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Finally, A Dinerman Moment: Antique Mall Borsalino.

scotrace

Head Bartender
Staff member
Messages
14,392
Location
Small Town Ohio, USA
I went to the local Antique Mall today. I wasn't looking for hats this time (and there are NEVER any there except for a few 6 & 7/8 wonders here and there), but spotted a nice Mallory and entered the booth for a closer look. Of COURSE it was a 6 & 7/8. Then, at the bottom of the same hat rack, something else. Dark loden green. Looked... big. Picked it up. Soft. Baron Kurtz French Hat Soft. Like hanky cloth. Flipped it over, Borsalino. OK... clearly a long oval. Removed the Open Road I was wearing and tried it on... my size.

It's a maybe 20 year old Como, with a black sweat. Liner gone, fine brim edge stitching. How much?

$18.50.

Well, hell, can't lose. So I bought it, brought it home and brushed it. The felt is weird soft and it's hard to make it hold shape. But I finally went to an antique mall and had a DINERMAN (who seems to find rare hats lying around on the sidewalk everytime he leaves the house) MOMENT! :)
 

MKL

A-List Customer
Messages
316
Location
Kansas
Scotrace, see if you can get us some pix. I too rarely find any gems out there.
 

Razzman

One Too Many
Messages
1,357
Location
South of Boston
We should start calling you Mr. Lucky! Nice find. :eusa_clap I've never had the luck of even a glimpse of a vintage hat in an antique store, shop, mall whatever. Heck, I can't even find a bargain at the local BCF in my town.
 

deanglen

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,159
Location
Fenton, Michigan, USA
All good gifts come from above! Very happy for you, Scott. A light coat of stiffener could help the hat hold shape, as I'm sure you've considered.









dean
 

carter

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,921
Location
Corsicana, TX
Scott, What a terrific find. At an unheard of price.

It would have been nice to see your face when you realized what you'd found. Priceless, I imagine.

Congratulations on your Dinerman Moment!
:eusa_clap
 

Spellflower

Practically Family
Messages
511
Location
Brooklyn
Sounds like the time I found a Carvin electric guitar for $100 at a yard sale and the guy made me take his amp away with it.
 

cookie

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,927
Location
Sydney Australia
My Moment

I want a Borsalino moment but today I only managed an Akubra Plainsman moment.;)

Scotty congrats now are you going to need ARTwork on your hat?...[huh] [huh]
 

scotrace

Head Bartender
Staff member
Messages
14,392
Location
Small Town Ohio, USA
Pictures when I can

Scout stiffener, a hat sponge, brush, iron and a steaming kettle have it looking quite presentable. It may need another squirt of the stiffener, but so far, for the price of a ball cap at the mall store that sells only caps, I've got a Borsalino! A $200 hat. Though I'd certainly not pay that for one. The felt in my Akubra is better, and the felts from our custom hatters here are 1000 times better.

Inside the band says size 51 / 6 & 1/2. It's a 7 & 3/8 or 7.5 long oval.

How can I get some kind of liner to put in it?
 

fedoralover

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,006
Location
Great Northwest
scotrace said:
How can I get some kind of liner to put in it?


Good for you on your find Scot, I'd keep an eye on ebay borsalino's that are stingy brims or other styles that don't sell very high. Sometimes you can get them really cheap, and then just take out the liner with the Borsalino logo and stick it in yours. That's what I've done on some of my hats.

fedoralover
 

airforceindy

One of the Regulars
Messages
263
Location
Anchorage, AK
Congrats, scotrace! Sounds like my 8X Stetson find ($5 at the Rapid City antiques mall). Yours is probably in a bit better condition than mine though; posting and pictures?

Regards, Andy
 

RBH

Bartender
scotrace said:
Scout stiffener, a hat sponge, brush, iron and a steaming kettle have it looking quite presentable. It may need another squirt of the stiffener, but so far, for the price of a ball cap at the mall store that sells only caps, I've got a Borsalino! A $200 hat. Though I'd certainly not pay that for one. The felt in my Akubra is better, and the felts from our custom hatters here are 1000 times better.

Inside the band says size 51 / 6 & 1/2. It's a 7 & 3/8 or 7.5 long oval.

How can I get some kind of liner to put in it?
Sounds great Scot! Holler at Mike Moore I am sure he can help you out with one of the new liners he has for his fedoras.
 

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