The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[Redfokker]

There have been several Averla colored hats and there have been quite a few Gorasgu models, but I think this may be the first Averla Gorasgu:

View attachment 185834 View attachment 185831 View attachment 185835 View attachment 185832
Specs:

2-5/8 Brim
5-3/4 Crown (open)
1-7/8 Ribbon
3/8 Binding (symmetric)
3.6oz Weight
​

Unreeded sweat with corrugated venting in front. Ribbon color is Aligi, which up until a few months ago would have been a new color. (See post by @Steinbockhase.) Typical Qualita Superiore with simple colored medallion liner crest often found for American market hats. Somewhat atypical bound edge for the Gorasgu model, as the majority seem to be a felted edge.

Threw in a quick and dirty diamond bash for the pictures, but it feels like this felt will take anything with ease. Super soft, malleable, and lightweight, you could sneeze and probably crease this hat. This most recent addition just may have become my favorite hat in my collection.

Love this color! Nice lines.

 

[Redfokker]

Visited Amsterdam's biggest carboot-sale this weekend and waded through 750 stalls of mainly second hand and vintage clothing. All of ten decent hats to be found, two if which were worth bringing back with me. This is the first one.
Modern Borsalino in mirtillo colour. Size 56, unlined, with the underwelt brim at 6cm and crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. Very lightweight hat at only 82 grams and, for a nice change with Borsalino, this one doesn't run small. And it's blue, so it had to come. There was a period when Borsalino struggled with the quality of their hats, I think after the original factory closed down in the early eighties. This one has all the quality you'd expect of this brand though. My guess is late eighties to early nineties on this one (based on the model code on the label).

These dark blue hats tend to look black in most pictures, so I've put it next to a black Stetson Imperial homburg for comparison.

Wading through this thread is making me feel better. Always love your finds Stefan, this one is sweet. My favorite color too.

This is just a preview for a rare Borsalino
View attachment 186043
Stefan will do the photo shoot when the hat will in the Netherlands
Meanwhile, the inside
View attachment 186044
and paper label
View attachment 186045
Size, as you see, is a 4 1/2 so a 56 cm.
This came from Italy

Wow! The lines of this one are superb Daniele. Can't wait to see the detail shots, looks rare for sure.

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Saw this on eBay with a low BIN yesterday. Wanted to post but waited until someone bought. The ever elusive Greek Borsalino:
View attachment 186016 View attachment 186017

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bo...ora-Hat-size-57-Brown-Wide-Brim-/183967149340

And then there was #4. Two in as many days from the same seller:

I decided to reach out to the seller after seeing the following in the description:

Here was his response:

Speculation, yes, but after digging into Pil Poul it very well could likely be the best lead yet. They were a large, award winning operation in the early 20th century. Factory was damaged/closed during the German invasion of WWII. Briefly resurrected but soon closed after. The building is now part of a cultural center.

Additional photos can be found doing a Google search.

Some external links:

http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtspoulopoulos.htm
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/poulopoulos-hat-factory
​

 

[steur]

This is just a preview for a rare Borsalino
View attachment 186043
Stefan will do the photo shoot when the hat will in the Netherlands
Meanwhile, the inside
View attachment 186044
and paper label
View attachment 186045
Size, as you see, is a 4 1/2 so a 56 cm.
This came from Italy

It's a teaser for sure. Fantastic hat and I'm curious to see it next to its sibling the misto nebbia homburg. Hopefully soon.

 

[steur]

Wading through this thread is making me feel better. Always love your finds Stefan, this one is sweet. My favorite color too.


Wow! The lines of this one are superb Daniele. Can't wait to see the detail shots, looks rare for sure.

Thanks, Mike. Glad you're well enough to have a look here.

 

[steur]

And then there was #4. Two in as many days from the same seller:
View attachment 186079 View attachment 186080
I decided to reach out to the seller after seeing the following in the description:
View attachment 186081
Here was his response:
View attachment 186082 View attachment 186084
Speculation, yes, but after digging into Pil Poul it very well could likely be the best lead yet. They were a large, award winning operation in the early 20th century. Factory was damaged/closed during the German invasion of WWII. Briefly resurrected but soon closed after. The building is now part of a cultural center.
View attachment 186085
Additional photos can be found doing a Google search.

Some external links:

http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtspoulopoulos.htm
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/poulopoulos-hat-factory
​

Very intriguing part of Borsalino history. I have wondered if these could have been fakes, to cash in on the Borsalino brand name or legitimate licensed hats. Either way they are of interest. I had seen the brown one and was considering a bid on that one. This one seems in far less condition.
Good detective work, Jonathan.

