The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[milandro]

The Giovanbattista Borsalino fu Lazzaro company ("fu " means " was" Lazzaro means that the father of the beginner of the company was called Lazzaro Borsalino) , was founded in 1906 and ceased in 1936 .

AS I understand this company was INITIALLY a different company BUT in 1937 they sold the company to “Società Anonima Antica Casa Borsalino Fabbrica di Cappelli in Alessandria fondata nel 1857 "


So, strictly speaking the Giovanbattista Borsalino fu Lazzaro weren't made by the Same company which everyone calls Borsalino.


(if you read Italian as I do please read here)

https://siusa.archivi.beniculturali.it/cgi-bin/siusa/pagina.pl?TipoPag=prodente&Chiave=51843

"....
Sede: Alessandria
Date di esistenza: 1906 - 1937

Intestazioni:
Borsalino Giovanni Battista fu Lazzaro, Alessandria, 1906 - 1937, SIUSA

Nel 1906 venne fondata la “Società in accomandita G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro e C. “ per l’opera di Giovanni Battista Borsalino, nipote di Lazzaro, il quale fu fratello e socio del fondatore dell’Antica Casa. Con rogito del 1 marzo 1925, l’accomandita si trasformò in anonima e successivamente, dopo un lungo periodo di crisi industriale , il 23 maggio 1933, Giovanni Battista Borsalino conferì l’azienda industriale da essa gestita in Alessandria alla “Società Feltro. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli” costituita ad hoc per esercirne gli stabilimenti. Per riflesso, con deliberazione del consiglio del 23 maggio 1933, la “Società Feltro. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli” deliberò di acquistare gli impianti, il nome ed i marchi della Società anonima G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro e C. per l’importo di 4.500.000 Nello stesso giorno, nel corso di un’assemblea straordinaria, dopo aver ratificato gli accordi intervenuti e già consacrati nell’atto di concentrazione a rogito dott. Guasti del medesimo giorno, la Società Feltro deliberò di modificare la propria ragione sociale assumendo quella di “GB. Borsalino fu Lazzaro &C. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli”. Infine con rogito Guasti del 19 giugno 1937, la “Società Anonima G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli” cedette alla “Società Anonima Antica Casa Borsalino Fabbrica di Cappelli in Alessandria fondata nel 1857 tutta l’azienda. L’assemblea della società concentrata ria, in data 30 giugno 1937, ratificando l’operato del Consiglio, ne deliberava lo scioglimento senza dar luogo a liquidazione, non avendo più la Società passività da sistemare ed essendo l’attivo interamente liquido. Con tale deliberazione, la Società Anonima “G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli venne estinta....."




Giovanbattista Borsalino was cousin of the heir Teresio Borsalino, to Giuseppe Borsalino, who founded in 1857 the company which we now know as Borsalino


Read (or use its translation here)



https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borsalino

 

[batankyu]

The Giovanbattista Borsalino fu Lazzaro company ("fu " means " was" Lazzaro means that the father of the beginner of the company was called Lazzaro Borsalino) , was founded in 1906 and ceased in 1936 .

AS I understand this company was INITIALLY a different company BUT in 1937 they sold the company to “Società Anonima Antica Casa Borsalino Fabbrica di Cappelli in Alessandria fondata nel 1857 "

Thanks.
I was wondering if this implies that the hat is pre-1936?

Or could there be a catch here? like say...
Could Antica Casa company reuse existing stocks of sweatband and lining of the extinguished company still showing fu Lazzaro for hats made later?

 

[batankyu]

Nice one, sir. The Fu Lazzaro are generally highly regarded here on the Lounge. They are not rare but also not all that common, either. We look forward to seeing more.

Thanks. Love the artwork of the two dogs fighting for the hat in yours. I wonder if there is a double-entendre for the fight between the 2 cousins Giovanni Batista and Teresio here...

 

[milandro]

Thanks.
I was wondering if this implies that the hat is pre-1936?

