Italian brands hats

[steur]

It is rare to find hats branded only with the name "John Valtz" which I suspect is a pseudonym given the location of the hat shop in the photograph posted by Stefan. As can be seen from the image, this is a humble farmhouse in the Cervo valley, while the Grosso&Valtz headquarters has more the appearance of a workshop for making hats. The hat is beautiful and perhaps readjusted at some point in its long life. I assume that John Valtz survived the Second World War because in the very rare hats seen, some have post-war finishes, shapes and characteristics. Now I don't have the chance to go and see those two in my possession, but they are Grosso&Valtz. One is for sale here https://www.vinted.it/items/4206275...o-valtz-biella-nuovo-size-53?referrer=catalog
it has an impossible size and moth walks carpet, but it is a homburg

From an Italian site concerning industrial landscape
The Grosso Valz & C. hat factory was founded in Andorno in 1885 on the initiative of 15 hat makers as a general partnership. The hatmaker Maggiorino Guasco was at the helm of the company for many years.
In the 1920s the company renovated and expanded the premises for the conversion of the manufacturing cycle from manual to mechanical, thanks to the purchase of the first machines.
Subsequently the building was sold to the Valeggia family who set up a wool dyeing factory there.

View attachment 600465

Ah, I didn't guess that Grosso Valtz lobbia was yours. Had it on my watchlist already; too bad about the small size.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Ah, I didn't guess that Grosso Valtz lobbia was yours. Had it on my watchlist already; too bad about the small size.

Oh no, it is not mine. Sometimes English in not my language

 

[steur]

This thread deserves a bit of boost.
Hoc Extra fedora in a brown colour called malaga. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6cm and the crown at 10cm in front. This teardrop is what it said it wanted during steaming it. Who am I to argue? Maker is either Gerardo Riva or Cerizza of Monza, a city known for its formidable woolfelt production. This one is a furfelt of decent but not exceptional quality. A cool find nonetheless. Riva hats are hard to find. They were on the market under the names of Rival, which is on the label of this one, and Delione. Cerizzza took over the brand names in 1960. Hard to say if this is pre or post 1960.

 

[rogueclimber]

This thread deserves a bit of boost.
Hoc Extra fedora in a brown colour called malaga. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6cm and the crown at 10cm in front. This teardrop is what it said it wanted during steaming it. Who am I to argue? Maker is either Gerardo Riva or Cerizza of Monza, a city known for its formidable woolfelt production. This one is a furfelt of decent but not exceptional quality. A cool find nonetheless. Riva hats are hard to find. They were on the market under the names of Rival, which is on the label of this one, and Delione. Cerizzza took over the brand names in 1960. Hard to say if this is pre or post 1960.

I find this hat to be simply stunning!

 

[steur]

I find this hat to be simply stunning!

Thank you, Rob. It is a fine hat and if it had a bound edge it would have been a twin of the Champ featherweight. Your signature cannot but remind me of a hugely popular comic strip of the fifties and sixties here in the Netherlands. How cool is that!

 

[rogueclimber]

How cool is that!

Wow, LOVE it, thanks for sharing

 

[Steve1857]

I can't quite make out the name of this one. Could it be Cerviza? Anyway, not a brand I recall seeing before despite it apparently being founded in 1902.

The liner logo is hard to photo, but easier to decipher in hand.

The middle box says "Cerviza", I think. Above that, at the top part of the shield, is the year 1999. I thought the hat was older.

Below the boxed part at the bottom of the shield is the name Monza.

The words "Made In Italy" can just be made out under the underneath ornamental part of the shield.

The felt is quite dense, but soft. Weighs 108grams. The crown height to the front crease is 9cm, and the overwelt brim is 4.5cm.

It's a nicely made hat, probably made by one of the better known Italian hat makers under a pseudonym.

One of its best features is the ribbon and bow treatment.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

These are the Monza factory hats in the so far year 1933
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cappellifici_a_Monza_nel_1933_per_anno_di_fondazione
Maybe you will find somenthing also in this list named by locations
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cappellifici_a_Monza_nel_1933
Cerizza is a common surname in that town
Here the address of Cappellificio Cerizza
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1933-Cerizza-&-C.jpg

 

[Steve1857]

These are the Monza factory hats in the so far year 1933
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cappellifici_a_Monza_nel_1933_per_anno_di_fondazione
Maybe you will find somenthing also in this list named by locations
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cappellifici_a_Monza_nel_1933
Cerizza is a common surname in that town
Here the address of Cappellificio Cerizza
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1933-Cerizza-&-C.jpg

Thank you Daniele for those links. So, its Cerizza not Cerviza. Thanks for deciphering the font.

