I appreciate your essay on the Open Road. I'm 75 and retired from a career as a university library administrator. I got bit by the OR when I lived in San Antonio and fantasized about walking down Commerce St. in a crisp suit and an Open Road hat. I did that actually about 30 years later. I own about 20 Open Roads or close copies such as by Resistol. My best is a Stetson Sovereign 100 (or something-- it's downstairs) which is as soft as a flannel shirt. Mostly I wear several 2x or 3x. One detail I learned along the way is that hat shapes have, or had designations such as oval, 2x oval and long oval which happens to fit me best. I estimate the hats in my Open Road collection, acquired entirely via eBay ten to 20 years ago, are between 70 and 30 years old. There is a saying: the cowboy hat is worn by a man who works on a ranch. The Open Road is worn by the man who owns the ranch. And yes-- the hat does confer mysterious authority, as when dealing with tradespeople, garage mechanics, etc.
I bought a Stetson hat when I was in High school over 40 years ago. I only wore it a few times but kept it all these years. On my sons recent 31 st birthday we were sitting around and started talking hats. I went and got the hat and gifted it to him. He was so happy to get this heirloom. I think I will now have to buy myself a open road Stetson to replace it.
Passing it down to the next generation is special. I've got a daughter, not a son, who is nine-years-old, and she received her first Stetson from me as a gift for Christmas.
2:04 LBJ may have worn a Stetson Open Road, but my understanding is that he preferred the Resistol “San Antonio” model, a similar hat, because at the time, Resistol hats were made in Texas, and Stetson was in Philadelphia. Today, both brands are made in Garland, Texas.
My Silver Belly Open Road Royal Deluxe showed up on my doorstep today from some guy in a brown truck. The hat is awesome. I can’t wait for Sunday so I can wear it to Church.
Classic hat, didn’t know about Churchill and where “Silver belly” came from. So thx again, entertaining, great insights so educating as well. I’m still blown away you held “I’m so lonesome…” in your hands? Even with curator gloves, that my friend is a once in a lifetime experience.
Nice review and history. I own a 4X Beaver Stetson Open Road that I love. Silverbelly. Also a Stetson Gun Club 5X in Chocolate Brown(?) that is also a favorite felt. I recently bought the Stratoliner Milan in Cognac which lines up with the style my ancestors wore back in the day. I also have a Stetson patchwork flat cap/driver cap. I enjoy all of them and have gotten some compliments on all of them, even from young people. I had an older Gun Club in a lighter brown that my head kind of outgrew and I gave it to my adult daughter. Little did I know that I was going to stumble on your channel and learn so much history on hats I own. And now that I shave my head because I know when to admit defeat, I appreciate my hats all the more, and knowing about their histories is good for a fellow history nerd. Thanks.
Sounds like you and share the same taste in hats. I’ve been thinking about buying a Gun Club but haven’t pulled the trigger, if you’ll forgive the pun. Many thanks for watching the channel and for posting. God bless.
My grandfather wore an Open Road till his passing. My family homesteaded here in Montana and grandpa cowboyed for years. I was a ranch cowboy/outfitter for years. I wore the Open Road as an homage to my grandfather, but with a Bozeman Peak crown.
My grandfather was a cotton farmer in the Texas panhandle in the early to mid-1900’s and wore a silverbelly Open Road on more dressy occasions. I wear an Open Road to pay homage to him too. He even wore his OR in his 50th wedding anniversary pictures and he always looked great in it.
I’ve been wearing the Open Road felt hat since 1990. Everywhere I go at least a couple of times a week strangers will ask what type of hat it is and give me compliments on it. Very nice and versatile hat. Thank you for taking the time to review and provide some history. Love your channel.
Thanks for the kind words about the channel. Like you, I continue to receive positive comments each time I wear my Open Road, whether it is my 6x or Royal Deluxe. I just bought a couple of straw Open Roads for spring and summer.
I rarely wear mine because I don't think I look particularly good in hats, but the times I wore it out in public, I have received several compliments. It's a sharp compliment to any attire.
Love your video! I have 2 open roads but do not wear them much. 1 regular 6x silver belly, and 1 royal deluxe 6x walnut. I should start wearing them more often.
I own 3 Open Rd. hats. A 4X Silver belly Stetson open road I purchased 15 years ago, I own a silver belly royal deluxe 6X and silver belly. I also own Royal deluxe open road in natural. I own three straw versions of the open road my favorite being the vented toasted color. When I’m done I will own three or four more. I get a compliment on my hat which ever open road I wear within an hour or two of being around a group of people. Even younger women approach me and ask me about my hat or compliment. I do have other styles of Stetsons. My other favorite style that similar to an open road is called a Stratoliner….
Thanks for all your videos on Western style hats. My maternal Grandfather from Phoenixville, PA wore this hat as his everyday hat on any occasion. The hat was a gift from his son in law fro Lubbock, TX. Very distinctive, I always liked it and him in it! Ray Bacci, Collegeville, PA.
Great video. My father had men's clothing stores in Texas beginning 1951 through to his death in 1982. Although he did not sell Stetsons he did carry Churchill Hats which I understand was sold to Resistol back during this time period. I remember seeing a model similar to this in our stores. Thanks for the interesting discussion about the Open Road.
