The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[Daniele Tanto]

Year of foundation of the main Italian companies producing hats
Albertini 1817
Guerra 1855 (still exist)
Borsalino 1857 (still exist)
Barbisio 1862 (still exist, merged with Cervo in 1982)
Panizza 1879 (still exist, merged in Cappellificio Falcus during the 80')
Cervo 1897 (still exist)

 

[Daniele Tanto]

I think the new owners have redesigned the Borsalino brand stores.
These were one of the cornerstones during the hey days of the Italian hat.
Some of them still exist in large cities: Milan and Rome, most of the others have had to adapt to the crisis of the hat, and open to a variety of brands, many have died.
My impression is that the management in Alessandria want, in the United States, to divide the religious market (stable and secure) from the civil (more unstable and tied to fashion).
Probably in the last years Borsalino gave the ultimate in benefits and discounts to American stores that managed to maintain high sales and alive the name of the "Antica casa di Alessandria".
Now I assume that these new retail stores will be put under management through a franchise chain.
It 's just a considered feeling that even in Italy we talk about the next reopening of the exclusive Borsalino shops.
I am convinced that much will depend on product-hat Borsalino put on the market shortly.
We speak of the felt quality, of finishes and models that they certainly need an increase in order to be included in a worthy manner in single-brand shops ... otherwise the end is certain. History often repeats itself.
Long Live Borsalino!

 

[mayserwegener]

Daniele, Good overview!

Some interesting comments in this article.

http://crownheights.info/photo-galleries/499779/photos-borsalino-opens-branch-in-flatbush/

 

[RJR]

Daniele, Good overview!

Some interesting comments in this article.

http://crownheights.info/photo-galleries/499779/photos-borsalino-opens-branch-in-flatbush/

+1

 

[alanfgag]

Oy vey iz mir.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Alan I'm sorry but here the Sephardi speak Italian from many and many years

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Thanks a lot for your appreciation of the last week about the restored Borsalino
The patience of Sergio Anzani was fundamental to give some new shines to a very dull hats

This one is very EU proportioned and I have for it a special passion for the combination of felt and ribbon colors.
So I put it on restoration, it has some problems in felt and shape, completely lost during years

The color of the fur felt is anthracite grey

Grey-silver ribbon and overwelted brim

The finishing of the felt is bring back to its splendor

A traditional white lining for a Borsalino sold on the Italian market

Qualità Extra Superiore

"Sportivo" on the sweatband. Difficult to take picture of the paper label
It said: Amiata and nothing else

Size is 6 (or 6 punti) 59 in Eu and 7 3/8 in USA

Proportions are: brim at 5 cm and crown bashed at 11 cm. ribbon at 5 cm.

This is the third of the last bunch restored in Milan - Cappelleria Melegari

 

[mayserwegener]

Daniele, They look fantastic!

 

[RJR]

Daniele, They look fantastic!

+1

 

[stetsonofagun]

Got this one last week. Unfortunately, this brim width work work for me. It will be available, if anyone needs a 7 1/8. It's actually a dark green.

- Andrew

 

[Frunobulax]

5 1/2 should be US 7 1/4, no? Or are you saying it fits closer to a 7 1/8?

 

[Bob Roberts]

5 1/2 should be US 7 1/4, no? Or are you saying it fits closer to a 7 1/8?

Are you getting ideas...?

 

[stetsonofagun]

5 1/2 should be US 7 1/4, no? Or are you saying it fits closer to a 7 1/8?

Whoops. It is closer to 7 1/4. My bad. I wear 7 1/8+ and 7 1/4. I'd say it's a snug 7 1/4. Easily remedied by a quick stretch. It hasn't been worn, since it was new, I'd say.

- Andrew

 

[mayserwegener]

Old factory Borsalinos can tend (especially from this era) to run one size small.

 

[Frunobulax]

Old factory Borsalinos can tend (especially from this era) to run one size small.

Thanks for the tip!

Are you getting ideas...?

Nah; I'm no Joao, but I need more brim than that...

 

[mayserwegener]

5 1/2 should be US 7 1/4, no? Or are you saying it fits closer to a 7 1/8?

Yes Old Factory Borsalinos tend run small so 5 1/2 Point might be closer to 7 1/8 or 57cm.

 

[moontheloon]

I can vouch ... I have a 7 3/8 thin ribbon that perfectly fits my 7 1/4 head

 

[Frunobulax]

Glad the 7 1/4 I found is true then!


Sent directly from my mind to yours

 

[moontheloon]

Glad the 7 1/4 I found is true then!


Sent directly from my mind to yours

strangely I have a 7 1/4 of pretty much the exact same vintage as the 7 3/8 and they both pretty much fit identically

the hats are pretty much identical aside from the color and size tag

 

[Bob Roberts]

Shades of Stetson inconsistency?