The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[luxmatic]

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I use mike @Northwest Hats in Eugene for refurb of my hats. Great work reaaly well priced. If you mail from Blaine it cost $7 or so to Eugene. Granville island hats will do it but are very pricey.

I do occasionally travel to Oregon, so thanks for that tip!
I was going to see about having the brim restored by West Coast Hatters here in Vancouver.. I was quoted what seemed a reasonable price (pending actually seeing the hat, naturally). I'd want to see some of her work before committing to the job..
Is there agreement that restoring the brim is the best course of action, or is it better to leave well enough alone? I am not crazy about the plain brim look, but it's not super obvious that there was originally a brim band without close inspection.. In other words, I doubt most people seeing it being worn would detect any issue. I am concerned that the repair needs to blend in with the generally worn appearance of the hat, and not stick out like shiny new wheels on a vintage car.
https://www.westcoasthatters.com/repair-and-restoration

 

[alanfgag]

You know, the postage clue is a bit confusing, because yes, one ounce postage went up from 4¢ to 5¢ in the mid 50's then stayed that rate until the late 60's, but the postage machine date marker is clearly from 1966... Question: are you referring to the paper tag when you say manufacturing label? What are the indicators that suggest an early 50's manufacture?
Thanks so much for replying!

I didn't study the postmark... good observation. This paper tag is typical of Borsalino post-war to early 1950s examples. Some hats with this label show a separate size sticker (rather than a size imprinted on the right side of the label. These may be earlier. The Borsalino name disappears from the left side of the label sometime in the later 1950s. There is quite a bit written about this throughout this thread, though the many pages make it a hard read. I am quite certain your hat is early 1950s - perhaps a little earlier.

 

[luxmatic]

I didn't study the postmark... good observation. This paper tag is typical of Borsalino post-war to early 1950s examples. Some hats with this label show a separate size sticker (rather than a size imprinted on the right side of the label. These may be earlier. The Borsalino name disappears from the left side of the label sometime in the later 1950s. There is quite a bit written about this throughout this thread, though the many pages make it a hard read. I am quite certain your hat is early 1950s - perhaps a little earlier.

That's great, Alan, thanks for the info! I did try reading through some threads in search of info, but as you say, with this thread at over 260 pages it's easy to miss some of the information that might help! Really appreciate your reply!

 

[FedOregon]

I do occasionally travel to Oregon, so thanks for that tip!
I was going to see about having the brim restored by West Coast Hatters here in Vancouver.. I was quoted what seemed a reasonable price (pending actually seeing the hat, naturally). I'd want to see some of her work before committing to the job..
Is there agreement that restoring the brim is the best course of action, or is it better to leave well enough alone? I am not crazy about the plain brim look, but it's not super obvious that there was originally a brim band without close inspection.. In other words, I doubt most people seeing it being worn would detect any issue. I am concerned that the repair needs to blend in with the generally worn appearance of the hat, and not stick out like shiny new wheels on a vintage car.
https://www.westcoasthatters.com/repair-and-restoration

I've had Mike fix some hats and make me 2 customs. I just went and looked at a brim binding done at the Vancouver, BC, shop.

I'd suggest you use Mike. Look at pics on his Facebook page, and then the fb page of your local shop.

 

[luxmatic]

These are the interior markings and tags from the Silverbelly Borsa you see me wearing in my avatar. I bought in San Fran as a deadstock (it was claimed) hat in 2010 from a vintage shop on Haight. It certainly seemed unworn and had 2 original price tags affixed to the inside.
At that time I was told here that the OPS-Sec.43-CPR7 price tag dates it between 1951 and 1953. Is that still the consensus? It has a 2.75 inch brim width.

 

[luxmatic]

OPS-Sec.43-CPR7

I found this article related to the OPS (Office of Price Stabilization) which lasted '51 to '53 in the US and thus is a reliable way to have a 2 year window for all Borsas with the OPS price tag!
https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/32013324

 

[FedOregon]

I would have never thought to search a genealogy website for information like that! Good job, you!

