The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[deadlyhandsome]

This beauty arrived today. Just over 5 1/2 inch open crown and 2 1/2 inch brim with a felted/Cavanagh edge. The hat is sublime. The crown is so thin I can quite literally blow a dent into it. The two inch wide ribbon and bow is perfect and a wind string/trolley is attached. Truly some of the nicest dress weight felt I’ve handled. The quick sloppy diamond was put in dry in all of about four seconds.

Far too small for me (obvious from the photos!), so its for sale. Be forewarned, this hat will spoil you for other lesser felt.

 

[Blare]

This beauty arrived today. Just over 5 1/2 inch open crown and 2 1/2 inch brim with a felted/Cavanagh edge. The hat is sublime. The crown is so thin I can quite literally blow a dent into it. The two inch wide ribbon and bow is perfect and a wind string/trolley is attached. Truly some of the nicest dress weight felt I’ve handled. The quick sloppy diamond was put in dry in all of about four seconds.

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Far too small for me (obvious from the photos!), so its for sale. Be forewarned, this hat will spoil you for other lesser felt.

Quite beautiful... great find Brent

 

[M Hatman]

I actually have a few Borsa's I have yet to post here (two from the 50's). This is a newer one I got some time ago in a trade with Brent. It needed spot cleaning, re-blocking/ brushing and the wonderful cobalt blue silk liner needed cleaning. Well, while I was at it I wanted to replace the worn mid ribbon with a wider one. It is an awesome soft kind of a light blue with grey undertones AND a longhair. Well with the little over 2" brim and being a fuzzy I thought it would do well with a Fray Ribbon and a hat clip crease (yes, I put in a hat clip, but because of the clip have not replaced the liner...did not want to ruin it with the clip).....a true 20's look. Feel free to let me know if you think I succeeded (or not).......

And it IS as soft as it looks....I pet it almost everyday (it is on display).

 

[The Shoe]

I’m hoping that someone can help me here. My wife just got a new to her borsalino. It says on the label that it is 100% Paglia, which I understood was a kind of straw. However the Japanese tag says it’s paper. What’s going on here?

 

[steur]

This beauty arrived today. Just over 5 1/2 inch open crown and 2 1/2 inch brim with a felted/Cavanagh edge. The hat is sublime. The crown is so thin I can quite literally blow a dent into it. The two inch wide ribbon and bow is perfect and a wind string/trolley is attached. Truly some of the nicest dress weight felt I’ve handled. The quick sloppy diamond was put in dry in all of about four seconds.

View attachment 227775 View attachment 227776 View attachment 227777 View attachment 227778 View attachment 227779 View attachment 227780 View attachment 227781 View attachment 227782 View attachment 227783 View attachment 227784

Far too small for me (obvious from the photos!), so its for sale. Be forewarned, this hat will spoil you for other lesser felt.

I actually saw it for the first time on Ebay. Good to see it up close. One size, just one size...
Are there no other labels inside of it, Brent?

 

[steur]

I actually have a few Borsa's I have yet to post here (two from the 50's). This is a newer one I got some time ago in a trade with Brent. It needed spot cleaning, re-blocking/ brushing and the wonderful cobalt blue silk liner needed cleaning. Well, while I was at it I wanted to replace the worn mid ribbon with a wider one. It is an awesome soft kind of a light blue with grey undertones AND a longhair. Well with the little over 2" brim and being a fuzzy I thought it would do well with a Fray Ribbon and a hat clip crease (yes, I put in a hat clip, but because of the clip have not replaced the liner...did not want to ruin it with the clip).....a true 20's look. Feel free to let me know if you think I succeeded (or not).......
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And it IS as soft as it looks....I pet it almost everyday (it is on display).

I think it works, Mark. Every now and again you have to try something different. Is there a label inside the hat?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I actually saw it for the first time on Ebay. Good to see it up close. One size, just one size...
Are there no other labels inside of it, Brent?

That’s the only label could find. Not what I was expecting. I’m going to miss this hat; the felt is nicer than any of the Borsalinos I have in my size.

 

[M Hatman]

I think it works, Mark. Every now and again you have to try something different. Is there a label inside the hat?

Thanks, yes it is good to experiment. It does have a label I think....I will try to take a snapshot of it and the sweat (and perhaps the liner). I do not believe it is any older than the 90's or so.....

