The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[Chepstow]

Wow, Jeff, he looks great. I hope, my next Borso looks so great to.

 

[DRB]

Wow, Jeff, he looks great. I hope, my next Borso looks so great to.

+1

 

[bowlerman]

Hi Dennis! Thanks-- I can see this becoming a quick favorite-- one of those "just scrunch it on your head and get out the door" kinds of hats.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Gentlemen, I apply to your esteemed Brotherhood with my first Borsalino:

It's from Lounger "Bond," who had it up in the Classifieds last week: a '60s Savoy, he says, size 6 7/8, w/ a 2 3/8" brim. I'm in the process of hat-jacking it to fit my head -- an hour last night and it fit okay; a little more should make it comfortable -- and shaping the brim to a nicer swoop.

An observation: The felt is so malleable that now I understand what you Akubra Sydney owners say, that you're likely to rebash your hat each time you pick it up!

Question, and the reason I didn't wear it to work today: How can I refasten the wind trolley? Bond had it set neatly against the base of the crown, but I did something to dislodge it, or my water spraying made it stretch. On my other hats with this feature, the string and button are tucked neatly up against the ribbon. I don't think I should string it out and wind it twice around the crown; what if it shrinks like drying rawhide in the Old West?

If there's no easy way to tuck it in so it doesn't slop around, would snipping it off change the value of the hat, should I ever want to sell it? Any ideas appreciated.

 

[bowlerman]

Congratulations! A fine looking hat, for sure. Also a felted edge, as far as I can tell?
My experience with button cords is that they're often looped in such a way that you can slide the button one way or the other to loosen or tighten the cord.
Vintage Borsalinos also seem to have a pretty good resale value, with or without the cords.
Someone please correct me if I'm leading you astray here.

 

[Rodkins]

Gentlemen, I apply to your esteemed Brotherhood with my first Borsalino:

Question, and the reason I didn't wear it to work today: How can I refasten the wind trolley? Bond had it set neatly against the base of the crown, but I did something to dislodge it, or my water spraying made it stretch. On my other hats with this feature, the string and button are tucked neatly up against the ribbon. I don't think I should string it out and wind it twice around the crown; what if it shrinks like drying rawhide in the Old West?

If there's no easy way to tuck it in so it doesn't slop around, would snipping it off change the value of the hat, should I ever want to sell it? Any ideas appreciated.

Many Borsalinos used a "stretchy" wind trolley cord. If this is the case with yours it may be stretched out. If the cord is not in good shape in my opinion taking it off would not hurt the value of the hat.

 

[Chepstow]

Great looking Borso benz, i have seen it on the Classifieds.
some games just to see where and how it is attached, if necessary you can cut the cord and to sew it so that when the button is located where it should go.

"The felt is so malleable that now I understand what you Akubra Sydney owners say, that you're likely to rebash your hat each time you pick it up!"

Steam can help to stiff the felt. i have also an specimen with the same felt.

 

[Chepstow]

New Borsalino, fresh out the package. Age, no guess.
Its a darker gray and needs a cleaning. I find him on Ebay.
The first impression, " i have no luck this year " The seller pics are not very useful, the description bad.
I thought he was older. But ?

 

[Chepstow]

he looks not so bad, as i thought first time. Nice the red lining.
Here some Photos after cleaning.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Great looking Borso benz, i have seen it on the Classifieds.
some games just to see where and how it is attached, if necessary you can cut the cord and to sew it so that when the button is located where it should go.

"The felt is so malleable that now I understand what you Akubra Sydney owners say, that you're likely to rebash your hat each time you pick it up!"

Steam can help to stiff the felt. i have also an specimen with the same felt.

I'll go to that after I settle on a bash. Most of my hats are diamonds-with-dome, to clear my probably pointed skull, but this one has a high enough crown that a center dent may work.

Manfred, you did a fantastic job with the gray!

 

[Chepstow]

Thank you very much, Paul for the kind words.

A center dent looks very good on yours. Many Borsalinos use a center dent, Original in Germany are always center dent.

 

[mayserwegener]

New Borsalino, fresh out the package. Age, no guess.
Its a darker gray and needs a cleaning. I find him on Ebay.
The first impression, " i have no luck this year " The seller pics are not very useful, the description bad.
I thought he was older. But ?

Nice find! The paper label behind the sweatband might have the production year if it is around mid 1970s or bit later. It's from the old factory so no later than early 1980s.

 

[jbucklin]

Great Borso and very nice restoration work. Just goes to show that great hats are always restorable. Wear it proudly!

 

[Chepstow]

Thank you Steve, the paper Label says:
K4880 80482
SCANDIO

Thank you for the very kind words, jbucklin you're right with what you say. With a little love, anything is possible!

 

[mayserwegener]

Thank you Steve, the paper Label says:
K4880 80482
SCANDIO

Thank you for the very kind words, jbucklin you're right with what you say. With a little love, anything is possible!

It doesn't have the production year. My guess is late 60s early 70s.

 

[Chepstow]

Thanks Steve, for your guess. I really appreciate them.

 

[hatophile]

Chepstow, not a very old hat (younger than I), but still very nice. It looks good after you cleaned it!

 

[Chepstow]

My sincere thanks for the nice comment, Perry

 

[Ordinary Guy]

Is there anyway to get a ballpark idea when a Borsalino was made by the liner ??

I have seen discussions about the numbers under the sweatband and nothing really positive seemed to come of that... Just curious , I love my Borsalino's no matter when they were made but it would be nice to get an idea of at least the decade.....

 

[Chepstow]

Ordinary Guy, newer borsalinos from 1994 to today have a Paper Label that shows the Date.