 

[steur]

Cambiaghi heather fedora in brown. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. Weighs 113 grams. The unreeded sweatband and the style of crown patch tell us this is a very early one. Perfect for autumn.

Thank you, Daniele!

 

[steur]

HD Stevens heather fedora in grey. Size 57 with the overwelt brim at 6 cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. This name is deceiving however because the hat is actually Italian made by Borsalino. We've found this kind of liner before and traced those back to Alessandria. Weighs 115 grams.

 

[steur]

Panizza Zeffiro in black. Actually a homburg but because of the rather flat topped crown it resembles a cambridge bowler in style close enough for me to keep it open crown. Size 55 (so needed some stretching) with the bound brim at 6cm and the open crown at 13cm. One of the finest Panizzas I've seen and in pristine condition. Weighs 130 grams.

 

[Blare]

HD Stevens heather fedora in grey. Size 57 with the overwelt brim at 6 cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. This name is deceiving however because the hat is actually Italian made by Borsalino. We've found this kind of liner before and traced those back to Alessandria. Weighs 115 grams.

Two beautiful heathers. And that leather debossing on the brown one!

 

[steur]

Two beautiful heathers. And that leather debossing on the brown one!

Thanks, Joe.

 

[steur]

Panizza Super Stella fedora in blue. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6cm and the crown at 9,5cm at the center dent. Lovely felt and great colour. Just wish the crown had some more volume. Weighs 117 grams.

 

[steur]

Cervo Super Bantam welterweight in a grey colour called Bolzano. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6,5cm and the crown at 10 cm at the center dent. The striking style with the two rows of pronounced stitching and the cross stitched ribbon reminds a bit of the gay prince styled hats. Which is what drew me to this hat. Very lightweight at only 87 grams. Odd that a hat can be both a bantam and welterweight at the same time!

 

[Blare]

Cervo Super Bantam welterweight in a grey colour called Bolzano. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6,5cm and the crown at 10 cm at the center dent. The striking style with the two rows of pronounced stitching and the cross stitched ribbon reminds a bit of the gay prince styled hats. Which is what drew me to this hat. Very lightweight at only 87 grams. Odd that a hat can be both a bantam and welterweight at the same time!

wow…. What cool stitching

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Panizza Super Stella fedora in blue. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6cm and the crown at 9,5cm at the center dent. Lovely felt and great colour. Just wish the crown had some more volume. Weighs 117 grams.

I agree with you Stefan about the lack of consistency of the crown.
Let's talk about the Panizza production in the Sixties and Seventies. They were the medium-low range hats, especially for the Italian public who could not afford the brands that began with the letter B. It was difficult to find a high quality Panizza in those years, even if, at the end of their production parabola, they showed their qualities with the Ediston series. Rare to find.

Cervo Super Bantam welterweight in a grey colour called Bolzano. Size 56 with the raw edge brim at 6,5cm and the crown at 10 cm at the center dent. The striking style with the two rows of pronounced stitching and the cross stitched ribbon reminds a bit of the gay prince styled hats. Which is what drew me to this hat. Very lightweight at only 87 grams. Odd that a hat can be both a bantam and welterweight at the same time!

The hats from Cappellificio Cervo that arrived in Taranto at the Pisapia shop are often of rare beauty.
The Bantam series that I have found in recent years, comimg from that shop, is very often synonymous with a hat of great quality. I believe that their buyer at the time had great taste and also had a great mission to put hats on the heads of the people of Taranto in a typically Mediterranean climate. I think it was a feat, however Cervo Bantams have great quality and beauty.

 

[steur]

wow…. What cool stitching

I agree with you Stefan about the lack of consistency of the crown.
Let's talk about the Panizza production in the Sixties and Seventies. They were the medium-low range hats, especially for the Italian public who could not afford the brands that began with the letter B. It was difficult to find a high quality Panizza in those years, even if, at the end of their production parabola, they showed their qualities with the Ediston series. Rare to find.

The hats from Cappellificio Cervo that arrived in Taranto at the Pisapia shop are often of rare beauty.
The Bantam series that I have found in recent years, comimg from that shop, is very often synonymous with a hat of great quality. I believe that their buyer at the time had great taste and also had a great mission to put hats on the heads of the people of Taranto in a typically Mediterranean climate. I think it was a feat, however Cervo Bantams have great quality and beauty.

Thank you, gentlemen. Indeed the Cervo Bantam is the far better hat of the two. Panizza could make excellent hats, but quality dropped later in production. Cervo is still standing and this is a unique example of what they could do.