Or could there be a catch here? like say...
Could Antica Casa company reuse existing stocks of sweatband and lining of the extinguished company still showing fu Lazzaro for hats made later?
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borsalino

I wouldn't know but my hunch is that the true Borsalino (from the original founder Giuseppe) had all the interest to incorporate and silence the " Giovanbattista Borsalino fu Lazzaro" because there was the potential to have two Borsalino companies (which apparently were) on the market creating confusion ( think of what would have ehappened if the Giovanattista Borsalino was acquired by someone outside the Borsalino family business and continued competing on the market... not good and at the very least would have meant years ov court litigation.


I think that the moment they acquired they had this " other Borsalino" disappear .

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

btw there's a thread for the Fu Lazzaro Borsas
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/g-b-borsalino-fu-lazzaro-c-1936.53129/

 

[milandro]

so, two different companies with the same name indeed

 

[Daniele Tanto]

so, two different companies with the same name indeed

Not at all. You posted an Italian link about the this situation. It is a simple explication about the Borsalino commercial war started after the dead of Giuseppe Borsalino, the founder. The situation is a little bit more complicated. I wrote in the proper thread about that

 

[steur]

Hi! My first post here, even though I have been reading this forum occasionally for a couple of years, I registered yesterday.

A couple of weeks ago I bought my first Borsalino fedora (or it might also be considered a Trilby, as the brim width is a little less than two inches). I have tried googling and reading this thread to find something with the same kind of branding and lining but have not found anything similar (I have only read the last 50-60 pages of this thread, however, so I might have missed it). But any advice on dating it and what “Centurion” and “900 Quality” stands for would be highly appreciated.

Regarding the dating, it was made for a hat store called “Hugos” in Gävle, Sweden, which according to a couple of online sources closed in 1975. So, we can be quite sure (if it is not a fake) that it was made before that. The logo has a 60s feel and the hat model also feels 60s to me, but as it does not seem to have been worn at all, it might have been leftover stock when the store closed and that it therefore is more probable that it was made close to 1975.

I have added some pictures below.

The size states “60” and I am normally a 61 (Eurosize), but it depends a little, so this hat is at least not smaller than “true to size” (the inner measurement is around 60.3 cm).
View attachment 536880 View attachment 536881 View attachment 536882 View attachment 536883 View attachment 536884 View attachment 536885 View attachment 536886 View attachment 536887

Welcome to the lounge and to the Borsalino brotherhood. Certainly an interesting find, especially for the liner and sweatband, which we have not seen before with those designs. Going by the label it was made between 1961 and 1972, probably at the later end of that period. We've seen centurion models before, but not in this style and they are not common. It was up to the retailer to choose the liner style and the quality designation on there tells us nothing.
That was not the case with the sweatbands though, which were kept in the usual Borsalino style with very little, if any variation. So in that regard this is quite remarkable. Definitely a Borsalino though; wouldn't see a fake one with this label and the fake ones are usually very poor quality.

 

[steur]

Hi everyone,

I am excited to join the forum as I have become interested in fedoras and the history behind them.

A vacation to Italy this June and the purchase of a Borsalino fine Panama hat in Rome solidified my notion that a finely made hat is a thing of beauty.

I recently bought an unused Borsalino Como II Imperiale. I have done a lot of researching on this forum regarding if this is a Bollman made hat or an authentic Borsalino. I can’t tell what the consensus is.

I bought it for $125 CAD and I love the fit and think it is pretty well made but would obviously be more excited if it is a Borsalino.

Let me know what you think.

Adam

Welcome to the lounge and the Borsalino brotherhood. The Bollman license for Borsalino didn't last long and from what I gather they were noticeably inferior in quality to the real deal. I think the Como II is a model that was introduced quite a while after the Bollman license ended, so this one is Borsalino made.

 

[steur]

Hi, I purchased this bowler hat for 20 euros at a garage sale few days ago in Normandy France, a Borsalino fu Lazzaro if I believe what is written inside. Trying to find resources online to date the hat and check if it is genuine, i found this thread which helped me to discover that the sweatband was hiding a tag with cells and serrated edges which could help to determine the period, so I'm posting photos here.

