The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[TheOldFashioned]

Thank you for the examples Bill. First time I recall seeing a Borsalino Tag with three names on it.

This leads me to a further question:
Shouldn't / wouldn't the model name correspond with the form number (upper left)?
i.e. Escosca = 1528
I have an Escosca at home; I will check it's form number later this evening.

Your thoughts are spot on and Stefan, @steur, is spearheading an effort to find a connection and break the code. (He has shared the data with me and I have been playing with it as well.). Here's a post from a couple months ago (first of multiple posts) summarizing his findings to date. He's created a master spreadsheet of his collection which documents the information from the tags, along with other information such as quality designation, crown height, weight, brim treatments, intended market, etc.

Any contribution(s) you have would greatly be appreciated. As vast as his collection is, it is but a drop in the bucket of Borsalino. We're hoping to get more members to contribute to this database so as to hopefully find potential leads.

 

[Bill Hughes]

Bill your explanation deserves nine out of ten There is only this small mistake, the rest is perfect.
Lupo is the color. c. is cinta=ribbon, so the color of the ribbon is Nizza I presume and not Nizzo. in this case no name of the type of hat. It could happens by the way your examples are perfect
Gulaela is the name (no meaning in italian language neither in Alessandria dialect) of the type of lobbia

Thanks the the c explanation. I will update my notes.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Thank you for your knowledgeable input, Daniele.
Can I conclude that the names at the bottom right of old Borsalino tags are always the model name?
How about the numbers at the upper left? They seem to be a form or style number (maybe just the felt) and do they correspond to the model names?
best
Georg

Georg, the name in the lower right corner of the paper label is not always the name of the type of hat. It depends, as you have seen from the examples that Bill posted if the three components of the hat are present: A) color of the felt, B) Color of the ribbon, C) Type of hat. These indications went with the passing of the years to disperse to arrive with only the color of the felt towards the eighties, then there were only numbers. There is no doubt that the numbers correspond to the colors, at least to those that the Borsalino has kept alive. Very few compared to the past, it is also very difficult to "translate" paper labels after the Borsalino family sold the property in the mid-eighties and production went to the outskirts of Alessandria. We can speculate about numbers, the only certainty is that when there are only numbers and numerical codes, the Borsalino is modern. But even among the modern there are excellent hats, just knowing how to choose

 

[Steve1857]

This Borsalino arrived today from California via Brent.

It's a very modern Borsa, and not of the quality of the Borsalinos of yore. However, the colour, style, and stitching on the crown appealed to me as soon as I saw it. It's not high quality, but it is unusual and perfect for Jazz concerts. I just had to have it in my collection.

The brim works both up or down in my humble opinion.

Thanks Brent.

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[Steinbockhase]

Borsalino Gran-Lusso Superiore, fairly light weight with soft and maluable felt and bonded edge.
Turned this one into a telescope crown / Pork Pie.
In color "Argento" with "Urania" ribbon; no model name, just a form/model number "K2862" (following the tag description as discussed before).
I estimate late 50's to early 60's.
I have another Borsalino with the identical form/model number, with is actually very similiar to this one, except for different colors and the crown style I applied.

 

[steur]

I just received the Borsalino Bogart and am thoroughly delighted with it. The color is called caribou, which is like taupe. It has a 2 1/2'' brim and a rather tall but open crown, which allows for adjustability.
I've owned about 5 new Borsalinos and would say this is the best made in terms of quality. I would say it's about medium weight felt. It comes in a beautiful display box too! I see that they are introducing a sand colored version but I don't think they have made it to the US yet.
View attachment 174206 View attachment 174207 View attachment 174208 View attachment 174209 View attachment 174210

Been wondering about that model. Good to read a hands-on review. It is a very good looking hat.

 

[steur]

This Borsalino arrived today from California via Brent.

It's a very modern Borsa, and not of the quality of the Borsalinos of yore. However, the colour, style, and stitching on the crown appealed to me as soon as I saw it. It's not high quality, but it is unusual and perfect for Jazz concerts. I just had to have it in my collection.

