The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[Daniele Tanto]

Beautiful hat, Daniele. Never seen this shape and finishing before. Love the colour Rutenio.

Stefan, it was my surpise too when I had in hand three Borsalino coming from the south Italy, but sold at 50 km. from Verona.
They are big size (7 as 61 cm. or 7 5/8 US) in very unusual shape and finishing. In the next days I will post its "brother"
The color is "Rutenio" but with a hint of beige and the felt is very soft and peachy.
Very unusual for the Italian market and very good condition.
There ia bad news: they are too wide for my head, so if loungers with a right head wish to have them....

 

[steur]

Posted this one in the Homburg nation thread before, but it belongs here too. This was listed as a smaller hat and I did buy it thinking I could maybe use it for parts. Turns out it is in fact my size and after some brushing and steaming in fine shape too. Borsalino homburg in the colour nizza. Size 56 with the brim at 5,5cm and the crown 10,5cm at the pinch. Didn't have this colour before, so a nice addition. This one is actually dated: 1962. It came from the shop of Etienne Peppe, Antwerp, Belgium.

 

[steur]

Stefan, it was my surpise too when I had in hand three Borsalino coming from the south Italy, but sold at 50 km. from Verona.
They are big size (7 as 61 cm. or 7 5/8 US) in very unusual shape and finishing. In the next days I will post its "brother"
The color is "Rutenio" but with a hint of beige and the felt is very soft and peachy.
Very unusual for the Italian market and very good condition.
There ia bad news: they are too wide for my head, so if loungers with a right head wish to have them....

Unlucky for you, Daniele. It certainly is an interesting and nice looking hat. Shouldn't be that hard finding someone interested in this one, because the larger sized members here complain on a regular basis that they can't find hats in their size.

 

[BobHufford]

Felt is soft and very malleable

This grey/beige Borsalino "Rutenio" is too wide for my head, so if you have the right size to wear it let me know with a PM

That is a great looking hat Daniele! It would fit me, but I just spent money I didn’t have on another hat. My large-headed brethren will be filling your in-box soon I’m sure. Looking forward to seeing the next hat in line!

 

[M Hatman]

Borsalino Qualità Extra Superiore. Size 7 or 7 5/8 in US

Color Rutenio with matching ribbon in the same felt width 1.5 cm

The shape of this hat is "Cocisca" is more massive than other I have in my collection, sold in the Italian market during those years

The brim, oversewn and finished with three seams are 7 cm. and the low point crown is 11.5 centimeters

Made probably in the 1950s for Bellina Pietro - Vicenza hats shop, now closed.
It is without lining only with a tip very well finished.

Classic Borsalino golden sweatband stamps classified the hats as "Impermeabile" (Waterproof)

Felt is soft and very malleable

This grey/beige Borsalino "Rutenio" is too wide for my head, so if you have the right size to wear it let me know with a PM

Beautiful.....PM sent!!
M

 

[Redfokker]

Borsalino Qualità Extra Superiore. Size 7 or 7 5/8 in US

Color Rutenio with matching ribbon in the same felt width 1.5 cm

The shape of this hat is "Cocisca" is more massive than other I have in my collection, sold in the Italian market during those years

The brim, oversewn and finished with three seams are 7 cm. and the low point crown is 11.5 centimeters

Made probably in the 1950s for Bellina Pietro - Vicenza hats shop, now closed.
It is without lining only with a tip very well finished.

Classic Borsalino golden sweatband stamps classified the hats as "Impermeabile" (Waterproof)

Felt is soft and very malleable

This grey/beige Borsalino "Rutenio" is too wide for my head, so if you have the right size to wear it let me know with a PM

So many wonderful points to this hat. The way they stitch the liner tip logo is so detailed. The lines are also top notch as well.

 

[Redfokker]

a felted edge gorasgu w/o corrugated sweatband

Incredible Vic, love everything about this one.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Borsalino Renna. Qualità Speciale. Size 7 or 7 5/8 in US

Color "Ninfea" with matching ribbon in the same felt width 2 cm. with a particular bow

This hat is another "Cocisca" like its yesterday's brother is a little bit less massive than the yesterday one

The brim, oversewn are 6 cm. and the low point crown is 10.5 centimeters

Made probably in the 1950s for Carlo Lambardi - Roma hats shop, now closed

It is with classic lining in white and yellow, very well finished
Classic Borsalino golden sweatband stamps classified the hats as "Qualità Speciale"

Felt is soft and very malleable with a rare color "Ninfea"

This green/beige Borsalino "Ninfea" is too wide for my head, so if you have the right size to wear it let me know with a PM