- Front view:

- Rear view:

- Left side view:

- Right side view:

- Top view:

- Bottom view, with underbrim:

- Bottom view, pleated lining:

- Bottom, zoom on text:
G.B. BORSALINO FULAZARRO & C.
ALESSANDRIA ITALIA ITALIA

QUALITÀ FINISSIMA
MARCA DEPOSITATA

Unico depositario della Marca
Cappellaria Cimasoni
LUGANO

- Sweatband, text on left side:
GRAND PRIX TURIN 1911
G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C.

- Sweatband, text on right side:
Unico Depositario della Marca
Cappeleria Cimasoni
LUGANO

- Sweatband, rear view: "5" (french size, I assume), initials "E B", and bow.

- Tag hidden behind sweatband and lining on right side:
G.B. BORSALINO FU LAZZARO ALESSANDRIA
1902 9327
F Basilea 5

Welcome to the lounge and congratulations on this wonderful find! At that price I'd buy those all day. There is a dedicated thread to the GB Borsalino fu Lazzaro hats, so please post this one there as well.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/g-b-borsalino-fu-lazzaro-c-1936.53129/
We have some examples of the fu Lazzaro hats, but not nearly enough, if any, are dated. Judging by its liner and style I'd say this one is late twenties, or early thirties.

 

[steur]

I also purchased this fedora few days later at another garage sale, in a much poorer condition but for only 4 euros, a Borsalino Antica Casa according to what is written inside. Again this thread helped me to dscover the tag hidden behind the black sweatband, which is not sticking anymore, if it ever has. It has straight edges with round corners and a code with an hyphen after first couple of digits 82-70501 so I guess the hat would be from 1982, though I've read in this thread that the time period for this type of tag ended in 1981.

- Front view:

- Rear view:

- Left side view:

- Right side view:

- Top view:

- Bottom view, with underbrim:

- Bottom view, logo behind plastic protection:
QUALITÀ SUPERIORE
BORSALINO
ALESSANDRIA ITALIA
MARCA DEPOSITATA

- Sweat4band, text on left side:
Borsalino
Grand Prix Paris 1900
ANTICA CASA FONDATA NEL 1857

- Sweatband, text on right side:
DORAT
Chapelier Specialiste
4, Rue Rallier-du-Baty
RENNES
IMPORTÉ D'ITALIE

- Sweatband, rear view: bow and size tag 57.

- Text on tag behind sweatband:
T5998 82-70501
BISMUTO INTONATA 57

Another nice find. Can't beat it at that price. It is indeed from 1982. Now and then new examples of this label type pop up. The latest one we've seen this far is from 1983, so this one fits perfectly in that time period.

 

[steur]

The Giovanbattista Borsalino fu Lazzaro company ("fu " means " was" Lazzaro means that the father of the beginner of the company was called Lazzaro Borsalino) , was founded in 1906 and ceased in 1936 .

AS I understand this company was INITIALLY a different company BUT in 1937 they sold the company to “Società Anonima Antica Casa Borsalino Fabbrica di Cappelli in Alessandria fondata nel 1857 "


So, strictly speaking the Giovanbattista Borsalino fu Lazzaro weren't made by the Same company which everyone calls Borsalino.


(if you read Italian as I do please read here)

https://siusa.archivi.beniculturali.it/cgi-bin/siusa/pagina.pl?TipoPag=prodente&Chiave=51843

"....
Sede: Alessandria
Date di esistenza: 1906 - 1937

Intestazioni:
Borsalino Giovanni Battista fu Lazzaro, Alessandria, 1906 - 1937, SIUSA