The brim works both up or down in my humble opinion.

Thanks Brent.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Unusual hat. A spiral stitch with contrasting stich? I like it with the brim up, Steve.

 

[steur]

Borsalino Gran-Lusso Superiore, fairly light weight with soft and maluable felt and bonded edge.
Turned this one into a telescope crown / Pork Pie.
In color "Argento" with "Urania" ribbon; no model name, just a form/model number "K2862" (following the tag description as discussed before).
I have another Borsalino with the identical form/model number, with is actually very similiar to this one, except for different colors and the crown style I applied.

View attachment 174674 View attachment 174676 View attachment 174675 View attachment 174673 View attachment 174681 View attachment 174680 View attachment 174682 View attachment 174678 View attachment 174677 View attachment 174679

Very nice, Georg. Argento is a fantastic colour. If the label doesn't have a model name lower right it's of a later date. As far as the data show, the cerrated label with the straight sides occurs between 1961 and 1965.

 

[Steve1857]

Unusual hat. A spiral stitch with contrasting stich? I like it with the brim up, Steve.

It is unusual. That's why I was drawn to it when Brent first posted. It's a fun hat. Everyone needs one of those [emoji4]

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[Steve1857]

Borsalino Gran-Lusso Superiore, fairly light weight with soft and maluable felt and bonded edge.
Turned this one into a telescope crown / Pork Pie.
In color "Argento" with "Urania" ribbon; no model name, just a form/model number "K2862" (following the tag description as discussed before).
I estimate late 50's to early 60's.
I have another Borsalino with the identical form/model number, with is actually very similiar to this one, except for different colors and the crown style I applied.

View attachment 174674 View attachment 174676 View attachment 174675 View attachment 174673 View attachment 174681 View attachment 174680 View attachment 174682 View attachment 174678 View attachment 174677 View attachment 174679

That is very cool, Georg. Looks great as a Pork Pie.

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[TheOldFashioned]

Nice to come back from vacation knowing there's a hat waiting for you. Nero Borsalino lobbia/homburg:

Specs:

5.5cm Brim
13.5cm Crown (Open)
3.8cm Ribbon
126g Weight​

Also known as the Lazarus hat after a packing debacle. Before and after shots showing as received versus after a steam, brush, and reshape. All black, all business, so only a center dent for this one:

 

[Steve1857]

Nice to come back from vacation knowing there's a hat waiting for you. Nero Borsalino lobbia/homburg:
View attachment 174813 View attachment 174816 View attachment 174817 View attachment 174814
Specs:

5.5cm Brim
13.5cm Crown (Open)
3.8cm Ribbon
126g Weight​

Also known as the Lazarus hat after a packing debacle. Before and after shots showing as received versus after a steam, brush, and reshape. All black, all business, so only a center dent for this one:
View attachment 174815

Great Borsalino both inside and out. Nice resurrection job. A centre dent and no pinches was the right choice for that one imo.

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[steur]

Nice to come back from vacation knowing there's a hat waiting for you. Nero Borsalino lobbia/homburg:
View attachment 174813 View attachment 174816 View attachment 174817 View attachment 174814
Specs:

5.5cm Brim
13.5cm Crown (Open)
3.8cm Ribbon
126g Weight​

Also known as the Lazarus hat after a packing debacle. Before and after shots showing as received versus after a steam, brush, and reshape. All black, all business, so only a center dent for this one:
View attachment 174815

This is basically how I find most of my hats in the bins at the vintage stores. I'm never worried and this is the perfect example why. A brushing and a good steaming and they are as good as new. Never ceases to amaze me. Wonderful lobbia, Jonathan and well done getting it back to glory. Other designations than superiore are not all that common for lobbias.

 

[Steve1857]

I picked this one up today. I agreed to meet the lady selling it at a train station way out in the sticks. I managed to give her the money, look at the hat, and get back on the same train within a minute. I'd have had to wait an hour for the next one otherwise. Quickest deal I've ever done [emoji4].

