The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[eli104]

Spoke to the manager last night. He said he'll cover the cleaning. (Of course that was before we discovered my wife's coat has stains in it too).


- eli104

 

[viclip]

But will the talc work if I won't be able to get to it for another week? That's my problem right now... Vacation and no chance to try cleaning before New Year's


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I've successfully removed greasy leather preservative stains from fur felt hats, which staining was several months old. Your mileage may vary, bearing in mind that a greasy food stain could have various ingredients included therein.

 

[rclark]

I've successfully removed greasy leather preservative stains from fur felt hats, which staining was several months old. Your mileage may vary, bearing in mind that a greasy food stain could have various ingredients included therein.

What did you use to clean the leather preservative from the felt?

 

[viclip]

What did you use to clean the leather preservative from the felt?

I had been referring to talcum powder, which I use as an absorbent/poultice ~ same idea as non-clumping kitty litter used to clean up oil spills in the driveway.

I've also used naphtha with excellent results on oily stains, when I'm careful to hold the hat overhead. Whereas talc won't spread a stain, the naphtha can & will as it soaks about the spot in question. Thus when using naphtha I make a point of holding the hat such that the stain is facing down, the gravitational force goes a long way in counteracting the wetting forces at play so the affair remains localized as the stain is leached out into the rag or paper towel I use to quickly blot the naphtha following application.

 

[eli104]

Once again, major thanks. I'll be back after New Year's, and will give this all a try it post a photo of my plans with questions. No need to ruin a good hat for poor planning.


- eli104

 

[viclip]

Once again, major thanks. I'll be back after New Year's, and will give this all a try it post a photo of my plans with questions. No need to ruin a good hat for poor planning.


- eli104

One further bit of advice, based upon sad experience.

The oily stains on your hat appear to be limited to the band. I would therefore strongly urge that you try the talcum powder treatment before resorting to naphtha.

It's often problematic to use naphtha to spot clean hat bands. The naphtha tends to spread the stain &/or pick up coloration from the felt underneath, including sanding dust trapped between the hat band & the body of the hat. If you've ever tried to spot clean a silk necktie then you'll know what I mean ~ some clean up well while others are ruined. If the stain spreads & leaves an obvious discolored area, all may not be lost; just apply the cleaner to the entire hat band & this usually uniformly stains the entire band. You'll wind up with a somewhat different shade of hat band, but at least there's no annoying little stain that's somehow obvious from 800 yards.

 

[eli104]

Ok. And when you say "talc" are you actually talking about talcum powder, like Johnson's Baby Powder or Gold Bond? Or does that really matter? There's already a bit or water stain that I spread on the band when I tried to toothbrush it away in the hotel room the night it happened. But it's still only on the band, not the hat.


- eli104

 

[Frunobulax]

Are you saying the stain is only on the ribbon, not on the felt? If that's true, ribbons can be replaced, or even removed and cleaned separately. That is something DelMonico can help you with. You could even try taking it off and seeing if a dry cleaner could work some spot magic on it, then have DelMonico put it back on.

 

[eli104]

That may be the ticket then! Yes it appears to be only the ribbon. Somehow the splatter only hit the fabric and not the felt. Feeling more uplifted now. But I'm not going to be the one who does the stitching on this one. DeMonico will have a visit from me next week! Thanks!!


- eli104

 

[alanfgag]

Fruno's advice is spot on.

 

[viclip]

Ok. And when you say "talc" are you actually talking about talcum powder, like Johnson's Baby Powder or Gold Bond? Or does that really matter? There's already a bit or water stain that I spread on the band when I tried to toothbrush it away in the hotel room the night it happened. But it's still only on the band, not the hat.


- eli104

Since you've indicated that you'll be replacing the hat band or ribbon, my response may be moot but nevertheless of value for future reference. I make a point of using pure talcum powder. Sources which come readily to mind include:

• fountain pen repairers (used to lubricate rubber bladders)
• bicycle shops (used to lubricate inner tubes)
• pool hall suppliers (used to lubricate the cue stick)
• speed shops (used to lubricate custom-length spark plug wires for insertion through their boots)
• dive shops (used to lubricate rubber diving suits)
• pharmacies

Consumer products like baby powder, foot powder, men's talc etc. usually contain added ingredients, which may or may not be suitable for the intended hat-cleaning use. For example, these products are avoided when lubricating rubber because they often contain petroleum-based ingredients with which rubber doesn't agree; on a hat such products could leave some sort of smear so why take the chance if the pure powder is available?

 

[Lotsahats]

Fruno's advice is spot on.

Better to be spot off! (sorry; I couldn't resist)

A

 

[belfastboy]

Threads like this are so invaluable. I have learned so much from the regulars. I so grateful for the resources available from the Lounge members.

 

[eli104]

[emoji108][emoji106]


- eli104

 

[Dlaniger]

Indeed very nice!

 

[eli104]

The saga of the oil stained ribbon contunues.

I took the hat to Delmonico Hatter in New Haven, and Ralph (who has to be 90 or so) tried to get the oil stain out, unfortunately to no avail. The next suggestion from Ernest (the owner) was to remove the ribbon and take it to a dry cleaner. That's where the ribbon is right now... waiting until the end of the week to see the results, but there may actually be an issue becuase we attempted cleaning it before the dry cleaner to get to it, so the color may be spotty. Assuming it does come clean, Delmonico will sew it back on, and the restaurant will pay for everything. If the ribbon does NOT come clean... then I'm not sure...

We are assuming that since this hat is from the 50's-60's the ribbon is silk, and since the hat has never before been cleaned and blocked, there are no other discolorations anywhere... so a change in the ribbon will be most noticable. Ernest says that it's not likely we will find another ribbon to match this one, since most these days are rayon or some other "fake" fabric. Even if we do come close, the color will likely vary and there goes the value (sentimental and otherwise) down the tubes.

Question New: Anyone know where I might find a ribbon for an otherwise perfect 50+ year old Borsalino?

 

[alanfgag]

The ribbon is almost certainly rayon - which is a cellulose fiber in common use since the early 20th century as a silk substitute. Virtually all hat ribbons that you will find in the vintage market have rayon ribbons. It has much of the look and feel of silk, but not the durability. It will be very difficult to clean. Fortunately, vintage rayon ribbon is not hard to come by and many custom hatters have some in their inventory of supplies. Art Fawcett and Bob Jessee (Black Sheep Hat Works) would be able to replace this ribbon for you losing very little in the translation.

 

[carouselvic]

I have Borsalino ribbon it that color I believe, it would be 2" or 2 1/8" wide. PM if you like.

 

[eli104]

Oh how I LOVE this bulletin board (If I may be so old fashioned to call it as such)!

Carousel I will try to PM you in the next days, perhaps I will wait to see what the dry cleaner can do... So I can have the ribbon back and be sure to match the color.

Thanks all!!!


- eli104

 

[Dlaniger]

Borsalino in steel grey

Size 6 (59 cm or 7 3/8 US) in fur felt with medium hair. Overwelt brim

NOS sold in a South Italy it was made in recent years

Proportions are crown, low point, at 11 cm. (4 21/64) and brim at 5.5 cm. (2 11/64 inches)

A medium felt, pliable and with a special metal color. Black ribbon 4 cm. (1 37/64)

Fantastic medium hair hat!

Pretty little hat!