Borsalino Pics...

[spiridon]

I have acquired a few Borsalinos over the past months......here are a few pics of my favorite. It may have snuck in under the radar as I believe I only paid $40-$50 for this one. If I remember right, the ebay picture did not do it any justice. Anyone here care to aproximate the date it was created?
Thanks!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j305/spiridonred/IMG_0614.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j305/spiridonred/IMG_0612.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j305/spiridonred/IMG_0611.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j305/spiridonred/IMG_0603.jpg

 

[mysterygal]

great looking hat! I really like the color combo on it :eusa_clap

 

[RedPop4]

Damn nice lid, Jon.

 

[Visigoth]

Lovely hat! I think I may have bid on it, in fact... ha. How wide is the brim? Oh, and what year is it (check the serial number under the leather band).

 

[Visigoth]

And what do the Borsalino designations mean? This one is "Extra Superiore" -- I've seen "Superiore", and "Extra Extra Superiore", as well as no indication...

 

[spiridon]

Lovely hat! I think I may have bid on it, in fact... ha. How wide is the brim? Oh, and what year is it (check the serial number under the leather band).

Visigoth, the brim is 2 & 3/8......and the numbers read 2258P & 59091 respectively......does that mean it was made in "59"?

 

[BellyTank]

I would say that it's definitely post '50- probably later.

'59 could be right but I think those numbers only actually coincide with the date in some periods.

Besdor probably has a better idea.

B
T

 

[Visigoth]

I'm willing to bet that it's 1959.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Love those Boralinos!....

I have acquired a few Borsalinos over the past months......here are a few pics of my favorite. It may have snuck in under the radar as I believe I only paid $40-$50 for this one. If I remember right, the ebay picture did not do it any justice. Anyone here care to aproximate the date it was created?

I have a couple of Borso's myself and just love 'em! I like the one in your avatar; like Mike Sullivan's in "Perdition" is it not?! -Dixon Cannon

 

[Mr_Misanthropy]

Spiridon
What a great purchase. I just bot my first Borsalino as well, I was shocked by the fine quality, having only dealt with Stetsons, Portis, etc. I really like the crown shape, very bold. Awesome hat.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I think it is a beautiful hat. It is a great color with a great bash in the crown.

As to the date, I am not sure. It is newer than the 40s, I would think. But, I have no faith in the dating techniques we have been guessing at around here, in regards to numbers and such. I think that crests and sizing tags are a better indication.

I wonder sometimes whether we should gather all of our anecdotal evidence as to the date of our Borsalinos and try to discern some patterns there. Or else, I wonder whether the company could help us with information of their history.

It would be nice to arrive at something definitive.

 

[Magus]

Nice hat....what size is it?

 

[spiridon]

Nice hat....what size is it?

7 & 3/8.



.... I have to add this as well....
Yesterday I was out at the track coaching my runners. After the workout, as we were leaving this gentleman practically ran across the field to get my attention.....he had to comment on my hat! He was very complimentary....going on & on about how great it looked....I was really taken aback for a moment, but we had a very nice "hat" conversation.....a nice way to end the day.

 

[BellyTank]

Re: age of Borsalinos...

See this thread-

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=3314

Happy Sleuthing!

B
T

 

[Visigoth]

I'm now virtually certain that's a 1959 hat. I just received an "Extra Superiore" with a serial number indicating 1960 (according to this system), and it has *precisely* the same crest in the lining.

God, these are lovely hats. This one is midnight blue, in a plush felt with a Cav edge; definitely a high-ranking mafia hat. I wouldn't want to meet me in a dark alley, wearing this. Will post pics soon.

 

[thefedorastore]

Qualities

Someone please interject here as necessary... but I have right now a Superiore, and Extra Superiore, and an Extra Extra Superiore on my store. The differences I see between Superiore and Extra are that the extra has thinner felt and is more packable. The Extra Extra the felt is even thinner, and the hat is much easier to shape with steam (much quicker, as there is not a need for as much moisture). So, I think it's all on the quality of the felt, since I noticed all of the other craftsmanship to be about the same. Also, my experience when selling these shows that the XXS draws a very nice price indeed, as much as a new custom.

 

[Visigoth]

Well, this Extra Superiore is by no means *thin*. It's a plush, winter-weight felt. It does shape, as you say, extremely easily. I suspect the designation has something to do with beaver content. This hat was clearly designed to be warm, and anything but featherweight, but it's obviously a superior quality of felt. (I suspect that plush hats are generally not thin felt.) My other plush Borsalino, not even Superiore, is a good notch down in softness, although it's just as pretty, and has similar trimmings (wind cord, etc.)

I have an Extra Extra on its way, from the forties, and I'm interested to see how it compares. Also a Superiore, from the thirties. (Neither of these are plush.)

I have two 30's Borsalino Trionfo hats on their way as well -- do you know where these stand in the Borsalino quality scale?

 

[Magus]

Well, this Extra Superiore is by no means *thin*. It's a plush, winter-weight felt. It does shape, as you say, extremely easily. I suspect the designation has something to do with beaver content. This hat was clearly designed to be warm, and anything but featherweight, but it's obviously a superior quality of felt. (I suspect that plush hats are generally not thin felt.) My other plush Borsalino, not even Superiore, is a good notch down in softness, although it's just as pretty, and has similar trimmings (wind cord, etc.)

I have an Extra Extra on its way, from the forties, and I'm interested to see how it compares. Also a Superiore, from the thirties. (Neither of these are plush.)

I have two 30's Borsalino Trionfo hats on their way as well -- do you know where these stand in the Borsalino quality scale?

Ok...Vis...Mr. multi Borsa owner...you can be quiet now...


TEASING...and Jealous as I can't find one...vintage...in my size

Congrats on the hats

 

[Visigoth]

Mwahahahaha.

On the other hand, you will have money to buy lunch tomorrow.

(I went on a slightly manic, irresponsible hat-buying spree. And it's not as if I could really afford it. But ebay is sort of addictive, and you get this weird feeling that the Really Good One is going to get away, if you don't buy it. Even though great hats come up every second day...)

 

[Visigoth]

By the way, Magus, what *is* your size? Since, like me, you like stingy brims, I suspect there are more Borsos out there than you might think. I try to pay no more than $50.00, in general, and have found new Borsalinos from the thirties for $40.00. What they generally have in common is a 2" brim.

The plush one I discuss above is 2 1/4", which for me is a *big* lookin' hat. Nicely Pimp. Looks great, in fact, with my fringed cowboy jacket: it morphs from mafioso into a western black-hat villain lid.