 

[steur]

Borsalino Renna. Qualità Speciale. Size 7 or 7 5/8 in US

Color "Ninfea" with matching ribbon in the same felt width 2 cm. with a particular bow

This hat is another "Cocisca" like its yesterday's brother is a little bit less massive than the yesterday one

The brim, oversewn are 6 cm. and the low point crown is 10.5 centimeters

Made probably in the 1950s for Carlo Lambardi - Roma hats shop, now closed

It is with classic lining in white and yellow, very well finished
Classic Borsalino golden sweatband stamps classified the hats as "Qualità Speciale"

Felt is soft and very malleable with a rare color "Ninfea"

This green/beige Borsalino "Ninfea" is too wide for my head, so if you have the right size to wear it let me know with a PM

Never seen this colour before. The styling is unique too. Very unusual bow. Great find.

 

[Nathaniel Finley]

I just purchased my first Borsalino. I won’t have it in hand for another three weeks when I return to the U.S. and I have no idea of the quality of what I’m getting, but the price was right for me and I’ll post photos when I’m finally in possession of it (it’s one of those later model wide brimmed kinds that are famous with Hasidic Jews. I just love that style!).

Anyway, these last few days I did some research into Borsalino and found this interesting documentary on YouTube. Unfortunately it’s in Italian and I can only get about 50-60% of it, but maybe it’s useful to somebody else.

This is about the decline of Allesandria as a result of the decline of Borsalino. Maybe it was a piece for Italian TV? It seems to be well done, the Italian is clear enough for me to get a lot of it and there are some interesting bits about history, some talks with citizens of the town and some of the business side of things as well.

It would certainly be a great contribution if anybody could translate this - my Italian isn’t up to the task unfortunately.

I feel good having a Borso waiting for me back home, even if it isn’t something vintage. I feel like I’m taking part in something historical - sad, but beautiful at the same time.

Cheers,
Nathan

P.S. I didn’t know Teddy Rossevelt wore a Borsalino!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I have two Borsalinos, but I know very little about the brand. I'm looking at another one, but the seller knows little about it. Can you please confirm for me that this hat is a size 7 3/4 (62)?

Thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Daniele Tanto]

I have two Borsalinos, but I know very little about the brand. I'm looking at another one, but the seller knows little about it. Can you please confirm for me that this hat is a size 7 3/4 (62)?

Ciao, I'm sorry but the hat is not a size 7 3/4 or 62 centimeters.
It is a 6 so a 59 cm. or 7 3/8 in US.
62 is the color of the Borsalino and from the paper label it is a recent production.
In my life I came accross only one time in a Borsalino in the size you request and now is on the head of Charlie (hatsRme)
I have one to sell in size 7 so a 7 5/8 US to sell some posts above, if you like it send me a PM.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Anyway, these last few days I did some research into Borsalino and found this interesting documentary on YouTube. Unfortunately it’s in Italian and I can only get about 50-60% of it, but maybe it’s useful to somebody else.

Nathaniel, the documentary is quite interesting, but it has a bit too generic contents to be so interesting in the history of Borsalino.
Certainly Alessandria did not distinguish itself for the preservation of the Borsalino "memory" in the city. The historical establishment was definitively destroyed in 1987, in the documentary we see the demolition of the chimney, which was for a part of the citizens an expropriation of the city's identity.
The political and economic power in those years did not want to make Borsalino a memory to remain faithful to.
Keep in mind that Giuseppe Borsalino and the heirs have been benfactors for the city. They have created public works for the whole community.
Their philanthropy has been of great help for economic and social development, but everything went badly lost with the end of the historic property of Borsalino. The arguments of this are explained in a rather approximate way (personal opinion) in the documentary, that however contains very interesting images of how the factory was the end of its days.
If you have any questions, I am at your disposal

 

[M Hatman]

Borsalino Qualità Extra Superiore. Size 7 or 7 5/8 in US

Color Rutenio with matching ribbon in the same felt width 1.5 cm

The shape of this hat is "Cocisca" is more massive than other I have in my collection, sold in the Italian market during those years

The brim, oversewn and finished with three seams are 7 cm. and the low point crown is 11.5 centimeters

Made probably in the 1950s for Bellina Pietro - Vicenza hats shop, now closed.
It is without lining only with a tip very well finished.

