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Messages
11,714
The Optimo by Levi's for 1984's Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles
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Very thin and light. Nine to the inch weave, diamond pattern. Probably Shantung or similar paper.

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2" brim 4" Crown 1/2" ribbon
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Tip Logo. Check out that tight weave. But I don't think it's any kind of straw. Or hand-made.
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Factory Label say anything to you guys about the manufacturer?
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1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games Logo, Stars over Rings, on leather sweat.
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Came in a great box.
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No head shot until the weather is right.
Label is similar to Resistol of that period. Although it does look,like American Hat Co is still in business in Texas….. Still if I was gonna put money on who made a Levis licensed hat for the 1984 Olympics. I’d bet on Garland (Hatco/Resistol/Stetson). Oh… just learned something Resistol was owned by Levi Strauss and Co until 1985
 
Late 1930s (?) Borsalino “Mont”.

5-1/2” crown, 2-1/2” brim, 2” ribbon.

As arrived — I’ve just given it a light brushing.

Man I wish this one fit me. :(

I’ll get more pics and post to the Brotherhood thread when the weather cooperates. The 40 MPH wind gusts had me nervous. Hard to button a wind trolley to your lapel and still take photos.

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Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,247
Location
Verona - Italia
Late 1930s (?) Borsalino “Mont”.

5-1/2” crown, 2-1/2” brim, 2” ribbon.

As arrived — I’ve just given it a light brushing.

Man I wish this one fit me. :(

I’ll get more pics and post to the Brotherhood thread when the weather cooperates. The 40 MPH wind gusts had me nervous. Hard to button a wind trolley to your lapel and still take photos.

IMG_0547.jpeg
Some thoughts on a fantastic and very difficult to decipher hat. Let's start with the paper label.
"Mont" is, I think, one of the first times I've seen it mentioned on a paper label. "Gris Fer", however, is much more common. "Madresta" still becomes a little enigma. We need to ask Stefan, the keeper of Borsalino's "sensitive" data, for some information on this matter. The size separated from the paper label suggests the 1930s or late 1940s, in short, the post-war period when Borsalino returned to America. Doubts remain.
Felt and workmanship with finishes do not need comments, the photos speak for themselves
The hat is fantastic. I'll stop here Bob and share with you the disappointment of not being able to wear it.
 
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
Late 1930s (?) Borsalino “Mont”.

5-1/2” crown, 2-1/2” brim, 2” ribbon.

As arrived — I’ve just given it a light brushing.

Man I wish this one fit me. :(

I’ll get more pics and post to the Brotherhood thread when the weather cooperates. The 40 MPH wind gusts had me nervous. Hard to button a wind trolley to your lapel and still take photos.

View attachment 588589

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Some thoughts on a fantastic and very difficult to decipher hat. Let's start with the paper label.
"Mont" is, I think, one of the first times I've seen it mentioned on a paper label. "Gris Fer", however, is much more common. "Madresta" still becomes a little enigma. We need to ask Stefan, the keeper of Borsalino's "sensitive" data, for some information on this matter. The size separated from the paper label suggests the 1930s or late 1940s, in short, the post-war period when Borsalino returned to America. Doubts remain.
Felt and workmanship with finishes do not need comments, the photos speak for themselves
The hat is fantastic. I'll stop here Bob and share with you the disappointment of not being able to wear it.
First of all let me say this is an absolute beauty of a hat! And it does take us into some new territory. Let me add a little bit to what Daniele already mentioned. "Mont" on the label is something of a rarity. This is the third known example. The others are Mont Brenva (a natural colour) and Mont Ceminto (another grey). The model name is a first and I struggle with the actual name; I don't think that fifth letter is an "e" (the bottom leg is missing), it's not an "a" (too straight for that), so an "i" then, but it seems too wide for that. A typo maybe? And the last letter isn't visible, so it could also be "madristi". It would help if you could peel up that size sticker a bit to see what the last letter actually is.
There is still no definitive time frame for the hats with these separate size labels, but the late thirties seem most likely for those (after the fu Lazzaro takeover), but before the war.
Let me join you in lamenting the inability to wear it!;)
 
Some thoughts on a fantastic and very difficult to decipher hat. Let's start with the paper label.
"Mont" is, I think, one of the first times I've seen it mentioned on a paper label. "Gris Fer", however, is much more common. "Madresta" still becomes a little enigma. We need to ask Stefan, the keeper of Borsalino's "sensitive" data, for some information on this matter. The size separated from the paper label suggests the 1930s or late 1940s, in short, the post-war period when Borsalino returned to America. Doubts remain.
Felt and workmanship with finishes do not need comments, the photos speak for themselves
The hat is fantastic. I'll stop here Bob and share with you the disappointment of not being able to wear it.

First of all let me say this is an absolute beauty of a hat! And it does take us into some new territory. Let me add a little bit to what Daniele already mentioned. "Mont" on the label is something of a rarity. This is the third known example. The others are Mont Brenva (a natural colour) and Mont Ceminto (another grey). The model name is a first and I struggle with the actual name; I don't think that fifth letter is an "e" (the bottom leg is missing), it's not an "a" (too straight for that), so an "i" then, but it seems too wide for that. A typo maybe? And the last letter isn't visible, so it could also be "madristi". It would help if you could peel up that size sticker a bit to see what the last letter actually is.
There is still no definitive time frame for the hats with these separate size labels, but the late thirties seem most likely for those (after the fu Lazzaro takeover), but before the war.
Let me join you in lamenting the inability to wear it!;)

Thanks gents! The depth of your shared knowledge is amazing. I can add just a little to it by reporting that the letter in question appears to be an “I”.

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TheOldFashioned

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,180
Location
The Great Lakes
Late 1930s (?) Borsalino “Mont”.

5-1/2” crown, 2-1/2” brim, 2” ribbon.

As arrived — I’ve just given it a light brushing.

Man I wish this one fit me. :(

I’ll get more pics and post to the Brotherhood thread when the weather cooperates. The 40 MPH wind gusts had me nervous. Hard to button a wind trolley to your lapel and still take photos.

View attachment 588589

View attachment 588590

View attachment 588591

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How many cinnamon rolls do you reckon will fit in that crown? ;)
 
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
Fléchet de Luxe in dark grey, 'Mammouth'. Not sure about the age, but i think it's not that old. But Jan Spoorenberg closed the door in 1980. So the hat is before that. However...... the felt feels great. And i like the sharkgills :)
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Two nice hats you've scored there, Marcel. I believe I have an "escapade" as well somewhere. Nice felt on those.
 
Messages
18,449
Location
Nederland
Fléchet de Luxe in dark grey, 'Mammouth'. Not sure about the age, but i think it's not that old. But Jan Spoorenberg closed the door in 1980. So the hat is before that. However...... the felt feels great. And i like the sharkgills :)
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Thanks Stefan. From what era do you think this Fléchet is?
I'm thinking it's probably early sixties. I think the "century" on the sweatband is there to commemorate that the company existed 100 years in 1959. So the hat was likely made shortly after that.
 

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