Great video. Very educational. I wish I would’ve watched it before I got my regular open road and I might have selected the Royal deluxe. Oh well. Good luck on your channel and keep posting quality content like this.
I wore my Royal Deluxe to a Civil War reenactment and noticed black powder specks all over it when I got home. Luckily, I was able to blot them off with tape and brush the felt, but since the Royal Deluxe is more of a dress felt, I bought a 6X to wear for recreation and reserve my RD for the office. That’s my long way of saying you should consider having one of each.
I just bought my Open Road 6X today, loved this lesson on its history, thank you. And now know how to store it properly! Soon enough I'll be wearing this hat, it won't be wearing me.
Good video. The Open Road is also the only style hat I wear. You can see it in my profile picture. I have several that are very old. Occasionally I’ll wear one. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to find and purchase a True Blue color. They are pretty hard to find. It’s very elegant. Good luck with your new channel. I’m subscribing.
Many thanks for your kind words and for subscribing. Because I love my Open Road Royal Deluxe so much, I purchased a 6X Open Road that arrived just yesterday. It's becoming harder and harder to hide the growing number of Stetson boxes from my wife. Keep watching, and feel free to let me know of any topics you'd like us to cover.
Great video. I saw a man on vacation and asked him the same thing, "what kind of hat is that"? I immediately ordered one. Thank you for the great lesson on this wonderful hat.
Thank you for the great video. I was hoping you could tell me what the subway hatband is? I’ve seen them on Stetsons but never how they are used.Again thank you.
I have a 7x Open Road that I got on Facebook Marketplace for $20 with original box.... other than some writing on the liner, it is in perfect condition.
This video just showed up in my feed randomly but I appreciate it since I own three Open Roads. One felt 6x in “brown mix” color which I think is kind of hard to find. Also have a two straws. One in chocolate brown and another in a slightly lighter brown. Gonna get one in “toast” next. I live in Georgia so there is a lot more time of the year to wear the straw ones verses the felt. Love them all. I too get a lot of compliments on them.
I don't like the new style hat box with all of the black ink. That stuff will get on your hands and end up on your hat if you're not careful. I wish they would have kept the old style with the picture of the cowboy watering his horse from his Stetson.
An intersection of many of my interests. My grandfather was from Sand Mountain, AL; not real far from you. I worked in the USAF ICBM fields for a number of years, and I like Bourbon and Stetson hats. Should be fun.
There is some debate as to exactly which model, though most agree it was an Open Road after 1950. This article has some interesting information about the various theories - www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/column-4
This is a great video, as I just came here to learn more about the hat itself, and instead was treated to a wonderful history of more than just a hat. You've got a great presentation style, spent time finding good overlay images to explain your points and it's obvious you have more than just knowledge, but a passion for the topic.
They're quite easy to find and the prices are pretty standard. Because these hats are so popular, they rarely, if ever, go on sale. I honestly bought mine off of Amazon simply because if it didn't fit, I knew the return process would be free and easy.
Have the same hat , but in caribou color. It’s been my favorite hat, the color is just stunning. I did however order a pure, directly from Stetson. Seems to be the only place that actually has one?
I'm enjoying your videos. You are a great story teller. Looking forward to some Bourbon videos. Also, I'd like your input on why 10x Beaver doesn't mean what it used to. And do you have any hats from the Serratelli hat company? Looking forward to more videos!
I only have Stetsons. There is no law governing or defining the X-scale used to determine the fur quality of hats. Each company uses its own scale, so a 10X hat from one company may be wildly different in quality from a 10X hat made by another company. A new 10X hat probably wont have the felt quality of a vintage 10X hat, either. Companies don’t publicly release their X-scale requirements, but both Stetson and Resistol have said anything they make below 5X is wool felt, not fur felt. Hope this was helpful.
Great video! Fellow Alabamain here. I have a modern OR in Royal DeLuxe quality in cognac color. Very soft felt and have gotten compliments on it as well. I don't wear it very often because of the cattleman's crease. I prefer a hand bashed teardrop with front pinches, like Truman wore. I wish Stetson would offer the OR in an open crown to give the wearer an option to shape it how he pleases. I also own a vintage OR, probably late 40's or early 50's, in silverbelly that is shaped with front pinches and a teardrop. I love that hat! Here's a video idea: research how Akubra made the first open roads under contract for Stetson. My understanding is that when Stetson cancelled the contract, Akubra continued to make the same hat under their own branding and called it Campdraft. I have one of those too and it comes open crown. They are still in production for Akubra.
About time to switch from my Open Road hemp to Silverbelly at Labor Day...quick question ... I have seen posts that say Silverbelly is weather resistant and can wear in rain...just looking for confirmation before I expose mine to Louisiana rains this fall..
Light rain and drizzle, and you should be okay, but as a rule of thumb, I don’t wear my OR when it’s harder than that. That’s when I wear my less expensive wool hats. There’s a reason state troopers wear clear vinyl covers on their ORs when it’s raining like hell.
I found a '50's era Royal Stetson Deluxe Open Road in perfect shape at an antique store in up-state New York a few years ago for about $40 bucks. On the leather sweat band It says "Wilson Clothing Co. Rutland VT" and is blocked as a teardrop fedora- basically a high crown Stratoliner. It also has a wind trolley. It is truly stunning and gets lots of compliments whenever I wear it...
