Marque Grand Luxe

[DOUGLAS]

This hat came in the mail today. I had to risk it not being great. The felt is really nice almost suede like,rich and dense but not thick.It definitely needs some work and a good cleaning. It is a true stingy sporting a 4" crown and 1-7/8" brim.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Very nice

This hat came in the mail today. I had to risk it not being great. The felt is really nice almost suede like,rich and dense but not thick.It definitely needs some work and a good cleaning. It is a true stingy sporting a 4" crown and 1-7/8" brim.

When I lived in Manhattan, some 20 yrs. ago, I was not "into" hats ... I made a few visits to the store on 8th up by Times Square w/ the big KNOX HATS sign, but nothing serious...do you find all of these in resale/goodwill shops or what? I wish I would have know it was a hat collectors nirvana!

 

[DOUGLAS]

Rick, this one came from Ebay. I used to be able to find many great hats and vests and ties and other things I like often, however the flavor of the city has changed quite a bit. I now have a hard time even knowing where I am sometimes because of all the new construction going on. It seems every day they remove an old block of 5 to 6 story buildings. All or most of the really cool shops that sold vintage items are gone.
Rick, twenty years ago you would have had a field day.

 

[Razzman]

The hat looks great Douglas. :eusa_clap Another ebay find? Seems to be in good condition. Congratulations! :eusa_clap

 

[DOUGLAS]

Razzman the hat is in ok shape. It needs a really good cleaning and that feather has got to go. This is not my regular style. It looks very Seventies to me.

 

[Visigoth]

Take out the feather, and it'll look sixties, I think. Fifties, even. (The feather adds a pimp factor.) I like it a lot!

And it would be great to get a picture of the whole liner (looks as if it may be similar to my Grand Luxe).

 

[DOUGLAS]

You got it.

 

[Visigoth]

Okay, interesting. That plastic covering the top of the liner -- is it the early plasticized silk stuff, or is it a normal plastic?

Because this hat is *definitely* not an early Borsalino (black Eulan Bayer tag, black sweat). If they were using that weird liner material into, say, the sixties, then I have NO idea when mine was made.

 

[squid]

The liner looks exactly like my last Borsalino. Mine has the silk-like piece, brown sweatband and blue/white tag without Eulan Bayer. It is really nice felt.

 

[Visigoth]

Yes, Squid -- that's what mine has. Which would *seem* to put it in a different era.

 

[squid]

Yes, Squid -- that's what mine has. Which would *seem* to put it in a different era.

It does have a much older look than the clear plastic tops.

 

[DanielJones]

Yet another fine looking lid Douglas.:eusa_clap A little cleaning & TLC and I'm sure it will come to life for you. What I wonder is, what tie will you pair with this one?

Cheers!

Dan

 

[DOUGLAS]

Visigoth and Squid, I don't think this hat is any older that late Seventies. The felt is gorgous but the liner is not silk the logo as far as I can tell is printed on the sweat shield and not behind it.The shield seems to be a coated type of plastic.

 

[squid]

Visigoth and Squid, I don't think this hat is any older that late Seventies. The felt is gorgous but the liner is not silk the logo as far as I can tell is printed on the sweat shield and not behind it.The shield seems to be a coated type of plastic.

Printed on the plastic? Mine is definately printed on the liner with a translucent fabric over it. "Plasticized silk" is a good description.

 

[Visigoth]

Yes, mine is behind the plasticized thing as well. Also, the liner is *definitely* silk -- of a very high quality.

So, we're beginning to get somewhere, in terms of differentiating between Grand Luxes.

Squid, what's the serial number on yours (behind the sweatband)?

 

[squid]

Yes, mine is behind the plasticized thing as well. Also, the liner is *definitely* silk -- of a very high quality.

So, we're beginning to get somewhere, in terms of differentiating between Grand Luxes.

Squid, what's the serial number on yours (behind the sweatband)?

I'll look when I get home. Didn't Besdor say that the serial number only has the year of mfg starting in the 70s or 80s?

 

[Visigoth]

Hm. I thought that it was also (possibly) accurate for the thirties and forties.

I certainly have a couple of thirties hats where the serial number seems to work.

(Borsalino dating is driving me insane.)

 

[squid]

Hm. I thought that it was also (possibly) accurate for the thirties and forties.

I certainly have a couple of thirties hats where the serial number seems to work.

(Borsalino dating is driving me insane.)

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=47155&postcount=37

Borsalino did start to put in dates in their hats around 1976 . This would be on the white body ticket under the lining .
Another way to tell is hats meant for the US market will have the imprint "original house " printed in English instead of "antica casa" . This is prior to 1985 when the factory moved to Spinetta Marengo from their old factory in Alessandria . It was also at that point that they stopped sewing in linings and started to glue them in . It was all downfall from there .

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=101457&postcount=60

The number that you had mentioned is a production number . As the years went by the number increased until the dating started in the mid 1970's .

 

[Matt Deckard]

I've seen yellowed plastic and oil silk cloth and that looks to be yellowed plastic.

Nice hat.

 

[DOUGLAS]

The numbers on the inside tag are A4719 48487
Morello

The liner is sewed in as well.