Classic Borsalino golden sweatband stamps classified the hats as "Impermeabile" (Waterproof)

Felt is soft and very malleable

This grey/beige Borsalino "Rutenio" is too wide for my head, so if you have the right size to wear it let me know with a PM

Well folks, it is official now, this one "is coming to America"!!!! And I cannot wait!!!!
M

 

[M Hatman]

Nathaniel, the documentary is quite interesting, but it has a bit too generic contents to be so interesting in the history of Borsalino.
Certainly Alessandria did not distinguish itself for the preservation of the Borsalino "memory" in the city. The historical establishment was definitively destroyed in 1987, in the documentary we see the demolition of the chimney, which was for a part of the citizens an expropriation of the city's identity.
The political and economic power in those years did not want to make Borsalino a memory to remain faithful to.
Keep in mind that Giuseppe Borsalino and the heirs have been benfactors for the city. They have created public works for the whole community.
Their philanthropy has been of great help for economic and social development, but everything went badly lost with the end of the historic property of Borsalino. The arguments of this are explained in a rather approximate way (personal opinion) in the documentary, that however contains very interesting images of how the factory was the end of its days.
If you have any questions, I am at your disposal

You know, It is really a SHAME, when people and cities ignore and destroy their heritage.....ESPECIALLY those that supported and brought us to where we are now. Good and Bad, it is what makes us us, and should never be forgotten, let alone deliberately erased.
M

 

[Redfokker]

You know, It is really a SHAME, when people and cities ignore and destroy their heritage.....ESPECIALLY those that supported and brought us to where we are now. Good and Bad, it is what makes us us, and should never be forgotten, let alone deliberately erased.
M

Don't get me started...

 

[Nathaniel Finley]

Nathaniel, the documentary is quite interesting, but it has a bit too generic contents to be so interesting in the history of Borsalino.
Certainly Alessandria did not distinguish itself for the preservation of the Borsalino "memory" in the city. The historical establishment was definitively destroyed in 1987, in the documentary we see the demolition of the chimney, which was for a part of the citizens an expropriation of the city's identity.
The political and economic power in those years did not want to make Borsalino a memory to remain faithful to.
Keep in mind that Giuseppe Borsalino and the heirs have been benfactors for the city. They have created public works for the whole community.
Their philanthropy has been of great help for economic and social development, but everything went badly lost with the end of the historic property of Borsalino. The arguments of this are explained in a rather approximate way (personal opinion) in the documentary, that however contains very interesting images of how the factory was the end of its days.
If you have any questions, I am at your disposal

Thanks Daniele! I look forward to watching this again with your notes to help me navigate the Italian. Buongiornata!

 

[Nathaniel Finley]

You know, It is really a SHAME, when people and cities ignore and destroy their heritage.....ESPECIALLY those that supported and brought us to where we are now. Good and Bad, it is what makes us us, and should never be forgotten, let alone deliberately erased.
M

Unless it’s a heritage of tyranny that is being undone. I’m not referencing the recent controveries in the U.S. so much as tyrannies like Stalin and Mao. Taking that heritage apart is worthwhile, imo, and perhaps Alessandrians felt that moving forward after the Borsalino era necessitated undoing so much of the structure that the company had put in place. I don’t know if this video touches on that issue (certainly Borsalino was not akin to Stalin!) but I can see instances where the heritage no longer serves the present or future generations.

It’s a tough, touchy issue and it’s interesting how various cultures and times treat it. Visiting the powerful Khmer ruins of Angkor Wat and seeing how Buddhist rulers defaced the Hindu past marks this as an ancient struggle - clearly visible in the ruins of Ancient Egypt as well!

 

[M Hatman]

Unless it’s a heritage of tyranny that is being undone. I’m not referencing the recent controveries in the U.S. so much as tyrannies like Stalin and Mao. Taking that heritage apart is worthwhile, imo, and perhaps Alessandrians felt that moving forward after the Borsalino era necessitated undoing so much of the structure that the company had put in place. I don’t know if this video touches on that issue (certainly Borsalino was not akin to Stalin!) but I can see instances where the heritage no longer serves the present or future generations.

It’s a tough, touchy issue and it’s interesting how various cultures and times treat it. Visiting the powerful Khmer ruins of Angkor Wat and seeing how Buddhist rulers defaced the Hindu past marks this as an ancient struggle - clearly visible in the ruins of Ancient Egypt as well!

I play with no exceptions.......we need to remember the bad too, so we see how it was allowed to happen, and that then affords us information to find ways to prevent it going forward. Covering our ears and eyes, pretending it never happened, is never, ever, educational.
M

 

[Redfokker]

I play with no exceptions.......we need to remember the bad too, so we see how it was allowed to happen, and that then affords us information to find ways to prevent it going forward. Covering our ears and eyes, pretending it never happened, is never, ever, educational.
M

History has it's warts.