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G.B.Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. <1936

Tonio

A-List Customer
Messages
445
I rescued another GB Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & Co relic. Guessing that it's an ad sign promoting their "Zenit" model hat. Described as a plaque. I'm excited to check it out in person.

View attachment 74949 View attachment 74950

Couple ads with the same logo:
View attachment 74952 View attachment 74951

ZENIT brochure! Awaiting its arrival.
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Should go nice with the Zenit sign. Now I just need to track down the hat!
image.jpeg


By the way if you haven't seen this Borsalino Zenit video it deserves a watch.

 
Messages
17,549
Location
Maryland
ZENIT brochure! Awaiting its arrival.
View attachment 77491 View attachment 77492

Should go nice with the Zenit sign. Now I just need to track down the hat!
View attachment 77496

By the way if you haven't seen this Borsalino Zenit video it deserves a watch.

Tonio, Sorry I missed this June post. Great finds! Did you receive "Zenit" G.B.Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. brochure? If so would it be possible to post photos? What are the dimensions of the "Zenit" sign? Yes the very old "Zenit" G.B.Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. film is fantastic! Manfred found it a while back. I think it's posted farther back in the thread.
 

Tonio

A-List Customer
Messages
445
Tonio, Sorry I missed this June post. Great finds! Did you receive "Zenit" G.B.Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. brochure? If so would it be possible to post photos? What are the dimensions of the "Zenit" sign? Yes the very old "Zenit" G.B.Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. film is fantastic! Manfred found it a while back. I think it's posted farther back in the thread.

Thank you! I did receive the Zenit brochure. It's about 30 pages. I believe it's from 1920. The premise details a design competition for the Zenit model hat. "The jury was formed by the sculptor LEONARDO BISTOLFI, by the painters GIOVANNI BELTRAMI and ARNALDO FERRAGUTTI, by the author RENATO SIMONI, and by the technical part, by Mr. G.B. Borsalino" I'm in the process of getting the entire text translated and I will post it here with images.

The diameter of the Zenit sign is roughly 4-3/8". It is heavy and has a stand that flips out so it can display on a counter top.

The hat came in yesterday from an antique dealer in Sicily. The sweatband is quite wide and would require some pressure to peel back. I will see if I can safely peek. There is what appears to be a little hard glue spot of sorts inside where the top of the head would sit, perhaps indication of small label?

More to come I hope! Thanks
 
Messages
17,549
Location
Maryland
Tonio, Thank you for the additional information. That would be fantastic if you can post the Zenit brochure contents and translated text. Please do not risk damaging the sweatband looking for the paper label. I look forward to seeing more details of the hat. If you can take a photo of the inside crown that would be great.
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
GB Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C.

Quite a light weight at 2.8oz

View attachment 79874 View attachment 79876 View attachment 79879 View attachment 79880 View attachment 79881 View attachment 79882

Notice the script difference compared to what is more commonly seen.
View attachment 79883

Somewhat delicate to handle, and in need of a steaming due to being crushed into a shipping envelope...:rolleyes:
View attachment 79884
Now that is character! Can't wait to see the transformation back to it's old self.
 
Messages
18,588
Location
Nederland
GB Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C.

Quite a light weight at 2.8oz

View attachment 79874 View attachment 79876 View attachment 79879 View attachment 79880 View attachment 79881 View attachment 79882

Notice the script difference compared to what is more commonly seen.
View attachment 79883

Somewhat delicate to handle, and in need of a steaming due to being crushed into a shipping envelope...:rolleyes:
View attachment 79884
Another great one. I'd love to see that one brought back to former glory.
 
Messages
18,588
Location
Nederland
This one doesn't really belong in this thread (sorry guys), because I don't think it's an original GB Borsalno fu Lazzaro, but rather one made by Borsalino in the fifties to revive the GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro brand. I don't think we have a dedicated thread for those, so I'm posting it here as an example. GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro&C fedora in a warm grey (Ontano, which translates as Alder), size 57. Raw edge brim at 6cm and crown 10,5 cm at the pinch. Qualita superiore. The hat does have the initials JK on the sweatband, but it looks like it has never been worn. Ribbon is a bit crumpled because of the way it was shipped to me. Sold by Camberini of Genova.

borsalino fu lazzaro_02.jpg
borsalino fu lazzaro_01.jpg
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RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
This one doesn't really belong in this thread (sorry guys), because I don't think it's an original GB Borsalno fu Lazzaro, but rather one made by Borsalino in the fifties to revive the GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro brand. I don't think we have a dedicated thread for those, so I'm posting it here as an example. GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro&C fedora in a warm grey (Ontano, which translates as Alder), size 57. Raw edge brim at 6cm and crown 10,5 cm at the pinch. Qualita superiore. The hat does have the initials JK on the sweatband, but it looks like it has never been worn. Ribbon is a bit crumpled because of the way it was shipped to me. Sold by Camberini of Genova.

View attachment 85317 View attachment 85318 View attachment 85319 View attachment 85320 View attachment 85321 View attachment 85322 View attachment 85323 View attachment 85324 View attachment 85325
Very nice.
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
This one doesn't really belong in this thread (sorry guys), because I don't think it's an original GB Borsalno fu Lazzaro, but rather one made by Borsalino in the fifties to revive the GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro brand. I don't think we have a dedicated thread for those, so I'm posting it here as an example. GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro&C fedora in a warm grey (Ontano, which translates as Alder), size 57. Raw edge brim at 6cm and crown 10,5 cm at the pinch. Qualita superiore. The hat does have the initials JK on the sweatband, but it looks like it has never been worn. Ribbon is a bit crumpled because of the way it was shipped to me. Sold by Camberini of Genova.

View attachment 85317 View attachment 85318 View attachment 85319 View attachment 85320 View attachment 85321 View attachment 85322 View attachment 85323 View attachment 85324 View attachment 85325
Beautiful Stefan! The history of this hat and Borsalino's revival of the brand is totally appropriate, even if it is newer. Love it.
 

Tonio

A-List Customer
Messages
445
Very very happy to share my latest find! This is a 115 year old postcard from March 11, 1903 signed by Giovanni Battista (G.B.) Borsalino to the Martini & Rossi company.

To put the timeframe into perspective, it was just 3 years after the founder Giuseppe Borsalino passed away.

Interesting to see that it is on the original Borsalino company letterhead. "GB Borsalino Fu Lazzaro" did not yet exist at this time, and GB was affiliated with the main company before starting his own.

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Handwriting comparison from "The American Hatter" June 1919:
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Advertisement snippet also from "The American Hatter" June 1919.
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