Im kinda between 7 3/8 and 7 1/2. I want the option to flip brim up or down. Im afraid to tight or to soft will dictate whether or not I can wear the brim up or down. Does the 6x allow movement of the brim equally as the royal deluxe?
2 years ago I came by a Stetson 3x Beaver for $14 Canadian. It has the same look and ribbon with the metal attachment The hat is beautiful and i wear it in special events.
I found an old Open Road at an antique store that fit me for $49 a while back. Of course it had no box, and two small holes probably from moths. It is labeled as a Twenty Five. Any idea what that would mean? An anniversary edition? I cant find any info on it. Thanks and I just subscribed!
I would have to do some research in the Stetson reference books I have, but if it is a 25th anniversary, the Open Road debuted in 1948, so your hat would date to around 1973.
A Stetson labeled “Twenty Five” is an upper end hat that originally sold for $25, quite a sum for the time. The very top end Stetson was the “One Hundred.”
I'm unfamiliar with the vintage Open Roads. Each hat company has its own X-scale rating system, and it often changes over the years. Stetsons with a 4X rating today are made from wool felt, not fur felt, but as you are aware, that was not always the case. If the hat is in good condition and the price is right, I'd buy a vintage Stetson Open Road in a heartbeat just for the novelty factor of having and wearing an antique hat.
Thanks. Yes, this one says - for what it's worth, Stetson 4X Beaver. From what I've been able to did up, I think that could make it as old s 40s or 50s. @@historynerdsmancave7567
The Open Road started as an open crown crown hat. That is it was not precreased the owner or the store would steam in a crease for the owner of his choice. The vast majority would be creased and the hat worn as a fedora style. The hat gained a reputation as a county hat. The Stratoliner came about as a rebranding of the Open Road to appeal to a more Urban customer. Same hat different name. The Royal Deluxe felt is not the same as the 6X. The Royal Deluxe is a dress weight felt it is lighter and thinner then the 6X. The Finnish in the 6X uses more shellack to make it stiffer also. We also as far as fur felt make two Pure Beaver Open Roads. A Western and a Dress the main difference is the stiffness of the Finnish.
Funny you should post that because I plan to talk about the use of coypu - or nutria - fur in an upcoming video about the history of Stetson hats. Nutria have become such pests in Louisiana that the state pays a $6 bounty for every tail from a dead nutria that hunters turn in.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 , I know there having a he'll of a time in some of the south American countries as well, , so its been 30 years since I've worked on hats, ..( except for myself and friends) but I remember, we would have maybe 30 different hats displayed, all going for 95 to about 135, for an average 4x hat, and for some reason, a certain hats just wouldn't sell, it would start out at 120, and we would reduce it to 110, ..100...95... 85.... 80, still.no one would by it, so the next day we would put a price, of 150 on it and it would sell that very day, people just assume, more money for something, it must be better, , , Also, there are times I will Damm near wear a hat off my head, , and I suppose because it's so distressed, I've had people offer me double new price for my old hats, , _by the wayin my opinion, the quality of vintage hats are so much better then new, at least for 4x hat's and such, I've been lucky enough to occasionally find then in thrift shops, and almost always for cheap, usually about 10.00 dollars,
Thank you for your detail of the Open Road. I just received in the mail my first Open Road today. It is the OR Toasted Straw. Absolutely love it. I want to purchase the OR Royal Deluxe in Silverbelly now so that I have it for the fall. My question is … the Toasted Straw in 7 1/4 is snug. No room for error to a smaller fit. If it were you … would you order the Royal Deluxe in 7 1/4 or step up to the 7 3/8 and adjust with a sizer insert? Thank you sir.
My Open Road straws are also a bit tight, but both my 6X and Royal Deluxe felts fit perfectly. Felt, by its mature, has more give than shellacked straw. I’d buy the size that usually fits you best.
I enjoyed your video, but I am pretty sure that LBJ wore the Resistol Open Road, not a Stetson. In fact, you can still buy a Resistol Open Road through the LBJ library. I love the Open Road style because the brim is large enough to protect me from the sun, but not so large that the brim gets in the way.
It's probably safe to say he wore both Resistol and Stetson at various times in his life. When LBJ gifted Open Road hats to close friends and staff members, they were Stetson brand, not Resistol - historical.ha.com/itm/political/presidential-relics/lyndon-b-johnson-trademark-stetson-hat/a/6180-43147.s
@@historynerdsmancave7567 Perhaps, but LBJ intentionally bought Resistol over Stetson because Resistols were made in Texas, Stetsons were not. This was before both companies were bought by the same parent company and the Open Road was consolidated to the Stetson brand.
Question for ya: for those who sweat a fair amount (such as myself) what can be done, if anything, to protect the hat from staining or other damage? I live in NY, and I'm figuring temperatures are categorically lower hear than in TX, so I imagine I cannot be the only one out there with this particular concern.
I'm a big guy who tends to perspire, as well. Interestingly, hat bands were originally used to hide the sweat stains that would invariably appear at the bottom of the crown. There are several hat inserts on the market that you can place above the sweatband on the inside to help keep your hat from getting stained. Believe it or not, I've read that some people block sweat by lining their hat with feminine hygiene panty liners since they are absorbent and have adhesive. If you do end up with stains, there are plenty of hat cleaners that are sold by Bickmore and other companies.
