Borsalino your Cup of Tea???

[Siirous]

The more I check the replies to this thread, the more that fuzzy hat grows on me. What kind of ensemble are you planning on wearing with it?

With Respect,
Rob

 

[shamus]

it reminds me a of a sweater.

 

[BellyTank]

it reminds me a of a sweater.

Do you have an Angora fetish Shamus?

B
T

 

[BellyTank]

More pics- and answering questions...

Not sure of the age, Blue label- '40s..?

It looks more '40s styled than '30s to me but it could be tweaked a little...

As far as an ensemble is concerned: it's a formal colour but the Angora-ness of it takes a bit of the formal edge off. I think it could go with a navy PS suit or a more casual outfit. Adds a little excentricity to any ensemble, I would have thought... The 'Brideshead Revisited look' is a little too 'excentric Fop' for me, a little more eclectic than I can get away with perhaps- but I like it anyway.

I don't know about $600 to make a new one- a fuzzy rabbit body wouldn't cost too much. Optimo use a similar high-nap felt, so it must be do-able for cheaper than Optimo prices... Any of our friendly hatters must be able to put one together for a reasonable price.

Mycroft- you seem to have a Hitler fixation... does peanut butter remind you of Hitler? Maybe if the hat was green and floppier and had some braids and a brush or bird's foot insted of a ribbon it might have a bit of the 'Goering on a Bavarian hunt' about it.

B
T

 

[feltfan]

B. R. Baker

Okay, I wasn't going to jump in, but this is getting weird.

I also have a Borsalino "Angora", in brown. Or a sort of
frosty brown, anyway. The Borsalino label
in the liner is the same style, but brown ink.

Here's where it gets weird: mine also carries the name of the
B. R. Baker Company and a $20 price tag. I wonder if this
style was something B. R. Baker requested from Borsalino.
It's unlikely you got yours from the same source as mine...
And I've never seen another hat from B. R. Baker (but maybe
they were a big hat store in their day?).

BTW, I thought the fur thing was odd, too, but it's not so
odd once it's on your head. For one thing, it has that classic
Borsalino style/dimensions. It doesn't end up looking hairy, just
textured. I have a shorter haired Willoughby (Paris) black fur hat
I wear now and then, too. Just isn't as odd as you might think.

 

[BellyTank]

Hi Feltfan-

This one has come most recently from France.
The B.R. Baker Co. was a big Downtown Toledo Menswear store and apparently sold a lot of Borsalinos. I don't know when exactly the store closed down but I read that it was in business for a long time.

*"Bernie... ran the men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s store until 1961, when it became a division of Botany Industries Inc"

OK- here's a little about Bernard R. Baker II:

"Bernard R. Baker II ?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢36 on June 16, 2004, of a stroke. He was eighty-eight and a resident of West Palm Beach, Florida.

At Kenyon, Bernie was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity. He earned his law degree at Harvard University in 1941. He was a Navy officer during World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.

Bernie was president and later chairman of the B.R. Baker Co. menswear store, which was a downtown Toledo, Ohio, landmark for eight decades, and headed many other Toledo-area organizations over the years. He ran the men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s store until 1961, when it became a division of Botany Industries Inc. He then became chairman of the local chain, which included four branches at area shopping centers.

For many years, Bernie wore two hats?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùas retail executive and law-firm partner. Until the 1990s, he was a partner in the firm that went by a number of names over the years, including Brown, Baker, Schlageter, and Craig.

Bernie was secretary of the Toledo Blade corporation from 1962 until 1990, and for a time was also a director and corporate counsel.

Known for his civic work, Bernie served on the boards of numerous organizations. He was a longtime trustee of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio.

Bernie is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Elinor Shutts Baker; a daughter, Lynn A. Baker; a son, Bernard R. "Robin" Baker III; two grandchildren; a niece, Eleanor M. Hight; and a nephew, Frank Hight. Memorial contributions may be made to the Medical College of Ohio, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43514; Boys and Girls Club of Toledo, Administrative Office, 2250 North Detroit Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43606; or Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County, Suite 204, 800 Northpoint Parkway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407-1946."

***

"In Toledo, he practiced law and was active in business, service and charitable organizations. Mr. Baker's grandfather, Bernard R. Baker, founded the B.R. Baker Co. in Toledo in the 1890s, and Mr. Baker served as president of the company from 1946 until it was sold in 1961 to Botany Industries. He was a director and counsel to Blade Communications Inc., publishers of The Blade newspaper in Toledo, until his retirement."

B
T

 

[shamus]

Do you have an Angora fetish Shamus?

B
T

for the sweaters or the goats?

 

[feltfan]

I figured you had a European source.
So you think it's just a coincidence? Sounds like
the B. R. Baker Company was big enough to be
able to make special requests of Borsalino.

Does anyone else have a hat from B. R. Baker
that is not a Borsalino "Angora"? Of course they
must have sold other hats, but just wondering.

