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The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

Messages
15,072
Location
Buffalo, NY
Thanks Randall. I've been enjoying the iPhone camera and using it for almost all my FL posts over the last month or two. I discovered today that there is an exposure lock feature in the new software release that I didn't know about. I do open the images in Photoshop to adjust color and size. The color balance and image processing is generally better than my Canon digital Elph and the workflow is quicker. As long as you have enough light to work with, it's brilliant.
 

Hoss & da Posse

One of the Regulars
Messages
212
Location
Shiloh Acres Farm, Ball Ground, GA
So, I'm bumping along w/o a single Borsalino to my name when I buy my first from Bond around Christmas, a beautiful dark brown 30's vintage hat. Wow, I say...now I get what all the fuss is about. These are really nice hats. Imagine my delight when I win 3 of them in a single ebay bid...and they fit! But now, I need to know what I actually won. Two have 3" brims and one has a 2" brim. My guess is that one is fairly old, one from the 60's (which is probably still fairly old but that makes me old, too, so let's not go there ;)) and one from maybe the 80's. But I post them here for more input from folks that have handled these hats far more than I.
Brown Borsalino:
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Grey Borsalino:
IMG_3005.jpg

IMG_3045.jpg

IMG_3046.jpg

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IMG_3004.jpg
 

Chepstow

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,406
Location
Germany/ Remscheid
Great Jeff, wonderful Hats. The dark brown with borsalino on the bow is a newer one.
Difficult to estimate. I would guess 80s.
The green has a stamp. Maybe from the retailer shop, then he is older as the stamp, my guess.
The gray Borso, my tendenz too the 50s. As I said. just a guess.
But all, very nice.
 

Hoss & da Posse

One of the Regulars
Messages
212
Location
Shiloh Acres Farm, Ball Ground, GA
I forgot to put my Borsalino Rollable in here earlier this week...
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I was looking back through the thread when I noticed your Rollable was virtually identical to the hat I just picked up this week. Even the shadow where the ribbon had been appears to be the same height. The liner looks to be from the same shop in Rome, as well. What is the brim dimension of your hat if you don't mind me asking? Here are some shots to compare...
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EggHead

Practically Family
Messages
858
Location
San Francisco, CA
Gentlemen, I notice that often in regards to Borsalino fedoras, the leather sweatband looks detached in some places, particularly at the front. Is that a normal thing? or does it has to do with the fact that sweat is not reeded? How does one go about fixing, if needed, something like this?
 

Rabbit

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,561
Location
Germany
Egghead, the front area in question is a Borsalino feature on unreeded sweatbands specifically designed to prevent sweat from permeating into the felt. It doesn't alter the wearablity of the hat; it's a quality feature. It is only at the front area, where the skin has direct contact to the sweatband, that the additional layer is installed.

Here's an example on my Borsalino Misto. Blow it up separately for more detail:

P1040885-Kopiepost.jpg


Older, especially 1930s unreeded sweatbands are prone to popping stitches. If that happens they need to be re-sewn very carefully. I've sewn them by hand; a hatter might be able to sew it more professionally. I don't know whether or not hatters of today still accept work on unreeded sweats.

I fixed a 1930s Mallory heather blue this way (got help from Josh on how to do it), see also here, posts #461 to #475:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...MALLORY-MILE&p=1374240&viewfull=1#post1374240

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Last edited:

Rodkins

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Orlando
Ok...same as mine. Do you consider it a rollable hat or just a shipping box for initial use. I guess I thought a rollable hat would not use a leather sweat but a cloth one. Also, have you dated yours? Flowers, chocolates?
I don't plan on putting mine back in the box. While it is certainly "rollable" I think this was really meant for packaging or shipping and not storing once the hat had been shaped. I think mine is 50's but I'm not sure.
 

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