I've got a bottle of Rock Hill Farms, which is named after the estate owned by Col. Albert Blanton of Blanton's bourbon fame. I had planned to do more bourbon review and history videos, but folks don't watch them. Most of my hat and boot videos get thousands of views, but the bourbon videos only get a few hundred.
I'm assuming it is a vintage Open Road as Stetson does not currently make a 4X version of the hat. Under Stetson's current X scale, 4X hats are made from wool felt, not fur felt. The older 4x Stetson Open Roads did have beaver fur in the felt and should note it on the interior leather sweatband. Those older hats are quite nice, so if you like it, and the price is right, you might consider pulling the trigger.
I have the Open road 6x cowboy that has the stiff brim. I like to wear it with the brim flipped down Fedora style on occasion. Does the Royal Deluxe brim flip down as well since the brim is not as stiff?
Yes, the Royal Deluxe brim can be worn more like a fedora brim than the 6X. I had to have my 6x steamed in order to flatten the brim just a bit in the front.
Looks like you're between a 7-1/2 and 7-5/8. Personally, I'd go with the bigger size and put a sizer insert in the band if necessary rather than taking a chance that they 7-1/2 is too small, but you do what makes you comfortable.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 yeah now I see that, of course. Is it legal in US to use that method? Just curious. I’m from Sweden and here is it forbidden now. We have just plastic bricks in the ears. But I have ordered a Stetson Open road silverbelly now. Do you have som advise to me? My first hat
Yes, branding is still done here. Congratulations on your first hat. Just remember to always place and store it crown side down, not brim side down. You might want to get a light colored hat brush to clean it from time to time.
Thank you for the video. This is the next hat that I am about to purchase. I do believe you may be mistaken on John Stetson’s middle name I think it is Batterson.
I corrected myself in the next video that was posted. I do all of these videos off of the top of my head in one take, so mistakes are gonna happen, but I try to keep them to a minimum, Bubba.
I wear the 6X daily and reserve the RD mainly for work and social functions because the dress felt is quite nice, but, as I said in the video, they’re basically interchangeable. One is simply stiffer than the other
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I appreciate your essay on the Open Road. I'm 75 and retired from a career as a university library administrator. I got bit by the OR when I lived in San Antonio and fantasized about walking down Commerce St. in a crisp suit and an Open Road hat. I did that actually about 30 years later. I own about 20 Open Roads or close copies such as by Resistol. My best is a Stetson Sovereign 100 (or something-- it's downstairs) which is as soft as a flannel shirt. Mostly I wear several 2x or 3x. One detail I learned along the way is that hat shapes have, or had designations such as oval, 2x oval and long oval which happens to fit me best. I estimate the hats in my Open Road collection, acquired entirely via eBay ten to 20 years ago, are between 70 and 30 years old. There is a saying: the cowboy hat is worn by a man who works on a ranch. The Open Road is worn by the man who owns the ranch. And yes-- the hat does confer mysterious authority, as when dealing with tradespeople, garage mechanics, etc.
Appreciate your poignant comment, Bubba. Thanks for watching.
If you are a firearms aficionado you might remember that Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton and Jeff Cooper all wore the Stetson open road.
Aw yea
I bought a Stetson hat when I was in High school over 40 years ago. I only wore it a few times but kept it all these years. On my sons recent 31 st birthday we were sitting around and started talking hats. I went and got the hat and gifted it to him. He was so happy to get this heirloom. I think I will now have to buy myself a open road Stetson to replace it.
Passing it down to the next generation is special. I've got a daughter, not a son, who is nine-years-old, and she received her first Stetson from me as a gift for Christmas.
2:04 LBJ may have worn a Stetson Open Road, but my understanding is that he preferred the Resistol “San Antonio” model, a similar hat, because at the time, Resistol hats were made in Texas, and Stetson was in Philadelphia. Today, both brands are made in Garland, Texas.
My Silver Belly Open Road Royal Deluxe showed up on my doorstep today from some guy in a brown truck. The hat is awesome. I can’t wait for Sunday so I can wear it to Church.
Thank you, not only for the video, but also for the CORRECT pronunciation of Grosgrain! I have one of these (6x, not the Royal DeLuxe) and I love it!
Classic hat, didn’t know about Churchill and where “Silver belly” came from. So thx again, entertaining, great insights so educating as well. I’m still blown away you held “I’m so lonesome…” in your hands? Even with curator gloves, that my friend is a once in a lifetime experience.
Nice review and history. I own a 4X Beaver Stetson Open Road that I love. Silverbelly. Also a Stetson Gun Club 5X in Chocolate Brown(?) that is also a favorite felt. I recently bought the Stratoliner Milan in Cognac which lines up with the style my ancestors wore back in the day. I also have a Stetson patchwork flat cap/driver cap. I enjoy all of them and have gotten some compliments on all of them, even from young people. I had an older Gun Club in a lighter brown that my head kind of outgrew and I gave it to my adult daughter. Little did I know that I was going to stumble on your channel and learn so much history on hats I own. And now that I shave my head because I know when to admit defeat, I appreciate my hats all the more, and knowing about their histories is good for a fellow history nerd. Thanks.
Sounds like you and share the same taste in hats. I’ve been thinking about buying a Gun Club but haven’t pulled the trigger, if you’ll forgive the pun. Many thanks for watching the channel and for posting. God bless.