Interesting that the B. R. Baker Company ceased to
exist in 1961 (unless Botany kept the name).
Kinda puts the kabosh on the idea that
these hats came from the 70s.

Here's the store, BTW:

http://66.213.36.5/images/mdrive/archive/next120/65b3ceab.jpg

 

[BellyTank]

The Sweaters and the rabbits, I wasn't thinking about the Goats
but hey, why not...?

Can you see the resemblence between the Angora hat and Angora rabbit now..?

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

I don't agree with JP that isn't a $600 hat now or ever.

Yeah you are right. I checked again and now to have one done in 100% beaver would be $700 not $600. Sorry for the confusion.
I am sure it could be done for less in beaver blends and especially in Rabbit. I just am not sure who would be willing to make one for you outside of a few specialized hatters. Vintage you could buy for much less.
BT, the blue label is probably from the late 40s. It doesn't look like there is any plastic over the top of the label either so that pushes me in that direction as well. Of course Borsalino came into the plastic topper thing later than most US manufacturers. I have a few verifiable Borsalinos from the late 50s that still do not have the plastic topper in them.
Its a great hat to me either way. Ah, when Borsalino made decent hats not junk that is neither water proof or fade resistant. :cry:

Regards to all,

J

 

[shamus]

angora hats are probably the only "animal friendly" hat there is except for just plain wool.

 

[BellyTank]

I am sure it could be done for less in beaver blends and especially in Rabbit. I just am not sure who would be willing to make one for you outside of a few specialized hatters.
J

Well, as Sharpetoys ponted out, Optimo make pile/nap hats, probably rabbit-

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

Well, as Sharpetoys ponted out, Optimo make pile/nap hats, probably rabbit-

B
T

Have you priced one like I have? Try it. They are 100% beaver by the way. :kick:

Regards to all,

J

 

[BellyTank]

You mean they don't make rabbit hats..?
...or what?

No rabbit option? What are 100% Beaver? Beavers?

Why should I price one?

Most hatters can...

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

You mean they don't make rabbit hats..?
...or what?

No rabbit option? What are 100% Beaver? Beavers?

Why should I price one?

Most hatters can...

B
T

Uh yeah. This is sort of incomprehensible.
I don't think they make 100% rabbit.
Just check the website concerning the felts:
http://optimohats.com/felthats.htm


Regards to all,


J

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Miller hats under $200 in rabbitt

Biltmore makes a angora finish hat out of rabbitt. They call it a Grand Beaver. Here is a write up from Biltmore's site.Grand Beaver - is 100% fur felt with a luxurious long textured hair finish. The body has a high quantity of fur felt. It has a genuine leather sweatband and hand made fur felt outer band. With these high quality accessories, this hat is considered to be one of the best in the business. I've seen them online new for $180.00 or so.

Miller hats sells Biltmore hats with there Miller label called a Grand Beaver Peluche.

http://www.millerhats.com/productimages/860.jpg

Style: 860 "Bear Creek Hat"
Material: Grand Beaver Peluche
Brim: 3" Raw Edge
Crown: 5 1/2" Open Crown
Band: 1 3/4" Grograin Band
Colors: Black,Champagne
Sizes: 6 3/4 - 7 3/4
Price: $182.50

 

[BellyTank]

Uh yeah. This is sort of incomprehensible.
I don't think they make 100% rabbit.
Just check the website concerning the felts:
http://optimohats.com/felthats.htm


Regards to all,


J

But I don't want an Optimo- :cry:

I have a nice hat.

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

Biltmore makes a angora finish hat out of rabbitt. They call it a Grand Beaver. Here is a write up from Biltmore's site.Grand Beaver - is 100% fur felt with a luxurious long textured hair finish. The body has a high quantity of fur felt. It has a genuine leather sweatband and hand made fur felt outer band. With these high quality accessories, this hat is considered to be one of the best in the business. I've seen them online new for $180.00 or so.

Miller hats sells Biltmore hats with there Miller label called a Grand Beaver Peluche.

http://www.millerhats.com/productimages/860.jpg

Style: 860 "Bear Creek Hat"
Material: Grand Beaver Peluche
Brim: 3" Raw Edge
Crown: 5 1/2" Open Crown
Band: 1 3/4" Grograin Band
Colors: Black,Champagne
Sizes: 6 3/4 - 7 3/4
Price: $182.50

A rabbit hat called a Grand Beaver?! Hmmmm....
That feather has to go and the brim makes it look like something out of Superfly. It would be worth the extra few hundred not to look like that. BT's hat looks much better.

Regards to all,

J

 

[jamespowers]

But I don't want an Optimo- :cry:

I have a nice hat.

Quite right. We were just talking about how much you would have to pay for an equivalent today.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Siirous]

The Feather

That is, I think, one of the worst feathers I have seen on a hat. You might as well just put a peacock feather in the hat and call it macaroni

Regards,
Rob