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The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

lauro13

One of the Regulars
Messages
121
Location
San Francisco
Just picked this up and it needs a tune up. If anybody can tell me what year they think it is that would be great. Also, why is the sweatband doing this and can it be fixed?


DA997E28-25B6-461B-A8AC-8CDED8528807-4034-0000020D21A96478.jpg



134FEEA8-E76C-4AA1-8E75-5583D2910424-4034-0000020D1E8C2342.jpg
.
 
Messages
17,549
Location
Maryland
The sweatband probably had something behind (for example newspaper) it to make it smaller. You can probable use some leather conditioner like Bick 4 and a Hatjack (just enough tension to make the sweat taught) to smooth it out.

It is tough to date Borsalinos. Can you post a photo of the paper label behind the sweatband? By the way nice hat!
 

mikespens

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,913
Location
Tacoma, Wa
Agree with Steve Lauro, looks like someone tried to size down the sweat. Looks like a nice vintage borsy though, the unreeded and I'm guessing 2" wide sweatband would place it solidly in the 50's I'd guess.
 
Messages
17,549
Location
Maryland
Could be 50s but not sure you can go by the sweatband. Borsalino used similar non-reeded sweatbands into the late 1970s. Also this one was sold out of Italy which also complicates the situation.
 

fedoralover

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,006
Location
Great Northwest
That was a very good purchase. You got a great hat in what appears to be excellent condition. That era of borsalino's were fantastic. The vintage ones have fantastic felt and are put together with a lot of skill. A word of warning though, just don't think that a new borsalino will be of the same quality, they aren't.

fedoralover
 

Syne7

New in Town
Messages
2
Location
Austin
Thanks for the feedback. I live in Austin and thought about taking it to the Hat Box to be checked out and cleaned. They sold me my first hat, a black Stetson Inwood, which I am enjoying.

Does that seem advisable?
 
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-30-

A-List Customer
Messages
443
Location
TORONTO, CANADA
"A word of warning though, just don't think that a new borsalino will be of the same quality, they aren't."
QUOTE fedoralover.

I regrettably, I have to agree with you.


Regards,
-30-
 

memphislawyer

Practically Family
Messages
771
Location
Memphis, Tn
I tried on a Borsalino rain hat, a fedora, priced about $150 and it was fur felt but wow, so dang soft, but yet, the brim held. Alas, black and size 61. Anyone know which model it was (i forgot to note) and where I can go online and perhaps view it in brown and greys?
 

Benzadmiral

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,815
Location
The Swamp
I tried on a Borsalino rain hat, a fedora, priced about $150 and it was fur felt but wow, so dang soft, but yet, the brim held. Alas, black and size 61. Anyone know which model it was (i forgot to note) and where I can go online and perhaps view it in brown and greys?
Perhaps here: http://www.bencrafthats.com/list.php?cattype=2&subcatid=4&subcname=Borsalino

Steven Bencraft is a member here, and a number of Loungers have bought hats, including Borsalinos, from him.
 

tridentine

Suspended
Messages
292
Location
USA
That was a very good purchase. You got a great hat in what appears to be excellent condition. That era of borsalino's were fantastic. The vintage ones have fantastic felt and are put together with a lot of skill. A word of warning though, just don't think that a new borsalino will be of the same quality, they aren't.

fedoralover
Just to chime in a new poster on this forum, and please forgive me if I am off base, but I have a 70 old Borsalino [actually the one used by William Macys character in the film Pleasentville] and I also have a brand new Continental Homburg Borsalino from Bencraft, and the quality does not seem much different.
 

Rodkins

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Orlando
Here are some dry bashes on the Borsalino "open road stingy" as suggested. I tried ironing the brim but had very little luck due to the edge binding limiting my ability.
8D3AA4D0-45B4-4BF0-B178-836B8729E383-1430-0000008B0A25D6CC.jpg

77129F3E-9578-49B2-82B9-2C1BBBCFAF5D-1430-0000008B0DF92630.jpg

1AE051C9-37FA-4345-93FA-54AFD1EC3B84-1430-0000008B0828E8B1.jpg

F01B60D2-9BF5-4C22-A7CF-4A7AC9F2D566-1430-0000008B055A71C2.jpg

CCA37E87-4E3F-4AF9-A3CE-B36722E9781E-1430-0000008B0C044B66.jpg

I think the center dent looks most reasonable.
 

The Wiser Hatter

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,765
Location
Louisville, Ky
Mike that is one crazy OR styled Borso. I see that it just doesn't look right I like how Josh tilted his to get it to work for him.
I know the felt must be really great the center dent is the best maybe with a cattleman's crease it could work just fine.
 

rlk

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,100
Location
Evanston, IL
Big Baby-Blue Bunny Borsalino "Cow Boy"

XXXX Columbo
P1050358.JPG
P1050327.JPG

P1050357.JPG
P1050356.JPG


Most felt per $ at $6.02. Needs some brim work.
 
Last edited:

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