My grandfather wore an Open Road till his passing. My family homesteaded here in Montana and grandpa cowboyed for years. I was a ranch cowboy/outfitter for years. I wore the Open Road as an homage to my grandfather, but with a Bozeman Peak crown.
My grandfather was a cotton farmer in the Texas panhandle in the early to mid-1900’s and wore a silverbelly Open Road on more dressy occasions. I wear an Open Road to pay homage to him too. He even wore his OR in his 50th wedding anniversary pictures and he always looked great in it.
I have performed for thousands in my hemp Open Road. Everyone loves the hat.
I loved your video.
I’ve been wearing the Open Road felt hat since 1990. Everywhere I go at least a couple of times a week strangers will ask what type of hat it is and give me compliments on it. Very nice and versatile hat. Thank you for taking the time to review and provide some history. Love your channel.
Thanks for the kind words about the channel. Like you, I continue to receive positive comments each time I wear my Open Road, whether it is my 6x or Royal Deluxe. I just bought a couple of straw Open Roads for spring and summer.
I bought that exact hat last year. I love it!
I rarely wear mine because I don't think I look particularly good in hats, but the times I wore it out in public, I have received several compliments. It's a sharp compliment to any attire.
History Nerd, you merit many more followers! Splendid hat-story; I'm watching my way through your hat videos.
I was looking for some basic info on the Open Road, but you offered so much more! Thank you! Definitely subscribing.
Love your video! I have 2 open roads but do not wear them much. 1 regular 6x silver belly, and 1 royal deluxe 6x walnut. I should start wearing them more often.
Everytime I wear my Stetson open road I get a compliment. Once a guy rolled down his truck window and said I like that hat.
Same! I got a complement the first day I wore it and they keep coming.
I own 3 Open Rd. hats. A 4X Silver belly Stetson open road I purchased 15 years ago, I own a silver belly royal deluxe 6X and silver belly. I also own Royal deluxe open road in natural. I own three straw versions of the open road my favorite being the vented toasted color. When I’m done I will own three or four more. I get a compliment on my hat which ever open road I wear within an hour or two of being around a group of people. Even younger women approach me and ask me about my hat or compliment. I do have other styles of Stetsons. My other favorite style that similar to an open road is called a Stratoliner….
Thanks for all your videos on Western style hats. My maternal Grandfather from Phoenixville, PA wore this hat as his everyday hat on any occasion. The hat was a gift from his son in law fro Lubbock, TX. Very distinctive, I always liked it and him in it! Ray Bacci, Collegeville, PA.
Great video. My father had men's clothing stores in Texas beginning 1951 through to his death in 1982. Although he did not sell Stetsons he did carry Churchill Hats which I understand was sold to Resistol back during this time period. I remember seeing a model similar to this in our stores. Thanks for the interesting discussion about the Open Road.
When you find the time, I'd appreciate a video of your explanation of determining one's hat size and getting a good deal on a western hat.
I just bought one because I thought it looked cool. I didn’t know there was such a rich history behind the hat! Thank you.
Great video. Very educational. I wish I would’ve watched it before I got my regular open road and I might have selected the Royal deluxe. Oh well. Good luck on your channel and keep posting quality content like this.
I wore my Royal Deluxe to a Civil War reenactment and noticed black powder specks all over it when I got home. Luckily, I was able to blot them off with tape and brush the felt, but since the Royal Deluxe is more of a dress felt, I bought a 6X to wear for recreation and reserve my RD for the office. That’s my long way of saying you should consider having one of each.
My dad and mom retired from Redstone Arsenal. Small world!! You got a Sub!! I sure miss AL/TN
I just bought my Open Road 6X today, loved this lesson on its history, thank you. And now know how to store it properly! Soon enough I'll be wearing this hat, it won't be wearing me.
I have the (Stetson made) straw version of this hat. It’s my daily wear hat during warm weather season.
Good video. The Open Road is also the only style hat I wear. You can see it in my profile picture. I have several that are very old. Occasionally I’ll wear one. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to find and purchase a True Blue color. They are pretty hard to find. It’s very elegant.
Good luck with your new channel. I’m subscribing.
Many thanks for your kind words and for subscribing. Because I love my Open Road Royal Deluxe so much, I purchased a 6X Open Road that arrived just yesterday. It's becoming harder and harder to hide the growing number of Stetson boxes from my wife. Keep watching, and feel free to let me know of any topics you'd like us to cover.
Great video. I saw a man on vacation and asked him the same thing, "what kind of hat is that"? I immediately ordered one. Thank you for the great lesson on this wonderful hat.
I had one of those. I love them. Greetings from Ukraine.
Thanks for watching! Y’all hunker down and beat those Russians like Rocky beat Drago.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 We will.
Thank you for the great video. I was hoping you could tell me what the subway hatband is? I’ve seen them on Stetsons but never how they are used.Again thank you.
I have a 7x Open Road that I got on Facebook Marketplace for $20 with original box.... other than some writing on the liner, it is in perfect condition.
My 35 yr old Open Road is 4X
I have two 6x beaver Open Roads, in silverbelly, and in mix brown. I also have the 6x straw in natural for summer. Great hats. Keep the videos coming!