 

[Steve1857]

And then there was #4. Two in as many days from the same seller:
View attachment 186079 View attachment 186080
I decided to reach out to the seller after seeing the following in the description:
View attachment 186081
Here was his response:
View attachment 186082 View attachment 186084
Speculation, yes, but after digging into Pil Poul it very well could likely be the best lead yet. They were a large, award winning operation in the early 20th century. Factory was damaged/closed during the German invasion of WWII. Briefly resurrected but soon closed after. The building is now part of a cultural center.
View attachment 186085
Additional photos can be found doing a Google search.

Some external links:

http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtspoulopoulos.htm
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/poulopoulos-hat-factory
​

Great research, Jonathan.

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[Dotneck]

Here is a beaver Borsalino that I recently acquired. This size 7 is a bit snug on my size 7 1/8 noggin. I'm thinking this hat looks like new. Any way to tell how old it could be?

 

[Steve1857]

Here is a beaver Borsalino that I recently acquired. This size 7 is a bit snug on my size 7 1/8 noggin. I'm thinking this hat looks like new. Any way to tell how old it could be?

Nice Borsalino, Dotneck. Show more photos, especially the hatliner and any labels under the sweatband. These will help with dating the hat.

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[Dotneck]

Here are a couple pics of the inside of the hat. There are no labels under the sweatband. In fact, it looks like the sweatband is scotch taped to the hat...

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Here are a couple pics of the inside of the hat. There are no labels under the sweatband. In fact, it looks like the sweatband is scotch taped to the hat...

Hell of a hat, guy!!!
B

 

[Steve1857]

Here are a couple pics of the inside of the hat. There are no labels under the sweatband. In fact, it looks like the sweatband is scotch taped to the hat...

Martora is the name of the animal on the liner. It's a marten or pine marten. Does it say anywhere that it's a beaver felt? I'd date the hat to the 50s, maybe early 60s. I'm sure folks who know more than me will comment soon. Great hat btw.

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[Dotneck]

No it doesn't say beaver...I thought that was a picture of a beaver on the liner...

 

[Steve1857]

No it doesn't say beaver...I thought that was a picture of a beaver on the liner...

No, it's a marten.

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[steur]

Here are a couple pics of the inside of the hat. There are no labels under the sweatband. In fact, it looks like the sweatband is scotch taped to the hat...

Martora is the name of the animal on the liner. It's a marten or pine marten. Does it say anywhere that it's a beaver felt? I'd date the hat to the 50s, maybe early 60s. I'm sure folks who know more than me will comment soon. Great hat btw.

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What Steve writes is correct. First of all: welcome to the lounge and welcome to the Borsalino brotherhood. Those Martora liners are only known from this one store: Peluso in Napels. They are a bit of a specialty therefore and there are not many that have been posted here. Mid fifties to early sixties is most likely for it.

 

[NewJack]

My contribution to this bevy of beautiful Borsas (I have this thing for using alliteration when I can ) This piece is called "Biver" which, if I may take poetic license by assuming it means "Beaver." Not certain of the approximate dates of production (I'll leave that up to to pros like you!) However, it is a Taupe color, much lighter in weight than it appears, with a stretched brim length of 3 1/4 inches, material covered leather sweat, and oh, those gills! Matches well with my vintage olive green Canali Alpaca wool overcoat.








On the noggin...

 

[dkstott]

Kevin @ JJ hats posted a video of a 70's vintage hat. The video itself isn't all that interesting. But I thought this gold hat was

 

[Steve1857]

My contribution to this bevy of beautiful Borsas (I have this thing for using alliteration when I can ) This piece is called "Biver" which, if I may take poetic license by assuming it means "Beaver." Not certain of the approximate dates of production (I'll leave that up to to pros like you!) However, it is a Taupe color, much lighter in weight than it appears, with a stretched brim length of 3 1/4 inches, material covered leather sweat, and oh, those gills! Matches well with my vintage olive green Canali Alpaca wool overcoat.








On the noggin...

That is really fantastic. I just want to stroke it.

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[Daniele Tanto]

My contribution to this bevy of beautiful Borsas (I have this thing for using alliteration when I can ) This piece is called "Biver" which, if I may take poetic license by assuming it means "Beaver." Not certain of the approximate dates of production (I'll leave that up to to pros like you!) However, it is a Taupe color, much lighter in weight than it appears, with a stretched brim length of 3 1/4 inches, material covered leather sweat, and oh, those gills! Matches well with my vintage olive green Canali Alpaca wool overcoat.

The hat is a real luxurius Borsalino and I really like it.
"Biver" is the Italian pronunciation of beaver and I see on the paper tag it was made for the US market.
"Condor" is the color and this model was rarely seen here in Italy, some unfinished, very similar was in a corner of the Borsalino factory during our visit (Steve and me) of some years ago.
It is almost my size and I have a little envy...
Bellissimo!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Borsalino Diamanté 2 1/8” brim. Only in Borsalino could a size 63 perfectly fit my 61.4 cm head. Great longer hair finish. It’s stingier than I normally prefer, but it’s a nice little hat.

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