The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[Frunobulax]

So to be clear, all those size 6 hats I'm seeing on eBay that are marked "Vintage" and show "Antqua Casa" (meaning made for the European market) are most likely 7-3/8 in US sizing? This would explain why the size 6 I have from inside the family, but purchased in Italy, is so easily stretched to 7-1/2 to fit me.

I normally assume that, if the logo has the Reg. US Pat. Off., it's an American size.

 

[40Cal]

Nice brown Borsalino.

 

[Bob Roberts]

VERY nice brown Borsalino!

 

[alanfgag]

In July 1912 my wife got me this Borsalino for my birthday...We picked it up in a vintage clothes costume shop for movies and tv in Istanbul....I'm now applying for membership here at the Borsalino Brotherhood....

At the time I couldn't post pics, but some of you fine folks asked me questions....and the general concensus was early 50's....Well here are some photos now....what do you think? Were we close at dating it or not?
...

Welcome to the Borsalino Brotherhood. You are undoubtedly our most senior member. The hat however is somewhat more recent than the 1950s.

 

[Lotsahats]

Welcome to the Borsalino Brotherhood. You are undoubtedly our most senior member.

I had thought the same thing!

 

[moontheloon]

In July 1912 my wife got me this Borsalino for my birthday...We picked it up in a vintage clothes costume shop for movies and tv in Istanbul....I'm now applying for membership here at the Borsalino Brotherhood....

At the time I couldn't post pics, but some of you fine folks asked me questions....and the general concensus was early 50's....Well here are some photos now....what do you think? Were we close at dating it or not?
View attachment 42844
View attachment 42845 View attachment 42846 View attachment 42847 View attachment 42848 View attachment 42849
It's very soft and bashes very easy...Here I just put a diamond bash in...
View attachment 42855

It's an open crown at 5 1/2" and the brim is 2"...The lining is stitched in, and there used to be an onion skin cover on the liner at the dome of the crown but it recently disintergrated, you can see a litte greyish line around the top of the lining where it used to be attached...I trimmed what was left out with small scissors...

Thanks for any help in dating this...

I'm no Borsalino expert .. but that is definitely not a 50s hat

I might guess 60s or even 70s

 

[Bird Lives]

Thanks for the welcome.....So what decade Alan do you estimate this Borsa is from .
Oh, and if I'm the most Senior Member, what decade do you estimate I'm from? Ha,ha...lol! Suppose that 1912 must have gotten a few laughs....lol! Whew....

Rewrite: 2012....

 

[tommyK]

I agree with Moon on dating your hat, Bird. Although I would defer to Alan or Daniele

 

[alanfgag]

I am not studied in this era of Borsalino. My guess would be the decade prior to the relocation of the factory in the early 1980s.

 

[tommyK]

Just landed my third of these thin ribbon Borso's.

Which lead me to a theory about these, maybe you guys can help confirm or debunk. the one on the left with no wind cord is labeled "Ta/Ludola" and the two right hats with wind cords are labeled "Ta/Ludora".
Could the no wind cord thin ribbons be labeled 'Ludola" and the ones with wind cords be labeled "Ludora"?

Perhaps they're just of different vintage or perhaps there is no logic behind it

 

[RJR]

Just landed my third of these thin ribbon Borso's.

Which lead me to a theory about these, maybe you guys can help confirm or debunk. the one on the left with no wind cord is labeled "Ta/Ludola" and the two right hats with wind cords are labeled "Ta/Ludora".
Could the no wind cord thin ribbons be labeled 'Ludola" and the ones with wind cords be labeled "Ludora"?

Perhaps they're just of different vintage or perhaps there is no logic behind it

Really nice,I'm curious about the translation as well.

 

[carouselvic]

Could the no wind cord thin ribbons be labeled 'Ludola" and the ones with wind cords be labeled "Ludora"?
Perhaps they're just of different vintage or perhaps there is no logic behind it

I had to look at only two hats to find exceptions to your theory.

 

[tommyK]

ah well, was just a theory

 

[alanfgag]

Lovely collection. Remember that a lot of wind trolleys were clipped along the way. My Ta-less hats say Ludoela... which totally helps to clarify the situation. 8^O

 

[moontheloon]

Just landed my third of these thin ribbon Borso's.

Which lead me to a theory about these, maybe you guys can help confirm or debunk. the one on the left with no wind cord is labeled "Ta/Ludola" and the two right hats with wind cords are labeled "Ta/Ludora".
Could the no wind cord thin ribbons be labeled 'Ludola" and the ones with wind cords be labeled "Ludora"?

Perhaps they're just of different vintage or perhaps there is no logic behind it

so beautiful Tommy !!!

I'm on the prowl for one of these

 

[tommyK]

Anthony, I've been after just one of these for years and I landed these 3 in the last six months. funny how things turn up

 

[mayserwegener]

Interesting side note!

This size conversion chart from Der Filzhut (The Felt Hat), seine Geschichte und seine Herstellung (Its History and Preparation). Hrsg.v.d. Deutschen Hutmacher-Zeitung (German Hat Maker Newspaper). 1936 uses 1/4 French Point and 1/2 cm sizes.

I have never seen a Borsalino in a 1/4 French Point size (1/2 cm) but I do have some pre WWII JHS hats in 1/4 French Point sizes (1/2 cm). For example here is a Point 5 3/4 which would 58 1/2 cm.

 

[Bird Lives]

If it doesn't have Borsalino on the paper label its probably mid 50s to very early 60s.

Thanks so @mayserwegener for lending a hand back in 2012...It took awhile but heres a pic of the label, and the hat...
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-borsalino-brotherhood.13133/page-213
Post 4258.....
Any light you can shine to help narrow down a date would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks.....LC

 

[mayserwegener]

It doesn't have a production year. That doesn't start until the mid 70s. My guess is early 1970s.

 

[Bird Lives]

It doesn't have a production year. That doesn't start until the mid 70s. My guess is early 1970s.

Thanks, my friend....does it look like maybe it has excessive taper.....?
I was thinking of sending it to Black Sheep Hat Works for reblocking, but some have told me I should wait....