Many thanks. I love the Silverbelly but have also considered purchasing the Caribou color in felt and the vented Toast color straw hat they offer.
The open road straw is absolutely great hat ! My favorite hat
This video just showed up in my feed randomly but I appreciate it since I own three Open Roads. One felt 6x in “brown mix” color which I think is kind of hard to find. Also have a two straws. One in chocolate brown and another in a slightly lighter brown. Gonna get one in “toast” next. I live in Georgia so there is a lot more time of the year to wear the straw ones verses the felt. Love them all. I too get a lot of compliments on them.
I'm next door in Alabama and wear straws more often than felts, as well. Glad you found the channel and hope you'll keep watching.
Very informative and enjoyable videos. Keep up the great work
great job. nice history. keep it up
I have this exact hat and wear it daily. Very comfortable and receive compliments for doing so.
I don't like the new style hat box with all of the black ink. That stuff will get on your hands and end up on your hat if you're not careful. I wish they would have kept the old style with the picture of the cowboy watering his horse from his Stetson.
Just got my second stetson today and it's was this one
Love mine, and I’m sure you’ll love yours.
Ive got a few hats with my name embossed in gold foil. Used to have my hat shop do it when I bought new hats.
An intersection of many of my interests. My grandfather was from Sand Mountain, AL; not real far from you. I worked in the USAF ICBM fields for a number of years, and I like Bourbon and Stetson hats. Should be fun.
Thanks for your video.
There is the famous photo of Lee Harvey Oswald with Dallas police officers. Were they wearing Open Road hats?
Great video, keep them coming!
299 I paid for my 6 x and 500 for my Royal deluxe homborg hat
Another fine review, I just picked up a Open Road love it! NowI want the hemp Open Road in sage...
I always wear hats every day even if I just wear a baseball cap. It’s a shame they’re out of fashion.
Would you happen to know what style Stetson, Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass wore ???
Thank you
There is some debate as to exactly which model, though most agree it was an Open Road after 1950. This article has some interesting information about the various theories - www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/column-4
@@historynerdsmancave7567 awesome thank you
Love all your collections in the background, down to the Augusta National pillow.
This is a great video, as I just came here to learn more about the hat itself, and instead was treated to a wonderful history of more than just a hat. You've got a great presentation style, spent time finding good overlay images to explain your points and it's obvious you have more than just knowledge, but a passion for the topic.
Appreciate your kind words, Bubba. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Omw to boot barn to get one hahaha…
I have the 6x silverbelly open road and 2 straw open road I want the black and chocolate brown colored one as well
Thanks so much, very good and detail explanation, God bless
I have several of both the RD and 6X. I alternate between which is my favorite.
One more thing, your Masters pillow should always be on the left side of the couch to honor Phil Mickelson.
Great video and explanation! Where is a good place to buy this type of hat for a good price?
They're quite easy to find and the prices are pretty standard. Because these hats are so popular, they rarely, if ever, go on sale. I honestly bought mine off of Amazon simply because if it didn't fit, I knew the return process would be free and easy.
Excellent hat & information, thank you Sir! 👍
It’s sad that men don’t wear hats these days . But each their own I guess
Have the same hat , but in caribou color.
It’s been my favorite hat, the color is just stunning.
I did however order a pure, directly from Stetson.
Seems to be the only place that actually has one?
A Stetson Pure?!?! You can’t hide money, Mr. Big Spender. Thanks for watching.
I'm enjoying your videos. You are a great story teller. Looking forward to some Bourbon videos. Also, I'd like your input on why 10x Beaver doesn't mean what it used to. And do you have any hats from the Serratelli hat company? Looking forward to more videos!
I only have Stetsons. There is no law governing or defining the X-scale used to determine the fur quality of hats. Each company uses its own scale, so a 10X hat from one company may be wildly different in quality from a 10X hat made by another company. A new 10X hat probably wont have the felt quality of a vintage 10X hat, either. Companies don’t publicly release their X-scale requirements, but both Stetson and Resistol have said anything they make below 5X is wool felt, not fur felt. Hope this was helpful.
Great video! Fellow Alabamain here. I have a modern OR in Royal DeLuxe quality in cognac color. Very soft felt and have gotten compliments on it as well. I don't wear it very often because of the cattleman's crease. I prefer a hand bashed teardrop with front pinches, like Truman wore. I wish Stetson would offer the OR in an open crown to give the wearer an option to shape it how he pleases. I also own a vintage OR, probably late 40's or early 50's, in silverbelly that is shaped with front pinches and a teardrop. I love that hat!
Here's a video idea: research how Akubra made the first open roads under contract for Stetson. My understanding is that when Stetson cancelled the contract, Akubra continued to make the same hat under their own branding and called it Campdraft. I have one of those too and it comes open crown. They are still in production for Akubra.
Thanks for the idea. I'll give it some thought and research. Appreciate your watching, my fellow Alabamian.
Love mine , I have a few stetsons
I believe the middle name of John Stetson is Batterson, not Bateman actually, but I could be wrong.
You are not mistaken. I corrected myself in the next video that was posted after this one.
Love mine. I get compliments every everytime I wear it.
May I ask why one always puts the hat on the crown site down..? Thanks and all the best from Austria!
It keeps the brim from flattening and helps it hold its shape.