 

[luxmatic]

I would have never thought to search a genealogy website for information like that! Good job, you!

well, it certainly wasn't my thought to search there, but after some sleuthing around, google took me there.

 

[steur]

Yummy, don't know how I missed this one from last week. I absolutely love this dress felt, perfect in every way! Will you be my personal shopper?

Oops, took me a while, Mike. Thanks. It would be a great job to spend the days looking for good hats!

You know, the postage clue is a bit confusing, because yes, one ounce postage went up from 4¢ to 5¢ in the mid 50's then stayed that rate until the late 60's, but the postage machine date marker is clearly from 1966..
However, it's I think it's very unlikely the original owner of the hat would have put spacers under the brim to size it down, so to me that indicates an original purchase prior to the date of the postage stamp.
Question: are you referring to the paper tag when you say manufacturing label? What are the indicators that suggest an early 50's manufacture?
Thanks so much for replying!

The labels with the Borsalino name in vertical position were used until the mid-fifties (about 1955). So if the hat has a label like that it's made before 1955. But other than it having a date stamp somewhere there is no way to date it more specifically. Great hat whatever the date however.

 

[steur]

Borsalino qualita speciale in the colour mirtillo, size 57 with bound brim at 6,5 cm and crown 11 cm at the pinch. Not much else to say about this one except that it is almost exactly the same as a hat I have that's branded Hellings, Bonn. This one was sold by another German store: Hut-Mühlenbeck Wiesbaden. I've posted these in the My blue heaven thread as well.

 

[Chepstow]

Nice finds, Stefan! Congrats!!


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[RJR]

Nice finds, Stefan! Congrats!!


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+1

 

[Redfokker]

Borsalino qualita speciale in the colour mirtillo, size 57 with bound brim at 6,5 cm and crown 11 cm at the pinch. Not much else to say about this one except that it is almost exactly the same as a hat I have that's branded Hellings, Bonn. This one was sold by another German store: Hut-Mühlenbeck Wiesbaden. I've posted these in the My blue heaven thread as well.


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Love this color. It has the classic lines of a European fedora, my Speciale from Daniele is very similar. Nice comparison. What is the vintage of this one?

 

[steur]

Love this color. It has the classic lines of a European fedora, my Speciale from Daniele is very similar. Nice comparison. What is the vintage of this one?

+1

+1

Mike, Manfred and RJR, thanks.
It is a very nice hat and doesn't get as much wear as it deserves. Not too old this one. I'm a bit unsure wether or not the label is one on which the first two numbers are the year of production, but it would fit with my guess that it's late seventies or early eighties.

 

[mayserwegener]

Stefan, Great find. It's definitely from the original factory. Seems 1980 would be about right. Also market specific. Does it have "Export Qualität"?

 

[Redfokker]

Mike, Manfred and RJR, thanks.
It is a very nice hat and doesn't get as much wear as it deserves. Not too old this one. I'm a bit unsure wether or not the label is one on which the first two numbers are the year of production, but it would fit with my guess that it's late seventies or early eighties.

According to Daniele, the one I have is of this vintage. It has a possible 1976 date.

 

[besdor]

That hat is from 1976. Borsalino hat were dated from 1974 to 1984 until the factory moved to its current location. Amiata is a gray color.

 

[Redfokker]

I've had Mike fix some hats and make me 2 customs. I just went and looked at a brim binding done at the Vancouver, BC, shop.

I'd suggest you use Mike. Look at pics on his Facebook page, and then the fb page of your local shop.

+1 Mike is the best! Great to work with and worth the trip.

 

[Redfokker]

That hat is from 1976. Borsalino hat were dated from 1974 to 1984 until the factory moved to its current location. Amiata is a gray color.

The hat is overall a grey, but in certain light it has some sage tones. I love the quality of the felt.

 

[besdor]

That quality no longer exists especially today.