Truman and Open Road

[HDRnR]

Looks like an Open Road.

 

[HDRnR]

Another but different bash

 

[scotrace]

I helped with your photo uploads - hope that's OK? They're great pictures. I like the homburg Achison is wearing.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Awesome pictures! The man knew how to wear a hat.
Thanks for posting.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Yup. Truman was a big fan of the Open Road

Cheers,
JtL

 

[HDRnR]

Appreciate it Scotrace, very interesting to see the bash Truman had on his OR's. I like the one where he is getting out of the car, but I wish I could see the top. I wonder if it is a teardrop with the slight dents or more of a center dent ? The second picture seems to have more of an extreme pinch and the brim is curling slightly.

 

[Ande1963]

Cool. I really appreciate those photos. I bought my first OR recently, and have been struggling with what to do about the bash. Part of the "keep it as a cattleman crease" argument was that I thought that's how Harry wore his.

I guess that's shot!

By the way, mine is likely from the '70s, and the 3X felt is a little stiff. It's not as soft and pliable as I'd like. I may not keep the hat... I dunno for sure yet. This stiff felt is gonna be hard for me to re-bash myself.

Anj

 

[Art Fawcett]

Gratuitous plug

:eusa_doh:

I've actually studied it HDRnR, it's a teardrop with forward pinches. He was a small man and had them custom made with smaller dimensions that you would expect to see. Here is my version

 

[HDRnR]

Art, you are the man ! I will try to bash one of mine like that. Ande, I've had the same issues with my factory blocked cattleman OR's, the felt is stiff. I have a Royal Deluxe that is smooth as butter tho.

 

[TaxMan1]

Didn't LBJ use a Cattleman's bash in his OR?

 

[HDRnR]

Didn't LBJ use a Cattleman's bash in his OR?

I'm curious also, I couldn't find a good picture. The LBJ Library doesn't have nearly as many pictures as the Truman Library which has thousands.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Didn't LBJ use a Cattleman's bash in his OR?

Of course.

 

[Fedorista]

Hat described as:

Homberg
Made by Lee, Fifth Avenue, New York
Gold lettering on band opposite label reads: "Made Expressly For Hon. Harry S. Truman."
Felt, leather, plastic. H 12.7, D 33.3 cm
Harry S Truman National Historic Site, HSTR 427

 

[J.B.]

Of course.......

Of Course II -- The Reprise

...and finally -- hatless, but I always liked the pic, regardless!

 

[J.S.Udontknowme]

IKE too.

 

[deanglen]

Of Course II -- The Reprise

Of the cattleman's bashes I've ever seen, the bash on this hat has such narrow side dents and wide crown dent.

dean

 

[TaxMan1]

Thanks, fellas. Great pix and info.

 

[AlanC]

Here is my version

And I'd wondered what H.S.T. stood for. Sometimes I'm a little slow...

 

[J.B.]

Of the cattleman's bashes I've ever seen, the bash on this hat has such narrow side dents and wide crown dent.

dean

deanglen, I have an opinion!

fftopic: Although as you know, there are sooooo many versions of the Open Road, but after a lot of thought and researching pictures -- I now believe that the hat that is pictured here with LBJ is not a Stetson -- but rather an obscure short-brimmed, high-dimpled alpine bash Resistol model known as the Deming...

...but of course I'm old, and frequently doze off at the keyboarvzdqkfgermeiottttttttttttttttt

Wait -- I'm back on topic Truman...

As a kid, the bottom on Lucky Strike cigarettes packs had the initials L.S.M.F.T. printed thereon -- "Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco." However, we impudent children liked to tell others it stood for "Lord, Save Me From Truman."

 

[Ande1963]

Art,

Your version is really fantastic. Can I ask how you handled the different proportions that you mentioned Truman had done specifically for his build? Is your model made with with those same proportions?

Anj