Beautiful thanks a lot and keep up the swell work! @@historynerdsmancave7567
About time to switch from my Open Road hemp to Silverbelly at Labor Day...quick question ... I have seen posts that say Silverbelly is weather resistant and can wear in rain...just looking for confirmation before I expose mine to Louisiana rains this fall..
Light rain and drizzle, and you should be okay, but as a rule of thumb, I don’t wear my OR when it’s harder than that. That’s when I wear my less expensive wool hats. There’s a reason state troopers wear clear vinyl covers on their ORs when it’s raining like hell.
Thank You.. May have to follow your recommendations and look into Bison Collection
Great video, keep them coming!
I found a '50's era Royal Stetson Deluxe Open Road in perfect shape at an antique store in up-state New York a few years ago for about $40 bucks. On the leather sweat band It says "Wilson Clothing Co. Rutland VT" and is blocked as a teardrop fedora- basically a high crown Stratoliner. It also has a wind trolley. It is truly stunning and gets lots of compliments whenever I wear it...
Im kinda between 7 3/8 and 7 1/2. I want the option to flip brim up or down. Im afraid to tight or to soft will dictate whether or not I can wear the brim up or down. Does the 6x allow movement of the brim equally as the royal deluxe?
Hopalong Cassidy wore a Gus hat often. For example see S1E16 "ALIEN RANCH."
2 years ago I came by a Stetson 3x Beaver for $14 Canadian. It has the same look and ribbon with the metal attachment
The hat is beautiful and i wear it in special events.
I found an old Open Road at an antique store that fit me for $49 a while back. Of course it had no box, and two small holes probably from moths. It is labeled as a Twenty Five. Any idea what that would mean? An anniversary edition? I cant find any info on it. Thanks and I just subscribed!
I would have to do some research in the Stetson reference books I have, but if it is a 25th anniversary, the Open Road debuted in 1948, so your hat would date to around 1973.
A Stetson labeled “Twenty Five” is an upper end hat that originally sold for $25, quite a sum for the time. The very top end Stetson was the “One Hundred.”
This is the most iconic Stetson ever!
Did you buy this hat on amazon? Do you have a link? Thanks
I did purchase it on Amazon but have since discovered that if you do a little Internet exploring, you can find it a bit cheaper elsewhere.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 Yes I saw the review you did on Amazon, I ordered one from there today, Thanks
How does the Stetson 4X beaver compare? I gather it's a predecessor? I'm considering one saw in a local antiques store. Thanks!
I'm unfamiliar with the vintage Open Roads. Each hat company has its own X-scale rating system, and it often changes over the years. Stetsons with a 4X rating today are made from wool felt, not fur felt, but as you are aware, that was not always the case. If the hat is in good condition and the price is right, I'd buy a vintage Stetson Open Road in a heartbeat just for the novelty factor of having and wearing an antique hat.
Thanks. Yes, this one says - for what it's worth, Stetson 4X Beaver. From what I've been able to did up, I think that could make it as old s 40s or 50s. @@historynerdsmancave7567
king
The Open Road started as an open crown crown hat. That is it was not precreased the owner or the store would steam in a crease for the owner of his choice. The vast majority would be creased and the hat worn as a fedora style. The hat gained a reputation as a county hat. The Stratoliner came about as a rebranding of the Open Road to appeal to a more Urban customer. Same hat different name. The Royal Deluxe felt is not the same as the 6X. The Royal Deluxe is a dress weight felt it is lighter and thinner then the 6X. The Finnish in the 6X uses more shellack to make it stiffer also. We also as far as fur felt make two Pure Beaver Open Roads. A Western and a Dress the main difference is the stiffness of the Finnish.
It was my understanding that nutrena fur has somewhat replaced the beaver fur
Funny you should post that because I plan to talk about the use of coypu - or nutria - fur in an upcoming video about the history of Stetson hats. Nutria have become such pests in Louisiana that the state pays a $6 bounty for every tail from a dead nutria that hunters turn in.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 , I know there having a he'll of a time in some of the south American countries as well, , so its been 30 years since I've worked on hats, ..( except for myself and friends) but I remember, we would have maybe 30 different hats displayed, all going for 95 to about 135, for an average 4x hat, and for some reason, a certain hats just wouldn't sell, it would start out at 120, and we would reduce it to 110, ..100...95... 85.... 80, still.no one would by it, so the next day we would put a price, of 150 on it and it would sell that very day, people just assume, more money for something, it must be better, , , Also, there are times I will Damm near wear a hat off my head, , and I suppose because it's so distressed, I've had people offer me double new price for my old hats, , _by the wayin my opinion, the quality of vintage hats are so much better then new, at least for 4x hat's and such, I've been lucky enough to occasionally find then in thrift shops, and almost always for cheap, usually about 10.00 dollars,
Thank you for your detail of the Open Road. I just received in the mail my first Open Road today. It is the OR Toasted Straw. Absolutely love it. I want to purchase the OR Royal Deluxe in Silverbelly now so that I have it for the fall. My question is … the Toasted Straw in 7 1/4 is snug. No room for error to a smaller fit. If it were you … would you order the Royal Deluxe in 7 1/4 or step up to the 7 3/8 and adjust with a sizer insert? Thank you sir.
