw21, especially the Champ, if only because it's less common than the OR. It's quite Whippet-esque, eh?
I, too, would like to get some sense of how old that OR is, cuz one of mine is very much like it.
How many generations have you all go been in Iowa? I'd think that the retailer's name embossed on the OR's sweatband must make it almost precious to you. Heck, I covet hats carrying the logos of since-defunct local shops. If I had one with a direct ancestor's business name stamped on it, well goodness, I'd be downright tickled. I can understand why you shelled out more for it than you otherwise would have.

Very Whippet-esque.

We've been in Iowa since my great-great-grandpa came over from Germany at age 16 in the late 19th century. We try to collect as much as possible with the old logo, from wooden hangers to signs and suit jackets. Having a link to a long-lost family member that I've never met is quite precious; I will never sell this OR and only wear it on special occasions. Definitely worth the money.
As for the hat itself, the logo on the top of the crown (cowboy feeding horse out of hat) is one I've never seen before. I don't know whether to call it vintage or not. Either way, an excellent hat.
Cheers!

 

[tonyb]

Yeah, I have (and have had) many ORs, but only one with the cowboy-and-horse liner. Mine also has a brown leather sweatband, but nowhere does it say "Open Road," although in every other way it is nothing but an Open Road. It's a 3X version, according to the embossing on the sweat, but it's every bit as nice, if not nicer, than many allegedly higher quality ORs I've owned or otherwise encountered.

 

[Razzman]

Beautiful hats. I particularly like the Champ. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[thunderw21]

Yeah, I have (and have had) many ORs, but only one with the cowboy-and-horse liner. Mine also has a brown leather sweatband, but nowhere does it say "Open Road," although in every other way it is nothing but an Open Road. It's a 3X version, according to the embossing on the sweat, but it's every bit as nice, if not nicer, than many allegedly higher quality ORs I've owned or otherwise encountered.

How tall is the crown on yours? A 6" open crown just seems crazy tall for some reason.

 

[mingoslim]

Both are terrific . . .

I am a big fan of the OR style, and I love Champ hats . . . undervalued on OFAS, I think!

 

[akaBruno]

Doesn't get much better that that.