Borsalino Hat Museum Pictures

[jamespowers]

I'm dying to know whether we can find out the dates of our old Borsalinos by using the label information. Crossing my fingers. Steven?



.

Cross your toes too. I am not sure if the current crop of owners even kept that information---but the museum might. We can only hope.
I just picked up a hat like that velour finish last weekend. I'll have to get pictures of it up.

Regards,

J

 

[besdor]

Hat Picture #5

These are some of the hats thar were made for the South American markets such a Mexico and Brazil .

At one time Mexico City had the largest hat store in the world. It was called Tardan . I saw a picture in the museum .It blew my mind .



Steven

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Yeah, Borsalino was known for that velour finish. Most of the velour Borsalinos I've seen for sale were from the '60s. Narrow brims all.


.

 

[besdor]

Picture #6

This is one side of the museum . These showcases are the original sample cases used to show buyers what Borsalino had for sale . The museum itself is housed in one large room that was in the original factory . My father came along on this trip and remebered working in this room back in the 1950's . It was a trip down memory lane!!!!

Steven

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Beautiful! :eusa_clap

Dates? [huh]

.

 

[Dinerman]

dear god that's a lot of beautiful hats.
not too wild about the pope's though

 

[besdor]

Borsalino hats in Italy

The museum had hats from 1880 to 1965 . Many of the earlier hats did not have linings as they were working samples . This way each store could have their own stamp inside the hat. The later hats from 1930 and onward all had linings . As for dating the hats , all of thesamples had hand written dates inside . The codes that are used today have dates in them as of 1994 . Tey were also dated from 1974 to 1984 as well.

More pictures to follow !!


Steve

 

[Dinerman]

I think i'll take one of each

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Fascinating info, Besdor! Thanks! :eusa_clap


.

 

[moustache]

WOW!!!!

This is one side of the museum . These showcases are the original sample cases used to show buyers what Borsalino had for sale . The museum itself is housed in one large room that was in the original factory . My father came along on this trip and remebered working in this room back in the 1950's . It was a trip down memory lane!!!!

Steven

Amazing !!!!Now THATS a place one could spend hours!

JD

 

[Razzman]

Very interesting photographs. Some fine looking hat Thanks for sharing Steven.:eusa_clap

 

[John in Covina]

Fantastic Photos of some awesome Borsalinos!

Hi Steven!

I am glad my directions got you thru the process, we all really appreciate the efforts that goes into such a trip.

Best regards,

 

[besdor]

I will post more tommorow. I hope to be at the Stetson factory right after Christmas . They have an impressive collection of memrobilia themselves that I will be phographing for all to enjoy .


Steven

 

[analogist]

A Reward for your "A" List Clients

Steven;
I know there are several loungers who are among your clientele. (I can think of ONE in particular.) I hope you brought back some souvenirs from the Museum for them.

analogist

 

[besdor]

I had to keep my hands in my pockets at all times !! (Just kidding). We were given a private tour by the curator of the museum . It is open only on Saturday and Sunday. We went on a Thursday for about two hours and were allowed to open the cases and touch the hats as we wanted . My father even helped out with some questions that the curator had about some of the hats . A few of the US samples were marked "Bill" on the leathers . He told the curator that "Bill" refered to "Bill and Cauldwell" which were the agents in the USA for Borsalino from 1910 to about 1968.
I wish I had the key for the museum !!


Steven

 

[besdor]

Some more pictures

Here is a picture of one of the lining books that was in the factory . As I mentioned , a store could pick out the design of their choice when buying a hat.

Steven

 

[besdor]

Hat picture #8

This is a hat Douglas would love to own . A cav edge Borsalino in mint condition . It was dated 1924 inside the hat . It was light as a feather

 

[nulty]

Amazing !!!!Now THATS a place one could spend hours!

JD

It would only take me about 15 minutes to...er. ah...tour the museum...

Those are spellbinding photo's....Thanks so much for sharing your expereince Besdor...it sounds like it was very edifying for you...

 

[besdor]

Nulty, all I want is the key to the place for five minutes . I'd clean the place out .
The museum even had a nice collection of womens hats but I didn't look at them . Next time!!!



Steven

 

[besdor]

Here is another interesting hat .

I wish I had more room in my cameras memory .



Steven