My Open Road straws are also a bit tight, but both my 6X and Royal Deluxe felts fit perfectly. Felt, by its mature, has more give than shellacked straw. I’d buy the size that usually fits you best.
Thank you greatly
That's a great-looking hat, my grandfather wore one for many years. I would love to have one.
I enjoyed your video, but I am pretty sure that LBJ wore the Resistol Open Road, not a Stetson. In fact, you can still buy a Resistol Open Road through the LBJ library. I love the Open Road style because the brim is large enough to protect me from the sun, but not so large that the brim gets in the way.
It's probably safe to say he wore both Resistol and Stetson at various times in his life. When LBJ gifted Open Road hats to close friends and staff members, they were Stetson brand, not Resistol - historical.ha.com/itm/political/presidential-relics/lyndon-b-johnson-trademark-stetson-hat/a/6180-43147.s
@@historynerdsmancave7567 Perhaps, but LBJ intentionally bought Resistol over Stetson because Resistols were made in Texas, Stetsons were not. This was before both companies were bought by the same parent company and the Open Road was consolidated to the Stetson brand.
Question for ya: for those who sweat a fair amount (such as myself) what can be done, if anything, to protect the hat from staining or other damage? I live in NY, and I'm figuring temperatures are categorically lower hear than in TX, so I imagine I cannot be the only one out there with this particular concern.
I'm a big guy who tends to perspire, as well. Interestingly, hat bands were originally used to hide the sweat stains that would invariably appear at the bottom of the crown. There are several hat inserts on the market that you can place above the sweatband on the inside to help keep your hat from getting stained. Believe it or not, I've read that some people block sweat by lining their hat with feminine hygiene panty liners since they are absorbent and have adhesive. If you do end up with stains, there are plenty of hat cleaners that are sold by Bickmore and other companies.
OUTSTANDING
@@historynerdsmancave7567
I'd like a brown one in 6X, size 7 3/4. VERY hard to find.
I could be wrong but, I believe that it was also worn by the character, Joe Pickett
great video. thx
Man, you've been around some.
How about a review of Clint Eastwood’s hats of his westerns?
Just one more thing. If you like Elmer T Lee, try Rock Hill Farm single barrel. Same mash bill but higher proof and more complexity!! Great stuff!!
I've got a bottle of Rock Hill Farms, which is named after the estate owned by Col. Albert Blanton of Blanton's bourbon fame. I had planned to do more bourbon review and history videos, but folks don't watch them. Most of my hat and boot videos get thousands of views, but the bourbon videos only get a few hundred.
I was told that with flat brimmed hats, brim down is fine.
I like the open road but with the brim down front and back
Can anyone tell me about the Stetson open road silver belly 4x? Box is white with big black Stetson hat words in yellow. It is worth purchasing?
I'm assuming it is a vintage Open Road as Stetson does not currently make a 4X version of the hat. Under Stetson's current X scale, 4X hats are made from wool felt, not fur felt. The older 4x Stetson Open Roads did have beaver fur in the felt and should note it on the interior leather sweatband. Those older hats are quite nice, so if you like it, and the price is right, you might consider pulling the trigger.
I have the Open road 6x cowboy that has the stiff brim. I like to wear it with the brim flipped down Fedora style on occasion. Does the Royal Deluxe brim flip down as well since the brim is not as stiff?
Yes, the Royal Deluxe brim can be worn more like a fedora brim than the 6X. I had to have my 6x steamed in order to flatten the brim just a bit in the front.
I am buying a open Road. My head size is between 59 and 60 cm. What size would you recommend for me to buy in the open road? Kind regards george
Looks like you're between a 7-1/2 and 7-5/8. Personally, I'd go with the bigger size and put a sizer insert in the band if necessary rather than taking a chance that they 7-1/2 is too small, but you do what makes you comfortable.
Beautiful hat sir! You channel is a go to for all things Stetson. I purchased a Marshal because of your video! Next purchase will be an open road!
Thanks for the kind words, Bubba. Enjoy your hats!
I know the pin is the founders name but what is the shape? It looks like a key?
A branding iron for cattle
@@historynerdsmancave7567 yeah now I see that, of course. Is it legal in US to use that method? Just curious. I’m from Sweden and here is it forbidden now. We have just plastic bricks in the ears. But I have ordered a Stetson Open road silverbelly now. Do you have som advise to me? My first hat
Yes, branding is still done here. Congratulations on your first hat. Just remember to always place and store it crown side down, not brim side down. You might want to get a light colored hat brush to clean it from time to time.
Thank you for the video. This is the next hat that I am about to purchase. I do believe you may be mistaken on John Stetson’s middle name I think it is Batterson.
I corrected myself in the next video that was posted. I do all of these videos off of the top of my head in one take, so mistakes are gonna happen, but I try to keep them to a minimum, Bubba.
I saw where you have now bought a 6X Open Road. Compared to the RD which one do you like best for everyday wear?
I wear the 6X daily and reserve the RD mainly for work and social functions because the dress felt is quite nice, but, as I said in the video, they’re basically interchangeable. One is simply stiffer than the other
Hi boss, enjoy your videos. I love history too. Love Stetson hats, I have two, an open road, and a Stratoliner.
Please review the season powder river hat !
Buford Pusser!😂 I’m in McNairy county TN
You did not mention the Pure Open Road at 420 US. Is that 100 percent Beaver?
Yes