La Familiare, Daino. Montevarchi- Italia

[J.T.Marcus]

Fresh off the stretcher block, this morning, another vintage Italian. La Familiare Daino.

These two paper tags were tucked in the sweatband.

I was going to post it in "e-Bay Finds", or "New Hats" or "What are You Wearing Today?" However, an extensive search did not turn up this Italian maker. Montevarchi is a town in Tuscany, and is best known, these days, for the PRADA Outlet. A paper tag, which was still in the hat (above) identifies the model as Daino. That leaves "LA FAMILIARE" as the suspected manufacturer. I couldn't find anything on La Familiare, but I did find this 2005 post that mentions Montevarchi.

Finally, this hat has special significance to me...it was my Grandfather's. He passed away in 1961 - two years before I was born. I can't tell you how great it is to be able to wear something that he wore before me:

<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/Johnnysan/Lounge%20Photos/Rossi_Profile.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/Johnnysan/Lounge%20Photos/Rossi_Top.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

He was Italian and purchased it from a local milliner in his home town of Verona. It appears to have been made by hatter by the name of Giuseppe Rossi in Montevarchi. Haven't been able to find out anything about either firm, but the quality of the felt is quite nice and it's the last one I'd ever part with.

<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/Johnnysan/Lounge%20Photos/Rossi_Liner.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

:cheers1:

The felt is extremely pliable. Tomorrow, I think I'll wear it this way:

 

[art92101]

Those are beauties

I love the brown one. I love that soft felt. wear them with pride!

 

[Pat_H]

I love the brown one. I love that soft felt. wear them with pride!

I agree, neat hat! Wish I had one like that.

 

[besdor]

I know of this company. They closed up shop 10 years ago . They sometimes went by the name Alfa Geri . I have a business card from them somewhere in my collection.





Steven
wwww.bencrafthats.com

 

[duggap]

JT, definitely wear it with the front of the brim down. It looks much better on you that way. One nice looking hat you have there.

 

[jonbuilder]

The hat looks good on you with the brim snaped down it softens the lines

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Fresh off the stretcher block, this morning, another vintage Italian. La Familiare Daino.

J.T., I may be alone here but I think this pic is a more "old Italian" look than the other. Go with this one a while...on the other hand, you may NOT want to look like an old Italian [huh] ...

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I know of this company. They closed up shop 10 years ago . They sometimes went by the name Alfa Geri . I have a business card from them somewhere in my collection.





Steven
wwww.bencrafthats.com

Steven, Thank-you. I was hoping for some info like that.

 

[randooch]

J.T. Nice shots! That hat of your grandfather's is very understated, dignified. Any photos of him wearing it?

The $78 price tag on the other hat makes me wonder about its age. That's pretty steep for a vintage!

 

[J.T.Marcus]

J.T. Nice shots! That hat of your grandfather's is very understated, dignified. Any photos of him wearing it?

The $78 price tag on the other hat makes me wonder about its age. That's pretty steep for a vintage!

The black "grandfather's hat" is a post done by Johnnysan in 2005. (I quoted him.) I'm not sure if he's still active, around here. If he is, maybe he will see your request, or you might try a PM.

I'm not sure about the age. It is old enough to have been saturated with extremely stale tobacco smoke. (Before I cleaned it, you would have thought it had been hanging in a smokehouse, between a ham and a side of bacon. Really strong!) It is also old enough to have accumulated some moth tracks and a fair amount of storage dirt. (It was new old stock.) According to the besdor post, it is at least ten years old, but ten years ago, $78 would have been on the cheap side for a hat of that quality. ???

 

[Johnnysan]

The black "grandfather's hat" is a post done by Johnnysan in 2005. (I quoted him.) I'm not sure if he's still active, around here. If he is, maybe he will see your request, or you might try a PM.

I am indeed!

Unfortunately, no photos of my grandfather in this particular hat, but several of him in other hats throughout his lifetime. The felt is very soft and I think that this might be an example of the "packable" hats that many of the Italian makers were fond of producing.

After the unification of Italy, Montevarchi became an important center for manufacture of felt hats and, during the post World War II period, of shoes, hats, ladies' and children's wear. It is still a vital clothes production hub. Here's a good link: http://www.fabulous-hats.eu/hats-industry/

 

[besdor]

I found the card for the factory. The exact address for Alfa Geri was Levanella 68 Montevarchi Italy.
We tried to do business with them but by then they were pretty much out of business. they made very nice lightweight hats.




Steven
www.bencrafthats.com