Anyway, a very stingy brim on this one. One of the many things I like about it though, apart from the feel of the felt, it's texture, and that great looking orangie-red liner, is the fact that it was originally sold at Petitgas in Copenhagen. The oldest hat store in Denmark, founded in the same year as Borsalino.

If memory serves me rightly, according to Stefan's excellent work on Borsalino labels, this one suggests the hat is from somewhere between 1961-1965. Please correct me if my memory fails me here, Stefan.

Sadly, it's a bit small, which surprises me as the punti size 5 1/2 is usually a pefect Borsalino fit for me.

I'm hoping a turn on my hat jack will help.

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[steur]

I picked this one up today. I agreed to meet the lady selling it at a train station way out in the sticks. I managed to give her the money, look at the hat, and get back on the same train within a minute. I'd have had to wait an hour for the next one otherwise. Quickest deal I've ever done [emoji4].

Anyway, a very stingy brim on this one. One of the many things I like about it though, apart from the feel of the felt, it's texture, and that great looking orangie-red liner, is the fact that it was originally sold at Petitgas in Copenhagen. The oldest hat store in Denmark, founded in the same year as Borsalino.

If memory serves me rightly, according to Stefan's excellent work on Borsalino labels, this one suggests the hat is from somewhere between 1961-1965. Please correct me if my memory fails me here, Stefan.

Sadly, it's a bit small, which surprises me as the punti size 5 1/2 is usually a pefect Borsalino fit for me.

I'm hoping a turn on my hat jack will help.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Again, nice find, Steve. Misto Tiglio is added to the list of misto felts. Odd name though: if google translate is to be believed "tiglio" translates to "lime", which would suggest either green or grey.

 

[Steve1857]

Again, nice find, Steve. Misto Tiglio is added to the list of misto felts. Odd name though: if google translate is to be believed "tiglio" translates to "lime", which would suggest either green or grey.

Not far wrong. It's brown with tinges of green and grey. Wish I had Alan's camera to get the colour hues right. Has to be seen to be understood. Not sure I did before your reply. Interesting. Thanks, my friend.

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[Steve1857]

I picked this one up today. I agreed to meet the lady selling it at a train station way out in the sticks. I managed to give her the money, look at the hat, and get back on the same train within a minute. I'd have had to wait an hour for the next one otherwise. Quickest deal I've ever done [emoji4].

Anyway, a very stingy brim on this one. One of the many things I like about it though, apart from the feel of the felt, it's texture, and that great looking orangie-red liner, is the fact that it was originally sold at Petitgas in Copenhagen. The oldest hat store in Denmark, founded in the same year as Borsalino.

If memory serves me rightly, according to Stefan's excellent work on Borsalino labels, this one suggests the hat is from somewhere between 1961-1965. Please correct me if my memory fails me here, Stefan.

Sadly, it's a bit small, which surprises me as the punti size 5 1/2 is usually a pefect Borsalino fit for me.

I'm hoping a turn on my hat jack will help.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Just a couple of hours on the hat jack and it fits much better. There was more than a two finger width between the brim and my ears. Now there's just about a one finger width as there should be. Wish I'd remembered to take before photos.

It's elongated the shape much better, too. No worries now about brim up or down. I think this is how this one looked back in the day.

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[Garrett]

Circa late 1920's / Early 1930's Echter Borsalino

The dimensions on this hat are deceiving - the ribbon is 2 1/4"

 

[mayserwegener]

Circa late 1920's / Early 1930's Echter Borsalino

The dimensions on this hat are deceiving - the ribbon is 2 1/4"

View attachment 176559 View attachment 176560 View attachment 176561 View attachment 176562 View attachment 176563 View attachment 176564

Garrett, Really great to see this one in detail! Amazing hat!

 

[Garrett]

Garrett, Really great to see this one in detail! Super!

Thanks, Steve. Unfortunately, there is no date stamp present behind the sweatband. I thought this was customary on these particular hats?