 

[steur]

I'm waiting for close to a month now for some hats to arrive from overseas. Seems like they are kept in quarantine by customs and I could do with a little pick me up. Bought these hats as a placebo, because they are not my size, but what a placebo it is!
First one: Borsalino Azoico, which is a bluish grey. Qualitá Suprema, size 58 with the bound/raw brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 11cm at the center dent. Lightweight hat with just 90 grams on the scale. Apart from the quite rare colour it has another unique feature (its sibling has the same feature, so not completely unique), which is the extremely narrow brim binding on just the underside of the brim. Unreeded too, which I didn't expect for a hat of this age. Early to mid-sixties, which is quite early for a suprema quality hat.

 

[steur]

Second one: Borsalino Agave, which is a colour that eludes me in my colourblindness (beige with green and mustard tones?). It's the first time we've seen one of this colour. Also Qualitá Suprema, size 58 with the bound/raw brim at 5,5cm and the crown at 10cm at the center dent. Lightweight hat with just 92 grams on the scale. Apart from the very rare colour it also has feature its sibling has, which is the extremely narrow brim binding on just the underside of the brim. Unreeded as well, unexpected for a hat of this age. Early to mid-sixties, which is quite early for a suprema quality hat. I like it when I find one in a colour I haven't seen before. I hope my hats when they come in are just as good (I think they will be).

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Does anyone here know when this liner was used?

 

[steur]

Does anyone here know when this liner was used?

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Can't say I do, Brent. I may have seen it before, but it certainly isn't common. It isn't as elaborate as some other older styles they had, but looking at it I think it would be a hat worth taking a chance on (if that is the question).

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Can't say I do, Brent. I may have seen it before, but it certainly isn't common. It isn't as elaborate as some other older styles they had, but looking at it I think it would be a hat worth taking a chance on (if that is the question).

Thanks, Stefan. It’s a stingy longhair, so I’m going to pass. I just didn’t remember seeing this liner before.

 

[Blare]

I actually have a few Borsa's I have yet to post here (two from the 50's). This is a newer one I got some time ago in a trade with Brent. It needed spot cleaning, re-blocking/ brushing and the wonderful cobalt blue silk liner needed cleaning. Well, while I was at it I wanted to replace the worn mid ribbon with a wider one. It is an awesome soft kind of a light blue with grey undertones AND a longhair. Well with the little over 2" brim and being a fuzzy I thought it would do well with a Fray Ribbon and a hat clip crease (yes, I put in a hat clip, but because of the clip have not replaced the liner...did not want to ruin it with the clip).....a true 20's look. Feel free to let me know if you think I succeeded (or not).......
View attachment 228223 View attachment 228224 View attachment 228225 View attachment 228226 View attachment 228227
And it IS as soft as it looks....I pet it almost everyday (it is on display).

Beautiful

 

[David Kimberly]

I’m hoping that someone can help me here. My wife just got a new to her borsalino. It says on the label that it is 100% Paglia, which I understood was a kind of straw. However the Japanese tag says it’s paper. What’s going on here? View attachment 228299

Paglia means straw in Italian.

 

[The Shoe]

Paglia means straw in Italian.

Thanks, that’s what I understood. What I’m wondering is why the Japanese tag would say paper.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thanks, that’s what I understood. What I’m wondering is why the Japanese tag would say paper.

There is all sorts of “straw.” I think that “straw” should at least mean a natural fiber, but who knows? In a world of shantung Panama and Florentine Milan maybe this is close enough to be called straw, and maybe it really is straw. Some counties have enforced legal definitions for some materials, but it can vary.

Here’s a good read:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/straw-types.7313/page-5

 

[The Shoe]

There is all sorts of “straw.” I think that “straw” should at least mean a natural fiber, but who knows? In a world of shantung Panama and Florentine Milan maybe this is close enough to be called straw, and maybe it really is straw. Some counties have enforced legal definitions for some materials, but it can vary.

Here’s a good read:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/straw-types.7313/page-5

Interesting stuff. Still no answer to my question, though so I’ve tried it again on that thread.

 

[redlinerobert]

This doesn't fit me, but if it did, it would be on it's way. Beautiful hat.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-BO...rand=Borsalino&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Joseph Evans]

Hey everyone,
I just became a happy Borsalino owner. I inherited an Alessandria from my grandfather. I don't think he ever wore it. He was more of a western, working hat kind of guy. I've got some questions though.

1. What shapes do you folks like for these hats?(This was my first attempt at a teardrop)
2. If I flatten the brim, will it change how it fits? (fits like a glove now.)
3. What's the string and button attached to the band?

I'm so glad to find a community of folks to join here. You folks are great.
All the best,
Joe

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• Joseph Evans
• Apr 26, 2020

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• Joseph Evans
• Apr 26, 2020

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• Joseph Evans
• Apr 26, 2020

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• Joseph Evans
• Apr 26, 2020

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• Joseph Evans
• Apr 26, 2020