The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[steur]

A very nice homburg. I love the gill bow keeper and the cream sweatband. Size is 5 French Point/Punti or US size 7 1/8:

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I think it's beautiful. Would have been even better had it been a mirtillo colour, but you can't have it all. Empasti 40 is actually a model type we haven't seen before. Likely meant as an opera hat. We don't see many of those around from Borsalino. Really cool.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

That's a cool find. Nice proportions and it even has a bit of a reverse taper going on. Even the liner is still stitched in and that in 1977.

Thanks, Stefan. I really like this hat. It’s definitely a brim up style for me, and it’s hard to believe the brim is 2 3/4” wide.

Borsalino in the 1970s shames all of the US made hats I’ve seen from that time.

 

[steur]

Borsalino homburg in rutenio colour. Size 56 with the brim at 5cm and the crown at 11 cm at the center dent. The usual quality is all there, but the proportions of this sixties hat are somewhat smaller than the earlier Gulaela models. I have so many hats in this colour scheme already, but this one was cheap, so...

 

[Daniele Tanto]

A very nice homburg. I love the gill bow keeper and the cream sweatband. Size is 5 French Point/Punti or US size 7 1/8:

Brent a delightful gem, especially as it is customized according to the demands of the "Giuseppe Marino" hat shop in Napoli which can boast an (out of standard) branding on the lining and the white finish of the sweatband.
Having said that it is such a particular Borsalino that I would like in my collection and in my size ;-)

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I bought this from a seller in Ukraine. It took about three weeks to arrive and came in a padded plastic envelope…the wonders of steam! It’s a recent hat but it’s different from the similar black religious market Borsalinos I’ve handled over the last few years. This hat has better felt that is both denser and has a nicer hand. It’s borderline floppy and changes shape at the slightest touch…the brim in particular is almost too soft and lacking structure. 2 5/8” raw edge brim and 5 5/8”(+) open crown with moderate taper. Interesting green ribbon.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This is one of the better hats I’ve found for myself in a good while. I love the colors. It’s a size 64cm or 8 US yet it fits as snug as many 7 5/8 hats and tighter than most 7 3/4 hats. The quirks of Borsalino. It’s a quite modern hat but the felt is very nice. It’s mid-weight and is easily dry creased with a close-but-not-quite claylike quality. The open crown measures a generous 6 1/8” and the brim is 2 3/4” before the curl. I’m sorely tempted to reflange it as a fedora.

 

[Rmccamey]

A very nice homburg. I love the gill bow keeper and the cream sweatband. Size is 5 French Point/Punti or US size 7 1/8:

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You're batting 1000 today, Brent. You must have found a hidden stash somewhere!

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[Blare]

This is one of the better hats I’ve found for myself in a good while. I love the colors. It’s a size 64cm or 8 US yet it fits as snug as many 7 5/8 hats and tighter than most 7 3/4 hats. The quirks of Borsalino. It’s a quite modern hat but the felt is very nice. It’s mid-weight and is easily dry creased with a close-but-not-quite claylike quality. The open crown measures a generous 6 1/8” and the brim is 2 3/4” before the curl. I’m sorely tempted to reflange it as a fedora.

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Beautiful hat, Brent

 

[deadlyhandsome]

You're batting 1000 today, Brent. You must have found a hidden stash somewhere!

Beautiful hat, Brent

Thanks, fellas. Even a blind squirrel will find the occasional nut.

 

[steur]

I bought this from a seller in Ukraine. It took about three weeks to arrive and came in a padded plastic envelope…the wonders of steam! It’s a recent hat but it’s different from the similar black religious market Borsalinos I’ve handled over the last few years. This hat has better felt that is both denser and has a nicer hand. It’s borderline floppy and changes shape at the slightest touch…the brim in particular is almost too soft and lacking structure. 2 5/8” raw edge brim and 5 5/8”(+) open crown with moderate taper. Interesting green ribbon.

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The green ribbon is an interesting touch. Quite common for the black Trachten-style hats if Germany, but unusual for a Borsalino fedora.

This is one of the better hats I’ve found for myself in a good while. I love the colors. It’s a size 64cm or 8 US yet it fits as snug as many 7 5/8 hats and tighter than most 7 3/4 hats. The quirks of Borsalino. It’s a quite modern hat but the felt is very nice. It’s mid-weight and is easily dry creased with a close-but-not-quite claylike quality. The open crown measures a generous 6 1/8” and the brim is 2 3/4” before the curl. I’m sorely tempted to reflange it as a fedora.

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Resist temptation, Brent. And conversion is, besides being a mortal sin, also a felony in some states I believe!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Black recent manufacture Borsalino. 5 1/2” open crown and 2 7/8” wide brim with decorative edge stitching. I blocked and steamed it a couple times and removed most all of the taper. The crown height just isn’t enough for me so it will be looking for a new home.

 

[steur]

We've seen several attempts to ride on the coattails of Borsalino with fanciful names like Barcelona, Brasiliano or
Bosatino (see first pics).

Buth this is the first time I've seen an actual and obvious fake on offer as the genuine article. Here are some of the the auction pics. That's just not right.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Another Borsalino size tag I can’t say make any sense of:

 

[steur]

And here we go again; another hat sold as a size 62, but which was measured around the outside. It is actually a size 58. Modern(ish) Borsalino in a wine red colour called Porto. Raw edge brim at 6cm and the crown at 10,5cm at the center dent. It is a men's hat but to my eye this is not a men's hat colour. Nothing wrong with the hat though. Label shows it dates from 1982.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Wonderful old Borsalino with thin lightweight felt that the company does so well. 5 1/2” open crown and 2 1/2” bound edge brim.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’m not sure what size this hat is, but it’s small. The open crown is 5 1/2” and the brim is 2 5/8 inches.

 

[steur]

Wonderful old Borsalino with thin lightweight felt that the company does so well. 5 1/2” open crown and 2 1/2” bound edge brim.

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Everything nice about Borsalino in one neat hat shaped package.

I’m not sure what size this hat is, but it’s small. The open crown is 5 1/2” and the brim is 2 5/8 inches.

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Another cool find, Brent. Colour is Stibina. Fairly sure the size 4 1/2. Can't make out the model name though.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Everything nice about Borsalino in one neat hat shaped package.


Another cool find, Brent. Colour is Stibina. Fairly sure the size 4 1/2. Can't make out the model name though. View attachment 459371

4 1/2 you say… Maybe I should hold this as trade fodder?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Just about the perfect hat. 5 5/8” open crown and 2 7/8” wide brim. The Italians were masters with felt.

 

[steur]

4 1/2 you say… Maybe I should hold this as trade fodder?

Don't tempt me!

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Just about the perfect hat. 5 5/8” open crown and 2 7/8” wide brim. The Italians were masters with felt.

Gorgeous hat!