Nel 1906 venne fondata la “Società in accomandita G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro e C. “ per l’opera di Giovanni Battista Borsalino, nipote di Lazzaro, il quale fu fratello e socio del fondatore dell’Antica Casa. Con rogito del 1 marzo 1925, l’accomandita si trasformò in anonima e successivamente, dopo un lungo periodo di crisi industriale , il 23 maggio 1933, Giovanni Battista Borsalino conferì l’azienda industriale da essa gestita in Alessandria alla “Società Feltro. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli” costituita ad hoc per esercirne gli stabilimenti. Per riflesso, con deliberazione del consiglio del 23 maggio 1933, la “Società Feltro. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli” deliberò di acquistare gli impianti, il nome ed i marchi della Società anonima G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro e C. per l’importo di 4.500.000 Nello stesso giorno, nel corso di un’assemblea straordinaria, dopo aver ratificato gli accordi intervenuti e già consacrati nell’atto di concentrazione a rogito dott. Guasti del medesimo giorno, la Società Feltro deliberò di modificare la propria ragione sociale assumendo quella di “GB. Borsalino fu Lazzaro &C. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli”. Infine con rogito Guasti del 19 giugno 1937, la “Società Anonima G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli” cedette alla “Società Anonima Antica Casa Borsalino Fabbrica di Cappelli in Alessandria fondata nel 1857 tutta l’azienda. L’assemblea della società concentrata ria, in data 30 giugno 1937, ratificando l’operato del Consiglio, ne deliberava lo scioglimento senza dar luogo a liquidazione, non avendo più la Società passività da sistemare ed essendo l’attivo interamente liquido. Con tale deliberazione, la Società Anonima “G.B. Borsalino fu Lazzaro & C. Fabbrica Italiana di Cappelli venne estinta....."




Giovanbattista Borsalino was cousin of the heir Teresio Borsalino, to Giuseppe Borsalino, who founded in 1857 the company which we now know as Borsalino


Read (or use its translation here)



https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borsalino

The story of the two Borsalinos is a fascination one, but as Daniele @Daniele Tanto pointed out also a complicated one. I've also posted a very brief summary of the situation here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/g-b-borsalino-fu-lazzaro-c-1936.53129/post-2839442
What suprised everyboy at the time was the quality of the hats the GB Borsalino fu lazzaro was able to produce right from the start.

 

[steur]

Thanks.
I was wondering if this implies that the hat is pre-1936?

Or could there be a catch here? like say...
Could Antica Casa company reuse existing stocks of sweatband and lining of the extinguished company still showing fu Lazzaro for hats made later?
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borsalino

Yours is pre-1936, yes. After the company was taken over by the original Borsalino they kept the brand name and produced hats under that brand from time to time. Those do look different though and I don't we've seen bowlers produced that way.

 

[Hunk]

Welcome to the lounge and to the Borsalino brotherhood. Certainly an interesting find, especially for the liner and sweatband, which we have not seen before with those designs. Going by the label it was made between 1961 and 1972, probably at the later end of that period. We've seen centurion models before, but not in this style and they are not common. It was up to the retailer to choose the liner style and the quality designation on there tells us nothing.
That was not the case with the sweatbands though, which were kept in the usual Borsalino style with very little, if any variation. So in that regard this is quite remarkable. Definitely a Borsalino though; wouldn't see a fake one with this label and the fake ones are usually very poor quality.

Thank you very much for your reply. Late 60s/early 70s seems plausible. I paid around $125 for it, which is a fair price for a Borsalino in near mint condition that fits me, but not a bargain.

 

[AC80]

Thank you for the opinion Steur!

 

[DaveProc]

Qualita Extra Superiore

 

[wsmontana]

I recently purchased two hats from a seller and they sent this one by mistake. It is way too small for me (ponti 5, circumference 22”) but since the quality seems very high I decided to take a partial refund and try my luck reselling on the bay. The felt is very light and soft and dry-shapable.

Any ideas as to it’s age?

 

[steur]

I recently purchased two hats from a seller and they sent this one by mistake. It is way too small for me (ponti 5, circumference 22”) but since the quality seems very high I decided to take a partial refund and try my luck reselling on the bay. The felt is very light and soft and dry-shapable.

Any ideas as to it’s age?

View attachment 539702 View attachment 539703 View attachment 539705 View attachment 539706 View attachment 539707 View attachment 539708 View attachment 539709 View attachment 539710 View attachment 539711
View attachment 539712

That's a beautiful hat. Judging by the label it's from the 1954-1960 period.

 

[Pellie]

Yellow protection on the lining, always good, right @steur ?

 

[steur]

Yellow protection on the lining, always good, right @steur ?

Absolutely. Can't go wrong with those.